Thanks to the hard work of many people and the cooperation of numerous organizations, Berne Heritage Days, held over Labor Day weekend 2002, was a great success.

Heritage Days began Friday, 30 October, with planned visits for about 25 or so out-of-town visitors to the NYS Archives and Library, the Old Stone Fort in Schoharie, and the LDS Family History Center in Central Springs.

For local and area visitors there were many activities at the Hilltowns Seniors' Center in Berne: Charles Bassler displayed his arrowhead collection, Kathy Shultes demonstrated bookbinding, Warner's Lake Improvement Association had a display of old postcards from East Berne and the lake, Chelsie Miller and her mother Sandy had a "Berne: Then and Now" photo exhibit of old local buildings, and many local families lent for exhibit their cherished family bibles, photo albums, and scrapbooks. Bill Barker, Old Stone Fort, and Kinship Press had sales tables of books on genealogy, church records, and area history, plus reproduction area town maps by Heritage Ink. Bernadette's Catholic Church provided breakfasts and lunches at the Senior Center.

There was a full house Friday afternoon for William V. H. Barker's lecture on Genealogy. Bill is the author of "Early Families of Schoharie." He was followed by a very interesting talk by Terrell Shoultes on his 27 years of researching his Berne ancestors. Terry, a volunteer with the Berne Historical Project, was born in Owego, NY but now lives in Florida.

Friday evening began with a Get-Acquainted Social Hour at the Seniors' Center. This was followed by the Heritage Days Banquet, which was a delicious ham supper provided by the Berne Reformed Church. After the meal, Ralph Miller, Historian for the Town of Berne, introduced the guests at the head table. Out-of-town visitors then stood and introduced themselves. Kevin Crosier, Town Supervisor, next read a Town Board proclamation proclaiming August 30 through September 2, 2002, Berne Heritage Days within the Town of Berne.

Ralph Miller told about his starting the Berne Families Genealogy a decade ago. He then introduced his brother Harold, who along with Barbara Bolster-Barrett, Darin Flansburgh, and Gordon and Joan Wright, who last year started the Berne Historical Project. Harold introduced his 9-year old niece Chelsie Miller, who with the help of her mother Sandy, produced a photo exhibit called Berne: Then and Now, contrasting photographs of existing Berne buildings with similar shots taken decades ago. This is the prototype of a Heritage Homes Project to photographically document early Berne homes, especially those on Beers 1866 map of Berne.

Barbara Bolster-Barrett next presented a short video showing the deplorable condition of some of Berne's historic early cemeteries, and explained our planned cemetery restoration project. Terry Shoultes then gave a short talk, followed by our main speaker, Bill Barker.

Saturday began with town-wide garage sales organized by the Berne Ladies Auxiliary. It was so successful that it was difficult to get though the village because of the traffic. The Berne Historical Society organized a series of Driving Tours to local historical sites, churches and cemeteries, and opened the their museum featuring 10 Rooms of History. The Berne Library was also open with story telling based on early Berne History followed by an Ice Cream Social.

All day Saturday there were numerous activities at the Town Park, including a demonstration by the Golden Fleece Spinners' and Weavers' Guild, Marty Milner - the blacksmith, Art Thorman - the tin smith, Joe Duclos - the Shaker cabinet maker, Pete Bassler - the dowser, and Bill Massoth - Colonial cooking. In the afternoon the Hilltown Players presented a very moving dramatization of the Anti-Rent Wars. The Hilltown HillBillies and the White Wolves 4-H Clubs organized old-fashioned games for the kids including tug of war, sack races, block walking, and stilts. Penny Shaw led a story telling hour. Next came a chicken barbeque, followed by music from the Hilltown Ramblers. Everyone enjoyed the pie-eating contests, first for kids, then for adults, with hands behind the backs of the contestants. At the park amphitheater the Christian dance group Sweet Incense presented a beautiful program. The evening ended with fireworks provided by the Town.

Following Sunday morning church services, over 75 volunteers, inlcuding numerous Boy Scouts and many out-of-town descendants of Berne ancestors, turned out at Pine Grove Cemetery to work on the first cemetery restoration project organized by the Berne Historical Project. The Town provided a portable toilet, the Road Department provided gravel and tools, and Maver Becker furnished four loads of topsoil. Just before lunch-break there was a dedication of a NYS Historical Marker commemorating the site as that of the earliest Lutheran Church in Berne, organized in 1790. After a community picnic in the pine grove, many tired volunteers resumed their work. Over 90 fallen stones, many of which were unearthed earlier that morning, were re-erected.

The Berne Historical Project raised about $700. These funds, held by the Town Historian, will be used to:

1) enhance the Berne Families Genealogy

2) buy materials for tombstone repairs for the Cemetery Restoration Project; and

3) purchase a digital camera for use in the Heritage Homes Project to photograph historic Berne homes and headstones for posting on the Berne Site.

An anonymous donor pledged $250 towards the purchase of the camera. Funds have also been pledged for the restoration of Turner Burying Ground, which will be the next cemetery restoration project.

The Town is enthusiastic about repeating Heritage Days next summer on the same Labor Day weekend. We propose to incorporate into the weekend a Heritage Homes and Garden Tour, opening for the first time historic Berne homes to the public for a few hours. There will also be a competition for the most beautiful late summer garden in two categories: private homes, and business / organization.

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Harold Miller

Berne Historical Project www.bernehistory.org