Town of Colchester Historian

06/14/2026

Photos from the Colchester Historical Society’s June 13, 2026, Water Festival and Historic Marker Dedication for the Battle of Downs Brook.
We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day. Thank you to all who made the event a great success.

05/13/2026

Beneath Pepacton Waters and Echoes Along the Delaware

Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 2 PM at Shinhopple Memorial Center, 1405 Trout Brook Road, Downsville, NY 13755

Colchester Historical Society is hosting its second program of its 2026 Historical Lecture Series.
A free multi-media presentation on the Pepacton Valley before the construction of the Pepacton Reservoir and the aftereffects of the NYC Water system on the local culture and economy. Presented by authors and historians Alice and Robert Jacobson.

A display of photographs of Pepacton from the Colchester Historical Society collection.

Light refreshments will be served.

04/30/2026

Saturday, May 2 at 2 P.M.- Shinhopple Memorial Center
Colchester Historical Society Presents the first program in their Historical Lecture Series:

Bitter Farewell: The Esopus Indian Experience in the American Revolution
The American Revolution was a time of major upheaval for Native communities in the Catskills. The destruction of war would ultimately force them out of their ancestral homelands. This presentation tells the dramatic story of the Catskill Mountains' Esopus Indian residents and their neighbors during this turbulent period by weaving together an array of archival sources and little-known oral histories.

Bio:
A life-long resident of the Hudson Valley and Catskills, Justin Wexler has dedicated his life to learning everything he can about the lives, land management practices and ethnoecology of the region's original human inhabitants. He has a BA in history and anthropology from Marlboro College and an MA in teaching history from Bard College. Through his organization, Wild Hudson Valley, he works tirelessly to connect the area’s current residents to regional natural history through guided walks, boat tours, presentations, and workshops.

Free program, light refreshments will be served. Please join us.

04/10/2026

On April 10, 1792, New York State incorporated Colchester from part of Middletown in Ulster County.

03/06/2026

Please check out our new Spring 2026 Colchester History Connections Newsletter, available on the Colchester Historical Society webpage: https://colchesterhsny.org in the Historical Resources pulldown menu.
Read all about all the events and activities planned by the Colchester Historical Society.

History of Colchester, NY

10/31/2025

Revolutionary War Talk, Saturday, November 1, 2025
2 PM at the Shinhopple Memorial Center, Trout Brook Road, Downsville, NY
Sponsored by the Colchester Historical Society.
Join Dr. Samantha Misa for a talk on the Revolutionary War veterans of Colchester. This talk will focus on the service records and lives of men who served in the American Revolution and have connections with the Colchester area. Dr. Misa will also discuss some of the interesting veteran burials in the town and events that occurred in the area around the time of the Revolution, including the Battle of Downs Brook.
Free program, refreshments will be served. Please join us.

10/28/2025

October 28, 2025, Colchester Historical Society Meeting, Tuesday, 7 PM, CHS room, basement level, Colchester Town Hall, 72 Tannery Road, Downsville, NY.
All members and new members are encouraged to attend. The mission of the Society is to preserve the history of Colchester through artifacts and collections donated by families from Colchester.

10/09/2025

October 28, 2025, Colchester Historical Society Meeting, Tuesday, 7 PM, CHS room, basement level, Colchester Town Hall, 72 Tannery Road, Downsville, NY.
All members and new members are encouraged to attend. The mission of the Society is to preserve the history of Colchester through artifacts and collections donated by families from Colchester.
Refreshments will be served. Please join us.

Send a message to learn more

10/09/2025

Colchester Planning Meeting-Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of our country in 2026. Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 6:30 PM at Colchester Town Hall, 72 Tannery Road, Downsville, NY.

The Colchester Historical Society is hosting a Community meeting for all organizations in Colchester. The purpose of the meeting is to coordinate a community-wide celebration of the 250th Anniversary of our country. We are asking if one or two people from each organization in Colchester can represent their group. It is hoped that representatives from DCS, Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Women's Club, Churches, Fire Dept., Town Council Members, Senior Citizens, Ridge Riders, and any other organizations will attend to brainstorm ideas and plan this celebration.

Send a message to learn more