To the Editor:

We invite you to explore the history of local industry in the Hilltowns during this year’s New York State Path Through History Weekend, June 17 and 18.

Take a ride back to the Roaring Twenties at the new Westerlo Heritage Museum for its program “Popping the Cork on Prohibition” and find out what really went on in the Hilltowns during that time — did you know Legs Diamond had a home in South Westerlo?

The Westerlo Historical Society will also have a display of antique farm equipment. The museum will be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. and is located next to Woodman’s Hall at 978 County Route 401 in Westerlo.

Travel through time with the Knox Historical Society’s program “Farming in Knox: Past, Present and Future” on Saturday, June 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Saddlemire Homestead Museum, 2190 Berne-Altamont Rd. in Knox. The program will include antique farm implement demonstrations, a lecture on present day farming by Ken Saddlemire, and a presentation on the future of farming in the Hilltowns by Berne-Knox-Westerlo agricultural students.

And don’t forget to make an excursion to the historic hamlet of Rensselaerville and tour the historical society’s grist mill, open every Sunday in June from 1 to 3 p.m. The mill is located on State Route 85 between Pond Hill Road and the Edmond Niles Huyck Research Station.

The hamlet of Rensselaerville is on the National Register of Historic Places, so leave time to take a walk around to enjoy the architecture.

These organizations and many more are part of the Hilltowns Regional Historical Summit — a group that meets quarterly to plan programming and is sponsored by the Helderberg Hilltowns Association. Visit our website www.hilltowns.org/nys-path-through-history.html for more information and directions.

Zenie Gladieux

President, Helderberg Hilltowns Association