Category: Uncategorized
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All That Glitters
There are some books that I find myself returning to all the time for quick research, and this one \”At Home: The American Family 1750-1870\” is one of those. A well-researched, topical survey of domestic life for some 120 years, it is still light enough to make for good lunchtime reading. That\’s exactly what I…
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Road Closures–Detour to Clermont
Starting on Monday, April 19, Route 9G (the most commonly-used road to Clermont) will be closed at the Roeliff Jansen Kill Bridge about 6 miles to the north. We don\’t like getting lost any more than the rest of you, so we thought we\’d post some directions to make your trip as easy as it…
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Suprises in the Little People\'s Scrap Book
The Little People\’s Scrap Book has been on the bookshelf in my office for years. This 19th century children\’s book has seen heavy use, and has the war wounds to prove it: childish pencil sribbles, torn pages, and some page stuck irreparably together. I always imagine it having been a favorite of Janet and Honoria…
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"The First Little Flower"
I am such a sucker for spring. I took a short walk in the garden this week, and my heart went all a-flutter to see nodding snowdrops, the magnolias just starting to bloom, and the daffodils up in full force. But I am not the only one at Clermont to feel this way. After lonely…
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Slavery at Clermont
The topic of slavery in the northern part of America always seems to arouse curiosity in visitors. Images of Southern slavery have been firmly planted in our minds by popular literature and movies, but Northern slavery often remains a hazy and poorly-illustrated concept. First of all, let me start by saying yes, the Livingstons owned…
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Pawprints on Clermont
I bumped into a former Clermont educator the other day, and she was suprised that I had never noticed the dog scratches in several of the doors at Clermont. As a pet lover herself, Heidi was very atuned to such things. Her 2004 exhibit on companion animals at Clermont (shown at right) has frequently provided…
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Clermont Biking Route on Google Maps
Check out the biking route from Rhinecliff Amtrak Station to Clermont State Historic Site courtesy of Hudson Valley Gardens.http://hv-go.blogspot.com/2010/03/google-maps-adds-hudson-valley-biking.html The smell of Spring is in the air. What a perfect time to travel this route. We hope to see you (and your bikes) soon!
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Clermont: Home of the Merino Sheep
As I am designing posters and getting activities for the Sheep & Wool Showcase on April 24th, it occurs to me that some people may not know why Clermont hosts a lot of knitters, sheep, and border collies every spring. In 1801, Thomas Jefferson sent Chancellor Robert R. Livingston to Paris to negotiate for purchase…
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Archival Treasures: The Patent
Here we have the famous patent, granted to Robert Livingston by Thomas Dongan in appreciation for his services – and perhaps for agreeing not to push his claim on Rensselaer property any farther. I\’ve smoothed out the text, removing the random capitalizations and adding a few pieces of punctuation. Thomas Dongan Lieutenant Governor and Vice…
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A Closer Look
This detail of a larger 1913 photo gives us a rare look at Ollie, the Livingston\’s nursemaid. Good pictures of servants can be hard to come by so I have always loved this image. But some pictures are worth a closer look. Reflected in Ollie\’s glasses is another unusual glimpse of the Livingston family: Alice…
Clermont State Historic Site 