About

2024 Officers

President: Nelson Schwartzentruber

Vice President: Jim Lathan

Secretary: Bernadine Schwartzentruber

Dues are $5.00 per year, $10.00 family per year or a Life membership for $50.00 Junior membership (under 18) Free!

Dues should be sent to:

Mary Kelley

Martinsburg Historical Society

P.O. Box 17

Martinsburg, NY 13404

Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month at the

Historic Town Hall unless otherwise indicated. All interested

people are invited to attend. 1st meeting in 2024 will be April 2, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at the Wm. Bush Library. Subsequent meetings will be in the Old Town Hall unless otherwise indicated.

Treasurer: Mary Kelley

Upcoming Events:

MHS Society's 1st 2023 Meeting- April 4, 2023

Martinsburg Historical Society Golf Tournament:
August 3, 2024
Cedars Golf Course

"Twins Wide Open"

Martinsburg Day:
August 10, 2024 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Town of Martinsburg Historian

Sue Adsit Office Hours 1-4 pm on Tuesdays or call 315-376-7219 for an appointment.

Research:

The William H. Bush Memorial Library welcomes researchers to look through scrapbooks,

notebooks, and old news articles during regular library hours.

315-376-7490 http://www.martinsburglibrary.org

The William H. Bush Memorial Library also has a "Museum Room" which can be opened upon request.

Library Hours:

Mon: 10:00 am--6:00 pm

Tues: 9:00 am-1:00 pm

Wed.10:00 am-6:00 pm

Thurs: 9:00 am-1:00 pm

Fri: 10:00 am-6:00 pm

Sat: 10:00 am-Noon

Sun: Closed

The Martinsburg Historical Scoiety has many holding that can be searched. We will add more materials as we get time to list them. However, the following is available:

Shells, D.W. / Wells, R.F. History of Hatfield, Mass. 1910

Keys, Robert L. / Lathan B. The Conkey Family of Pelham Mass. 2004

Lathan B. /Salem Society The Salem Book(copy) 1896

Lathan B. Folders Revolutionary War Vets 2012-14

War of 1812

Spanish / American War

Civil War

White, William E. Tin Whistle Tune Book 1984

Rodeheaver Hall – Mack Co. Sociabilty Songs 1928

Christmas Song Book UK UK

Lathan, Bette/Jim Autograph Album W. Ingersoll 1884

White,D.F. Oneida County 1998 “””

Joslyn Paul D. Mostly Memories 2015 “”

Family Information available:

Rowsam/Wakefield/Weller Pa’s Book/Miles Dening

Jarecki Family History Conkey Family

Hazen Family John Mungo

McGrath/Ryan/Gleason Moore 1919 to present

Robert & Patrick Peebles Hall (D. Waugh)

William Seymour Henry Whitner

Stafford ( 2 ) Rev. Yale

Taylor Schuyler

Questions about Martinsburg History may be addressed to:

Sue Adsit POB 22

Martinsburg, NY 13404

First Lewis County Clerk's Office

The First Lewis County Clerk's Office is the "official home" of the Martinsburg Historical Society (MHS). The building was used by the MHS until the society was able to purchase the building in 2011. Once the purchase was complete the society began major work on the building. Through findraisers and donations the society was able to stabilize the building by putting on a new roof, insulation, new windows, electrical work. and a new ceiling. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The building is open every Martinburg Day and used for society meetings The building is available at anytime by appointment through contacting Sue Adsit, historian. Please watch for scheduled open houses and special programs.

The President's Corner

The Martinsburg Historical Society, founded in 1976, enjoyed another active year in 2023. In addition to regular annual events that included an open house at its one-room school in May and the Twins Wide Open Golf Tournament and Martinsburg Day in August, the society honored two War of 1812 veterans buried in Staring Cemetery at a ceremony on September 23 organized by Bette Lathan.

The Staring Cemetery, located in the northwest corner of the township, was the last of the abandoned cemeteries in the town to be restored through the joint co-operation of the society, the Town of Martinsburg Highway Department and the Staring family.

Having approved the replacement of the roof on the school house in early fall last year, the contractor was only able to complete a small section. Finalization of this project is now complete.

Foundation rehabilitation work on the Original Lewis County Clerk’s Office Brick Building was completed in 2023. Additional work needed is the replacement of the threshold at the back door and replacement of some cracked window panes.

Bette Lathan has submitted grants and applications to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for Historic markers for the Staring Cemetery and the Doty House. The Staring Cemetery grant was submitted under the auspices of the Town of Martinsburg.

Although a separate entity, the Martinsburg Historical Society has been actively supporting the Society for the Preservation of the West Martinsburg Church in its efforts to secure funds for the rehabilitation and restoration of the church’s steeple and museum room. Donations for this project can be made to the society, P.O. Box 85, Martinsburg, NY 13404.

In an effort to secure new, younger members, the Martinsburg Historical Society is offering a free Junior Membership to anyone up to 18 years old.

As the society enters its forty-eighth year, its members continue to preserve the history of the town and its people. New members are always welcome and membership information can be found on this webpage. Please consider joining us.