Please take some time this month to stop into the museum. Not only is it clean and fresh after an early spring clean last month, there is a new exhibit about our local redware potteries. Local expert Vince Martonis will be speaking on April 9 at 1 PM about our county’s pottery history. The exhibit includes several rare pieces from two of the three known early potteries: Caleb Mathews was in Gerry and operated from 1823 to 1860. Elias Haven and Joseph Kenyon were in Sheridan and may have operated between 1818 and 1821. William H. Fenton began his work in Jamestown in 1814. Whittemore joined him in 1822 and they relocated to Fluvanna. The exhibit is small but mighty!
The Fenton staff and trustees are working with Norman Carlson, Chautauqua County Historian; Jason Sample, President of the Chautauqua County Historical Society (at the McClurg Mansion in Westfield); Barbara Cessna, Town of Carroll Historian and member of the Carroll Historical Society; John Brown, President of the Harmony Historical Society and his wife Pam Brown, Town of Harmony Historian planning the 2025 Chautauqua County History Expo. The Expo is like our history fairs of the past. The Expo will be held on August 23rd at the Fluvanna Community Church. ALL historical societies, libraries, genealogical societies, museums, lineage societies, writers of historical books and municipal historians are invited to have a table at this free event. We are planning on having speakers, a basket raffle, food trucks and lots of fun! If you are a history buff, please plan on coming. If you are a member of one of the organizations listed above, contact me so we can put you on our list. We want all to be represented at the 2025 Chautauqua County History Expo!
We are looking for volunteers to help in a few areas.
- The first is our historic walking tours. We need to have more than one individual who knows the tours. If you would be willing to learn a tour or two, please let me know.
- The second area is our collections department. Matthew Tsitso, curator/archivist, could use some help in managing his workload. If you are willing to give a day or two a week (or more!) to assist him, that would be great!
- After the spring cleaning we realized we need a couple volunteers to help us clean certain areas on a more regular basis. Just a couple hours a week would be a great help. Cleaning a museum is very different from cleaning your house. If you’re interested, please contact me!
- We need help on Tuesday morning at the Museum reception desk from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s an easy job that involves learning how to do the sales and start visitors on their tour of the mansion. Again, let me know if you are interested!
See you at the Fenton!
