From our friends and partners at the Waterford Historical Museum comes this reminder that this weekend marks the return of the Annual Waterford Heritage Day festivities.

The Annual Waterford Heritage Day celebrations will take place on Saturday, July 24, at Garrett Field, located in Waterford, New York.

Waterford Heritage Day is an event celebrating our regions rich firefighting heritage as well as the historic Button Fire Engine Company which manufactured hand and steam powered engines from the 1830’s to 1890’s in Waterford, New York.  Waterford is located at the cross-roads of the once bustling Erie and Champlain Canals, where canal boats were used to ship Button fire engines to their locations throughout the United States.

To kick-off the 9^th annual Waterford Heritage Day, on Friday, July 23 at the Waterford Harbor Visitor Center, the Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center, The Village of Waterford and the Waterford Village Library will co-produce the annual Concert Under the Stars, a FREE Concert performed by The Johnny Rabb Trio. The evening will also include a barbeque at 6:00 PM and end with a fireworks display, at 9:00 PM. (Rain location will be the Waterford Civic Center on Third Street)

On Saturday, July 24, Waterford Heritage Day events start at 10:00 AM with a parade of marching bands and, antique and modern fire engines from around the Northeast as they proceed through the Village of Waterford to Garrett Field on Burton Ave.  After opening ceremonies a Button hand fire engine will perform a traditional “Wet Down” to celebrate Waterford’s Ford Hose Fire Company’s new engine!

Teams from throughout New England and New York will compete in an old fashioned firemen’s competition or “muster”, a competition where teams hand-pump their antique, restored fire engines to see who can throw water the furthest.  Come watch – or even join in – as fire teams muster.  Community participation is welcomed and all Capital Region fire companies are encouraged to join in the competition by sending representatives to help pump the engines. After the muster watch as Ford Hose’s new engine takes on an antique engine to see who can through water the furthest.

Throughout the day visitors can view, and even vote for their favorite antique and modern fire engines, on display throughout Garret Field.  Enjoy the craft fair and food vendors, while the kids bounce in the bouncy-house and much more!

“We are all proud of Waterford’s rich history,” says Steve Delarge, President and CEO, Silicones Americas, Momentive Performance Materials Inc., a primary community sponsor for Heritage Day.  “It’s important to look back at the community’s many accomplishments and share our heritage with each generation.  Waterford is a vibrant community; from being the birthplace of the World Famous Button Fire Engine Company to the many diverse businesses that contribute to our local economy today.  Momentive Performance Materials is delighted to serve as a sponsor of this wonderful Waterford tradition.”  DeLarge, along with his wife Roxanne, will be the Honorary Grand Marshall of the Heritage Day Parade.

We are mere days away from one of the best reasons to live in our beautiful corner of the world. The 142nd Season at Saratoga kicks off Friday July 23rd. Before you make your plans to visit the track, stop by the library to check the Racing Form, explore the many books on horses and Saratoga in our collection, including a few on handicapping like the pros! We will have the Pink Sheet available each day too! Just another reason to keep the library on your perpetual “to-visit” list!

If you are looking for an easy, free way to beat the heat wave, how about a movie? The library will be showing “A Shark’s Tale” on Thursday July 8th at 3pm.  Popcorn & Juice will be served. Children 5 & up are welcome with parent or guardian. Large groups are requested to register by calling 237-0891. And don’t forget to check our calendar for more summer reading program activities!

The library is honored to display two paintings by noted local artist Robert Moylan.  So we are excited to learn that he will be part of a new exhibition of landscapes which opens tomorrow June 25th. Complete information can be found here. Thanks to our friends at Nippertown for the heads up!

The first half of our Classic Movie Series concludes this Monday March 29th, with a screening of “Captains Courageous“, starring Lionel Barrymore & Spenser Tracy. It was directed by Victor Fleming who also was behind the cameras for the Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind. Speaking of Gone with the Wind, we will announce a winner of our deluxe DVD set of that classic of cinema classics. You must attend to be entered in the drawing. The Classic Movie Series will resume in the fall.

So declares Princess Tiana when confronted with a request from a frog who claims to be Prince Naveen…of Maldonia.  The Princess and the Frog is the latest from Disney Animation, nominated for 3 Oscars and out on DVD this week.  We have it  to show  here at the library this afternoon beginning at 2pm!

So says Blanche DuBois, during our feature film “Streecar Named Desire”. Our Classic Movie Series returns this Monday evening, March 15th at 6pm.  All attendees are eligible to enter our drawing for a deluxe DVD set of “Gone with the Wind”. 

That’s right our Classic Movie Series resumes with the first of three movies in March. Don’t forget that all movie-goers are eligible to enter our drawing for a deluxe DVD set of “Gone with the Wind”. Showtime is 6pm and admission is free.

During the month of March, people who attend our Classic Movie Series will have an opportunity to win a
70th anniversary deluxe DVD set of  “Gone with the Wind”.  We will be screening movies on March 1, 15 & 29th. All movies have a connection to “Gone with the Wind“.  “It Happened One Night” (3/1) stars Clark Gable. “A Streetcar Named Desire” (3/15) stars Vivien Leigh, and “Captains Courageous” (3/29) was directed by Victor Fleming, who helmed both Gone with the Wind & The Wizard of Oz! All movies begin at 6pm and admission is free.

Our friends at the Waterford Historical Museum & Cultural Center have just posted their latest newsletter,  full of info on the latest doings at the Museum.