Welcome to the “New” Fort Delaware

Article by John Conway Photos by Jerry Cohen

ort Delaware Museum of Colonial History in

Narrowsburg, New York has become a fixture for living history programs since its founding in 1957 by former Sullivan County Historian James W. Burbank. The 2022 season at the Fort will mark the beginning of a new era, as the Barryville-based non-profit history education group, The Delaware Company has assumed operation. The Fort remains under the ownership of Sullivan County. Fort Delaware, located on the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway at 6615 State Route 97 in Narrowsburg, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays in May, June, September and October, and Thursday thru Sunday in July and August. The Fort is also open on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

FSullivan County Historian and Delaware Company President John Conway is overseeing the programming at the Fort and the day-to-day operations are under the supervision of Fort Director Callison Stratton and Assistant Director Alexis Patterson, along with a staff of talented and well-trained docents. The Delaware Company and its staff have implemented a number of innovative concepts at Fort Delaware this year, including the Bold Gold Media Speaker Series, which will feature special presentations on various topics throughout the summer. “Fort Delaware After Dark,” is a brand new concept that will be staged occasionally, offering music, food, and fun activities in the evening after the Fort has closed for the day. And, the “Cushetunk Kids Club” will provide

youngsters an opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of the Cushetunk settlement with different hands-on activities each week through which they will learn many of the life skills colonial settlers needed in order to survive. Details on all of these programs are available on the Delaware Company website, thedelawarecompany. org and on its Facebook page @TheDelCo.

Events at the Fort

Monday, July 4

Celebrate Independence Day with the residents of the Cushetunk settlement and learn about the radically different political views that divided the settlement during the years leading up to the War of Independence as Sullivan County Historian John Conway presents “Revolutionary Neighbors.”

Saturday, July 9 “Patriots and Loyalists: The Declaration of Independence in the Upper Delaware Valley” featuring a reading aloud of the Declaration, followed by a Tory response by one of Cushetunk’s leading citizens, Magistrate Robert Land. Other activities and music by Linda Russell.

Sunday, July 10

The Bold Gold Media Speaker Series presents re-enactor Noah Lewis as African American Revolutionary War soldier, Ned Hector. “African Americans in the Revolutionary War.”

Saturday, July 23

Activities at Fort Delaware will coincide with the annual commemoration of the Battle of Minisink at the Minisink Battleground Park, which begins at 4 p.m.

Saturday, August 6

The Bold Gold Media Speaker Series presents Noah Lewis as Ned Hector with a program on African Americans in Colonial America.

Saturday, August 20

The Bold Gold Media Speaker Series presents “A Disappearing Country” a presentation by Drew Shuptar Rayvis on the Lenape’s changing world in the middle years of the 18th century.

Saturday, September 3

The Bold Gold Media Speaker Series presents “The Cushetunk Spy: The Story of Robert Land” by Sullivan County Historian John Conway.

Saturday, October 15 (tentative), 6 p.m.

The Haunted History Lantern Tour: Who Killed Joseph Skinner and Other Ghost Stories of the Upper Delaware.”