About WHS

Founded provisionally in 1984 and receiving its state charter on July 17th, 1989, the Woodbury Historical Society seeks to collect and preserve the heritage of the Town of Woodbury. Currently, such a mission is achieved through a bifurcated approach of maintaining an archive of history and engaging with the surrounding community.

To begin with the first of these goals, the WHS archive is housed in the former Rushmore Memorial Library building, located at the corner of Weygant Hill Road and Route 32 (543 Route 32) in Highland Mills, NY. This structure was built in 1923 by the Charles E. Rushmore family so that Woodbury could have its own public library. Mr. Rushmore was a prominent and wealthy attorney who worked in New York City while maintaining a “gentleman’s farm” in Highland Mills. His estate, known as “Carmore” (the “Car” derived from Carpenter, Mrs. Rushmore’s maiden name, and the “more” from Rushmore), was built in 1908 and functions today as the Rushmore Estate Bed & Breakfast/Wedding Venue. Rushmore lived from 1856 to 1930, with South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore named for him. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the library is remarkably preserved with the center bookshelves being among the few items removed in favor of file cabinets and reading tables for those curious about our past. Recent improvements to our home include the replacement of aged fluorescent lights with period-looking fixtures as well as the upgrade of our air conditioning system.

One of the current strategic goals for the Woodbury Historical Society involves increasing our public awareness through means of improving signage. That began today with the introduction of our new sandwich sign placed at the corner of Route 32 and Weygant Hill Road in Highland Mills, NY during our visiting hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. If you see our sign outside, be sure to stop by our facility to learn more about our wonderful community.

The Rushmore Memorial Library is remarkably from the time when it was opened in 1924. Complete with even some of its original books, among its most unique artifacts is this bronze plaque dedicated by Charles Rushmore’s daughter, Jean Rushmore Patterson, which is imbedded into the fireplace mantle.

OUR COLLECTION
The majority of the Woodbury Historical Society’s collection can be categorized into two categories: family files and subject files. Family files concern our archive of genealogy for Woodbury’s prominent families past and present, as well as a separate file titled “People Past and Present” which catalogs individual, prominent events from town residents. Our family files are complimented by an extensive genealogy card catalog completed by noted local historian Emma McWhorter, an archive of obituaries, and a sizable genealogy library. Subject files concern documents from industries, businesses, organizations, and other generalized themes of history with ties to Woodbury. Individual “files” can vary in size; while some categories have only enough material for a file folder, others, such as our Arden House and Seaman family collections, are so large that they are stored in individual acid-free boxes or separate cabinets. These two archives are supplemented by the additional collections listed below:

1. Over 500 original-copy photographs from the Town of Woodbury.
   
   
2. Between 500 and 1,000 postcards from Central Valley, Highland Mills, Woodbury Falls,Arden/Harriman, and Mountainville.
   
   
3. An extensive library covering both Woodbury and Orange County history.
   
   
4. Historical documents from municipal government departments.
   
   
5. A variety of antique maps ranging from the 19th century through the present.
   
   
6. Extensive newspaper collections, preserved both in hard-copy and microfilm formats (a microfilm machine is available for use).
   
   
7. A variety of artifacts and giveaways of all shapes and sizes. Some of our more unique items preserved include a stoneware jug from H.D. Ford’s grocery store in Woodbury Falls, antique signs from the Gregory construction business of Central Valley, and a fishing rod produced by the Hall Line company of Highland Mills.

The local history library at the Woodbury Historical Society features a variety of books from Orange County.

Some of the Woodbury Historical Society's larger artifacts include these tax ledgers from the town of Woodbury, vital for researching who once lived in our area.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
In addition to preserving objects, the Woodbury Historical Society also looks to engage with the community through a variety of methods. Joining WHS rewards you with our newsletter, generally published twice a year with articles on town history authored by a wide range of individuals. To consider joining our organization, please download our membership form HERE. Shuttered due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHS has begun to return its yearly program series at the Woodbury Senior Center located adjacent to the present-day Rushmore Branch of the Woodbury Public Library. Additionally, WHS also coordinates events with The Gatehouse Committee. To view our calendar of events, please CLICK HERE. 

Each year, both the Woodbury Historical Society and Gatehouse Museum & Historic Site host several programs discussing topics of local history and community engagement.

SCHOLARSHIPS
Complimenting community programs, WHS also administers two scholarships open to high school seniors that reside in the Town of Woodbury. The Galberd Memorial Scholarship honors Constance and Herman Galberd, long-term residents of Central Valley and both dedicated to servicing their community. They were members of the Historical Society for many years and served as officers/trustees. Herman served on the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District's Board while Constance was a Registered Nurse at Cornwall Hospital. Both were long-term members of the Woodbury Ambulance Corps. Likewise, the Kirk Memorial Scholarship honors Margaret S. and Adam Kirk, educators, and community leaders well-known in the area for over fifty years. Both had wide-ranging talents and interests and were lifelong learners in the truest sense. To learn more about our scholarships, please CLICK HERE.

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