named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Digital Storymaps
Interactive online exhibits, such as the Summer 2025 Armenian history Storymap, that present historical content with images, maps, and narratives.
Historic Preservation Projects
Restoration and maintenance of historic sites including the 1913 Ulster & Delaware Train Station and installation of historical markers such as the one for Camp Jened.
Oral History Collection
Documentation of personal memories and cultural histories from long-time residents, such as interviews with Sonia “Siranoush” Hairabedian on Armenian heritage.
The Hemlock
Periodical publication featuring historical narratives, oral histories, and cultural stories of the Mountaintop region, including Armenian and Ukrainian diaspora communities.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Railroad and Canal Heritage Preservation 2 activities
- Operation of public campus and visitor facilitiesMaintains a 40-acre campus open year-round, including the Kaaterskill Rail Trail and viewing platform for Kaaterskill Falls. Operates a seasonal Visitors' Center and train station museum offering exhibits, visitor services, and sales, open weekends from June to October and based on volunteer availability.
- Preservation and restoration of historic sitesPreserves, restores, and maintains the 1913 Ulster & Delaware Train Station—the last restored rail station of 25 formerly in Greene County—as a museum and public venue. The organization also secured state funding for ongoing restoration and installed a historic marker recognizing Camp Jened’s role in disability rights history.
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Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
- Digital archiving and online content sharingDigitizes archival materials and shares them publicly via Flickr, YouTube, Facebook, and interactive Storymaps. Operates the 'Share Your Story' digital archive, which collects community-submitted photos, stories, and videos, expanding public access to regional history beyond physical visits.
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Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Educational programming and public engagementOffers guided hikes integrating local folklore, geology, and history; hosts monthly lectures with experts; conducts school programs; and leads workshops in genealogy and the humanities. Also responds to public inquiries and provides historical materials to external researchers and national publications such as National Geographic and The New York Times.
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Local History Archival Access 1 activity
- Management and public access to archival collectionsCollects, preserves, and provides public access to historical materials including paper documents, photographs, glass plate negatives (such as the Wiltse-Dunn and Bob Mazon Collections), family histories (Joan Brower and Wilma Kohler Collections), and fabric artifacts from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Materials are accessible by appointment and used in exhibitions, research, and educational programming.
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Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
- Oral history collection and disseminationConducts, transcribes, and publishes oral history interviews with residents and community members to preserve diverse personal experiences from the Mountain Top region, including Armenian American histories and topics like maple sugaring and local tragedies. These interviews are shared through publications like The Hemlock, blog posts, social media, and digital archives, continuing work initiated in the 1980s by founder Justine Hommel.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Publication of local history contentProduces and distributes a quarterly publication, The Hemlock, focused on regional history and culture, available in print to members and digitally via Storymaps and downloadable formats. Recent issues have highlighted Armenian American history and other community narratives.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$179K
Contributions & grants$171K96%
Program service revenue$1200%
Investment income$6K3%
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$105K
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$29K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$719K
Cash$327K
Investments$0
Liabilities$3K
Net assets$716K
Liquid reserves37.5 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +93.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 19
- Adrienne Larys — President thru August 2025
- Alexandra Prince served thru Januar — Director
- Bob Gildersleeve — Director - Emeritus July 2025
- Carli Gazoorian — Vice President
- Cynthia LaPierre — Director
- Debbie Fromer — Treasurer
- George Hewitt — Director
- George Van Dyke — President since August 2025
- Joanne Ainsworth — Corporate Secretary
- Johanna Titus — Director
- John Curran — Director thru July 2025
- John Fromer — Director
- Larry Gardner — Director
- Linda Geary — Membership Secretary
- Lynn Carlson — Director
- Michael Allegretti served thru Octo — Director
- Paul Slutzky — Director
- Reed Rubey — Director
- Ryan Penny — Director
relationships · 43
Who they work with
- Alexandra Prince Partner — Co-conducted a 2022 oral history interview with Roberta Christman on maple sugaring.
- Boardwalk Builders Partner — Business sponsor at the Patron level for 2025-2026
- Cyndi LaPierre Partner — Co-conducted a 2022 oral history interview with Roberta Christman on maple sugaring.
- Deer Mountain Inn Partner — Business sponsor at the Supporter level for 2025-2026
- Ethel & Orville Slutzky Family Foundation Trust Funder — Business sponsor at the Benefactor level for 2025-2026
- Facebook Partner — Shares archival content through the “Inside the Archives” series on the organization's Facebook page.
- Facebook Partner — Used as a platform to share the “Inside the Archives” series and engage with the public.
- Flickr Partner — Hosts digital scans of archival collections on the organization's public Flickr site.
- Google Network — Hosts archived issues of The Hemlock via Google Drive.
- Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District Partner — Partnered to extend the Kaaterskill Rail Trail onto MTHS campus.
- Haines Family Association Partner — Business sponsor at the Supporter level for 2025-2026
- Hunter Foundation, INC Funder — Business sponsor at the Benefactor level for 2025-2026
- Instagram Partner — Shares archival content through the “Inside the Archives” series on the organization's Instagram account.
- Instagram Partner — Used as a platform to share the “Inside the Archives” series and engage with the public.
- Joanne Ainsworth Partner — Conducted a 2022 oral history interview on behalf of MTHS about the exhumation at Haines Falls Cemetery.
- Justine Hommel Partner — Founder of MTHS and original interviewer whose 1980s oral history work is continued by the organization.
- KCK Paving Partner — Business sponsor at the Supporter level for 2025-2026
- Kaaterskill Rail Trail Partner — Collaborates on visitor services and public access.
- Marshall & Sterling Insurance Partner — Business sponsor at the Supporter level for 2025-2026
- NY/NJ Trail Conference Partner — Partnered to extend the Kaaterskill Rail Trail onto MTHS campus.
- NY/NJ Trail Conference Partner — Partnership with the NY/NJ Trail Conference regarding the Kaaterskill Rail Trail, referenced via linked URL (nynjtc.org/KRT).
- National Geographic Partner — Supplies historical materials and information to National Geographic for research and publication.
- National Park Service Government — Collaborates as part of the Hudson River School Art Trail to promote regional cultural and natural resources.
- Olana Partner — Collaborates as part of the Hudson River School Art Trail to promote regional cultural and natural resources.
- Open Space Institute Partner — Partnered to extend the Kaaterskill Rail Trail onto MTHS campus.
- Pancho Villa’s Mexican Restaurant Partner — Business sponsor at the Patron level for 2025-2026
- PayPal Partner — Platform used for processing tax-deductible donations.
- Peace Village Partner — Business sponsor at the Supporter level for 2025-2026
- RoseHaven Inn Partner — Business sponsor at the Supporter level for 2025-2026
- Shirley and Gerald Dunn Partner — Donated a collection of 42 glass plate negatives taken by Oscar Showers in the early 20th century.
+ 13 more
strategies · 5
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-Engaged Archivingmethodology: community-engaged-archivingBy involving the community in contributing stories, photos, and oral histories, the organization strengthens local ownership of heritage and ensures inclusive historical documentation because participatory methods capture diverse perspectives often absent from official records.
- Cultural Heritage Tourism Integrationmethodology: cultural_tourism_integrationBy aligning local history preservation with regional cultural tourism initiatives, the organization increases visibility and visitation because linking heritage sites to established trails (e.g., Hudson River School Art Trail) attracts broader public interest and economic support.
- Digital and Public Reactivation of Archivesmethodology: digital_public_engagementBy digitizing, transcribing, and sharing archival content through social media and publications, the organization revitalizes dormant historical materials because reformatting for modern platforms increases accessibility and sustains ongoing public storytelling.
- Historic Preservation as Educationmethodology: historic_preservation_educationBy integrating historic preservation with educational programming, the organization fosters deeper public understanding of local history because preserved sites and materials serve as experiential learning tools.
- Place-Based Multidisciplinary Engagementmethodology: multidisciplinary_public_engagementBy using the Mountain Top region’s natural and cultural landscape as an interdisciplinary foundation, the organization deepens public engagement because connecting history with geology, literature, and art makes heritage more accessible and meaningful across audiences.