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Organizers declare Austerlitz Blueberry Festival a success
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| Volunteers sell baked goods Sunday at the Austerlitz Blueberry Festival, which often draws crowds in the thousands. Francesca Olsen/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers |
By Francesca Olsen
AUSTERLITZ—The Austerlitz Blueberry Festival was a success again this year, which officially makes it a success ten years running.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Old Austerlitz on Route 22, blueberries and history were the focus of visitors in the thousands. Around 150 volunteers turned out to man tables, serve food and do whatever else they could to benefit the Austerlitz Historical Society.
“Everything we do is all volunteer,” said Carl Quinn, treasurer of the historical society. “We really have a group of dedicated volunteers who put it on together.”
Quinn reported that 660 adults and 113 children came out early for the pancake breakfast from 9 --11:30 a.m. Blueberry pancakes, orange juice, sausage, and coffee were served.
Blueberries, baked goods, ice cream with blueberry sauce, blueberry bushes and more were for sale, the historic buildings at Old Austerlitz were open, and arts and crafts vendors demonstrated historical weaving and forging skills.
The Austerlitz Blueberry Festival was conceived from observing a 1920’s photo of women in Austerlitz who picked wild blueberries on Harvey Mountain in order to pay for their school taxes. “They had aprons on, and they were holding pails,” said Barbara Winchell, a former president of the historical society. “I said, ‘well, we have to have a blueberry festival.’”’
The idea was proposed as a way to raise money for the historical society. Since the first festival in 2000, the event has expanded into an extremely successful venture, and has paid for the restoration and construction of several historic buildings on the site of Old Austerlitz.
Robert Herron, whose family has been in the area for seven generations, originally envisioned the idea of a farmstead on the grounds -- “what would have been here in about 1820,” according to Winchell. Herron donated the land to the historical society.
Last year, between 1500 and 2000 people came to the Blueberry Festival. “I’m hoping it’s that good this time,” said Winchell. “It’s been the most important fundraiser for our society.”
“I think we’ll surpass that number this year,” said Quinn. “Year by year, it’s the advertising and word of mouth.”
Over the years, the Blueberry Festival has been mentioned in many publications, including Martha Stewart Living, which named it among the best fruit festivals in the nation, and the New York Daily News, which named it one of the top ten New York summer festivals.
The Austerlitz Volunteer Fire Department attended the festival as volunteers, cooking hot dogs and hamburgers for visitors, and adding some fire trucks to the festival background. “We’re thrilled to have them -- it means security,” said Winchell.
Upcoming events to benefit the Austerlitz Historical Society include a re-enactment of the Battle of Austerlitz -- “the one that Napoleon won as opposed to Waterloo,” according to Winchell.
A group of Napoleon re-enactors from Montreal Googled “Austerlitz” and found out about the town in Columbia County. “They came down to see us and they saw how rural we are here,” said Winchell. The re-enactors will be at Old Austerlitz August 15 and 16, camping and living as an army would have done under Napoleon, with horses, cavalry and full dress uniforms. Winchell made children’s shirts that say “Vive le Emperor at the other Austerlitz.”
For more information about the Austerlitz Historical Society, visit www.oldausterlitz.org.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Old Austerlitz on Route 22, blueberries and history were the focus of visitors in the thousands. Around 150 volunteers turned out to man tables, serve food and do whatever else they could to benefit the Austerlitz Historical Society.
“Everything we do is all volunteer,” said Carl Quinn, treasurer of the historical society. “We really have a group of dedicated volunteers who put it on together.”
Quinn reported that 660 adults and 113 children came out early for the pancake breakfast from 9 --11:30 a.m. Blueberry pancakes, orange juice, sausage, and coffee were served.
Blueberries, baked goods, ice cream with blueberry sauce, blueberry bushes and more were for sale, the historic buildings at Old Austerlitz were open, and arts and crafts vendors demonstrated historical weaving and forging skills.
The Austerlitz Blueberry Festival was conceived from observing a 1920’s photo of women in Austerlitz who picked wild blueberries on Harvey Mountain in order to pay for their school taxes. “They had aprons on, and they were holding pails,” said Barbara Winchell, a former president of the historical society. “I said, ‘well, we have to have a blueberry festival.’”’
The idea was proposed as a way to raise money for the historical society. Since the first festival in 2000, the event has expanded into an extremely successful venture, and has paid for the restoration and construction of several historic buildings on the site of Old Austerlitz.
Robert Herron, whose family has been in the area for seven generations, originally envisioned the idea of a farmstead on the grounds -- “what would have been here in about 1820,” according to Winchell. Herron donated the land to the historical society.
Last year, between 1500 and 2000 people came to the Blueberry Festival. “I’m hoping it’s that good this time,” said Winchell. “It’s been the most important fundraiser for our society.”
“I think we’ll surpass that number this year,” said Quinn. “Year by year, it’s the advertising and word of mouth.”
Over the years, the Blueberry Festival has been mentioned in many publications, including Martha Stewart Living, which named it among the best fruit festivals in the nation, and the New York Daily News, which named it one of the top ten New York summer festivals.
The Austerlitz Volunteer Fire Department attended the festival as volunteers, cooking hot dogs and hamburgers for visitors, and adding some fire trucks to the festival background. “We’re thrilled to have them -- it means security,” said Winchell.
Upcoming events to benefit the Austerlitz Historical Society include a re-enactment of the Battle of Austerlitz -- “the one that Napoleon won as opposed to Waterloo,” according to Winchell.
A group of Napoleon re-enactors from Montreal Googled “Austerlitz” and found out about the town in Columbia County. “They came down to see us and they saw how rural we are here,” said Winchell. The re-enactors will be at Old Austerlitz August 15 and 16, camping and living as an army would have done under Napoleon, with horses, cavalry and full dress uniforms. Winchell made children’s shirts that say “Vive le Emperor at the other Austerlitz.”
For more information about the Austerlitz Historical Society, visit www.oldausterlitz.org.
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