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Saturday 2pm - 4pm Sunday 2pm - 4pm

Roeliff Jansen Historical Society

Name: Roeliff Jansen Historical Society
Address: 8 Miles Road, Copake Falls, NY, 12517, US
Telephone: +5183290652
Price range: $

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Roeliff Jansen Historical Society

Edu. programs, preservation and an annual exhibition.

Founded in 1974, the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society Museum, is dedicated to the preservation and understanding of the history of the five towns of the Roe Jan Region in Columbia County, NY .

08/21/2026

This coming Sunday, August 23rd from 2 to 4 at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society, former RjHS president Peter Cipkowski will give a fascinating illustrated talk on the Columbia Turnpike and the two surviving toll houses, Westgate in present-day Greenport, and East Gate in Hillsdale, currently being restored. After the talk, Peter will also conduct a brief site visit to the East gate toll house.

In 1799, the New York State Legislature authorized the creation of the Columbia Turnpike Corporation for the purpose of improving the road from the city of Hudson to the line of Massachusetts on the route to Hartford. When the Columbia Turnpike was constructed, it was the first turnpike in Columbia County and the fifth in New York State.

On our website (www. roeliffjansenhs.org),
You can watch a two minute video chapter on the Turnpike and tollhouses as well as register for the free presentation.

And if you come this weekend, you will be among the first to see our new full-sized, Award winning replica of one of Knox’s cannons, now installed in our exhibition “Patriots, Plowshares & Post Roads”, built by Hillsdale Historians Chris Atkins and Lauren Letellier! The RJHS is located at 8 miles Road, Copake’s Falls NY.

08/18/2026

After the Revolutionary War, New York City’s population surged, creating a steady market for farmers in what is now Columbia County. However, getting goods down to the city meant hauling them west over rough roads to the Hudson River and the port city of Hudson, a city that had been chartered in 1785.

In 1799, the New York State Legislature authorized the creation of the Columbia Turnpike Corporation for the purpose of improving the road from the city of Hudson to the line of Massachusetts on the route to Hartford. When the Columbia Turnpike was constructed, it was the first turnpike in Columbia County and the fifth in New York State.

The legislature also gave rights to the corporation to use existing roads and approved the construction of three tollhouses spaced about 10 miles apart. The revenues from the tolls paid by travelers covered the cost of construction and ongoing maintenance of the turnpike.

The word turnpike came from the use of heavy wooden pikes swung aside by toll keepers after payment was made. As part of our exhibition programming, historian Peter Cipkowski will give an illustrated talk about the Columbia Turnpike and the two surviving toll houses, Westgate in present day Greenport and East Gate in Hillsdale that is currently being restored. The former Columbia Turnpike is essentially today’s routes 23 and 23B.

Following the presentation, participants will have the option to visit the actual East Gate Toll House on Rte. 23. This will involve carpooling to the site, which has limited parking.

In a later presentation scheduled for 2 pm, Sunday, September 13, Hillsdale historian Chris Atkins will describe his extensive research used to determine the location of the long-lost third toll house known as Middle Gate, which disappeared sometime after 1907 when the Turnpike closed. The presentation will take place at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society, 8 Miles Road in Copake Falls, NY.

Register for all free RJHS presentations and site visits at www.roelffjansen.org

08/08/2026

About Dan Haas & South Taconic Stories
Dan Haas is a retired Special Education teacher who has lived in Copake, NY since 1988. He is the author of a middle-grade novel, You Can Call Me Worm and has published stories and essays in several literary magazines. He has maintained a blog called South Taconic Stories for several years while researching the mountains’ history.
Rising along the NY/CT/MA border, the South Taconics’ wild mountain landscape makes them a precious, yet easily accessed treasure. Local resident and historian Dan Haas has spent decades exploring the mountains and researching their past. Did you know that an Indian trail that once crossed the mountains is still visible? That the hamlet of Boston Corners was once a town without a government, and site of a famous illegal boxing match? That an 18th century fight over the exact border between Massachusetts and New York resulted in a near civil war? The book answers these compelling question and much more.

“… the Taconics are the most beautiful place on Earth. For me. That’s because the better you know a place—the more you pay attention-the more its beauty comes clear.”
Dan Haas, from South Taconic Stories

07/27/2026

A few scenes from yesterday’s Typoquarian Wax Seals Workshops, where guest curator Mitch Mondello presented some of his collection and gave people a chance to “hold history in their hands,” as they pressed wax seals at the RJHS Copake Falls, NY.

07/25/2026

SATURDAY: FREE DEMONSTRATIONS TODAY!
TODAY, Saturday, July 25 from 2 to 4 pm at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society
Wax seal and letter-folding demonstrations given by expert and guest curator, Mitch Mondello will be given on Saturday, July 25th from 2 to 4 pm at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society. All are welcome, no registration is required.
Avid collector, Mitch Mondello will also give special guided tours of the displays showcasing an array of 18th and early 19th century documents, correspondence, wax seal stamps, and rare coins from the Revolutionary period. (registration not required for Saturday’s demonstrations)

SUNDAY: TWO FREE WORKSHOPS
Sunday, July 26 at 1:15 & 4:15 pm at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society
The workshops will be at the historical society, are free but require registration. SPACE IS limited, so register! Participants will leave with finished products and lots of know-how. This is a rare opportunity to learn how to “Send it Like a Schuyler.”  The sessions are admission free, but donations are welcome.
Registrationrequired - or go to www.roeliffjansenhs.org, to the ‘SCHEDULE OF EVENTS’ page

Patriots, Plowshares & Post Roads: Chapters from our Local Journey to Independence explores the American Revolution from a distinctly local perspective. Rather than focusing on famous battles and generals, the exhibition tells the stories of the people, industries, transportation networks, and communication systems that sustained everyday life and helped lay the foundations for American independence.

The Roeliff Jansen Historical Society is located at 8 Miles Road, Copake Falls, NY.

07/22/2026

This Coming Weekend:
Wax Seal Demonstrations & Workshops with Artist & Antiquarian Collector, Mitch Mondello.

As part of our 2026 exhibition programming, the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society offers a series of presentations, site visits and our next event is a specially designed hands-on workshop called SEND IT LIKE A SCHUYLER.

FREE DEMONSTRATIONS
Saturday, July 25 from 2 to 4 pm at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society
Wax seal and letter-folding demonstrations given by expert and guest curator, Mitch Mondello will be given on Saturday, July 25th from 2 to 4 pm at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society. All are welcome, no registration is required.
Avid collector, Mitch Mondello will also give special guided tours of the displays showcasing an array of 18th and early 19th century documents, correspondence, wax seal stamps, and rare coins from the Revolutionary period. (registration not required for Saturday’s demonstrations)

TWO FREE WORKSHOPS
Sunday, July 26 at 1:15 & 4:15 pm at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society
The workshops will be at the historical society, are free but require registration. SPACE IS limited, so register! Participants will leave with finished products and lots of know-how. This is a rare opportunity to learn how to “Send it Like a Schuyler.”  The sessions are admission free, but donations are welcome.
Registration is required - use the provided QR codes, or go to www.roeliffjansen.org, to the ‘SCHEDULE OF EVENTS’ page

Patriots, Plowshares & Post Roads: Chapters from our Local Journey to Independence explores the American Revolution from a distinctly local perspective. Rather than focusing on famous battles and generals, the exhibition tells the stories of the people, industries, transportation networks, and communication systems that sustained everyday life and helped lay the foundations for American independence.

07/19/2026

From a Museum Visitor

“I am endlessly amazed and impressed at the creative ways this historical society comes up with new exhibits that are keyed to the moment but connect national events to specifics of the Roe Jan community. This exhibit is a really brilliant way of bringing the whole “America 250” theme to the most local level and at the same time prove once again that “ALL politics is local” when you get down to it. We get taught about the Revolutionary era as if it was the work of one specific group of geniuses and heroes, in a single planned campaign. But that is not how real history works; and but for the already existing activities within literally thousands of local communities within all the colonies, there would have been no chance of bringing this country into existence. I think it is a wonderful lesson in real history.”

E.Bell

Open Today!

Open Saturdays & Sundays, 2 to 4 pm
8 Miles Road Copake Falls NY
www.Roeliffjansenhs.org

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taghkanic craryville rjhscopakefalls columbiacountyhistorians

07/17/2026

The Ancram Iron Works of 1743
July 18th, 11 am at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society
8 Miles Road Copake Falls, NY

As part of the RJHS exhibit “Patriots Plowshares & Post Roads Chapters from our local history to Indedpendence” and The Copake Falls Day celebration, historian Jim Mackin will recount the story of the Ancram Iron Works. It operated from about 1740 to 1845 and was important in the American Revolutionary War and in the development of the larger Roeliff-Jansen community. This iron works produced the iron used to make cannon shot and links for a massive Hudson River chain that stretched between Fort Montgomery and Anthony’s Nose, at Cortlandt Manor, NY; a barrier designed to prevent British ships from advancing up river. In 1778, the more successful Great Chain was installed across the Hudson near West Point. Jim’s lecture will be illustrated with a slide presentation to provide the full appropriate context and showcase what is still known about the Ancram Iron Works.

Jim Mackin is a New York City and an Industrial historian, author, and former head of the Friends of Taconic State Park/the Copake Iron Works.

This event is a collaboration by both the Copake Falls Day Committee and the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society.
Registration is at www.roeliffjansenhs.org is appreciated (but not mandatory).
While there, you can also see the whole “Patriots Plowshares & Post Roads Chapters from our local history to Indedpendence” exhibition. On Copake Falls Day the RJHS will be open from 10 am until 4pm. Mr. Mackin’s talk is at 11 am.

07/10/2026

Patriots, Plowshares & Post Roads: Chapters from our Local Journey to Independence explores the American Revolution from a distinctly local perspective. Rather than focusing on famous battles and generals, the exhibition tells the stories of the people, industries, transportation networks, and communication systems that sustained everyday life and helped lay the foundations for American independence.

Created in collaboration with local historians, museums, historic sites, and traditional businesses throughout the Roe Jan region, the exhibition transports visitors to the late eighteenth century, when growing self-sufficiency, improved roads, local agriculture, mills, ironmaking, and an emerging postal system all played essential roles in the Revolutionary era.

Among the featured topics are the Ancram Iron Works, which supplied iron for cannon shot and links in the Hudson River’s Great Chain; the region’s fulling and gristmills; the Noble Train of Artillery led by Colonel Henry Knox; Revolutionary War veterans buried in local cemeteries; and the evolution of Columbia County from colonial New York to the early republic. Artifacts, maps, photographs, documents.

Throughout the exhibition, visitors can also enjoy free Sunday presentations, hands-on workshops, guided site visits, and two original introductory videos that explore the exhibition’s themes, including Send it Like a Schuyler, a look at Revolutionary-era letter writing, wax seals with Mitch Mondello (see video below), and the colonial postal system.

Patriots, Plowshares & Post Roads: Chapters from our Local Journey to Independence opens July 11 at the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society, 8 Miles Road, Copake Falls, New York. The museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. through October. Admission is free. A complete schedule of programs and registration information is available at www.roeliffjansenhs.org. columbiacountyhistory

04/09/2026

April 9th RJHS Newsletter
https://mailchi.mp/4c29fd454095/wallace-bruce-burying-the-hatchet-love-loss-after-wounded-knee

Address

8 Miles Road
Copake Falls, NY
12517

Opening Hours

Saturday	2pm - 4pm
Sunday	2pm - 4pm

Telephone

+5183290652

Website

http://www.roeliffjansenhs.org/, https://linktr.ee/RJHScopakefalls, https://mailchi.mp/f81704dd3301/oct-2nd-gallery-talk

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