Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum 250 River Road, Peru, NY 12972 518.643.8052
  • Home
  • Admission
  • 2022 Special Events
    • Musuem Brochure
    • Harvest Weekend
    • 1at Annual Holiday Bazaar
    • 10th Annual Kids Fair & Festival
    • History Matters Online Silent Auction/Treasures in the Trunk
    • Homesteading & Woodworking Weekend
    • Opening Weekend May 2022
    • Dairy Month June 2022
    • Museum Days 2022
  • Sponsors/Donors
  • Classes/Workshops
    • March Needle Felting Class
    • Ancient Art of Dowsing
    • March Paint & Sip Class
    • Tool Sharpening Workshop
    • Seed Catalogue Greeting Cards
    • Meet Your Guardian Angel
    • Tree of Life Watercolor Class
    • Holiday Needle Felting Class
    • Law of Attraction
    • September Paint & Sip
  • Museum News
  • Museum Audio Tour
  • Special Exhibits
    • Goshen General Store
    • Edward E Gardephe Conservation Legacy
  • School Field Trips
  • Volunteers Wanted
  • In the News.....
    • Plattsburgh Press Republican - 12/16/09 - Lifelong Peru Farmer Hopes to Open Agricultural Museum Soon
    • Plattsburgh Press Republican - 3/28/10- Rural Farm Museum to Open in Late Spring
    • Peru Gazette - 6/12/10 - Babbie Museum Officially Opens this Weekend
    • Denbpubs - 01/07/11 - Museum has Good 1st Year
    • Peru Gazette - 06/04/12- Many People Stopped by to Enjoy the Babbie Museum on Museum Day
    • Plattsburgh Press Republican - 07/28/11 - Old-time Agrarian Life Comes to Life
    • Plattsburgh Press Republican - 07/0912 - Babbie Museum Opens New Conservation Display
    • Plattsburgh Press Republican - 11/25/12 - Babbie Museum Saves Goshen Store
    • Plattsburgh Press Republican -08/28/13 - Old Friend Reunite
    • Plattsburgh Press Republican - 6/9/14 - Museums on a Mission
    • Plattsburgh Press Republican 7/6/14
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
    • Board Members/Staff
  • Contact us

See what's new at the Babbie Rural &
Farm Learning Museum!

​

Picture

FIRST ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION
WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The Museum will be holding an Online “History Matters” Silent Auction from September 9th through September 12th.
We are looking for donations of services, homemade offerings, and other items of community interest. This year’s silent auction will go a long way in helping this historic attraction stay in operation while working towards our vision of building a 1800s School House, which we hope will also contain a media and learning center for families and schools.
Please contact our Executive Director, Lee Babbie Ledesma, at leeledesma@babbiemuseum.org or 518.643.8052 for Online Silent Auction Donation forms and more information.


Affinity Membership Program

Picture
Picture

2021 Stewart's Holiday Match Grant

​Stewart’s Shops Presents Holiday Match Donation to Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum Stewart’s Shops recently presented a check for $1750.00 to the Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum as part of Stewart’s Holiday Match program. The Stewart’s Holiday Match funds are to be used directly for children 18 years and under in the geographic area where their shops are located and the money was raised.

This year’s grant from the Stewart’s Holiday Match Program will cover the cost of concrete paint, sealer, concrete repair materials, and a pallet jack that will be used to move some of the very heavy museum items around the main building as sections of the concrete floor are upgraded and refurbished. The main office and bathroom floors will be upgraded also.

​ The Museum Board of Directors is hoping to be able to open for part of the 2021 Season. For more information about the Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum please visit our website at www.babbiemuseum.org

Stewart's/Dake Family Foundation Provide COVID-19 Relief

Realizing that the COVID-19 Pandemic has had a negative effect on many nonprofits, the Stewart's and Dake Family Foundations recently donated $2000 to the Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum in Peru, NY.  The museum has been unable to open its doors in early May as usual, and we are still waiting to see if we will be allowed to open at all this season.  The Stewart's/Dake Family Foundations have always been committed to help make their shops' communities strong by supporting local nonprofits. this COVID-19 Relief is part of their overall commitment to give back to the communities that have supported them.  Many thanks go out from the museum Board and staff!!


Picture

Stewart’s Shops Presents Holiday Match Donation to Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum

Picture

Babbie Museum Bottle Recycling Box
The museum is now accepting recyclable beverage bottles.  Bags of bottles can be dropped off at any time at the museum.  Donations will be used toward operating expenses, new exhibits and the School Tour Program.

Picture

Picture
CLICK THIS LINK TO LOGIN IN TO AMAZON SMILE AND CHOOSE BABBIE MUSEUM AS YOUR CHARITY OF CHOICE.
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/27-1636851
 
 
What is AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that lets customers enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices, and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com. The difference is that when customers shop on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers.

How does AmazonSmile work?
When first visiting AmazonSmile, customers are prompted to select a charitable organization from over one million eligible organizations. In order to browse or shop at AmazonSmile, customers must first select a charitable organization. For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the customer’s selected charitable organization.
​
Is there any cost to charitable organizations or to customers?
No. There is no cost to charitable organizations or to AmazonSmile customers. The shopping experience is identical to Amazon.com with the added benefit that the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate to the charitable organizations selected by customers.


2019 United Day of Caring a Big Success at the  Babbie Museum!!

On April 13, 2019, museum volunteers as well as volunteers from IBEW Local 910 spent the day working on projects to get the museum ready for opening day.  Many thanks to our loyal volunteers  Tom Ryan, Bruce Sullivan, Leroy Connors, Dale LaBombard, David Babbie, Todd Babbie, Leeward Babbie, Karen Babbie as well as Matt Kelly, Nick Casey, Andy Nephew, Matt Durocher and Joe Bridgeman from IBEW Local 910!!

Stewart's Shops Present Holiday Match Donation to Museum

Picture

 2018 Northern Home and Lifestyle Expo 

The Babbie Museum was asked once again to participate in the 2018 Northern Home and Lifestyle Expo held at the Crete Center on April 14-15. 

Museum Wins 2018 Stewarts Holiday Match Grant

The Babbie Museum was once again lucky enough to be granted funds from the Stewarts Holiday Match Program.  The funds will be used to construct a protective station for the museum’s stagecoach.  It will also be used as an educational exhibit.
Stagecoaches were an important form of transportation in the Adirondacks well into the 19th century.  Peru, in former days, was on the highway of stage coaches and the hotels in their day were well appointed and received many guests.
The museum’s stagecoach is one of the original coaches from Frontier Town.
Many thanks to Stewarts Corporation for their continued support of the museum!

Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

On November 4, 2017  the Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was held at the Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum.  The affair was catered by Green Acres Restaurant.  The dinner is held each year to show our appreciation for all the work that our volunteers do throughout the year.  Many thanks to this year's volunteer staff:  Sue Allen, David & Karen Babbie, Eric Babbie, Jon & Erica Babbie, Leeward Babbie, Todd Babbie, Taylor Babbie, Thaddeus BoothTrudo, Leroy Conners, Gina Doty, Leonard & Donna Ducatte, Roger Duprey, Audrey Falcon, Brett Falcon, Bert Fresn, Dale LaBombard, Nick Orlando, Carol & Dan Rock, Cindy Roy, Tom Ryan, Kathy Santor, Scott, Lisa and Hunter Sartwell, Amy and Brad Sheldrake, Bruce Sullivan, Ann & Lincoln Sunderland, Tim Surpitski, Christine & Rose Trevail, Bill Umbreit, and Olivia and Cal Williams. We couldn't do it without you!!!

2017 Applefest Parade

On Saturday, September 16, the Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum took part in the 2017 Applefest Parade in Peru, NY.  The theme of our float was "From Cow to Kitchen' and displayed vintage equipment used for milking, making cream and producing butter in the rural kitchen.  The museum's float took "First in Show".

2017 United Day of Caring

The Board of Directors of the Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum would like to extend our sincere thanks to volunteers from  Northern Insuring Agency and  Museum Volunteers for their help on the 2017 United Day of Caring held on April 29th.  Northern Insuring Volunteers included Samantha Cross, Becky Tamer, Michael Ann Strack, Chris Davis, Kristi Johnson, Selena Banker and Sarah Cronk-Duquette.  Musuem Volunteers were Leeward Babbie, David Babbie, Karen Babbie, Jon Babbie, Todd Babbie, Carol Rock, Dan Rock, Dale LaBombard, Nick Orlando, Tom Ryan, Trevor Crouse, Kellen Blake, Rob Wright and Tanner Wright.  Projects included cleaning the inside of the museum, painting exhibit signs, putting siding on the shingle mill and starting to build the new bathroom facilities.  Many thanks to these volunteers for giving back to their community!!

Stewarts Shops Presents Holiday Match Donation to Museum

Stewart’s Shops recently presented a check for $1250.00 to the Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum as part of Stewart’s Holiday Match program.  The Stewart’s Holiday Match funds are to be used directly for children 18 years and under in the geographic area where their shops are located and the money was raised.
 
The museum is in the process of building a family/handicapped bathroom with a changing station, safety bars and plenty of space for a wheelchair or parents with toddlers.  Partial funding was received through an earlier grant from the Charles R. Wood foundation which allowed us to install the septic system.  The funding from the Stewart’s Holiday Match Grant will be used to purchase the bathroom fixtures.  The plan is to have the facility operating sometime during the 2017 season. 


Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum Chosen by Local Staples Associate
​to Benefit from Staples Foundation Grant

Picture
Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum has been awarded $500 by Staples Foundation, the private charitable arm of Staples, Inc., through a program called 2 Million & Change that allows Staples associates around the globe to direct more than $2 million in donations each year.  Lisa Jardine, General Manager of the Plattsburgh Staples (Store #0251) nominated the museum for this award.
 
The grants are part a philanthropic initiative which allows Staples associates around the world to direct funding to non-profit organizations focused on academic education or job skills. The program encourages local community engagement by awarding larger grants to organizations where associates are highly engaged in volunteering or fundraising – up to $25,000 per organization.
In 2015, Staples awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to 875 local organizations in support of education and job skills programs.

Longtime Museum Volunteers Earn Eagle Scout Title

Hunter and Riley Sartwell, longtime volunteers at the museum, were recently awarded the highest recognition in scouting. They have earned the title of Eagle Scout.
The boys started scouting in 2nd grade and have worked hard to become Eagle Scouts.  Hunter's Senior Project involved fixing the stone wall in the Peru Cemetery.  Riley installed a metal pole for the Goshen Store sign at the museum. 

The ceremony was held on July 19th at the Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum.


Babbie Museum Exhibit at 2016 Clinton County Fair

A big thank you to David and Karen Babbie for once again setting up the museum's exhibit at this year's Clinton County Fair.

Museum is Recipient of Items from Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake

Picture

​The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, NY recently donated several items to the Babbie Museum.  Among them were a beautiful horse drawn wagon, a sleigh, a plow and 2 life size models of Draft horses.  The museum is excited to be able to enhance their exhibits with these wonderful accessions.




Museum Receives Grant from Plattsburgh Noon Kiwanis Club

The Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum was the recent recipient of a grant from the Plattsburgh Noon Kiwanis Club Special Community Service Fund. The museum requested funds for roofing materials for their new shingle mill building.  The shingle mill is a large machine used to make wooden shingles which were commonly used in this area in the 1800s and early 1900s.  The Babbie Museum has one of the only working shingle mills in the area.  The new building will allow visitors a safe and unobstructed view of the machine and how it works.  The museum hosts over 800 students and parents for school field trips each season.

Museum Receives Charles R. Wood Foundation Grant

The Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum was the recent recipient of a grant from the Charles R. Wood Foundation.  The museum applied for money to help construct a handicap/family bathroom facility at the museum.  The museum was notified in early May that they were awarded $2500 to put toward the project.  Construction on the bathroom will begin this summer.
The Charles R. Wood Foundation was founded in 1978 with its mission to provide assistance to areas of special need in the Lake George Region and surrounding areas. Not-for-profit organizations with an emphasis on programs for children, healthcare and the arts are the beneficiaries of Mr. Wood’s generosity. 

Peru Class of 2016 Makes Donation to Museum

Picture
At the May 2016 Board Meeting, the Board of Directors of the Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum was presented with a check for $250 from Hunter Sartwell, Ambassador of the Peru Class of 2016.  For the past 4 years, the Babbie Museum has supported the Peru Class of 2016 by allowing them  use of a trailer for class floats and the museum facility to make and store their float.  Hunter is a longtime volunteer at the museum.


Adirondack Foundation Comes Through in Time of Need

The Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum in Peru, NY was the recent recipient of a grant from the Adirondack Foundation’s Sudden and Urgent Needs Fund (SUN Fund).  The SUN Fund provides short-term assistance to area nonprofits experiencing unforeseen gaps in funding or other exigencies. In early February, both the museum’s water heater and office Monitor Heater experienced failure.  The Adirondack Foundation stepped in and helped the Babbie Museum at a difficult time by providing the funds to replace this necessary equipment.


2016 United Day of Caring

The Board of Directors of the Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum would like to extend our sincere thanks to volunteers from Johns Manville, Northern Insuring Agency and PTec for their help on the 2016 United Day of Caring.  Working with the Babbie Museum Volunteers,   several projects were completed in preparation for the 2016 season opening of the museum. Again, many thanks to these volunteers for giving back to their community!

                                 Stewart’s Shops Presents Holiday Match Donation to
​                                             Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum

 
Stewart’s Shops recently presented a check for $1000.00 to the Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum as part of Stewart’s Holiday Match program.  The Stewart’s Holiday Match funds are to be used directly for children 18 years and under in the geographic area where their shops are located and the money was raised.
 
A building on the museum grounds called the Goshen Store was built in 1801 in the Quaker Settlement of Goshen, located in the Township of Peru. The museum acquired the store from Seth Forrence in 2012 when he approached the museum board about saving the historic building located on his land. For the past several years, museum volunteers have been busy restoring the structure.  This donation from Stewarts Holiday Match program will allow the museum to have several reproduction windows made for the store.  The building will be part of the School Field Trip Program for the 2016 Season.
 
The museum will open for the 2016 season on May 7.  For more information about the Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum please visit our website at www.babbiemuseum.org 


Museum Hosts First Bus Tour

In October 2015 the museum hosted its first bus tour - Oneonta Bus Lines.   A group of 46 visitors enjoyed an afternoon exploring the museum grounds and participating in hands on activities.  The tour was such a success that the Oneonta Bus Lines has already booked a tour for next September!

                                                                       New Museum Mural
Volunteer Dean DeLano and the Peru Art Honor Society Members are busy painting a mural on our storage trailer.   The mural depicts the four seasons in the Adirondacks and seasonal activities common in this area in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

                                                                          Blacksmith Shop Update
Many items hand forged in our blacksmith shop are now available for purchase.  Come and check them out!


                    
                                                     May 18, 2015 United Day of Caring
Once again, a team from Georgia Pacific teamed up with museum volunteers on the United Day of Caring.  Many projects were completed including insulation and boarding of a wall in the main room, running electricity to outbuildings and work on the Goshen Store.  Many thanks to our loyal GP and museum volunteers!!

New Exhibit

Picture




Ever wonder what it was like in the “olden days” with no indoor plumbing?  Come and see our new Outhouse Exhibit, complete with a 1900s Sears Roebuck Catalogue. 
 


2015 Northern Home & Lifestyle Association Home Show

The Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum was invited to exhibit at this year's  Northern Home & Lifestyle Association  Home Show at the Crete Civic Center. We had a wonderful time!   The winner's of Saturday's Family Day Passes were:
Chickie Bibeau, Karen Brannen, Adam Reece, Carrie Malcom and  Fran Schiff.   Sunday's winners were Grace Walter, Morgan Hall,  Terry  Miclette, Sandy Boulerice and Ann Nichols.  Congratulations!   Hope to see you all at the museum this season.


Museum is Granted Absolute Charter!

Picture

The Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum, 250 River Road, Peru, NY is proud to announce that on January 12, 2015, they were granted their Absolute Charter by the New York State Board of Regents. The museum was provisionally chartered by the Board of Regents on January 12, 2010.
By granting the museum an Absolute Charter, the Board of Regents has certified that the Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum meets their organizational and educational standards and that our museum has a record of financial stability, programmatic accomplishment, and a reputation for excellence. The museum would like to thank all of our valuable volunteers who helped make this milestone possible.




                                                      Goshen Store Update
Phase I & 2 – moving the building onto museum property – was completed in Spring 2012.   Phase 3 was begun this Fall as a  group of volunteers worked diligently on building a foundation to stabilize the store.  Drain tile has been installed and a floor will be built, weather permitting.  The hope is to have a preliminary exhibit open soon that will show our vision for this work in progress.



Find us on Facebook
Proudly powered by Weebly