NEWS RELEASE: Historic Huguenot Street to Honor First Responders at Spring Opening

NEW PALTZ, NY (April 13, 2015) – Historic Huguenot Street will launch its 2015 Spring Season on Saturday, May 2 from 10 am – 5 pm. To recognize the role the community plays in the success of Historic Huguenot Street’s tours and programming, the Grand Opening will feature a variety of free activities for all ages across the National Historic Landmark District, including live music, colonial games, and historic vignettes performed throughout the day. 

In addition, Historic Huguenot Street will be hosting a picnic in honor of the brave work of New Paltz first responders from the Police Department, Fire Department, and Rescue Squad. The public is invited to stop by the Deyo House lawn to recognize these individuals and their generous contributions to our community (in case of rain, the picnic will take place in Deyo Hall, 6 Broadhead Avenue). All first responders and their families are welcome to tour the historic houses free of charge.

“This year’s programming promises to be our best yet,” said Mary Etta Schneider, President and Board Chair. “Our professional staff is dedicated and passionate about the preservation and interpretation of our village’s history. The contributions of our new Scholarly Advisory Board, plus input from the local community, ensure that our tours and interpretations will be both academic and engaging.” The HHS Scholarly Advisory Board is chaired by SUNY New Paltz Professor Dr. Louis Roper.

The interactive “In-the-Moment” tours that debuted last year have been updated for the new season and will continue on weekends and during newly extended Friday evening hours. In addition, Historic Huguenot is introducing a variety of new docent-led guided tours and a number of special interest tours, led by experts in material culture and historic preservation.

Rates and a schedule of tours are available at huguenotstreet.org/hours-rates.

A National Historic Landmark District, Historic Huguenot Street is a 501(c)3 non-profit that encompasses 30 buildings across 10 acres that was the heart of the original 1678 New Paltz settlement, including seven stone houses that date to the early eighteenth century.  It was founded in 1894 as the Huguenot Patriotic, Historical, and Monumental Society to preserve the nationally acclaimed collection of stone houses. Since then, Historic Huguenot Street has grown into an innovative museum, chartered as an educational corporation by the University of the State of New York, that is dedicated to protecting our historic buildings, conserving an important collection of artifacts and manuscripts, and promoting the stories of the Huguenot Street families, from the sixteenth century to today. 

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Contact
Kaitlin Gallucci
Communications & Marketing Manager
(845) 255-1660
media@huguenotstreet.org