COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

SCHUYLER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
MONTOUR FALLS, NY · EIN 237251987 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · schuylerhistory.org
revenue
$116K
expenses
$118K
net assets
$597K
employees
2
volunteers
25
program ratio
44%
mission · from form 990

MUSEUM PROTECTING LOCAL HISTORY AND GENEALOGY

profile · synthesized from sources

The Schuyler County Historical Society preserves and shares the cultural heritage of Schuyler County, New York through museum exhibits, educational programs, and historic properties. It operates the Brick Tavern Museum, Lee School Museum, Lawrence Chapel, and Wickham Rural Life Center, offering public access to collections of local historical artifacts, genealogical records, and archival materials. The organization serves residents and visitors in the Finger Lakes region with exhibits, lectures, walking tours, and special events.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Lawrence Chapel Events
Public and private events, including weddings and musical performances, held at the historic Lawrence Chapel from May to October
Special Events and Open Houses
Annual open houses at museum properties and ticketed special events held throughout Schuyler County
Talkin’ History
Annual series of public history lectures on local topics presented by historians, experts, and authors, some including meals and requiring pre-registration
Traveling Docent Program
Planned educational outreach to K-12 schools providing free, hands-on history lessons; kits also available for homeschoolers
Walkin’ History
Guided walking tours in Watkins Glen and Burdett led by local historians, showcasing historic architecture and village history during warmer months
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
    • Conduct museum renovations and capital improvements
      Undertakes historic preservation and renovation projects at the Brick Tavern Museum, including asbestos abatement, construction of an annex, installation of an elevator, and improvements to accessibility and exhibit spaces. Raised over $100,000 for the Uplifting History capital campaign and hosts fundraising events such as online silent auctions.
  • Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
    • Host educational programs and public events
      Organizes and hosts a range of educational and public events including guided walking tours in Watkins Glen and Burdett, historical lecture series such as 'Talkin’ History,' ticketed talks with meals, and special events. Most events are free and open to the public, with some requiring registration or a fee.
  • Library-Provided Cultural Access Passes 1 activity
    • Offer seasonal and member-specific benefits and events
      Provides members with free admission, two annual guest passes, unlimited access to research, and exclusive programs, tours, exhibition previews, and an annual meeting. Offers extended Saturday hours from July through October and seasonal open houses at historic sites.
  • Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
    • Operate historic museums and properties
      Owns and operates multiple historic properties including the Brick Tavern Museum, Lee School Museum, Wickham Rural Life Center, and Lawrence Chapel, offering public access, exhibits, and educational programming. These include National Register-listed buildings maintained for their historical and architectural significance.
  • Local History Archival Access 1 activity
    • Provide public access to historical and genealogical research collections
      Maintains and provides access to collections of artifacts, books, maps, yearbooks, diaries, Civil War documents, and genealogical records at the Brick Tavern Museum Research Library, open to the public by appointment. Offers free on-site research access for members and accepts donations of Schuyler County-related historical materials.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Publish historical journals and newsletters
      Produces and distributes a quarterly journal featuring articles on Schuyler County history and a quarterly newsletter reporting on Society activities, museum events, and special exhibits, available in print and electronically.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$116K
Contributions & grants$96K82%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$13K11%
Other revenue$8K
expenses
Total expenses$118K
Program expenses44%
Admin / overhead56%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$57K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$608K
Cash$315K
Investments$146K
Liabilities$11K
Net assets$597K
Liquid reserves47.0 mo
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue +13.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
HEATHER O'GRADY EVENS DIRECTOR 32 $40K
DAWN FOSTER ASSISTANT 20 $11K
board members · 8
  • DAVID LISK — TRUSTEE
  • ENNIE LATTIN — TRUSTEE
  • GARY EMERSON — TRUSTEE
  • JAMES JENSON — TRUSTEE
  • JEAN HUBSCH — TRUSTEE
  • KYLE COLUNIO — TRUSTEE
  • MARTHA EVANS — TRUSTEE
  • RUSS GARDNER — TRUSTEE
relationships · 9

Who they work with

  • Burdett Historian Marty Evans Partner — Local historian who leads guided walking tours in Burdett and Watkins Glen as part of the Historical Society's programming.
  • Crooked Lake Review Partner — Collaborates with or references content from Crooked Lake Review for biographical and historical information
  • Fontainebleau Inn Partner — Collaborates with event hosts who often continue celebrations at the Fontainebleau Inn following events at the Lawrence Chapel.
  • Heather O’Grady-Evans Partner — Executive Director of Museums providing leadership and public statements on the capital campaign.
  • James Jensen Government — Schuyler County Historian and Trustee of the Schuyler County Historical Society.
  • Schuyler County Historian Gary Emerson Partner — Local historian who leads guided walking tours of Watkins Glen as part of the Historical Society's programming.
  • WENY Partner — Provided live coverage for the Historical Society's Eclipse Party event.
  • Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce Government — Administers a TAP grant that partially funds the Society's museums and operations, authorized by the Schuyler County Legislature.
  • Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce Partner — Recognized as a 2023 Business Member and Supporter Member of the Schuyler County Historical Society
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.

  • Experiential and Accessible Education Models for Broader Engagement
    methodology: experiential_learning
    By delivering hands-on learning experiences and bringing history education directly to schools and homeschoolers, the organization increases accessibility and engagement, because passive access to archives is less effective than active, experiential learning in building historical literacy.
  • Membership and Donor Engagement Through Value-Driven Benefits
    methodology: member_engagement_benefits
    By offering access, publications, events, and open research opportunities as benefits, the organization strengthens supporter retention and community investment, because reciprocal value exchange fosters sustained engagement with historical institutions.
  • Preservation and Interpretation to Make History Meaningful
    methodology: preservation_and_interpretation
    By preserving historical materials and actively interpreting them through exhibits and programming, the organization makes local history accessible and meaningful to the public, fostering deeper engagement because curation without context is insufficient for public understanding.