HISTORIC GATES HALL

Gates Hall East Side

Gates Hall Basement

Gates Hall From Balcony

PERFORMANCE AT GATES HALL

Featured Events

Hummingbird in the House – A Staged Reading

Hummingbird in the House – A Staged Reading

A Staged Reading of Hummingbird in the House A New Play by Steve Duprey November 8, 2024, 7 p.m. In this new play, Steve examines the lives of two brothers on either side of the political aisle as they struggle to accept Vince’s transition from female to male. It’s a...

NY 111th VOLUNTEER INFANTRY SOLDIER FEATURED IN 2023 W-PHS HOUSE EXHIBIT
160 years ago today on July 3, 1863, a young Williamson soldier named Myron VanWinkle, born in Pultneyville in 1836, was injured in the Civil War.  Along with many Williamson and Wayne County neighbors, he was mustered into service in the 111th New York Infantry Regiment in August 1862 and departed from Auburn, NY with his fellow soldiers to fight in the war.  The young farmer serving in Company E was wounded on July 3, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg.  He died three weeks later on July 29th, leaving his parents, John and Abigail VanWinkle, his wife Rhoda Elizabeth Grandin VanWinkle , a young son Phillip and infant daughter, Emma, who was born the day before her father left to fight for his country.
VanWinkle, the subject of a Gettysburg National Museum Park Exhibit, was selected at the time of Gettysburg exhibit development due to the fact that there was local coverage from New York about the life of an individual soldier whose remains rest in peace at the National Cemetery.  Myron VanWinkle is featured this season in a new exhibit at the Williamson-Pultneyville Historical Society (W-PHS) which creates greater awareness for the soldiers who gallantly fought in the 111th NY Volunteer Infantry.  Should anyone have photos or documents that might be shared and added to this exhibit as it continues to evolve, please call 315.589.9892.  To learn more, all are welcome to visit the
W-PHS  exhibits every Friday, Saturday or Sunday from 1-4pm through Labor Day, or by special appointment by calling 315.589.9882.  When visiting the exhibit, all are also encouraged to visit the Civil War Monument in Pultneyville’s Lakeview Cemetery that was erected in 1865 to view the names of 14 soldiers from Pultneyville and Williamson, including VanWinkle, as inscribed on the monument in honor of their service to our country.

Myron VanWinkle

“SAIL INTO SUMMER” WITH US AT

2024 Membership Update

The W-PHS Membership form is available under the Membership tab for your convenience to join online or for download.

W-PHS has transitioned to a rolling membership model which is effective for one year from the first of the month in which dues are received.  In addition, as we strive to broaden member benefits, an exciting new NARM reciprocal level membership is available.
Thank You in advance for your continuing support of W-PHS.

Featured Exhibits and Hours 

The Williamson-Pultneyville Historical Society (W-PHS)  House and Exhibits are open seasonally to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 1pm to 4pm, from the 3rd weekend in June through Columbus Day.   It is also open by special appointment with a 3 day advance notice November through mid-May (winter weather permitting) by calling 315.589.9892. Admission for W-PHS members is complimentary with membership and non-member admission is $5 per person, $8 per couple and $10 for an immediate family including children 18 years of age and younger. 

About

Since its inception in 1964, the society’s mission has been to gather and disseminate information concerning the history the of the town of Williamson, Wayne County New York, in general and the unincorporated hamlet of Pultneyville in particular. Williamson, was established February 20, 1802 and named for Captain Charles Williamson the land agent originally selected to develop the land. which was part of the Phelps-Gorham purchase. In 1806, the settlement now known as Pultneyville was developed by Jacob Hallet a land agent for the “Pulteney Estate”.

Located in the historic district in the hamlet of Pultnyville, the Society owns and manages 3 properties: the Society house at 4130 Mill Street, Centennial Park in the center of Pultneyville and Gates Hall across the street from the park. Gates Hall, built in 1825 by the community has been the venue for many historic events, including talks on religion, slavery, and women’s rights as well as preparing supplies for the Civil War. Residing on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places and used for over 150 years as a theatre, Gates Hall proudly bears the designation of the oldest, continuously active,  small community theatre in the United States.

War of 1812 Peace Garden

Peace Gardens are dedicated at historic sites in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. War of 1812 Bicentennial Peace Gardens celebrate the two hundred years of peace and longstanding friendship between the two countries that share the world’s longest undefended boarder. Visit the Pultneyville Bicentennial War of 1812 Peace Garden, dedicated in 2012, as an Honorary International Peace Garden. Situated on the grounds of the Williamson-Pultneyville Historical Society, at 4130 Mill Street in Pultneyville, it has a view of the hamlet and the charming harbor on Lake Ontario just across the street.

Walk among approximately 1,000 square feet of trees, bushes, and plantings of ferns, hosta, daylilies, peonies, rhododendrons and other shrubs and perennials. The sunny garden has many perennials that provide continuous bloom throughout the growing season including beautiful roses, hydrangea, astilbe, daylilies, foxglove, sweet william, phlox and more. Also integrated throughout are mature trees including magnolia, pear, Italian chestnut, maples, and oak. Take a walk down one of the two stone paths which go through the garden that has benches for relaxing and enjoying the view of an old capstan from a ship that sailed out of Pultneyville .

Local restaurants and restroom facilities are available.

AREA TOURS

To start tour Get the Map

To start tour Get the Map

Featured Exhibits

The W-PHS House and Exhibits are open seasonally to the public Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 1pm to 4pm, from 3rd weekend in June through Columbus Day.   Open by special appointment only with 5 day advance notice January through mid-June (weather permitting) by calling 315.589.9892.

Captain Throop

Horatio Nelson Throop, pictured above with his dog Jeppa, is believed to be the first person born in Pultneyville. His father, Samuel, was a seasoned saltwater sailor and Horatio carried on the family tradition as ship builder and captain of both schooners and steamships. Throop experimented with wind driven machinery and screw propellers in the 1830’s.

The exhibit displays prototypes he made for his experiments, half hull models of his ships and cabin doors that saved his life when his ship Sophia sunk in 1827. Captain Throop was also an active participant in the Underground Railroad transporting fugitive slaves from Pultneyville to Canada. The Magic, completed in the 1880’s and shown below was Throop’s last ship.

St. Peter

In 1898, the three-masted lake schooner St. Peter sank on a dark and stormy night coming to her final resting place in 110′ of water off Fairbanks Point near Pultneyville, NY. Captain Griffin set sail for Toledo, Ohio reaching almost to the Niagara River when a fierce storm was encountered. Griffin tried unsuccessfully to outrun the storm by turning his boat about and running back down the lake in an easterly direction. All hands including Griffin’s wife were lost except for Griffin.

Seventy-three years later, the St.Peter was located by a local scuba diver and from 1971 through 1974 many diving expeditions were completed resulting in retrieval of well preserved artifacts from the schooner. This exhibit, accompanied by an under water videotape of the ship, displays artifacts retrieved from diving expeditions. New York State has designated the Society permanent custodian of St. Peter’s artifacts.

Additional Exhibits

Our Business Partners

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Membership

(Tax Deductible)

2024 Membership Update

Please note that the W-PHS Membership form is available under
the Membership tab for your convenience to join online or for download.
W-PHS has transitioned to a rolling membership model which is effective for one year from the first of the month in which dues are received.  In addition, as we strive to broaden member benefits, an exciting new NARM reciprocal level membership is available. Thank You in advance for your continuing support of W-PHS.

 

Basic Memberships

The Society offers five basic membership levels depending on the level of support one chooses: Friend, Patron, Sustainer, Benefactor, and Legacy.

Membership levels at $125 or above include reciprocal NARM benefits which waive admission fees to W-PHS exhibits and entitle members to free, or reduced admission and varying shop discounts at over 1,000 institutions including many within our region. The NARM network includes art museums and galleries, historical museums and societies, botanical gardens, children’s museums, zoos, and more across the US, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.  For a listing of participating venues visit narmassociation.org.

Friend: W‐PHS Newsletter, E‐NEWS Blasts, Admission to Exhibits at W‐PHS House and W‐PHS Programs (excludes special ticketed events).
Patron: All Friend benefits plus a “Behind‐the‐Scenes” Guided Tour of Gates Hall.
Sustainer – All Patron benefits plus NARM Reciprocal Membership.
Benefactor – All Sustainer benefits plus one basic use of Gates Hall (date and use to be approved by Gates Hall Committee).
Legacy – All Benefactor benefits plus eligibility to serve on W‐PHS Advisory Council to Membership Committee and opportunity to attend Exhibits Preview Event.

If paying by check download the 2023 Membership Form here: 2023 W-PHS Membership Form

 

Business Memberships

The Society also offers four business membership levels: Business Partner, Business Advocate, Business Associate, and Business Benefactor.

Membership levels at $125 or above include reciprocal NARM benefits which waive admission fees to W-PHS exhibits and entitle members to free, or reduced admission and varying shop discounts at over 1,000 institutions including many within our region. The NARM network includes art museums and galleries, historical museums and societies, botanical gardens, children’s museums, zoos, and more across the US, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.  For a listing of participating venues visit narmassociation.org.

Partner – Basic Friend benefits plus business card listing on website and business listing in all newsletters.
Advocate – Partner benefits plus NARM Reciprocal Membership.
Associate – Advocate benefits plus one basic complimentary use of Gates Hall (date and use as approved by Gates Hall Committee).
Benefactor – Associate benefits plus eligibility to serve on W‐PHS Advisory Council to Property Committee and opportunity to attend Exhibits Preview Event.

If paying by check download the 2023 Membership Form here: 2023 W-PHS Membership Form

 

You may join or re-new on-line below:

Level Price Join Renew
Basic Membership – Friend $25 | $35 | $40 Join W-PHS Renew Now
Basic Membership – Patron $50 | $60 | $65 Join W-PHS Renew Now
Basic Membership – Sustainer $125 Join W-PHS Renew Now
Basic Membership – Benefactor $250 Join W-PHS Renew Now
Basic Membership – Legacy $500+ Join W-PHS Renew Now
Business Membership – Partner $75 Join W-PHS Renew Now
Business Membership – Advocate $125 Join W-PHS Renew Now
Business Membership – Associate $250 Join W-PHS Renew Now
Business Membership – Benefactor $500+ Join W-PHS Renew Now

 

Contributions to defray the many costs associated with the maintenance and improvements of the Williamson-Pultneyville Historical Society (W-PHS) home at 4130 Mill Street, Gates Hall and Centennial Park are always welcome. Thank you in advance for your continued support of W-PHS efforts to preserve these historically significant properties.

Donate Now

Unlike other Societies of our size who frequently have paid staff, all functions of the Williamson-Pultneyville Historical Society are carried out by members who volunteer their time and talent. The Board of Trustees, consisting of the Society’s officers and committee chairs meets monthly to review and plan activities. The committee structure within the Society provides the organizational “arms and legs” to accomplish meeting the Society’s goals each year.

Become a member

 

Volunteering for the Society…And Having Fun Doing It!

Contact Us

Williamson Pultneyville Historical Society
4130 Mill Street, PO Box 92, Pultneyville, NY, 14538. Telephone (315) 589-9892

Hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM from 3rd weekend in June through Columbus Day weekend.