named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Cemetery Walk
Guided historical tours of the Baptist Cemetery (Founders Cemetery) to educate the public about early settlers, burial customs, and civic leaders in Minerva.
ChalkBoards & Clapboards
Historical program exploring Minerva’s early schoolhouses, featuring presentations and tours led by the museum director and trustees.
Horneck Boats Canoe Raffle
Fundraising raffle offering a Horneck canoe, with proceeds supporting the historical society’s operations and programs.
Minerva Day Celebrations
Annual community event including a parade, fireworks, and an alumni brunch, commemorating the town’s heritage and milestones.
Museum Operations
Operating a local museum in Olmstedville, NY, with seasonal exhibits focused on themes such as "100 Years of Education" and collecting school memorabilia from alumni and families.
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Administration of scholarship programsProvides scholarship awards to high school seniors from Minerva Central School, including the Mabel Jones Scholarship for Academic Excellence and the Minerva Historical Society Scholarship, with awards of $10,000 and $3,000 respectively, funded through contributions such as those from the estate of W. Gordon Bowie.
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Alumni Community Building 1 activity
- Centennial and alumni engagement initiativesOrganized a centennial celebration of Minerva Schools for the 2025 season titled "A Century of Memories – 1925 – 2025," including an Alumni Brunch at Minerva Lake Pavilion and a special reception for retirees and alumni at the MHS Museum, fostering community and historical connection.
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Historical and Genealogical Research 1 activity
- Historical research and documentationConducts and publishes historical research on the Town of Minerva, including its founding in 1817, economic transitions such as the decline of the lumber industry, agricultural activity documented in the 1875 census, and infrastructure developments like the dam on Jones Brook.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Hosting educational programs and events for schoolsHosts annual museum visits for K–6 students from Minerva Central School each September, provides educational programming during field trips, and sponsors an art-and-essay contest with awards presented in October. Programming is based on museum collections such as "Woods & Water" and "100 Years at Camp Che-Na-Wah."
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Cemetery and Cremation Services 1 activity
- Management and preservation of Federal Flats CemeteryManages Federal Flats Cemetery as a historic burial ground, including the removal of unsafe or unsightly grave decorations, enforcement of lot maintenance rules, and requiring installation of corner stones on purchased lots to preserve the site’s historical integrity.
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Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operation of the Minerva Historical Society MuseumOperates a museum in Minerva, NY, opened in July 2025, with seasonal programming and thematic exhibits such as "100 Years of Education." The museum is open from July 1 through Labor Day and hosts public events, field trips, and special presentations.
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Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
- Oral history and memorabilia collectionCollects school memorabilia such as photographs, uniforms, class rings, and programs from alumni or relatives of OHS or MHS, and gathers video recordings of personal school memories through self-submission or in-person recording sessions for use in museum exhibits and historical archives.
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Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Organization of public historical events and community programsPlans and hosts a seasonal schedule of public events and programs, including "Fabulous Founding Females," "Teddy Roosevelt Aiden Lair," "Singing Our Cemeteries," and "Caring For Your Cemetery Day," held at the Minerva Community Center and other local sites to engage the community in local history and heritage.
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Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Preservation and curation of historical artifacts and documentsCollects, preserves, acquires, maintains, and displays historical artifacts, documents, and records related to the town of Minerva and surrounding area, including school records, family records, census data, and cemetery inscriptions. The society also stores and organizes these materials for public and research access.
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Local History Publishing 1 activity
- Publication of historical materials and newslettersProduces and publishes a quarterly newsletter, first issued in April 1971, to share historical information, updates, and collected materials with members and the public. Also publishes historical books documenting the town’s history, with editions released in 1967, 1986, and 2019.
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Restoration and maintenance of the Irishtown SchoolhouseAcquired the Irishtown one-room schoolhouse in 1994 and has conducted ongoing restoration and maintenance to preserve it as a historic site. The restored schoolhouse is open to the public to experience early 1900s school life and was recognized with the Adirondack Architectural Heritage Award.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$43K
Contributions & grants$21K50%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$1K3%
Other revenue$15K
expenses
Total expenses$30K
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out$6K
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$347K
Cash$62K
Investments$244K
Liabilities$12K
Net assets$319K
Liquid reserves121.1 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 7
- Cameron Dubay — Trustee
- Kate McCormick — trustee
- Michael Corey — Trustee
- Mike Flynn — Trustee
- Ronnie Silver — Trustee
- Sharon Stone — Board Secretary
- Teresa Brannon-Strohmeyer — Trustee
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- Adirondack Architectural Heritage Government — Recognized the Minerva Historical Society with an award for preservation work on the Irishtown Schoolhouse.
- Adirondack History Museum Partner — Shares regional historical resources and collaborates on preserving Adirondack history.
- Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts Government — Administers the Statewide Community Regrants Program funding awarded to the Minerva Historical Society.
- Alumni Committee Partner — Collaborating with the Historical Society to organize the Alumni Brunch and related events.
- Community Fund for the Gore Mountain Region Funder — Provided funding support for the student museum visit and essay contest program.
- Dan Berggren Partner — Musician whose work is featured in the "Singing Our Cemeteries" program
- Don Seauvageau Partner — Performer and contributor to the "Singing Our Cemeteries" program
- Dr. Jay Curt Stager Partner — Presented a program on African American history in the Adirondacks.
- Essex County Arts Council Funder — Provides funding through the Cultural Assistance Program Grant with support from Essex County.
- GuideStar Network — Profile listed on GuideStar, a nonprofit information network.
- Kate McCormack Partner — Co-presented Part I and presented Part II of a program on Winslow Homer's Adirondacks.
- Kate McCormick Partner — Performer and contributor to the "Singing Our Cemeteries" program
- Laurie Rankin Partner — Presented on the history of the Vanderwhacker Fire Tower.
- Mabel and Clarence Jones Partner — Hosted the first meeting of the Minerva Historical Society in their home and were founding members.
- Marjorie Lansing Porter Partner — Musician whose work is featured in the "Singing Our Cemeteries" program
- Mary Irene Lee Partner — Co-presented Part I of a program on Winslow Homer's Adirondacks.
- Mike Corey Partner — Performer and contributor to the "Singing Our Cemeteries" program
- Minerva Central School Partner — Hosted a student visit and essay contest collaboration with the Minerva Historical Society.
- Minerva Central School Partner — Hosts annual visits for K-6 students and participates in the Society's essay contest.
- Minerva Historical Society Museum Partner — Operates or collaborates with the Minerva Historical Society Museum to preserve and present local history.
- New York State Cemetery Board Government — Approves amendments to cemetery rules and regulations; regulatory authority overseeing compliance.
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provides funding through the Statewide Community Regrants Program, supported by the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
- New York State Department of State Government — Collaborates on "Caring For Your Cemetery Day" through the state's Cemetery Day program.
- Sharon Stone Partner — Performer and contributor to the "Singing Our Cemeteries" program
- Tahawus Club Partner — Collaborates on historical interpretation related to Theodore Roosevelt's journey from the Adirondacks.
- Teresa Brannon Strohmeyer Partner — Performer and contributor to the "Singing Our Cemeteries" program
- Town of Minerva Partner — Collaborates on historical documentation and shares resources related to the town's founding and development.
- W. Gordon Bowie Funder — Former Treasurer whose estate made a significant contribution to the Mable Jones Scholarship fund.
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.
- Historical Analysis Through Geographic and Economic Frameworksmethodology: geographic-and-economic-history-analysisBy interpreting Minerva’s history through its natural landscape and economic evolution, the organization provides contextual depth that links environment and industry to community development, because place-based analytical frameworks make historical patterns more tangible and meaningful to residents and researchers.
- Historical Preservation Through Community Engagementmethodology: community-engaged_history_preservationBy integrating community events, storytelling, and public education into preservation work, the organization fosters deeper public connection to local history, which increases engagement and ensures broader stewardship of historical resources, because participatory models sustain cultural memory more effectively than archival work alone.
- Thematic and Age-Differentiated Educational Programmingmethodology: thematic_programmingBy organizing historical education around annual themes and tailoring activities to developmental stages, the organization increases relevance and comprehension for diverse audiences, because structured, age-appropriate engagement strengthens learning retention and encourages sustained participation in local history.