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Valentown Greetings,

The hops plant has a interesting history that reaches far

back into ancient times to the present. Most people recognize
its use in beer but it has also been used as a medicinal and
tonic. It is one of the super plants that helped change the
world. And it is a part of almost all agricultural systems
throughout the world.

On Saturday, July 20th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Historic
Valentown is hosting a *Heritage of Hops* day where you
can learn from our guest speakers all the legend, lore and
practical know how of hops. The renewed interest around our
area and New York State in brewing is bringing hops to the
fore front again. Once a prominent part of our rural New
York landscape, it is quickly becoming a familiar site on
farms and even back yards.

But what makes hops so special? How did people discover the
plant and enhance it to be used in every day living?? How did
your ancestors use it? Would you like to learn how to do
home brewing? What plants give what flavors? What plants

are available and where can I buy them?

Join us, Cornell Cooperative Extension, historian Jane Oakes,
12 Horse Chapter brewery collectors and other related groups
for a great afternoon at Historic Valentown. There will be
different varieties of hops on display and to purchase.
Please see more details under our EVENTS listing.

As always, we are your down home hometown museum.

Kathryn White, Operations Manager- Historic Valentown-VHS

Quote of the Month

"And what is so rare as a day in June?

Then, if ever come perfect days."
1846

James Russell Lowell

News and Events
(For other ongoing News & Events, check our web site or our 
Facebook page.)

New Board of Trustees Announced

On June 23 the Victor Historical Society welcomed new
Trustees to the Board. Please welcome Harriett Neville
and David Mitchell as trustees to the Victor Historical
Society. And welcome back to Suzanne Sacco.

Current Trustees are listed on our web site.

CHEERS!
We are "hoppy" to announce Hometown Business Member 
<http://historicvalentownmuseum.org/page.php/hometownbusiness#>; 
*New York Beer Project*.

Thank you for being a real neighbor.

Tiny Messages in Stone
Look what we found at Historic Valentown!

We were getting ready to paint the stairs in May and found a
little stone. One in the garden too. "The stones are just
a thing ... to spread happiness, joy, peace and friendship.
Painting rocks and placing them in various places just to do
something good" says Suzanne Sacco a VHS Board member and
volunteer. The smallest things can make the biggest
difference. Thank you to our secret friend.

MASON BEE UPDATE

Amazing survival rate this year. We set up with the
67 Valentown cocoons harvested from last season and
about 10 days later added another 75 bees from
Lynne's brood. Out of 142 bees, 40 were likely boys.
And out of the remaining 102 queens we pulled 71

filled and partially filled tubes. Can't wait to
harvest to see the bee babies!

FRANK WALSH & the Valentown Band       
June 14, 2019 was the launch party for Frank Walsh's
2nd CD (& Vinyl!). To our surprise and delight, the
opening song at the party was our "Valentown" song!
And we got a big hooray from the crowd at the Coach
in Tring, UK. Check out the "Certain Kind of Blue"

launch party opening song video
<http://historicvalentownmuseum.org/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20190627164215435>;.

WANTED: VOLUNTEER FOR ALL KINDS OF PROJECTS.
NOT TOO BIG, NOT TOO SMALL BUT.. JUST RIGHT.

Please consider helping us some Sunday afternoon.
We can do this the easy way or the hard way. All you have to do 
is show up.

If you want to check ahead about a possible task match up just 
email us at info at historicvalentownmuseum.org

RESPECT REMEMBER RETIRE

Retire the Flag at Historic Valentown
Drop off for flags is on our front porch.
 

EVENTS
 

HISTORIC VALENTOWN ~ THE HERITAGE OF HOPS

Saturday July 20th 11 am to 4 pm

Learn about the history & lore around of the use of hops in
our area of New York State.

Enjoy Lectures, Demos & Displays related to hops and
their cultivation and use in Tonics, Brewing and
Breweries.

Join us for several speakers including:
Hop Growing & Beer Production in the Genesee Country
Speaker: Jane Oakes 2pm
Cornell Cooperative Extension (TBA)
Speaker: Pilar McKay

For part of the 19th century, New York State was the
chief location worldwide for raising hops. From
pioneer to immigrant, everyone enjoyed beer as a
healthier alternative to often polluted well water.
Learn how hops were grown and beer was made in the
time of our ancestors.
 

ANTIQUE APPRAISAL DAY AT? HISTORIC VALENTOWN
Saturday October 19th

We will be taking reservations for this event soon!
   

WEB SITE NEWS

WANTED: VOLUNTEERS
Lynne is looking for volunteers to help out with some small
but time consuming tasks for the web site. Technical web
coding experience is not required, but knowing how to
manipulate text and do "cut and paste" copying would be
helpful. If interested, email her at
webmaster at historicvalentownmuseum.org

 THE BOOKCASE

If you have a favorite read you'd like to share, send it
along for our review at webmaster at historicvalentownmuseum.org.

Helen's Eyes: A Photobiography of Annie Sullivan, Helen
Keller's Teacher
by Marfe Ferguson Delano
Recommended by Lynne

This is the inspiring photo-biography of Anne Mansfield
Sullivan, a woman born into a life of daunting disadvantage
and social obstacle. She grew up poor, with little education,
the child of struggling Irish immigrants. By the age of
eight, Annie was almost blind because of untreated trachoma.

Following her mother's death, the young girl entered an
almshouse, where she spent four years among the most wretched
of society's outcasts. Her inquiring intellect and
determination helped her escape this bleak detention, and she
was sent to the Perkins School for the Blind.

There, at the age of 14, her education began, and her lively
mind soon blossomed. After graduation, she was hired as a
teacher for Helen Keller, a six-year-old girl who was blind
and deaf due to illness. With patience and compassion, Annie
reached into the dark, silent world of the little girl,
opening her mind and soul to life's beauty. She became
"Helen's eyes." Because of her inspired breakthroughs and
accomplishments with Helen, Annie was soon known as the
"Miracle Worker." Annie and Helen spent the rest of their
lives together, two complex women with feisty personalities
who achieved international acclaim.

Marf Ferguson Delano's evocative account of teacher and
student breaking down barriers to enjoy the wonders of
intellectual discovery is a profoundly moving story.

About the Author

MARFE FERGUSON DELANO is the author of 12 books for National
Geographic, including Genius: A Photo-biography of Albert
Einstein, which won an Orbis PICTUS Award, and Inventing the
Future: A Photo-biography of Thomas Alva Edison, which was
the recipient of the James Madison Book Award Honor, as well
as other notable honors . Marfe is a graduate of Duke
University and lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her
husband and two children.

Click here
<https://www.amazon.com/Helens-Eyes-Photobiography-Sullivan-Photobiographies/dp/1426322224/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=anne+sullivan+biography&qid=1561488037&s=gateway&sr=8-4>;
to read more about it on Amazon.com.

Just a reminder, your Amazon shopping can help Historic
Valentown!
See illustrated instructions on how to set it up? and
what to visually expect in our forums: How to set up a
Smile.Amazon.com Account
<http://historicvalentownmuseum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=148&fbclid=IwAR09T4sS-p-RyZfgQgU1fyNuhM8aBQpbBp5wlBeL0oZTHmNI5tuWxFpN7W8>;

Please consider becoming a community member
<http://historicvalentownmuseum.org/page.php/communitymemberships>*
of Victor Historical Society and support HISTORIC
VALENTOWN on a yearly basis. Members get to vote andhave other perks as well.

Find Us on Facebook!
<https://www.facebook.com/Historic-Valentown-157101550971895/>;

Recipes
See our collection of recipes and hints, tips and substitutions at
http://historicvalentownmuseum.org/forum/index.php?cat=2/*

Raspberry Sauce

Raspberries are one of summers berry blessings. And they
are so versatile! This raspberry sauce recipe can be used
on salads, as a glaze for chicken, salmon, pork, and even
on ice cream! ~~~Lynne

Salad idea: Mix some of the raspberry sauce with some
balsamic vinegar for a yummy tangy raspberry salad
dressing!

Ingredients
2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
1-3/4 cups water
1/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon water

Directions

In a saucepan, combine the raspberries, 1-3/4 cups water
and sugar.
Bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer, uncovered,
for about 30 minutes.
Mash the raspberries.

Note: If you don't want seeds in the sauce, strain the

raspberry mash through a fine sieve into a 2-cup
measuring cup. 
You may have to add water to make 2 cups. Then return
the mash to the saucepan.

Combine cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water until
smooth, then gradually stir into raspberry mixture.
Bring to a boil again over medium heat, stirring
constantly. Cook and stir 1 minute longer, then remove
from the heat and cool. Sauce can be stored in the
refrigerator for up to a week.

Levi's "What is it?" Department

Hello Friends,
This is something that we actually don't have in our collection 
at Historic Valentown but we sure would like to have. What it 
made was probably just as popular then as today. Once again a 
device that was meant to save time.

If you already know, DON'T give the answer right off if you
go on Facebook Maybe give us all a hint or two for some
fun. See, this is supposed to let everybody try and figure
it out. It is a "What Is It" after all.- LEVI

Enjoy more conversation about this "What Is It" on our 
Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/
<https://www.facebook.com/157101550971895/photos/a.708518075830237/2784836648198359/?type=3&theater>;

Our May What Is It was a an eye cup. Not only used as a
way to get that speck out of your eye but also to sooth tired
eyes with a wash as well. Burdock root was often used to
make an eye wash. Mostly oval in shape, they were filled with
water or a herbal tea wash and one would bend down, fix it to
the eye and raise the head to have the liquid reach the
opened eye. Blinking could help dislodge a foreign object.
Today you can still get them for the same handy use although
some are plastic. The antique ones are very collectible and

came in many shapes and colors from cobalt blue to carnival glass.

Here are several styles of eye wash cups.

Best to you - Levi

Still going. Will it ever be solved...? The "mystery rods" 
<https://www.facebook.com/157101550971895/photos/a.708518075830237.1073741826.157101550971895/2096916816990349/?type=3&theater>;