Pathway Through History
at the Mesier Homestead
Each year, the Wappingers Historical Society brings history to life by presenting, in costume, some of the men and women who contributed to the history of the Hudson Valley.
Normally this program takes place inside the historic Mesier Homestead, which is located in the Village of Wappingers Falls. This year, we are pleased and very excited to present this program to you virtually! This project is our first ever virtual presentation, we look forward to taking all the tips and tricks we’ve learned along the way and creating “bigger and better” programs in the year ahead.
This short film is engaging for local history enthusiasts and can be considered a “Virtual Field Trip” for educators and students in Grade 4 and up. Please enjoy, and feel free to share!
Click the photo below to begin your journey.
Through a collaboration with WHS members and others in the local community, as well as students from Roy C. Ketcham High School, characters portrayed this year include Phrenologist Orson Fowler; recollections by friends of Wappinger Native American Tribe Sachem Daniel Nimham and Abolitionist Sojourner Truth; baseball slugger “Big” Dan Brouthers and Mary, a local Suffragette. You’ll meet Nicholas Brower, the builder of the Mesier Homestead, and Pieter Mesier and his wife Catherine, who gives a personal account of the Wappinger Tea Party revolt which took place here, at the Mesier Homestead, in May 1777.
Lights, Camera, Action!
For many of our volunteers, this was their first time in front of the lights!
Here are some behind-the-scenes photos.
Discussing movement and camera direction.
3, 2, 1....... Action!
Click to help support future video programming
From the camera’s perspective.
Peter Mesier having fun!
Our video was filmed and edited by Mike Miner, owner of MJM Television and Video Productions.
Special thanks to Mike for his guidance and expertise – he made our video come alive! Mike is well known in our area and does videography for a wide variety of commercial businesses as well as local government. Reach out to Mike at minervideo@optonline.net
Learn More
Our online store is a great source for learning more about local history. Here are several books we carry which relate to some of the topics covered in this film: Click any item to go directly to that page in our store.
Big Dan Brouthers Baseball’s First Great Slugger, by Roy Kerr (Biography)
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Described as ''the Greatest Batsman in the Country" by sportswriters of his era, Dennis ''Big Dan" Brouthers compiled a .342 batting average, tying with Babe Ruth for ninth place all-time, and slugged 205 triples, eighth all time, in 16 major league seasons. He won five batting and on-base percentage titles, and seven slugging titles, and was the first player to win batting and slugging crowns in successive years. Although he ranked fourth among nineteenth-century home run hitters, many fair balls he hit into the stands or over the fence were counted only as doubles or triples due to local ground rules.
Birth and Growth of an Old Village, by Edgar Popper (Reference)
This book is considered to be the “bible” of the history of the Village of Wappingers Falls. A comprehensive recording of Village history, including first land owners, prominent families, early factories, major village fires and early fire companies, churches and village businesses throughout the years.
Children of the Longhouse, by Joseph Bruchac (Fiction)
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He has made powerful enemies. Can he face them on the playing field? When Ohkwa'ri overhears a group of older boys planning a raid, he immediately tells the elders of his Mohawk village. He knows he has done the right thing—but he has also made enemies. Grabber and his friends will do anything they can to hurt Ohkwa'ri, especially during the village-wide brutal game of lacrosse, or Tekwaarathon. Ohkwa’ri believes in the path of peace, but can peaceful ways work against Grabber's wrath?
"An exciting story that also offers an in-depth look at Native American life centuries ago.” – Kirkus Review Appropriate for ages 8-12