July Local History Book Club

July 9, 2025 Meeting of WCHS Local History Book Club

Washington County Historical Society’s Local History Book Club will meet from 12:30 to 1:30 PM on Wednesday, July 9, at the Civil War Recruitment Center, 55 Hartford Main Street, Hartford (formerly county route 23.) A tour of the site will be available after the session. The building is the only remaining Civil War recruitment center in New York State. It tells the story of the three-year 3000-mile journey of the 123rd regiment raised in Washington County.

The tour will include the town’s museum in the former Elisha Straight house, reportedly the oldest remaining house in the hamlet of Hartford. Both places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Historical society membership is not required for the book club.

Suggested reading includes Marching to Save a Nation by Jeffrey Jones (2007), Reminiscences of the 123rd Regiment by Henry C. Morhous (1879), or any other material about the Washington County regiment.

Future sessions of the club will include books about the larger Adirondack area as well as works by local authors. Upcoming topics include; the Battle of Bennington (fought in Waloomsac, New York); potato harvesting in Washington County; and Margaret Tilford, accused witch of Salem, NY. For additional information, email Connie Harris Farrington at Y29ubmllYW5kbGVlIHwgcm9hZHJ1bm5lciAhIGNvbQ==.