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DRYDEN TOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Dryden, NY · EIN 161182123 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE A80 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · drydennyhistory.org
revenue
$50K
expenses
$63K
net assets
$809K
employees
0
volunteers
25
program ratio
100%
mission · from form 990

THE DISCOVERY, PRESERVATION AND DISSEMINATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF DRYDEN IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Dryden Town Historical Society preserves and shares the history of Dryden, New York, through research, storytelling, and restoration projects. It maintains historical sites such as the Southworth House and barn, and publishes articles on local figures and events from the 18th and 19th centuries. The organization engages the community through newsletters, historical narratives, and preservation efforts centered in Dryden, NY.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Historical Research and Publications
Produces in-depth historical articles on local figures such as Edward Griswold and early surveyors, published in newsletters and on the society’s website
Pioneer Cemetery Preservation
Efforts to maintain and restore the Pioneer Cemetery, originally established with land donated by Edward Griswold and restored in 1966 by local historians
Southworth House Barn Restoration
Restoration of a 19th-century barn at the Southworth House property, including discovery and documentation of historical features such as a children's hideout room
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Local History Museum Operations 2 activities
    • Managing and stewarding the Southworth Homestead historic site
      Acquired the Southworth Homestead in 2012 through a bequest, including family artifacts and historic furnishings, and operates it as a historic site with public and private guided tours.
    • Operating public open hours at the History House and Southworth House
      Operates the History House and Southworth House as historic sites with regular public hours on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as on Tuesdays at the Southworth House, and offers by-appointment access.
  • Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
    • Conducting historic site preservation and restoration projects
      Undertakes ongoing restoration and improvement projects at the Southworth Homestead, including the reconstruction of a 19th-century barn, construction of a historically accurate west exterior stair, installation of shutters, paving of driveways, and planting of 26 trees.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Hosting annual community events and heritage fairs
      Hosts recurring public events including Dryden Dairy Day on June 13, the four-day Tent Sale (OP Sale) from June 17 to 20, and the Homestead Heritage Fair Day on September 19 each year to engage the community in local history.
  • Local History Archival Access 1 activity
    • Preserving and providing access to historical collections and archives
      Maintains and provides public access to a growing archival collection of historical objects, documents, photographs, genealogical materials, books, textiles, tools, and paintings for research and educational purposes.
  • Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
    • Providing public education and outreach programs
      Hosts guided walking tours, delivers slide talks to schools and community organizations, and offers public programs and exhibits at the History House and Southworth House to promote awareness of local history.
  • Local History Publishing 1 activity
    • Publishing historical research and local history works
      Produces and publishes quarterly newsletters continuously since 1981 and has published multiple historical and historical fiction works, including "Dryden’s Second Hundred Years (Part II)", "The Last Flight of El Flako", and "Gabriel, A Novel of The American Civil War".
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$50K
Contributions & grants$41K81%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$2K4%
Other revenue$7K
expenses
Total expenses$63K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$809K
Cash$52K
Investments$13K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$809K
Liquid reserves12.4 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -17.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 6
  • Ann Zwart — Trustee
  • Armida De Angelo — Trustee
  • Bob Slocum — Trustee
  • Cindy Kjellander-Cantu — Trustee
  • Steve Bissen — Trustee
  • Sue Morrie — Trustee
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • Brewster and Company Partner — Hired to restore the barn at the Southworth Homestead using U.S. Secretary of the Interior Standards
  • Chris Lowe Partner — Master carpenter who built the west exterior stair and repaired millwork at the Southworth Homestead
  • Crawford and Stearns Architects and Preservation Planners Partner — Hired to prepare a Condition Assessment Report for the Southworth Homestead
  • Cynthia Cantu Partner — Provided a drawing used in the organization's materials.
  • Dan Krall Partner — Professor emeritus in Landscape Architecture at Cornell who provided pro bono design guidance for the tree planting plan at the Homestead
  • David Waterman Partner — Author of historical articles about Edward Griswold and the surveying of Dryden Military Lots for the Historical Society's newsletter.
  • Jeff Walden Partner — Contractor from Walden Works Construction who installed shutters and maintained window trim at the Southworth Homestead
  • Michael E. Lane Partner — Author of a personal recollection about childhood games at The Southworth House, published by the Historical Society.
  • NYTOMP KI Hecht Map Index Partner — Hosts historical maps of the Town of Dryden referenced by the society.
  • PayPal Partner — Partnered with PayPal to process donations and membership payments.
  • Rebecca Southworth Simpson Partner — Bequeathed the Southworth Homestead to the Dryden Town Historical Society.
  • State of New York Education Department Government — Chartered the Dryden Town Historical Society as a nonprofit organization.
  • Town of Dryden Government — Provides official town maps used in historical resources.
  • WestLake Conservators Partner — Collaborates with conservators to restore historic features, including the scenic French wallpaper in the Southworth House parlor.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Driven Restoration Model
    methodology: community_driven_restoration
    By combining expert craftwork, volunteer labor, and community support in restoration projects, the organization preserves historic structures while fostering local ownership and engagement, because inclusive participation strengthens both social investment and preservation outcomes.
  • Historic House Museum as Educational Interface
    methodology: historic_house_museum
    By maintaining a historic family home with original artifacts and period features, the organization makes local history tangible and accessible, because immersive, place-based interpretation deepens public connection and learning more than abstract narratives alone.
  • Three-Part Preservation and Dissemination Framework
    methodology: historical_preservation_and_education
    By systematically discovering, preserving, and disseminating local historical knowledge, the organization ensures both the integrity of historical assets and broad community access to them, because structured stewardship increases public understanding and long-term sustainability of heritage resources.