NMHS: A CAUSE IN MOTION Charles Point Council Saturday Program is a Model for the Country
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n many cicies and communirest of the year, including presentacies across America, che Nacional tions by: Norman Brouwer, author Maricime Hiscorical Society has sigof The International Register of Hisnificam peckers of members. A longtoric Ships; Margaret Schram, author cerm goal has been co secure funding of H udson's Merchants and Whalers: co support a regional liaison who The Rise and Fall of a River Port, would develop accive chapcers where ~ 1783-1850; and Sea History's editor our members could meec on a regular ~ Deirdre O'Regan, who will speak basis, keep up-co-dare with speakers ~ on coday's professional sailing ship on maritime copies, and be prepared ~ mariner and che roles che growing p co campaign for maritime preservag number of traditional replica vessels cion issues in their area. In the inplay in carrying forward mari time Members at April's Saturday Program: (top from left) NMHS terim, the Society is developing a skills and traditions. Chairman Walter Brown, President Emeritus Peter Stanford, program at headquarters in Peekskill, David Dombish, Ted Foster, Trustees Ron Oswald and Bradford In the warmer seasons, members New York, rhac serves as a model for Smith, form er trustee Harry Vinall, Peekskill Yacht Club host Joel also participace in field trips investiregional chapters of che future. Ettelson; (Seated) No rma Stanford, Stephanie Smith, Carol Vinall gating local hiscoric sires along the The headquarters chapter has waterfront. Last July found council long been known as the Charles Point Council. Charles Point, on members coming the fortifications of Constitution Island, built the Hudson River, is named for Charles Fleischmann, founder of during the Revolutionary War, including the location of the the yeast and gin faccory complex which once scood here. One of chain char crossed the Hudson River. A hearty, small group of those hiscoric structures, rescored and direcced co ics new purpose, houses che Society's offices. NMHS has been forrunace in its leadership of the Council and has flourished under Carol and Harry Vinall, Brad and Scephanie Smith, David Dombish, and coday under the leadership of Captain Theodore L. Foster. Ted Foscer served in che navy after which he taught Industrial Ans and Technology Educacion until his retirement in 2003. He is an avid sailor and in 1999 was che recipient of NMHS's Volunteer of rhe Year Award. Foscer chairs a Steering Committee of 12 volunteers who choose programs, arrange for speakers and rake care of all logistics for their programs, research local maritime hiscory, host visicing ships, and help with marketing. This year chere are nine Saturday programs. NMHS President Emerims Peter Stanford is a favorite speaker at the lecmres. In JanDr. James M. Johnson, Executive Director ofthe Hudso n uary he spoke about Roosevelt and Churchill in a slide presentaValley Institute at Marist College, reviews fortification plans at tion on "Defense of Freedom by Sea." He will remrn in September Constitution Island with members in July 2004. co answer, "Why do we celebrate Nelson's viccory ac Trafalgar?" In February Gerry Weinstein the attendees scrambled up co a high lookouc co get a view of Rigel Crockett cold the scory of che fighc the challenges the Americans faced in defending che area. They co save the 1933 lighrhouse also coured Scony Point Battlefield site from the Revolutionary render Lilac. SS Lilac is the War and climbed the first last unalcered steam-pro- lighchouse builc along che pelled and sceam-hoisring Hudson River in 1826. lighchouse tender designed This year, members will for work on che open go co che hiscoric Wesc seas. April's speaker, Rigel Point Foundry, che site of Crockett, shared his scory an indusrrial archaeologiabour his years aboard the cal dig by Michigan Technological University, and take an outing barque Picton Castle as a professional crewmember for her first on the Hudson aboard the hiscoric 19 17 MV Commander. wo rld voyage (Read an excerpt from his new book, Fair Wind and Any member who wo uld like co be notified of Charles Point Programs need only request it by calling NMHS headquarters, Plenty ofIt, on pages 14-17 of this issue). 1hese are jusc a few examples of the sort of programs che dropping a line, or emailing us at nmhs@seahiscory.org. Charles Point Council organizes. They have a full lineup for the -Burchenal Green 0
SEA HISTORY 111 , SUMMER 2005
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