History class seizes Graham-Brush House for re-enactment

PINE PLAINS — The Stissing Mountain High School military history class participated in a military re-enactment at the Graham-Brush House on Thursday, Nov. 3.“It’s really just a blast,” said Stissing Mountain senior David Leach, who also participates in Civil War re-enactments outside of class. Leach acted as the first sergeant of the company.Led by their teacher, Neil Murray, the students marched from the high school and took over the Graham-Brush house, a civilian residence, just as soldiers would have done during the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War, the two main wars that the students studied in class.Once they secured the house, they pitched tents, built authentic defensive reinforcements, played traditional games, practiced military maneuvers and ate a historic meal.“Today is the culmination of the things they studied,” explained Murray.During the marching practices, Leach yelled orders to the ranks and dealt harsh discipline against anyone who disobeyed. In the rear, a student carried a handmade flag while a flutist and a drummer played music for their fellow soldiers to march by.“Instead of just reading about history, they’re living it. They’re experiencing it,” said Murray, who thinks this is the best way to learn.Murray went on to say the most rewarding part of the day is to see the students enjoying the history lesson instead of struggling through it.The students were dressed in authentic military uniforms borrowed from the Living History Education Foundation and were visited by a horse from Castlegate Farm that was owned by one of the participating students.The Graham-Brush House, located in the heart of Pine Plains, was built and lived in during the wars that the students studied in class, so Murray thought it would be the perfect location for the re-enactment.The students received a tour of the house and listened to Scott Chase, a member of the Little Nine Partners Historical Society that restored the house, explain the building’s history and military importance.Murray said he appreciated the generosity of the historical society for allowing him and his class to take advantage of the historical community resource.Although this was the first time that Murray included a re-enactment as part of his military history class, he plans on continuing the event in future classes.

Latest News

Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less