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An Electrifying Afternoon: Meet Ben Franklin at New Windsor Cantonment
If you wear his bifocals, quote his almanac, carry his picture in your wallet (on a $100 bill) or enjoy your liberty, you should really get to know the most multi-talented of the founding fathers. When Benjamin Franklin visits New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site on Sunday, October 21 at 2pm you'll come face to face with a true American original. There'll be electricity in the air (but no charge) for this very special program sponsored by the Friends of the State Historic Sites of the Hudson Highlands, with light refreshments in front of a roaring fire in the Temple of Virtue.
225 years ago as General George Washington's Continental Army was setting up camp at the New Windsor Cantonment, Benjamin Franklin was in Paris simultaneously raising much need funds for America's war effort and trying to negotiate an end to the war.
Dr. Franklin will be portrayed by Jack Sherry, a Revolutionary War reenactor since 1980, and a history teacher at Paramus Catholic High School in New Jersey. Along with his wife Celeste, Jack has educated and entertained in a variety of programs at historic venues throughout the northeast bringing the heroes of long ago back to life as real flesh and blood people. For more information please call the Cantonment at (845) 561-1765.
The entertainment follows a very brief presentation by the Friends of the State Historic Sites of the Hudson Highlands (FSHSHH), partners in preservation with New Windsor Cantonment, Washington's Headquarters and Knox's Headquarters State Historic Sites. Throughout the year the FSHSHH raises awareness of historic preservation and funds for continuing educational programs and interpretive activities at the historic sites. Among the ongoing projects funded by the Friends are commissioning a professional historic gunsmith to repair and refine the muskets used at New Windsor Cantonment ensuring many years of safe and authentic presentations of soldiers' lives. Those very muskets will be demonstrated in a 1:30 program before the Friends presentation.
Located at 374 Route 300 in New Windsor, at the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site was the home to some 8,000 Continental Army soldiers and their families in the final year of the Revolutionary War, and now is the home of the new National Purple Heart Hall of Honor commemorating those who sacrificed life and limb in America's wars.
Friends members sponsor a free annual program for the public each Fall. Friends are admitted to this and other programs at no cost, and visitors can purchase a membership to ensure their free admission to a year's worth of exciting programs at nearby Knox's and Washington's Headquarters State Historic Sites. For more information please call (845) 561-1765.
New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site is part of a statewide system of parks, recreation areas and historic sites operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic and is administered by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. The Palisades Interstate Park Commission administers 27 parks, parkways and historic sites for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in New York as well as the Palisades Interstate Park and Parkway in New Jersey.
For more information about New York State Parks and Historic Sites and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, please visit the websites at www.nysparks.com and www.friendsofpalisades.org
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