LARCH plans for significant season

TICONDEROGA | When it was announced this past spring that after 125 years, the organization known as the Ticonderoga Historical Society would be changing its name to the Lower Adirondack Regional Center for History (LARCH), there was some resistance among residents. However, a rose by any other name does smell as sweet; 2024 was a banner year for LARCH, showing no signs of slowing down and having seen an increase in its reach. As 2025 ushers in, the horizon is bright as Managing Director Diane O'Connor and her dedicated crew of history lovers prepare to tackle some of their biggest undertakings yet. And as the holiday decor comes down from the beloved walls of the Hancock House, planning and preparation for a busy season are already underway. "We are wrapping up the Festival of Trees, which I think is one of the best we have had in a number of years," O'Connor revealed. "The Hancock House is absolutely beautiful and a big destination place for people thanks to the festival; we get people who come from NH and VT, even downstate. A couple from MA read about it and came over and really enjoyed it, a nice standalone event on its own." The foot traffic at the Hancock House also increased in 2024, with a boost in group activities like field trips, senior citizen outings. That equated to more revenue for the local area economy. "People stuck around for lunch afterward at our local restaurants and made it a day-long destination event," O'Connor noted. "People are really amazed at the beautiful building we are housed, in but they are also intrigued not only by the history but by the opportunity to come back again in the summer for programs and things." In 2024, LARCH presented 15 free programs for the community, a major accomplishment considering the quality of presenters and events. "2025 is shaping up to be very dynamic with theaters, movies, and lectures," O'Connor previewed. The new LARCH website is officially up and running, which took a better part of a year to create. "It's easy to follow, comprehensive, and has a great deal of information on who we are and what we do," said O'Connor. "We are very proud of it." Summer 2024 saw two major local historical commemorations, the centennial celebration of the Liberty Monument and the Memorial Stone in Artillery Park. And perhaps the most major accomplishment of the past year was the acquisition of a parcel of land that will soon be known as the Lord Howe Heritage Preserve (LHHP). "This is probably the biggest project we have ever tackled," O'Connor acknowledged. "It has great ramifications for the community and will take place over a series of years." The Lord Howe Heritage Project will transform a piece of historically significant property near the traffic circle by the Hancock House into an area that will advance the preservation and our understanding of the natural environment. "The land is significant for both the French and Indian War and American Revolution," O'Connor divulged."It was used for the transit of armies going to and from Lake George." Acquired from the former Moses Ludington Hospital, the land will be developed as an annex from the Hancock House Museum, as well as an environmental education center which will have walking trails, displays, and other exhibits. The preserve will be landscaped to augment the Ticonderoga downtown and Main Street revitalization efforts. "The great thing about that property is that it is largely unchanged since the 18th century, it includes some riparian/watershed area with Trout Brook running through it," O'Connor said. "It has great potential to develop over time." Still in preliminary planning, LARCH is working with a number of environmental and architectural organizations for responsible planning, but it will be funded with public and private grants as well as private donations when the time comes. LARCH has even picked up new donors thanks to the LHHP, and it is anticipated to continue to put Ticonderoga further on the map as visitor destination. 2025 is also a big year locally, as well as on a national scale. The centennial of the building of the Hancock House itself, which commenced thanks to well-known philanthropist Horace Moses, is still in the planning stages but promises to be worthy of note. "We also have the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution in 1775," O'Connor reminded. LARCH will be working in conjunction with other area organizations, preliminary meetings already having transpired, to brainstorm what types of celebrations will mark the momentous occasion. The Hancock House itself, though just as majestic as the day the final stone was laid, has not been immune to the passage of time and the mark of age that come along with it. "We will be Initiating infrastructure repairs to the house, the roof, and the balustrades," O'Connor said. "The windows are all slated for repair and replacement. We have just received a $50,000 New York State DASNY grant, originated by Betty Little, that is finally coming to fruition and that will help fund those repairs. We are very grateful for former Senator Betty Little and current Senator Dan Stec getting that moved through the channels." Lighting in the program room will also be updated, adding a more ambient touch that will be more amenable to programs conducted in that area. Bright new outdoor signage that will reflect the LARCH name change is currently in production and will make it easier for visitors to find the headquarters. New exhibits will open in the spring that will include Rogers Rangers and another one on Lord Howe, very apropos in its timing with the Lord Howe Heritage Project. "We are going to be continuing the people's exhibit, that was a lot of fun and was a wonderful, eclectic display of things to see, everything from Rev War powder homes to bricks from family homes in Ticonderoga and all kinds of wonderful memorabilia in between," O'Connor said. "We are still looking for entries. If people have special mementos they want to include, I encourage them to get in touch with me." The Hancock House is closed now through May. It will once again welcome visitors Wednesday through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in May, and then will be open seven days a week in the summer months. "We are always on the lookout for volunteers and encourage young people to come up to the Hancock House to see what we are all about," O'Connor encouraged. "We are a great resource for high school and college students working on papers, we have wonderful resources in our library of original material nobody else has." Please visit larchny.org to learn more or to donate to the mission. O'Connor may be reached via email at larchny@bridgepoint1.com or by telephone at 518-585-7868. "We have a lot to look forward," O'Connor promised.

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LARCH plans for significant season

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