ACE

Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy

ACE PLACES

From Corporate Banking to Creative Economy : Creating a Space for Community & Commerce

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Last Month I was in Sand Lake for an appointment at the Sand Lake Center for the Arts. Looking for a coffee after I was directed to the Sand Lake Merchant across the street where I was happily surprised to see a thriving creative economy outpost and collaborative business model. I took a few minutes to talk to owner Amanda Goyer about her vision and what pried her away from a successful career in the banking industry.

Amanda Goyer : Owner and Curator at Sand Lake Merchant | Image: Provided

Please state your name, business name, and title. Can you give us a bit about your background?

My name is Amanda Goyer and I am the Owner and Curator of Sand Lake Merchant. I was born and raised in the Capital Region in Latham. Graduated from Shaker High School in 2007. Attended Stonehill College in Easton, MA for Criminology and Psychology. Graduated in 2011. I came back to the Capital Region after graduation and got a job as a Crime Analyst with Schenectady Police Department. My initial career goal was to become a detective. I met my now-husband while working at Schenectady PD and the idea of a family came into vision. I made the decision at that time that I wanted a less risky career that I felt more comfortable about raising a family with. I shifted into event planning which I had always had a passion for but was incredibly different from what I had studied or done prior. I ended up at Autotask, now know as Datto, a Global Tech Company. I handled event planning across North America and then had the great opportunity to travel to London and Barcelona. The burnout of that industry is heavy and I felt it. I decided at that time to find something where I wouldn’t have to travel but could still be creative. A role opened at CAP COM Federal Credit Union leading their Foundation or charitable giving arm. That is where I found my home and rose to the role of Director of Community Engagement overseeing the Foundation, Public Relations, Business Development and School Banking. Following that I was at Keybank where I was Corporate Responsibility Officer for the Capital Region & Central New York Markets. In these roles, I learned how to collaborate, develop strategic alliances and deepen community partnerships to create positive change. All of these are attributes that I use today in my collaborative work at Sand Lake Merchant.

Sand Lake Merchant, Sand Lake NY | Image: Provided

What made you decide to do the career shift and focus on the Sand Lake Merchant?

I really had no intentions of leaving my banking career. My goal was to climb the corporate ladder in banking following in my mother’s footsteps. My mother was the late Paula Stopera, former President and CEO of CAP COM Federal Credit Union. Unfortunately she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May of 2021 and passed that July. In the same year my father was diagnosed with dementia. My life and priorities shifted and I knew I needed to take time to heal. I also was reminded how short life is. I wanted to take more time to be with my husband and two young boys. I’m thankful that KeyBank was so kind and gracious when I made the decision to leave my corporate career. One of my mentors said to me when I was making the decision, “it doesn’t have to be forever.” That helped me take the step I needed away from a decade long journey in corporate banking and community development that I knew and loved.

I remember thinking “Who am I without my career?” I had attributed so much of my self-worth and purpose in life to my career. It was very intimidating to leave that piece of me behind.

It was the pause and the gray space that I allowed that sparked what would be the future Sand Lake Merchant. I was scrolling through Zillow one night and came across a beautiful building in our town that I have admired. It was for sale. I said to my husband, let’s just look at this place, what do you think?

The rest is history. We purchased a 200 year old building in the heart of town. Spent 16 months renovating the space completely. I had an amazing local general contractor. I built the plan based on the foundation of what it had been, which was a General Store for 150 years! From there it was a florist, country store and an antique store. I brought all of the pieces from the past forward and created Sand Lake Merchant.

Sand Lake Merchant : Under Construction | Image: Provided
Sand Lake Merchant : Before | Image: Provided

Can you tell us a bit about the Sand Lake Merchant vision? The space drips with creativity!

The simple truth is I do not offer a product or service myself, but I had created a beautiful building, I was business savvy, not afraid to take risks and knew how to build a network. With that, I knew I needed to surround myself with people that had talents and services that could drive retail businesses. I think the marriage of corporate and creative can create huge success and my goal is to build a framework for how that is done, prove success and let that be a model for others to do the same.

What a feeling of freedom it has been to allow limitless creativity! However, that limitless creativity is focused with the lens of running a business that is built with strong values, diversified revenue streams and strong partnerships.

Gipfel Coffee at Sank Lake Merchant in Avrill Park, NY | Image: Corey Aldrich

As a rural based business, there is a limit to the volume of folks you can get in the door which can limit your cash flow to pay overhead and staffing costs. How are you stratifying your programming and using collaboration to create stability? Can you mention a few examples?

I think a big assumption many people had and/or have is that our rural community does not have enough people and/or resources to support a locally-sourced, handmade type of gift shop that I’ve created in Averill Park. That was something I thought a lot about during the planning and research phase of my business. I knew that a gift shop alone would not be enough to draw the daily traffic we desired, but how could I fix that without taking on more than I could handle? The answer was and always will be collaboration.

Our first and most important strategic alliance was that with Gipfel Coffee Company. Gipfel had started their business locally in Averill Park in another location 2 years prior to the opening of Sand Lake Merchant. I became a Gipfel “regular” enjoying their custom roasted coffee and also the sense of community that came with visiting their shop. I knew a pain point of theirs was that they had outgrown the location they were in. Also their visitors were craving a larger space where they could sit and enjoy their coffee and pastries. I knew I could fix that pain point with our nearly 4,000 sq. ft. building, but I wasn’t sure if they would be onboard to move in. I invited their owner Christine Kehn over to see our building during the renovation. I remember asking her if we could sell her bags of coffee when we open the gift shop, and then I said do you want to hear my more aggressive idea? She said sure…I said will you move in with us? We still laugh to this day about that initial meeting. I attribute much of our success to the daily traffic the coffee shop drives in to our location that we would not otherwise get. I’ll always be thankful I was brave enough to ask a bold question and Christine was open to taking the risk alongside me. Today both of our businesses continue to grow and thrive together.

Some Products Available at the Sand Lake Merchant in Avrill Park, NY | Image: Corey Aldrich

I had met another maker, Melissa Orth, owner and designer of PoppyTree Floral Designs in West Sand Lake. At the time I knew of her because of the amazing weddings she had designed florals for on Instagram. Then I noticed she started selling fresh floral bouquets in the old Gipfel Coffee Shop and people were loving them! Soon after I talked with Melissa and found she was looking to downsize the amount of annual weddings she was taking on but wanted to still create and retail her products. Our space allowed her to do just that. Her plants, florals and custom creations are a staple in our store.

Farm Fresh Meat Available at the Sand Lake Merchant in Avrill Park, NY | Image: Corey Aldrich

Over 30 local makers are part of our creative retail community at SLM. Some have said their collaboration has changed their business and their lives. To see a maker be able to cut back on their day job and be able to focus more on their passion and creativity has been nothing short of a dream come true.

I will also say, our rural community in Averill Park is fast-growing, especially for families! We have the traffic, we have the people willing to invest locally, who are not shying away from paying a little more for a custom made gift or market item. These people have always been here, they were just traveling to Latham or Clifton Park or Saratoga to shop because they were seeking something we didn’t have in our hometown. Now we do, and they are showing up for us!

Some Products Available at the Sand Lake Merchant in Avrill Park, NY | Image: Corey Aldrich

What are your goals for the future?

I would like to continue to build community through a variety of collaborative partnerships at Sand Lake Merchant. In addition, continue to expand on the potential of our 2nd floor event space by adding workshops and classes in 2024 hosted by our vendors. For example, paint and sip events, candle or jewelry making, art galleries, meditation, kids yoga and more! My goal is to find ways to grow, scale and sustain the business without necessarily adding more staff right now. The only way we can do that is through creative collaborations that create a win-win experience for everyone involved.

A prime example of this was our recent collaboration with Sand Lake Center for the Arts and our joint “Holiday Merchant Market.” Collectively we used our locations conveniently located across the street from each other to offer creatives the opportunity to showcase their handmade goods for sale. The planning was shared across both teams and the advertising was doubled between both of our networks. We both had a shared vision of creating something special for the community and we did just that. This year, hundreds of people filled the streets of Sand Lake to shop and support our local makers. Several makers said it was their most successful event to date.

I am a big believer in the phrase no risk, no reward and that is what I think about everyday when I’m planning or making choices that scare me.

Upstairs Lounge and Multi Purpose Area at the Sand Lake Merchant in Avrill Park, NY | Image: Corey Aldrich

Anything specifically coming up you would like to share with our audience?

Beginning in January of 2024 we are going to be looking for creatives and vendors that would like to utilize our space to host community events and workshops! If anyone is interested in learning more please email us at hello(@)sandlakemerchant.com

Re-Energizing Our Regional Foundations with the Hart Cluett and Burden Iron Works

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I have been thinking a lot lately about the current state of our arts and cultural institutions and the challenges they face. Staffing in general but specifically leadership is a major problem. That coupled with the ever changing dictates and expectations of a fluid society increasingly distracted by technology. There is a real demand to re-evaluate how our institutions serve the public and keep the sacred keys of our history and stories in tact. As such, I decided to take a moment and speak to the staff at a couple of such institutions. Both the Hart Cluett Museum and the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway have newish Executive Directors and interestingly, the feedback everyone had to my questions was surprisingly consistent.

For the interview I spoke to:

Kathryn T. Sheehan, Executive Director Hart Cluett Museum, Rensselaer County & Troy City Historian
Amanda Irwin, Deputy Director Hart Cluett Museum
Samantha Mahoski, Curator & Archivist Hart Cluett Museum
Anna Doren, Education Director Hart Cluett Museum

Dr. Susan Ouellette, Executive Director Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway / Burden Iron Works Museum

The Hart Cluett Team in Troy, NY | Image: Corey Aldrich

We see a lot of changes happening in historical / museum space as of late, specifically in how we create value for community and new audience. What do you identify as important shifts that need to happen to build continued relevance and connectivity with the community at large?

KATHRYN: A main goal of mine is to understand the many levels of stories that are present in the Hart Cluett House . Despite what the visitor may see when going through the 1827 house, I want the visitor to understand all the stories of the people that lived and worked in this house. In our exhibition spaces I want to support our curator to further develop historic issues that are still relevant today and for people to see that connection of past history to current issues. I want us to attract underserved audiences through our exhibitions and programs, so their stories and history are accurately chronicled for future generations.

AMANDA: I think the key word to defining our relevance is connection. We serve all of Rensselaer County, which includes a vast and diverse landscape and population, rural farming communities to bustling downtowns. Maintaining that representation can be difficult, but it’s integral to telling the stories of those who have helped build this region and to those who continue to make our area a place to live, work, and build a life. I believe our value is tied to the way in which we bring those stories to life, whether that is through a traditional exhibit experience or a field trip. I’m happy to say that the museum admission is ‘Pay what You Wish‘ to remove barriers and welcome all visitors.

SAMANTHA: How we create value for community and new audiences requires us to actually go out into the community, engage with those community members by having conversations and holding space for them to express their needs.

ANNA: We have many visitors come to explore our Research Library and join us for walking tours. Currently our curator, Sam Mahoski, has made a point of creating diverse exhibits exploring different aspects of Rensselaer County history that are relevant to us today, learning about our local history can help us understand current events and appreciate the diversity of our area.

SUSAN: Our museum is just reopening after a long hiatus of being closed due to COVID as well as stymied by a backlog of unfinished restoration work. What we hope will happen as a result of our opening is a re-connection with the local community and to become an extension of community space. We hope not only to be a place where objects and documents are stored, but also a place where local concerns and interests can be nurtured and addressed.

Historical Neon Signs from the South End Tavern in Troy, NY | Image: Corey Aldrich

How do you see things changing in the next few years, what will your museum look like and how will that be different from today?

KATHRYN: I hope our museum will continue to be a dynamic institution where we recognize “every face and every story” in chronicling the history of the county. That may be reflected in changing furnishings and decorative arts in the Hart Cluett House as well as offering new and exciting programs and exhibitions in the Carr building as well as offsite throughout the county.

AMANDA: I think as a staff that is half seasoned employees and half new faces, we are at a good turning point of acknowledging what the organization has done in the past and ways to push the envelope moving forward. Our backgrounds, education, and professional experiences work to compliment each other and bring different approaches to challenges…I think there is a lot of potential for new partnerships with places like our sister organization the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway Museum, especially as we expand our educational and community programming. I would love to see more of a focus on the people who walk by our building everyday and don’t know we exist, whether it’s a family headed to the weekend farmers market, college students, or residents.

Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway, Burden Iron Works Museum in Troy, NY | Image: Corey Aldrich

SAMANTHA: To remain relevant over the next few years, the Hart Cluett Museum will need to implement changes that better reflect the needs of its fellow community members. How these changes will be implemented and how the museum will look in a few years is unknown to me but it is my hope that these changes, whatever they may be, will allow for more diverse audiences that feel welcome, valued, and heard in our space – something that the Museum currently lacks. I do think, however, that with conversations and holding opportunities for dialogue, the Museum can visualize the needs of our community members and implement change based on those needs.

ANNA: I hope to make the Hart Cluett Museum a regular stop for locals on rainy days and visitors exploring our area. I hope to build relationships with other organizations and community members and have an array of programming people are excited about.

SUSAN: We are planning to improve and expand our programming to attract more people to the museum. This would include engaging the community to directly affect what kinds of programming we should pursue.

Uncle Sam Wilson Painting at the Hart Cluett Museum in Troy, NY | Image: Corey Aldrich

What would you say is the biggest challenge in front of you that needs to be addressed to achieve your goals?

KATHRYN: Money is always the biggest challenge with not-for-profit organizations, and we are no stranger to that. The other challenge is that we represent all of Rensselaer County even though we are physically located in downtown Troy. To do that we may be able to offer more offsite exhibitions throughout the county, increase our presence in the towns, through joint programming and workshops on using research materials in our library. I am fortunate that as county historian I have a good working relationship with the 14 town historians and the smaller all volunteer historical societies. I can assist them with research, technical assistance and be a conduit to the state historian’s office.

AMANDA: One recent challenge had been consistent staffing, as a result of pandemic aftermath and organizational transitions. I am happy to say that we have made strides in the right direction. As we look to make improvements in the historic house and offer more programs however, that increases staff time, supplies, and other general operating expenses needed.

Woodstove Collection at the Hart Cluett Museum in Troy, NY | Image: Corey Aldrich

SAMANTHA: We have the gall, the grit, and the gumption to get things done, and always have as a team-oriented organization, but in terms of pay equity, program planning, exhibition design, repairs to the historic house, and beyond… it becomes rather clear that we could accomplish a lot once properly resourced. The generosity of our supporters and team of volunteers have allowed us to make strides in progressing the organization, but imagine what this place could be capable of if we could had expanded resources. To achieve my goals as the Curator and Archivist currently makes it difficult to achieve the standards and expectations of our community.

ANNA: Getting people’s attention and showing them that the museum is here– and we’re here for them! We preserve the history of everyone in Rensselaer County so that anyone who is curious can explore it. I want more people to come inside and then come back again with friends. Getting people talking about our space and using it can help us understand their needs and interests so we can do more to serve them!

Dr. Susan Ouelette, Executive Director at the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway / Burden Iron Works Museum in Troy, NY | Image: Corey Aldrich

SUSAN: We need to expand our programming and employee base here at the museum. We are, aside from myself, entirely dependent on volunteers. Finding the kind of funding that would allow for part-time or even full-time employee would be a game changer for us. Student internships are also one of the ways we can also improve programming.

Meneely Cast Bells at the Burden Iron Works Museum in Troy, NY | Image: Corey Aldrich

Those with the keys to a cities / region’s history represent the foundation of place, that which all is built upon. Why is it especially important for us today to have that connection? What is the danger of disregarding it?

KATHRYN: When I was appointed Rensselaer County and Troy City historian back in 2006 I was never more acutely aware that I reflected for the county pride of place and the importance our county history is to the region, state and nation. We have been a county for 232 years. I want people to know that it is by no accident that we have the amazing architecture in downtown Troy or the rich agricultural landscape that largely makes up the vast majority of Rensselaer County. It is over 200 years of resourceful people that grew this county and made us nationally recognized in science, education, and the arts. Those contributions and the contributions that new residents living and working in Rensselaer County are part of that succession; bringing new thoughts, ideas and energy, embracing the past history that is shared and building on that for the next 200 years!

AMANDA: I believe that we are a cultural pillar in our community, there is pride in acknowledging the accomplishments of the past and also understanding previous shortcomings as we look to the future. I picture the museum as a chord connecting past, present, and future, and the danger of disregarding that leaves us untethered.

Steam Engine at the Burden Iron Works Museum in Troy, NY | Image: Provided

SAMANTHA: In today’s world, we are active bystanders in seeing the breakdown in the foundation of place and the dangers of disregarding it. History is what you had for breakfast, its everywhere you go, and history lives here. So why does all of that matter? Because the continued cultivation of our community relies on it – our shared past brings us together and makes us stronger. Without that sense of belonging, we begin to lose sight on the very values that have made Rensselaer County what it is today.

ANNA: History repeats itself and our current reality is a direct result of what has happened here before—the people who’ve lived here, the traditions, laws, policies, and major events shaped what we are experiencing today. We preserve history so people can understand where they come from and apply it to issues we’re facing today.

As a museum, we make sure to preserve the entire history and present it to the public as completely as possible. There’s bias in any interpretation and we hope that with our exhibits and programs we can invite the public into the conversation and make sure we’re preserving the full history of Rensselaer County. Our mission is to recognize “every face and every story,” we do this with the history we preserve and the community we serve.

SUSAN: If we are not able to connect with our community and have real conversations with each other about our past, present, and desires for our future, we will not be able to move forward. The importance of place in identity can be a positive influence in building confidence and expressions of unity can help to minimize the overall negatives that continue to crop up in the world around us.

Olivia Clemente : Synergizing Community One Event at a Time

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I met Olivia in person earlier this year as I needed to coordinate with her for a series of events that I am producing in Franklin Alley in downtown Troy and wanted to coordinate with the BID. Personable and energized, I was excited about doing some joint promotion with her. Then came Troy’s first annual TROY PRIDE event, a new programmatic initiative that Olivia spearheaded with downtown business owners. The streets were packed, so many folks from Albany and around the region! I realized I needed to get a better understanding of what makes this capable woman tick.

Olivia Clemente : Executive Director at the TROY BID | Photo: Corey Aldrich

Please state your name, title and organization. What are you responsible for and what is a typical day for you on the job.

My name is Olivia Clemente, Executive Director of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District. I am responsible for the overall administration, financial management, and day-to-day activities of the BID, but in a more simple terms I work for the people who live in Downtown Troy and the businesses that reside here. I work to help bring people to our downtown and explore all of the businesses and experience what we have to offer. If I’m not busy in event planning mode, I spend most of my days visiting Downtown Troy establishments, speaking to them about what makes them unique, how long they’ve been serving the community and what they would like to see in Downtown. I always like to ask, “What would make a difference? What do you want to see happen in this area.” I try my best to listen to everyone and make their suggestions and ideas a reality, whether it’s an event, block party or a new marketing campaign, I’ll always say “I can try!”

Chalk Drawings at Troy’s Riverfest | Image: Provided

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you came to be in this position? In addition to working with a lot of creative talent as an event producer, how do you keep your creativity alive?

I’ve been in a lot of different industries since I was in college. I received a BA from Manhattan College and stayed in the city after I graduated, I spent about five years in Manhattan and worked in public relations, ad sales, events and political fundraising, I like to think I’m well versed in the changing media around us. I spent time as an intern at the Bronx Zoo with the Wildlife Conservation Society as their events intern, worked as an Ad Sales Admin at a start-up for mobile apps, went to a high-profile PR firm and my last hoorah in NYC – NBC Universal where I worked on public relations and social media for an ecommerce division of the Golf Channel.

I moved back to Upstate New York in 2019, and I decided to take a dive into the political world, I worked for the NYS Assembly where I started as a Press Coordinator for three downstate members and then I moved onto handling fundraising and events for the minority conference, I developed more fundraising initiatives for the conference turning a focus on the different regions of NYS and creating fundraisers that were more creative than your regular cocktail hour, I always try to make experiences fun for everyone involved and have them looking forward to the next one.

Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center Performance at Troy Pride | Photo: Duncan Crary

I joined the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District in 2021 as the Director of Events and Partnerships. My first month on the job I was tasked with getting events that had been stalled due to COVID-19 back up and running, it wasn’t a small task to take on, but I managed to bring back Riverfest, Rockin on the River and Chowderfest. I went into 2023 taking over the Executive Director position of the BID. My main focus was to continue to hold “OG events” like the aforementioned in addition to retooling our popular Pig Out event. Additionally, I initiated additional events including the Hot Chocolate Stroll, Pride Night Out, Collar City Pop and a College Student Focused Block Party. I always have more up my sleeve, but for right now I’m working on getting people back to Downtown Troy.

When it comes to events or marketing I would definitely say I have a more creative approach to taking things on, I am always asking businesses or people in the community what they would like to see and then I begin to think like a consumer, so I try to think, “Would I want to see this at an event? Would this make me want to come back to visit? Is this appealing to me or people I know?”

Troy Glo in Downtown Troy. Installation by Adam Frelin | Images: Provided

Troy has a lot of creative economy businesses and arts / cultural organizations. How do you take advantage of the creativity of these downtown partners to raise awareness about how cool downtown Troy is?

Last year I worked with the Arts Center of the Capital Region during their exhibit ‘Troy Glo.’ We decided to bring business and art together by putting together a “bar crawl” that would get people to visit our downtown businesses. The BID created the bar crawl map to guarantee you walked past every installation of the ‘Troy Glo‘ project. Having an art pop-ups like this in our downtown is important to me as they can provide additional traffic to our businesses while creating quality of life for residents and out of town guests alike. People want to walk around and see art and as they’re walking around they can pop into a retail shop or a coffee shop and I love that.

I know another big thing for me right now is using our local artists that live in Downtown Troy to develop our marketing collateral for downtown events. I’ve currently worked with four Downtown Troy artists: to develop our Collar City Pop invites, Hot Chocolate Stroll poster, Pride Night Out and Pig Out collateral. All of the artist have been Troy natives and they are all so talented. I give them a lot of freedom in the design process. I’m going to continue using artists that live in Troy since this is an economy I care about.

Volunteer Day for Neighborhood Clean Up in Troy NY | Image: Provided

What are your current goals in the job, things you would like to do with it?

I have a lot of goals, I know an ‘Adopt-a-Block’ is on my plate of goals to accomplish, I’d love to work to do clean-ups block-by-block downtown and work with other organizations and businesses in Downtown Troy to make a difference, even if I clean one wall of graffiti tags, fix one store window, or work to get a beautiful piece of art on the side of a building, I’ll feel accomplished in my role of getting the community engaged in quality-of-life. Currently, this program is being implemented for 2024, so stay tuned for more information!

For things I am currently working on, I am hunkered down on bringing more tourism to Troy and making our downtown the place to visit. I can share we are currently working on creating better walking guides for the community that will showcase an easy to read map, a list of our businesses, a historical walking tour and a public art guide, all of this is currently in production and should be ready before the holiday season.

Olivia Doing an Event Install at Whiskey Pickle in Troy NY | Image: Provided

Anything coming up that you are especially excited about or want to share with our readers?

We have a heavy event schedule coming up. Pig Out returns on Sunday July 16. Our Rockin on the River series starts Wednesday June 28 and running every other Wednesday until August 9th, for the first time ever, we are putting together our very own College Block Party on Sunday, September 10 to welcome the students of RPI, Russell Sage and Hudson Valley Community College back to Downtown Troy. We are working to showcase to the students what the downtown has to offer while also having each school’s student organizations pop-up around downtown’s Monument Square to pass information out to friends, family and new students. It’s the downtown’s way of showing their love for the students who live and play here too!

Downtown Troy is on the rise, we have so much going on from new businesses, new public art programming and housing options, I’d say Troy is the place to be right now and it’s time everyone schedules a visit!

Olivia Clemente : Executive Director at the Troy BID | Photo: Corey Aldrich

Joyce Brewer : Building New Collaborations on a Rich Foundation of Past Heritage

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I met Joyce Brower at this months 2023 NY Museum Association Conference in Syracuse. (Thanks for the invite Erika Sanger!) I was quickly enthralled by the interesting tapestry of organizational collaborations she was weaving into the fabric of an upcoming event she introduced me to. The ‘2023 Hoosick History and Heritage Fair’ is a regional narrative. Joyce has a way of convincing you of the importance the past plays in the creation of provenance or the identity of a place. As we went deeper, she shared tried and true methods that are creating community cohesion while documenting new things for feature generations to benefit from. There are some real gems in this one folks.

Joyce Brewer – Director at Hoosick Township Historical Society and the Louis Miller Museum
Image Provided

Please tell us your name and what you do. How did you get to be in this position?

My name is Joyce Brewer. I am the Director of the Hoosick Township Historical Society and the Louis Miller Museum. I have worked for HTHS for 10 years and have been the Director for 8 years. I am a trustee of the Friends of the Bennington Battlefield and I have held the position of treasurer since its rebirth in 2018. I am a lifelong resident of the Town of Hoosick.

Can you talk a little about why you feel it’s important to tell the stories of places / small towns like Hoosick Falls?

Small communities like Hoosick Falls struggle to make their history and heritage known outside of the local community. They don’t have the funds or dedicated staff at the governmental agencies or departments that work to highlight the community and all it has to offer. Places like Hoosick Falls have amazing history, events and businesses, but getting the word out is hard. The larger media groups don’t tend to cover us, unless something bad happens. Hoosick Falls played an integral part in the founding of our country. The area was a leader at the beginning of the industrial age. We may be a small community now, but at the turn of the 19th century, Hoosick Falls was the place to be!

Hoosick Falls Main Street Trolley | Image Provided
Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping Machine Manufactory – Main Blacksmith Shop

How does the Hoosick Township Historical Society fit into the towns tapestry? What impact do you feel you have on attracting folks to visit or even live in Hoosick Falls?

The Historical Society plays a very important part in our town. We are a “hands on” museum which delights kids and adults. It is a common occurrence to get calls, emails and visitors from all over the USA and the world inquiring about family genealogy, or asking a question about a piece of Walter A. Wood farm machinery they have. We get many inquiries on military history or tracking someone who fought in the American Revolution. We do all we can do to answer their questions, usually doing the research ourselves and sharing all we can find to help them in their search. It is rewarding to find a long lost family member or have a child excited to try on their great grandfather’s military uniform. If the Town or Village clerk receives a request for genealogy information, we are their first stop.

Hoosick Falls Historical Celebrities the Eberle Brothers | Image: Corey Aldrich
A Sample of the Louis Miller Museum‘s Vintage Clothing Collection | Photo: Corey Aldrich

When folks are looking to purchase a home or start a business, coming to the museum to find out the history of their building is very common. For new homeowners they want to know the history of who lived in their house before them. They come to the museum and many spend hours and weeks doing more research. It is fun and rewarding to help them discover! As an ambassador for Hoosick Falls, I encourage guests to continue their visit by checking out a food establishment, visiting the Battlefield or a stopping at one of the many art or antique stores.

Display Quilt with Resident Name Panels | Photo: Corey Aldrich

What advice would you give to other Historical Society organizations that are operating in smaller, more rural towns?

It is imperative to have an open door attitude. To have your artifacts accessible to young and old, and to offer events that highlight not just the famous of your community but the everyday person who happens to be an amazing photographer or artist, a cherished dance teacher or even someone who just celebrated their 100th birthday. These are the people who are the fabric of the town, the hardworking everyday people, and when you celebrate them, the entire community can see how the local historical society cares for the community as a whole, not just those who are famous. It is also important to share the stories and photos of not just the famous or infamous, but of everyday life…kids playing ball, a sports team from “back in the day”, a group of folks in a factory. Not only do these photos and stories get people talking, they share them because they have family or friends in them and this promotes pride and respect in them and in your small town. We feel it is extremely important to offer programs for kids and let them experience the museum in a fun and ingenious way. This is why we started Junior Historians in 2022.

Hoosick Falls Junior Historians Group Photo with History Teacher Katie Brownell | Photo Provided

I am fascinated by the upcoming event you have at the Hoosick Falls Armory – the ‘Hoosick History and Heritage Fair.’ Can you tell us more about your collaborative project partners and how you plan to make that a town wide event?

Besides being Director of the historical society, I am also a member of the Friends of the Bennington Battlefield. We have been working since 2018 to enhance the Battlefield and the public experience there. We added interpretive panels in 2020 and in 2022 we added an audio tour to accompany the panels. To address attendance challenges, our two groups created a joint committee to focus on fostering community engagement and education in Hoosick History and Heritage. Our goal is to propel our community to the next phases of upcoming celebrations, such as the end of the Seven Years War in 1774 (2024), the beginning of the American Revolution in 1775 (2025), the declaration of our independence 1776 (2026), and the turning point of the Revolution which began right here in Walloomsac, NY on August 16 1777 (2027).

The Bennington Museum | Barnett House with Friend of the Bennington Battlefield
President Peter Shaafphok | Images Provided

Besides celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bennington – which we prefer to call the Battle of Walloomsac- it will also be the 200th anniversary for the Village of Hoosick Falls and the 100th anniversary of NYS officially recognizing the battlefield as a Historic site. With these three important events all in the same year we knew we needed to focus our efforts to bring awareness to these important dates and bring a renewed interest in our amazing history.

Friends of the Bennington Battlefield Reenactment with Canon Fire | Image Provided

As a small historical society we could never host an event like this on our own, but bringing all these people together in one space, gives those small, mostly volunteer run places a place to highlight what they are and have to offer. We will have representatives from a wide variety of historic sites and organizations who will share interesting history from Rensselaer County and beyond, as well as reenacting groups, our own Junior Historians and fun kids activities. Visitors can visit over a dozen exhibitors in the armory, participate in a scavenger hunt throughout our historic district, take a narrated trolley ride to the battlefield and back, and grab some food from the local Lions Club and ice cream truck. There will be re-enactors setting up camp in Wood Park. At noon, you can join the Red Knights Motorcycle Club as they co-host the annual Armed Forces Day Ceremony. This ceremony honors the 103 men from the Town of Hoosick who died in service to their country and is held at Liberty Memorial Park in Maple Grove Cemetery.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church thrift store, which is located adjacent to Wood Park, will be open as well and many of the downtown brick and morter businesses throughout the town will have specials for the day. The best part – the event is FREE!!

The Louis Miller Museum Team | Image: Corey Aldrich
Left to Right: Joyce Brewer, Paige Kwasniak, Katie Brownell and Carol Gaillard

What do folks need to know to get involved with the May 20th event? Is there an event page with a full listing of whats happening?

You can visit Hoosick Township Historical Society

You can also find the information at the Friends of the Bennington Battlefield

On the NYS Parks site for the Bennington Battlefield

If you wish to volunteer an hour or two of your time on the 20th you can reach out to me at staff@hoosickhistory.com or call 518-686-4682.

If you want to experience the fair and all that is happening, the fair will run from 10 am to 4 pm at the Hoosick Falls Armory, 80 Church St, Hoosick Falls. Come early to grab breakfast, a coffee or a nutritious shake, take a walk along the Hoosic River Greenway, or visit Natty Bumppo’s burial site. There is so much to do in Historic Hoosick Falls!

Albany’s 1st Friday : A Reminiscence and New Beginnings

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I found myself on the streets of Albany, literally. After going through some intense personal life changing events, I was struggling to craft a new identity. One that was less corporate, less structured. More creative, rebellious. I was attracted to Arts and Culture and had begun volunteering my time consulting for the Albany Center Gallery and soon joined the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company board. At around this time (circa 2010), I discovered 1st Night in Albany or ART NIGHT as I used to think of it. My life would never be the same. The scene…it was decadent, divine. So creative, smart and unexpected. The who’s who of the regional arts and culture scene where there, on the streets. Hundreds even thousands converging on Albany – for Arts Sake. You could find excellent family friendly events early at places like the Albany Institute of History and Art, Grand Street Community Arts or ACG. Then as the night got later, renegade pop up events got hotter in vacant buildings like St. Joseph’s Church, 259 Lark Street, 4 Central Ave or at the Upstate Artist Guild. Finally, the grand finale for me was always at Samson Contompasis’ Marketplace Gallery in the East Greenbush Tape and Label Factory (40B!) where you could dance till dawn with the DJ’s, street artists, fashion junkies, art freaks and hangers on that I aspired to become more like.

Marketplace Gallery | Left with Camera – Frank Whitney next to Peter Contompasis.
Forefront – Corey Aldrich next to Robbie | Photo: Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski
Tommy Watkins | Corey Aldrich | Jo Agropovich on Central Avenue
Photo: Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski

“First Friday was such a wonderful community event. Going out, connecting with friends, meeting new people. Wandering from place to place, never quite knowing what you might encounter. I hope to see it come back!” Jo Agropovich (Artist and Bass Player with Va Va Voodoos / Retrobilleze)

A few years in, the scene cooled down. It felt diluted. My friends and I slowly stopped considering it a must go on the calendar, scattering to the wind or for me…the Troy scene. Now, post COVID a group wants to bring that creative energy back to Albany, to reclaim the crown…the question is, can it be done?

Unknown Little Dude & Momma | Performance at 259 Lark Street | Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski
Photos: Ken Jacobie

To understand the genesis of the movement, I went back and talked to some of the folks who were there at the beginning. As frequently is the case, there are slight variations on the ‘AHA!’ moment and not to mention some key voices missing. That said, I decided to reprint the words of some those who were there verbatim. This is by no means a complete history. Also, there are lots of overlaps and differences that seem to me to be the telling from different perspectives. Remember, the best scenes are not planned, they may have a little structure in the beginning but usually they are based on creative alliances that overlap and importantly in the words of Tommy Watkins “…collaborations of friends, forming new relationships, coming together from the heart with love. People who are obsessed with doing the thing.” From what I can tell, the spark of the idea was born from a show called the MANSION SHOW and its timing in conjunction with a variety of other events hitting critical mass over the following year. This group show was organized by Tommy Watkins circa 2005. It’s also clear to me that Chip Faschiana (Artist) was at all the action points mentioned by founding participants.

“The love of art was the common ground in which we all started. But as time went by we saw an even greater value that came out of creating these events. We saw how bringing every one together on the first Friday became uniquely special. It got people talking, got people sharing. It created a family, a community, a place where everyone was accepted and appreciated no matter who they were or where they came from.” Tommy Watkins (Artist / Founding Member of Upstate Artist Guild)

Rebecca Schoonmaker | Upstate Artist Guild | Christa Dijstelbergen-Ricci
Photo Left / Right: Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski | Center: Ken Jacobie

“Born out of the successful one-night shows of Chip Faschiana and Tommy Watkins, I, as a board member of Upstate Artist Guild and the new Director of the Romaine Brooks Gallery at the Pride Center, decided to align RBG’s shows to UAG’s. I then approached Elizabeth Dubben who had just opened Ambrose + Sable Gallery to see if she wanted to also align her schedule to the first Friday and she agreed. So on Friday September 1, 2006, with 3 galleries in Center Square, 1st Friday Albany was born. A few months later, Sarah Martinez at Albany Center Gallery got on board and we started to grow. I engaged the businesses on Lark and Downtown to show art, to get on the map. We got funding to rent the trolley to do loops between Lark and Downtown. Eventually we added the Opalka Gallery, St Rose, and the University at Albany, which facilitated getting a 2nd trolley, one for uptown and one for downtown. At its peak, 1st Friday had over 50 participating venues, every major art gallery/museum in Albany, and thousands of people a month. For anniversary months, we’d do a 2 page spread in the centerfold of Metroland.” Michael Weidrich (UAG Board Member | Director at Romaine Brooks Gallery at the Pride Center)

(EDITORS NOTE: Think of those peak metrics. This does NOT even include all the overlapping economy that happened due to the influx of traffic to participating neighborhoods that benefited restaurants, bars, coffee shops etc)

Chip Fasciana | DWELL (DJ) and Mia Otian | Katie Pray
Photo: Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski
Marketplace Gallery | Abe Ferraro’s Art Course
Left: Artist Provided | Right: Kristin Diotte

“I remember around 2006-13 there was a really vibrant, thriving Art scene that was taking over abandoned spaces and churches with Pop Up shows…independent galleries that were giving a voice to all kinds of artists…IT was exciting and was really moving the conversation forward for what was possible in this region and beyond…an Art Hub! I was happy to be contributing performance / Installation based works that were pretty outlandish…Art that could have easily been dismissed as too dangerous for insurance purposes or eccentric for public scrutiny…yet I was given the opportunity to inspire and be inspired…and live in this area!” Abe Ferraro (Artist | Sculptor and Performance Artist)

Unknown, DJ RaNa Ransom, DJ OFI & Martin Dodge | Photo: Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski
Rachelle Smith-Stallman Performance Still | Photo: Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski

“I have fond memories when 1st Friday was just an idea sparked by a conversation between Jeff Mirel, Founder of Albany Barn, Chip Fasciana, co-producer of Albany Underground Artists, and me. We all had shows and events opening the same night, and we wanted to come together to build a crowd rather than promote our events in silos. We wanted to bring the art scene to bring us together rather than pull us apart. Albany Center Gallery was relocating to downtown Albany from the second floor of the Albany Public Library, and had a vision to bring new life to the legacy institution so I was personally invested in making 1st Friday successful…“

“Thankfully, Michael Weidrich, a board member at Upstate Artists Guild at the time took initiative and joined our conversation. Through Weidrich’s dedication and commitment towards the initiative, and teamwork from a host of organizations such as Grand Street Community Arts, Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany Center Gallery, Upstate Artists Guild and a slew of other groups, the monthly event definitely elevated the art scene in Albany and other galleries gained notoriety like the Marketplace Gallery. One-night shows at St. Joseph’s Church and Grand Street Community Arts drew hundreds of people. I am grateful to have been part of this team effort to build up the arts community and it is remarkable to see Albany thrive and grow and reinvent this event.” Sarah Martinez (Director at Albany Center Gallery)

Jessyka Neitzel & Alana Sparrow | Photo: Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski
Tall Ass Matt – The Early Years | Photo: Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski

COVID really put a crimp in the final strands of what was First Night. But, there is now a new initiative to bring it all back. This is being spearheaded by Michelle Toch Dinsmore Partner at Overit Media and Jim Gilbert Owner and Publisher of Nippertown. Overit through participation in the event in the past had seen major traffic generated to support artists they had lined up pre-covid. Michelle indicated that for some shows they would track hundreds of attendees going through the door of their office / venue. Michelle and her team want to build “…upon the foundation of the great First Friday Albany organizers who came before us.” And of course, we all know Jim and his commitment to supporting all things music, art and culture through Nippertown’s online portal. This will be critical for success as in the past the METROLAND played a major part in creating a there there for the event with promotional information, ads and a detailed monthly event map.

Unknown | R.M. Englehardt | St. Joe’s Church Installation
Photos: Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski
Corina Jae (oneUNIT) & Samson Contompasis | Unknown at UAG | St. Joe’s Church
Photo: Ken Jacobie

“This is the start of something big,” said Jim Gilbert of Nippertown, “and we hope it will develop into something huge. We really hope that the city’s talented creatives will see this as an opportunity to highlight what makes artists so imperative to the overall success of a creative economy, and we encourage everyone to get involved.”

To this I would personally add, it’s NOT a Creative Economy without the artists and hope that we can remember to center them firmly in the process. After all…the Creative comes first followed by the Economy. Let’s find ways to sustain and provide resources for our value creators and enable them to help in the development of a truly sustaining and sustainable event to the benefit of the overall community.

Samson Contompasis (Marketplace Gallery), Greg Dunn & Micheal Scott Ackermann | RADICAL
Photo: Ken Jacobie
Michael Conlin | Unknown | Jesse | Alyssa Hardy | Mark Gregory (?)
Conlin’s Sign Studio at the East Greenbush Tape and Label Factory
Photo: Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski

The initial relaunch event will be held with a kickoff show at Overit Media at 435 New Scotland Avenue, Albany including 5 artists called The Power of Paper. (Mimi Castiglione-Santiago, Ruby Silvious, Abe Ferraro, Ashton Guy and Lindsay McKeough partner up with collaborative partners The Circus Family and Mohawk Paper) on May 5th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This will also serve as the official kick off to the city’s Tulip Week leading up to the 75th Anniversary of the Tulip Festival. Additional events are listed on the Nippertown Event Page and include the arts locations, shows, and food / beverage promotions.

Want to get involved? To connect with participating locations as an artist you can head over to Nippertown’s First Friday Application Page.

Abe Farraro at 257 Lark | Unknown Performance Art | St. Joe’s Church – RADICAL Stage Design
Photos: Ken Jacobie
Marketplace Gallery – Abe Ferraro’s Art Course | Michael Farrell and Lisa Reddy
Photo: Ken Jacobie

Photos for this article were significantly mined from the collections of my favorite go to photographer at the time Robin Alexandria Kettner-Zebrowski who created a catalog of many who were on the streets in the deep scene and who without I would have been lost. Special mention to Ken Jacobie as well, who had an sharp eye on the art…and seemed to be everywhere all the time.

There is so much to plumb in this rich history. I may end up doing another article. So many voices to reach out to, images to search and best practice tips to secure!

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