c.1926
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This contributing, c.1926 utilitarian building, originally built as an Odd Fellows meeting hall, is constructed of oversized, precast concrete block and features the typical meeting hall/grange 2-story,“ rectangular plan devoid of detail. The original flat roof was
replaced with a c.1970 gable roof. The building presently houses the VFW and the Museum of Local History
Warrensburgh Museum of Local History - In 1974, in anticipation of the coming National Bicentennial Celebration, a local resident and member of the Warrensburgh Historical Society, Isabelle Cornell, proposed starting a local history museum. Supervisor Charles Hastings, on behalf of the Town secured a permanent space in the Odd Fellows Hall and provided the rent and utilities. The call went out to townspeople and numerous artifacts and photographs were given or loaned for the purpose. The Historical Society would operate the museum, which opened in July, 1975. Open during the summer, the museum, received many visitors, including an annual visit by the fourth grade, for the next 25 years. Financial and volunteer support dwindled however, and the Town decided to close the museum around 2001. Following the resurgence of the Historical Society, however, the Town invited the Society to resume operation, providing for full renovation and expansion of the space and funds for its maintenance. Members of the Warrensburgh Historical Society computerized the collection and created all new exhibits. The museum reopened in July 2009, wholly staffed by volunteers. In addition to providing a chronological survey of Warrensburg’s history, special exhibits and programs have been created, including a Factory Workers Reunion, 50 Years of High School Sports: 1942-1992, Stock Car Racing at Ashland Park, Quilts from the Museum Collection, Hunting and Fishing With the Bear Waller Club, and Agriculture - the Past 200 Years. Exhibits entitled "My Dolly" and "Our Toys" have provided special Holiday entertainment.
replaced with a c.1970 gable roof. The building presently houses the VFW and the Museum of Local History
Warrensburgh Museum of Local History - In 1974, in anticipation of the coming National Bicentennial Celebration, a local resident and member of the Warrensburgh Historical Society, Isabelle Cornell, proposed starting a local history museum. Supervisor Charles Hastings, on behalf of the Town secured a permanent space in the Odd Fellows Hall and provided the rent and utilities. The call went out to townspeople and numerous artifacts and photographs were given or loaned for the purpose. The Historical Society would operate the museum, which opened in July, 1975. Open during the summer, the museum, received many visitors, including an annual visit by the fourth grade, for the next 25 years. Financial and volunteer support dwindled however, and the Town decided to close the museum around 2001. Following the resurgence of the Historical Society, however, the Town invited the Society to resume operation, providing for full renovation and expansion of the space and funds for its maintenance. Members of the Warrensburgh Historical Society computerized the collection and created all new exhibits. The museum reopened in July 2009, wholly staffed by volunteers. In addition to providing a chronological survey of Warrensburg’s history, special exhibits and programs have been created, including a Factory Workers Reunion, 50 Years of High School Sports: 1942-1992, Stock Car Racing at Ashland Park, Quilts from the Museum Collection, Hunting and Fishing With the Bear Waller Club, and Agriculture - the Past 200 Years. Exhibits entitled "My Dolly" and "Our Toys" have provided special Holiday entertainment.
Bicentennial (1976) Mural As part of the 1776-1976 Bicentennial festivities, the Warrensburg Bicentennial Committee commissioned artist Eva Cockcroft to paint a Mural on the side of the Odd Fellows building (now the VFW Building) that also housed the Warrensburgh Museum of Local History. The mural was restored in 2007 by the Warrensburgh Historical Society, funded by the Charles R. Wood Foundation and the community at large. Scenic artist and muralist Mary Lovendusky performed the restoration.
Lawrence Clyde Farrar was born in 1906 to George E. and Ella Schermerhorn Farrar of Lewisville. Locally known as "Clyde," he graduated from Warrensburg Central School and the Albany College of Pharmacy. During World War II he served in the Army Air Force. In 1951 he opened Farrar's Pharmacy at 41 Main Street (now New Way Lunch parking lot), which he continued to operate until 1971. He authored a number of books, including We Need a Creed, Celeste and Colored Rhythms. Clyde died in 1990.
Lawrence Clyde Farrar was born in 1906 to George E. and Ella Schermerhorn Farrar of Lewisville. Locally known as "Clyde," he graduated from Warrensburg Central School and the Albany College of Pharmacy. During World War II he served in the Army Air Force. In 1951 he opened Farrar's Pharmacy at 41 Main Street (now New Way Lunch parking lot), which he continued to operate until 1971. He authored a number of books, including We Need a Creed, Celeste and Colored Rhythms. Clyde died in 1990.
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Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.), a national organization "independent" of its roots in England, offered the "odd" tradesman or professional without a specific fraternal organization an opportunity for social intercourse with peers and to fulfill accepted obligations to the community. Its mission was fourfold: to educate orphans, visit the sick, relieve the distressed and bury the dead. In August of 1850 the Scaron Lodge was established in Warrensburg but lost its meeting place to a fire in 1859. It subsequently disbanded. It donated its fund balance to the Warrensburg Cemetery in exchange for a sizable burial plot. This plot contained "one soul" (unnamed, possibly a ceremonial skeleton). In 1881 Warrensburgh Lodge No. 488 was established. It held its first meeting on March 17 of that year in the now razed Pasko Hall, next to the, then, Pasko Block on Main Street. It subsequently met in rooms in the Wills Block on Hudson Street. In 1926 a new cement block building on lower Main Street was constructed by the J. Fred Acker Co. of Glens Falls. It consisted of a social hall on the first floor, a kitchen in the basement complete with tables, dishes, etc. for suppers and banquets. The lodge meeting room was on the second floor. Their first meeting in the new building was held on January 4, 1927. In 1975, with declining member-ship, Charles Has-tings, town super-visor at the time and lodge member, permitted the War-rensburgh Histor-ical Society to create a local history museum on the first floor, where it remains today. The I.O.-O.F. remained in the building until the lodge surren-dered its charter in 1987. At that time, the building was conditionally deed-ed over to the local Veterans of For-eign Wars post. The Town of Warrensburg con-tinues to maintain the Warrensburgh Museum of Local History in the building, expanding it under agreement with the V.F.W. to include the upper floor as well.
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Veterans of Foreign Wars - A meeting of the newly organized Warrensburg Post was held in October of 1945 at Ashe's Hotel. The meeting, presided over by temporary designated commander, Lee Stockwell, recently discharged with an enviable record of long service abroad, was well attended. James P. Reilly, representing the New York State Division of Veteran Affairs, explained the many benefits the State of New York would extend to returning service men and women. The post was named Haskell Brothers Post 4821 honoring Eldon and Ray Haskell, killed in Italy and France respectively, just a month and a half apart in June/July, 1944. A Ladies Auxiliary was also formed shortly thereafter. Sometime during the ensuing years, the VFW became inactive. In 1979 the VFW was re-established in Warrensburg. Under its first commander, Junius R. Cornell, the newly chartered organization boasted 48 members. It met first in rooms at Ashe's Hotel, then in the former Porto Fino Restaurant (Lazy River Farms), and finally it purchased the former Odd Fellows Building, which houses the Warrensburgh Museum, and made that its new home. A new Ladies Auxiliary was formed in December 1981, installing 38 women. A Men's Auxiliary was formed during the first decade of the 21st century.
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This store building stood between the present day New Way Diner (Potter’s Diner) and the V.F.W. Hall. In the early 1900's Mr. Samuel Levine ran the mercantile and lived in the apartment on the second floor. His brother, a clothier also, conducted his business in the building at 65 Main Street, two buildings north of the Episcopal Church.
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