Tag Archives: herkimer county historical society

Remember the Shop Crawl?

Posted on April 27, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Perhaps I can finally get around to covering part of my adventures on the Spring Shop Crawl last Saturday. I rather exhausted myself walking all around the village of Herkimer.  Shouldn’t I be building up my endurance with all the walks and runs I have been taking lately?  Perhaps I need healthier eating habits.  In any case, I will just mention a few of the fun places I stopped.

I think of it as my chair.

The first place I went was To Niche Their Own, to pick up my map and list of places to go as well as the little card I had to get punches on.  Then I went back home, because I realized I had forgotten my phone to take pictures with.   It’s not easy being me, but I get a lot of exercise.  This put me right near Herkimer County Historical Society, which regular readers know is one of my favorite places.  I put in for a drawing to win a book (I won!), purchased some post cards, and took a picture of Roxalana Druse’s rocking chair.  Long-time readers may recall I had to honor to portray Mrs. Druse in Roxy written by Jack Sherman and presented by Ilion Little Theatre in cooperation with the Historical Society in 2015.

Another favorite spot!

Naturally I stopped by Renewed & Rescued on Main Street.

A refreshing pause.

When I stopped home, I also picked up my address book and some post card stamps.  When I felt the need for a rest, I stopped by Java Shop, ordered a Dalgano, and wrote out a few of the post cards I had gotten at the Historical Society for my Saturday post card peeps.  It was the pause that refreshed.

As regular readers may recall, I spent last night trying to mystify supporters of the Herkimer County Historical Society with A Revolutionary Murder at Herkimer Elks Lodge.  I am still tired after the ordeal, although I believe it was a successful event.  However, I see I am over 300 words, so I say score!  I hope you are all having a delightful Sunday.

 

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Mysteries are Murder

Posted on April 26, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am having rather a Wrist to Forehead Saturday.  It is the day of our murder mystery, A Revolutionary Murder, which we are presenting to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society, and not surprisingly, I am quite nervous and absolutely certain that I have not done everything possible to ensure the success of the evening.

It is rather a ridiculous state of mind, I know.  Even if everything goes wrong, which is extremely unlikely, odds are very good that the audience will be entertained and the Historical Society will make some money.  Things to not have to be perfect to be a success.

This was a lovely evening!

For example, here is the cast of Fabulous and Fatal, which we did in 2019.  On the night of the performance one actor suddenly dropped out of the production, and I had to do some fancy re-writing.  Then I forgot a major prop at home.  And yet, everybody had a delightful time.

Another suspicious-looking bunch.

A G.R.A.V.E. Murder was another production that had problems.  The space turned out to be too big for the entire audience to hear.  We had a cordless microphone, which we passed around with some success.  When we did the question and answer part, I ran around the audience with the microphone.  Pretty good trick in high-heeled sandals.  I wouldn’t try it tonight!

Come to think of it, I have yet to decide which shoes I am wearing tonight.  I had better get back to dithering and being nervous.  I hope to refrain from swooning, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead.  For one reason, I do not have a chaise lounge to swoon upon.

 

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Did Somebody Say Murder?

Posted on April 22, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have actually been running around having lots of Mohawk Valley Adventures (alternating with periods of sitting on the couch saying, “I just can’t even!” but you’ll have that).  Yet I am going to do a fast Pre-Rehearsal Post, because I have a few more pre-rehearsal chores to do before, you know, rehearsal.   I suppose I am being a little too lenient with myself by using all the pictures I took during rehearsal last week, but I cannot pause to analyze my motivations now.

Obviously a dramatic moment!

Jerry loves to sing.  I always try to give him the part of a person who wants to do a musical, whether a musical is appropriate to the rest of the murder mystery or not.  You can do that when you write the thing.

Big gesture!

I thought our last rehearsal went really well.  People were really into character and interacting with each other a lot.  They praised my script, but really they are the ones that make it work.

What’s he laughing at?

I spent a good part of this afternoon making a prop: a note made of letters cut out of a magazine. Do you know what a pain in the butt that is?  I’m surprised at kidnappers or blackmailers who take all that trouble.

“Did somebody say… murder?”

OK, the caption isn’t really a line in the script; I just couldn’t think of anything else.  But I am over 225 words, so here is the plug:

A Revolutionary Murder, to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society, will be presented at Herkimer Elks Lodge, 124 Mary St., Saturday, April 25, doors open at 5, dinner at 6.  Tickets are $45 for individuals, $80 for couples, available at the historical society.

 

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Feeling Murderous on Lame Post Friday

Posted on April 18, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Decisions!  Choices!  If only dithering burned calories, how skinny I would be!  Never mind that, I want to make a blog post, Lame Post Friday or not and I decide to go with a Post-Rehearsal Post and share some pictures of last night’s rehearsal of A Revolutionary Murder, the murder mystery we are presenting to benefit Herkimer County Historical Society next Saturday.  We had a fun rehearsal and I am greatly optimistic about the performance.

That face!

Regular readers may recognize some of the actors from previous murder mysteries.  I do love my regulars!  This time I also have two people I have worked with on other plays, and they are doing marvelously.

She is setting them straight on a few things.

One of my actresses showed up in a spangly gown she intends to wear as her costume.  I love it!  Costume does help one get into character.  I at least try to wear the shoes I intend to have on.

A wider shot.

As you may notice, we are rehearsing in Herkimer Elks Lodge,  where the performance will take place.  The Elks are very generous with letting us use their space.  It is so helpful to rehearse where we will actually perform.  Additionally, I like to purchase a glass of wine after rehearsal.

Almost everybody is in this shot!

I guess I have not said much about the mystery, but I feel this is all to the good.  I would not want to give away any salient plot points; I like my audience to be surprised.

A Revolutionary Murder will be presented Saturday, April 25 at Herkimer Elks Lodge, 124 Mary St., Herkimer, NY, doors open at 5, dinner at 6.  Tickets are $45 for individuals, $80 per couple, available at the Historical Society at 406 Main St., Herkimer, or at the Elks Lodge.

 

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Ah, Murder In Springtime!

Posted on April 12, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been at the Herkimer County Historical Society twice in the last two days concerning the next murder mystery, A Revolutionary Murder, which will be presented on Saturday, April 25 to benefit the Historical Society. I thought I might give a little teaser about that.

Wednesday when I stopped by, it was for dramatic purposes.  Without going into too much detail, a character reports that a cell phone was blown clear and landed in a bush.  In fiction (and probably real life too, but I don’t know too much about that), it is nice to be exact. Not just “a bush” but “an azalea bush” or “a hydrangea bush.”  So I stopped to ask what kind of bush grows around the historical society.

Oh, no, not that kind of bush!

I guess by two weeks from now the bushes will not really be that far along, but I hardly think the audience will call me out on that.  Several bushes that will be there as spring and summer wear on, and I think I am going to settle on Bleeding Heart, just for the reference to blood (you should see the fliers!) (which you can see on the Historical Society’s Facebook page).

Aren’t they cute?

Yesterday I stopped by to see if they had some tickets I could bring to the Elks Lodge, in case any members wanted to purchase them.  On the way out, I took the two pictures I just used as illustrations.  I mostly took them because I tend to take pictures of everything I see growing.  I try not to let winter drag me down, but oh, do I love the rebirth of spring!

Funny to be enjoying rebirth when I am about to kill somebody off for fun and non-profit, but so it is.  A Revolutionary Murder will be presented Saturday, April 25 at the Herkimer Elks Lodge, 124 Mary St., Herkimer, NY, doors open at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m.  Tickets are $45 for individuals, $80 per couple, available at the Historical Society, 315-866-6413.

 

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2025 Was a Dramatic Year!

Posted on January 1, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought for a New Year’s Eve post I would do a review of my year in blogging.  I just looked back over my posts from January to now, and I realized: I will probably leave a lot out.  I also realized I had a pretty good theatre year, so I will concentrate on 2025 theatrical triumphs.  I should have started this days ago and written about my year in running, business shout-outs, family fun, etc.  Never mind. On with the post.

A great cast! I hope to work with them again (Preview of Coming Attractions).

January saw me reviving Curtains for Frangelica, the murder mystery we did in October 2024 to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I am currently writing a new murder mystery for this spring.  We did two performances, set up by a cast member.  It made for some interesting blog posts.

Everybody was pretty glad when I got bumped off.

In February I auditioned for a real play: Prescription: Murder at Ilion Little Theatre (ILT).  I got the part I wanted:  the overbearing wife who gets murdered.  It was a wonderful experience, with a great cast and crew.  I hope to audition at ILT again in 2026.

A suspicious-looking bunch indeed.

We did two performances of Recipe for Murder Royale, which was inspired by the cookbook published by Herkimer County Historical Society.  We performed it first at Salisbury Grange, then again the Herkimer Elks Lodge to benefit the Historical Society.  As you may notice, there were a couple of the same actors who helped off Frangelica as well as a couple of newcomers.  They were all delightful.

One of my more dramatic moments.

It was hard to pick a shot of Four Old Broads on the High Seas to share, but I finally settled on one showing all four broads, with me diva-ing it up in front.  This was my first play with Players of Utica, although a few of my ILT buddies were also involved.  This was in July.  Since I have done little theatre since, I see why I was thinking I hadn’t done anything in a while.

However, looking back, I see that I have been lucky enough to do quite a bit of theatre in the past year.  Community theatre is one of my passions.  As I mentioned, I hope to do more in 2026.  I’ll be sure to blog about it when I do!

 

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I Have No Defense

Posted on December 17, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, I did it again.  I went three whole days without posting. In my defense…

The three words that best describe me are as follows, and I quote…

I guess it isn’t really a defense, but I have been running around like I have health, energy, and ambition (I bet you thought I was going to say, “like  a chicken with its head cut off”) (you know who you are).  Saturday I ran the Reindeer Run 5K on unreliable streets in Little Falls.  After returning home to shower, I went to Ilion to take a picture of the Frosty Forest at their Municipal Hall, a fundraiser for Hoffman Wellness Center.  I wrote a quick blurb for Sentinel Media (must also do a blog post), which I emailed out.  Next I went to the cookie sale at Herkimer County Historical Society, because, well, cookies.  I had a very nice visit there with a couple of my favorite volunteers.

Finally I went to the Elks Lodge where I donated a few canned goods to Feed Our Vets and watched part of the Army/Navy football game. I wore my Army shirt, just to harass a couple of Navy vets I’m friends with.  Once of them did an end run around me, though, and wore Army stuff.  He served in both branches.

Sunday I was up early and off to Herkimer High School to volunteer for the Elks Hoop Shoot, a nation-wide foul shot contest.  That was a little nerve-wracking, because I had to pay close attention as one of the score-keepers.  I am not so good with numbers.

So it has been a weekend of lots to blog about but no time to blog.  You may be tempted to point out that today is Tuesday, and I had all day Monday to write numerous blog posts.  You are, of course, at liberty to point out whatever you would like.  I did a few things Monday, as it happens, but I feel I have blathered on for long enough.  I am going to bill this as a Tired Tuesday post and feel justified in doing so.

Bunny looks interested in hearing whatever I have to say.

I close with a picture of the bunny from Herkimer County Humane Society, because I like that bunny.

 

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Walk, then Wrist

Posted on November 9, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh well, I thought it had been another week since I last posted, but it seems it is a matter of three days only.  I’m not sure what malaise I suffer, but let us not worry about it, shall we?  For one reason, I ought not encourage myself to whine over my real or imagined ills.

Still there! Still red!

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  I fear this will be a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  For one reason, it is Sunday.  For another, well, I said I ought not encourage myself to whine, but I admit I tend to do so with little or no encouragement.  I took that picture yesterday when I went for a walk.  That tree has been cheering me up for some time now.  I am impressed by how long the bright leaves have lasted.  Yesterday’s walk cheered me up, too.  Exercise is a magic elixir, I find.

A local landmark.

This was the other picture I took on yesterday’s walk.  It is now an apartment building, but it was the Margaret Tuger School, remembered by some of Herkimer’s older residents.  They brag about being paddled by Ms. Tuger.  I first heard of her when I saw her portrait at the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I was fired with ambition to write a biography about her.  Unfortunately, I had no idea how to research and write a biography.  I still don’t, but I love to read them.

In addition to my walk, I went to a rummage sale at Herkimer Reformed Church yesterday.  I thought of going to a tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor, but my steps took me in another direction.  So I did at least three blogworthy activities yesterday.  I will content myself with this Pedestrian Post, and hope to post again before another three days pass.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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I Wouldn’t Waste an Axe Murderess, Would I?

Posted on October 9, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Regular readers may have noticed that daily blogging continues to elude me.  Ooh, there’s a slimy passive-voice way to put it, as if I am pursuing the goal, but the goal is too clever for me, when the fact is that it is my own efforts that fall short.  You can call me out on that if you like, but you see I have already admitted the fault.  In any case, having missed posting Sunday and Monday but refraining from calling attention to the fact (till just now), I sit on my couch on Thursday morning preparing to make a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post.

Full disclosure: I did not look like this when I played Roxy.

You can’t read her name tag, but it says “Roxy.”  It is Roxalana Druse, who famously killed her husband and was hanged behind the 1843 Herkimer Jail in 1887.  I had the honor of playing Roxy in the play of that name presented by the Herkimer County Historical Society and Ilion Little Theatre in 2015 (long-time readers may have read some of my blog posts about it).  This Roxy is in Renewed and Rescued at Mohawk Valley Community Market.  I stopped in briefly yesterday but must return for a longer visit (preview of coming attractions).

Just hanging out!

Here is a friendly-looking fellow I encountered one of the mornings I was out looking for pictures to go with one of my Village Board stories for Sentinel Media.  I adore Halloween decorations!  I should take some more pictures and do a blog post of them (another preview of coming attractions?)

This woman did not kill her husband.

I guess I am veering into Non-Sequitur Thursday territory after an ax murderess and a skeleton.  This is Michelle, one of the bartenders at the Herkimer Elks Lodge wearing my tiara.  I wore it for a play I was in last summer (Four Old Broads on the High Seas, perhaps you read some of my blog posts about it).  I happened to wear it to the Lodge one day, I forget why, and Michelle wanted to pose with it.

Ooh, look at me, over 350 words.  I’m almost through my second cup of coffee too.  Time to go for my run.  The East Herkimer Fire Department 5K is Saturday.  I fear I have not been posting nearly enough about that!  Well, as I said in the first paragraph, I have not been posting enough period, at least by my standards for me.  But I thank you for tuning in when I do.

 

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What Is It With Me and Theatre?

Posted on June 7, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes, it is Lame Post Friday again, the day of random observations and half-baked philosophy.  The day where I get silly for about 200 words then dive into the weekend.  Once again, I look to my Media Library for inspiration.

This is NOT what my hair looks like now.

This is me as seen on stage in Prescription: Murder at Ilion Little Theatre.  Actually the last view of me on stage was my awesome slipper sticking out from behind the couch after my husband had strangled me, the bastard.

Me dead. You would think the murderer would have looked happier; I was pretty annoying.

However, I did not want this to be another theatre throwback (not that there’s anything wrong with that), so I will look for a different sort of picture.

I should cook more recipes.

I just found my copy of this cookbook underneath my coffee table.  I do not know how it got there.  It is the cookbook put out by Herkimer County Historical Society, and the inspiration for my murder mystery, Recipe for Murder Royale.   Oops, I am back to talking about theatre.

Love the mustache.

You may think I am getting away from theatre with a shot (literally) at the Elks Club in Herkimer, BUT…  to begin with, many of my murder mysteries have been performed there; this was a shot of Frangelico in a Frangelico glass, the inspiration for one of my all-time favorite character names, Frangelica Inferno; AND the shot glass reminds me of a glass that was a present from  cast of a stage play I directed that later figured in a murder mystery for Herkimer County Historical Society.

So I have walked down Theatre Memory Lame and plugged Herkimer Elks and Historical Society.  I think I’ve earned my Happy Hour beverage.

 

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