Shushan’s unique museums
And details on the Class D Super Bowl
Thinking of going to the big game on Saturday? Here are the details:
Class D Regional Super Bowl
Greenwich Witches vs. Cambridge/Salem
Date & Time: Saturday, November 16th at 12:00 PM
Neutral Location: Schuylerville High School
Ticket Information:
• Tickets must be purchased online through the Section 2 GoFan page: https://gofan.co/event/1658967?schoolId=NYSPHSAAII. There will be a QR Code accessible at the ticket gate to purchase the tickets on site.
• No cash sales at the gate.
• Ticket Price: $6.00
• GoFan Processing Fees: $1.30 ($1.00 + 5% fee)
• Total Price per Ticket: $7.30
Concessions:
Food and beverages will be available on the north end of the high school, with restrooms conveniently located nearby.
This is considered the Class D regional Super Bowl.
Shushan’s unique museums
By Kim West
Special to Journal & Press
Shushan, New York. Besides being a quaint little town whose name is the only “Shushan” in the United States, it carries the distinction of having not one, but two museums: The Georgi Museum and Park Center and the Shushan Covered Bridge Museum.
PART ONE: THE GEORGI MUSEUM
In 1952 Maria and William Georgi bought the Battenkill river property from Clarence Jackson who had used it for a cow pasture. After the Georgis built a property fence, they sold the fishing rights to the state of New York and had a catwalk was built over the fence allowing locals to continue to use this spot on the river. Included in the fishermen was one old timer, Al Prindle, former postmaster in Shushan, a Norman Rockwell model, and an avid fly fisherman who had a fly named for him by locally renowned fly designer Lew Oatman as a tribute. The current version of this fly named “Shushan Postmaster Streamer” is still available online.
In 1955, a Mr. Erickson and his wife, built the house that currently stands on the property for their son, Henry Erickson, who never lived in it. Instead, the building was used to store Henry and, his wife, Jessie Georgi’s collections purchased during their travels throughout Europe soon after WWII. In the 1980’s Jessie, then Henry’s widow, moved into the home, making her the only Georgi to have resided there.
Before his death, Henry Erickson was an engineering geologist and collected minerals from as far away as South Africa. This collection was housed in the museum along with Italian, Dutch, German, Flemish and French paintings from the 14th through 18th centuries alongside Chinese and Asian tapestries, oriental figurines, and ornate stained-glass windows.
It had long been both Henry Erickson and Jessie Georgi Erickson’s wish to have the property given to the people of Shushan and the town of Salem. With this hope in mind, the museum and park center were established and bequeathed to the Town in 1989. Although owned and operated by the Town of Salem, The Georgi does not use any taxpayer money for upkeep and is solely reliant on donations, building and grounds rental income, and grants for its continued upkeep and maintenance.
In present day, The Georgi’s perennial gardens and beautifully landscaped lawns leading down to the Battenkill are often the site of wedding receptions as well as music and theatrical events. The site, with its playground, picnic tables, and benches are a wonderful place for a summer picnic or a swim in the cold waters of the Battenkill. For more information on Shushan’s The Georgi visit the website at thegeorgi.com or on the Facebook page.
PART TWO: THE COVERED BRIDGE MUSEUM to follow.
And Now for the Comics … “Broom Hilda” by Russell Myers
