named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Blueberry Festival
Annual event featuring craft demonstrations, live music, children's activities, antiques vendors, and a pancake breakfast to raise funds and engage the community.
Historic Site and Museum Tours
Self-guided and docent-led exploration of preserved and relocated historic buildings including the Austerlitz Schoolhouse, Christian Church, and Morey-Devereaux House.
Robert Engel Blacksmith Shop
Active working blacksmith shop where local artisans practice and demonstrate traditional metalworking crafts.
The Shop at Old Austerlitz
Seasonal retail space offering antiques, vintage and contemporary jewelry, art, and locally made products to support the society's mission.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
-
Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 2 activities
- Active preservation of traditional craftsMaintains the Robert Engel Blacksmith Shop (1850s) as an active site where local blacksmiths practice traditional metalworking, demonstrating historic techniques as part of living history programming.
- Preservation and interpretation of historic buildings and sitesPreserves, protects, and interprets historic structures in Austerlitz, including the 1814 Austerlitz School House, the Morey-Devereaux House (c. 1794), the Harvey House relocated from Connecticut, the Austerlitz Christian Church (1853), and other 18th- and 19th-century homes and barns, maintaining them as museum spaces, exhibit areas, and cultural venues.
-
-
Local History Preservation and Education 2 activities
- Hosting public educational programsOrganizes and facilitates educational initiatives such as lecture series and history-based workshops focused on the history of Austerlitz and the surrounding community.
- Operation of museum collections and exhibitsMounts exhibits, maintains historical collections, and operates a research library at the Morey-Devereaux House, with volunteer docents providing guided access to period rooms and curated displays.
-
-
Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Annual Blueberry Festival operationsHosts the annual Blueberry Festival regardless of weather conditions, featuring 19th-century craft demonstrations, antiques, artists, children's activities, live music, blueberry pancakes, and serves as a major fundraising event for the organization.
-
-
Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
- Operation of retail shop featuring local goods and antiquesOperates a retail shop offering antiques, jewelry, art, and locally made goods celebrating local history and creativity, located in the repurposed Harvey House and open seasonally, including during the Blueberry Festival.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Historical research and publicationConducts original historical research, including documentation of approximately 160 historic houses from the 1888 town atlas published in “The Old Houses of Austerlitz,” and authored articles such as 'The Secrets Behind The Walls, Old Austerlitz' published in April 2025.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$228K
Contributions & grants$78K34%
Program service revenue$73K32%
Investment income$76K34%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$176K
Program expenses54%
Admin / overhead44%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$34K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$1.32M
Cash$252K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1K
Net assets$1.32M
Liquid reserves17.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -45.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 11
- BARBARA PERLMUTTER — TRUSTEE
- BARBARA SMITH — TRUSTEE
- DAVID HARRISON — TRUSTEE
- ELIZABETH GARGER — TRUSTEE
- JEFF O'DONNELL — TRUSTEE
- LYNNE O'CONNELL — TRUSTEE
- MAUREEN WILSON — TRUSTEE
- PENNY METSCH — TRUSTEE
- TIM HAWLEY — TRUSTEE
- TOM MORELAND — TRUSTEE
- WENDY DISKIN — TRUSTEE
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- American Pie Partner — Auction item donor to the Austerlitz Historical Society
- Board of Trustees of the Old Austerlitz Historical Society Coalition — Group of dedicated individuals supporting the mission to preserve and protect Austerlitz history.
- Callander’s Nursery Partner — Auction item donor to the Austerlitz Historical Society
- Corporate Sponsors Partner — Receives sponsorship support from corporate partners for the Blueberry Festival.
- Herrington’s Partner — Supporting Level underwriter for the Austerlitz Historical Society in 2026
- Hudson Connection Partner — Partnered to publish an article on the history of Old Austerlitz.
- Kneller Insurance Partner — Supporting Level underwriter for the Austerlitz Historical Society in 2026
- Madsen Overhead Door Partner — Supporting Level underwriter for the Austerlitz Historical Society in 2026
- Metz Wood Insurance Partner — Supporting Level underwriter for the Austerlitz Historical Society in 2026
- Miller-Wilkins Partner — Supporting Level underwriter for the Austerlitz Historical Society in 2026
- Museum, Library & Archives Committee Partner — Collaborates with the Historic Research Committee to preserve and present historical materials to the public.
- R H. Van Alstyne Fine Jewelry Partner — Auction item donor to the Austerlitz Historical Society
- Robert Herron Trust Partner — Co-manages the Varney House, a historic property with period furnishings and former site of the Austerlitz Post Office.
- Walter Fleming Tinsmith Partner — Auction item donor to the Austerlitz Historical Society
- Ward’s Nursery Partner — Auction item donor to the Austerlitz Historical Society
- Wenk Funeral Home Partner — Supporting Level underwriter for the Austerlitz Historical Society in 2026
strategies · 2
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.
- Heritage Preservation Fosters Civic Pridemethodology: civic-engagement-through-heritageBy preserving and interpreting local history, the organization produces stronger community identity and civic pride, because shared heritage creates a sense of belonging and value in the community.
- Immersive and Experiential Engagement with Historymethodology: immersive_historical_experienceBy using historical reenactments, craft demonstrations, and access to rural landscapes, the organization produces deeper public engagement with local history, because experiential and sensory participation fosters reflective learning and emotional connection.