The Sloatsburg Historical Society and Friends of Harmony Hall have united this week for a series of events and activities to celebrate Ramapo History Week. The historical Jacob Sloat House will be host to talks and multi-media presentations about the significant role that the Hudson Highlands’ Ramapo River Pass has played in the rich history of the Empire State.

The weeklong activities are a local way to recognize New York State Heritage Weekend, now in its third year, which is being celebrated this weekend, May 19 and 20, throughout the state. Heritage Weekend features special programs, lectures, tours, re-enactments, and discounted admission at heritage and cultural destinations that focus on the state’s historic and cultural resources. The Friends of Harmony Hall, a local non-profit group dedicated to the preservation of the Jacob Sloat House, has joined with the Sloatsburg Historical Society to put together a program of events that explores and magnifies the rich and varied history of the Ramapo River Pass on the wider world.

From a discussion on the founding of the Methodist-Episcopal Chapel to a presentation by Sloatsburg Mayor Carl Wright titled An Era of Reform, Harmony Hall will host a series of talks, walks and events that includes a special Parlor Soiree Friday evening to honor local historical luminary Gardner Watts. The week of activities culminates Saturday afternoon with Ramapo History Day at Harmony Hall, a family fun event that involves a village-wide scavenger hunt.

This week also includes the annual Sloatsburg Elementary School 4th grade historical field trip around Sloatsburg that takes in many of the sights students have studied such as remains of the Sloat Dam and remnants of Brown’s Gate located near the Sloatsburg train station. The field trip is a whirlwind tour throughout the village that explores important historical locations that have been instrumental in shaping Sloatsburg’s past and present.

The Gardner Watts event is special. Watts, at the age of 98, has been a staple of Western Ramapo history, including a 36 year stint teaching at Suffern High School, from 1938 – 1974. He’s also Suffern’s oldest veteran. Watts was recently named a 2012 Living Landmark by the Historical Society of Rockland County, an award that honors an individual who, through commitment and service, has made a difference in Rockland. Watts founded the Historical Hikers in 1956 and, along with his late wife Josephine, the Suffern Village Museum in 1982. He served as historian for the Village of Suffern from 1958 – 2007. Watts often rambled the Ramapo Mountains in search of Claudius Smith’s legendary gold. LoHud columnist Bob Baird wrote a succinct feature on Watts’ local activities several years ago.

The Gardner Watts Soiree honors Watts’ many years of activity with and stewardship of area organizations. Guest speaker will feature Rockland County and Town of Ramapo Historian Craig Long. Due to seating availability, the event is by reservation only and costs $60 per person, which will include food, bar and an evening of music via string quartet.

The Sloatsburg Historical Society is a non-profit organization that actively meets and promotes local history through slide shows, its ongoing collection of historical documents and other programs, such as its collaboration with the Friends of Harmony Hall and Sloatsburg Elementary School. Led by Village Historian Harrison O. Bush, who had a large hand in planning this week’s Ramapo History Week program, the SHS works closely with Sloatsburg Elementary School on the annual 4th grade local history education program.

Both SHS and the Friends of Harmony Hall members have joined together this year to host Ramapo History Week, a unique day of family fun scheduled for Saturday, May 19. The morning begins with an  a history scavenger hunt that sends individuals and families throughout Sloatsburg in search of answers to a series of questions. The hunt will return to Harmony Hall where the afternoon continues with old-fashion lawn games, house tours and a series of lectures.

All events are free and open to the public except the Gardner Watts Soiree.

Ramapo History Week Events and Activities Schedule

• Monday, May 14 —  7:30 p.m., Harmony Hall. Speakers: Diane Jabis, Rockland County BOCES, Chuck Stead, Environmental Educator, Cornell Co-operative Extension of Rockland County, Harmony Hall Curator Geoff Welch, and Village of Sloatsburg Historian Harrison Bush kicked off the week with a presentation on The Role of the Museum, Historical Society & Public School Curriculum in Telling History’s Story.
• Tuesday, May 15 — 7 – 9:30 p.m. Harmony Hall. The evening includes two events. From 7 – 8 p.m., Village of Sloatsburg Historian Harrison O. Bush will present A Discussion of the Hamlets of Ramapo & Sloatsburg in Perspective and The Founding of the Methodist-Episcopal Chapel. From 8 – 9:30 p.m., there will be A Colloquiem of the Period 1815 – 1865, where Harrison O. Bush will present From Wordsworth to Dickens. Geoff Welch, Harmony Hall Curator, discuss The English Painters and the Hudson River School. Sloatsburg Mayor Carl Wright will deliver an overview of local reform movements  with his presentation An Era of Reform.
• Thursday, May 17 — 9 a.m. Sloatsburg Elementary Annual Fourth Grade Historical Field Trip: An field trip around the village that explores important historical locations that have been instrumental in shaping Sloatsburg’s past and present.
• Thursday, May 17 — 7 – 8 p.m. Harmony Hall. Harrison O. Bush will delve into some soul essentials with his media presentation The Worship of Nature.
• Friday, May 18 — 7 – 9 p.m. Harmony Hall. A Parlor Soiree Honoring Suffern Historian Emeritus Gardner Watts. Gardner Watts has been a staple of Western Ramapo history for nearly eight decades. The Friends of Harmony Hall honor the life-work of historian, teacher, hiker, friend, and Friends of Harmony Hall member with an old-fashioned parlor soiree at the Jacob Sloat House on Friday night. Guest Speaker will be Rockland County Historian Craig Long. Reservations required.
• Saturday, May 19 — 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Harmony Hall. Ramapo History Week — The Sloatsburg Historical Society and Friends of Harmony Hall host the final day of Ramapo History Week with an afternoon of activities. The morning begins with a history scavenger hunt, where individuals and families will be challenged to answer a series of questions as they wander through historic Sloatsburg in search of clues. Participants will arrive back at Harmony Hall, with answers in hand, to enjoy a day of old-fashion lawn games, house tours and a series of lectures about the historic Ramapo Pass.

Ramapo History Week takes place this week as part of New York State Heritage Weekend. All noted events take place at Harmony Hall ~ Jacob Sloat House, Sloatsburg. For more information, call  at (845) 712-5220. Harmony Hall ~ Jacob Sloat House is located at 15 Liberty Rock Road in Sloatsburg, NY.