Gleebe House Report

GLEBE HOUSE REPORT

The restoration of Glebe House as a community service and museum is almost complete. The interior of the house has been redecorated, the lighting completed, floors have been sanded and polished, the grey paint has been removed from the front stairs and upper landing, and the doors, in keeping with the period of the house, have been installed to close off the "new kitchen" unit. The shed on the east end of the house has been removed, but the ceiling planks and the three windows with heavy mutins have been saved as they were once part of the house itself and may be used in further restoration. The foundation of the "second kitchen" has been repaired to bring it up to proper level. The changes in the "second kitchen" include the restoration of the fireplace and the original shelf as well as the scraping down of the woodwork and the panelling. The overhead has been finished and a decision has been made to install random width pine flooring.

Open House at Christmas was a tremendous success, five hundred visitors coming to visit Glebe House during the afternoon. The traditional decorations were done again this year under the supervision of Mrs. Velma Pugsley, a member of the Friendship Garden Club of Clinton Corners and the committee included Mrs. Andrew L. Mund, Mrs. Robert R. Case, Mrs. Bruce E. LePage, Mrs. Hoyle H. Miller, Mrs. C. Robert Southworth, Mrs. Joseph F. Furlong and Mrs. Charles A. Mitchell. Entertainment was furnished by the Misses Elizabeth and Marion Lipschutz who played period music on recorders. The musicians were dressed in 18th Century costumes. Baltus B. Van Kleeck, president of the Historical Society, served as host for the Christmas open house and was assisted by Mrs. Lawrence A. Heaton, president of the Junior League, Frank V. Mylod and Edmund Van Wyck of the Historical Society.

Three thousand school children have visited Glebe House during the year and Mr. Wheeler, our caretaker, has proved a reliable, wellinformed guide. He is a valuable addition to Glebe House and is ready and willing whenever he is needed.

The City of Poughkeepsie has provided the house with a City flag and has had the New York State Historical marker moved to a more prominent spot in front of the house. Mr. John W. Nelson, Superintendent of Public Works of Poughkeepsie, has very enthusiastically cooperated with the Glebe House committee, and without his support and advice many of the improvements that have been undertaken would not have been accomplished.

The Poughkeepsie Garden Club has spent many hours cleaning, clearing and replanting. We now have a brick walk leading from the front gate to the back of the house. We have had a great deal of help in the outside restoration work from Mrs. Chalmer B. Strain, President of the Garden Club, Mrs. Walter W. Averill, Garden Club chairman of civic planting and planning, and Mrs. Herbert W. Saltford who acted as supervisor.

The Junior League and the Historical Society entertained Mayor

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Mitchell and the Board of Aldermen of Poughkeepsie at a Colonial Dutch d'nner at Glebe House on Monday evening, October 24, 1966. Mrs. Bruce E. LePage of the League and Mr. Frank V. Mylod of the Society served as co-chairmen of the dinner arrangements, and hostesses greeting the guests were Mrs. Peter R. Mund, Mrs. F. Robert Southworth, and Mrs. Lawrence A. Heaton.

After a delicious dinner prepared by members of the Junior League and served by League members in colonial costumes, Baltus B. Van Kleeck, president of the Historical Society, gave a brief history of Glebe House and outlined the aims and plans of the joint custodians, the League and the Society, to complete the restoration of the structure. Mr. Van Kleeck thanked the Mayor and the Aldermen for their continuing interest in Glebe House and for their support of the project. The guests made a thorough inspection of the building and indicated their approval of the work of restoration.

In addition to Mayor Mitchell the following aldermen were dinner guests: Mr. Thomas Milano, Mr. Frank P. Gannon, Mr. Samuel Amodeo, Mr. John Burke, Mr. Robert E. Doyle, Mr. Emil Tschudin, Jr., and Mr. William Delaney.

Mrs. LePage was assisted by Mrs. Charles A. Mitchell, Mrs. Joseph W. Emsley, Jr., Mrs. Herbert S. Roig, Mrs. William D. Knauss, Mrs. Hoyle H. Miller, Miss Valere S. Voorhees, Mrs. Herbert R. Van Ness, Jr., and Mrs. Raymond E. Billows, Jr.

Several important articles of furnishings have been received during the year for Glebe House. The gifts are as follows: Queen Anne mahogany chair, given by Mrs. Harry H. Hill 150-year-old counterpane, given by Mrs. G. H. Murray, in memory of Herbert I. Hall 3 Homespun blankets, given by Mrs. Eugene B. Krieger and Mrs. Richard A. Dwelley, in honor of their mother. Portrait of Elizabeh Crannell, wife of Dr. Peter Tappen and daughter of Bartholomew and Tryntje Van Kleeck Crannell, given by Mrs. Vernon 1VIunroe, a direct descendant. Arithmetic book published by Isaac T. Doughty in Poughkeepsie 1820 and used by William Bogardus, given by Charles B. Zipf of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Tailor's Thimble, 1831, used by James Bogardus, given by Mr. Zipf.

This has been a most gratifying year at Glebe House. Many of the repairs, improvements and restorations have finally reached completion. In conclusion may I extend sincere thanks and appreciation to the many who have been so helpful, especially Mrs. Peter Mund and her Junior League committee. Respectfully submitted, MARY V. SOUTHWORTH, Chairman Glebe House Committee for the Historical Society.

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