Still haven't bought your holiday tree? Consider buying one at Ontario Orchards with a special coupon you can pick up at the Museum (or we can mail to you)!  With the coupon, 10% of your tree's value goes to benefit the Marine Museum and the Oswego Maritime Foundation.  Call the Museum for details or email us.

Christmas At Sea Open House 2008	The US Coast Guard delivered Santa to the West Pier, cutting through ice to do so.
	As well as Santa's arrival by Coast Guard Cutter, the sizable crowd enjoyed a visit from Mrs. Claus, home made cookies, kids' crafts, themed trees (pirate, transportation and seashell), and model trains courtesy of Fred Regan and the Oswego Valley Train Association.

Volunteer/Staff Holiday Party 2008

2008 Annual Benefit Drawing Winners:
1st prize: Vintage Trunk - Patrick Fasulo and family (right) of Liverpool 2nd prize: Framed Cross Stitch - Steve Marte of Cicero 3rd prize: Crocheted Afghan - Sharon McMillen of Hannibal 4th prize: Framed Photograph - Dave White of Milford, CT 5th prize: Gift Certificate to Patz Restaurant - Fanny Knapp of Fulton

	"Tales of the Haunted Harbor" 2008 followed a Remembrance Ceremony to honor the women and children who were killed at Fort Oswego during the French and Indian War.  The pictures below show some of the highlights of that ceremony.  A candle light tribute was held. To the left, Mrs. Nesbitt begins the ghost stories (photo courtesy of David Thompson). Below that are pictures of part of the crowd that gathered, and the Monster of Lake Ontario.

The H. Lee White Marine Museum and the Oswego Maritime Foundation recently held their first Canal Celebration. The festivities included activities from years past such as a washing station where visitors could wash the "old-fashioned way". The station was staffed by the local Hannibal 4-H Bluebirds. Other interactive activities were wool spinning demonstrations, T-shirt decorating, knot tying, cruises on the Erie Canal Boat, Discover Sailing ventures, paper bead making, homemade apple pies and more.  An inflatable was also provided by AirHop Rentals for the children's enjoyment. Tours of the museum's historic 1925 NYS Canal Boat and other museum venues were offered free to the public. We are so pleased with the turnout for this event. Despite inclement weather over 125 visitors enjoyed the fest." noted the museum's director, Mercedes Niess.
Thank you to the ELKS for their sponsorship. Left to right: Mike Loughery,Coleen Rinaldo, Elizabeth Malone, Museum Director, Mercedes Niess, Charlotte Sereno.

Refurbishment has begun at the Museum and on the vessels.  New paint jobs are being applied to the Canal Boat and the LT-5.  Aging burlap panels in the main building have begun getting rejuvenating paint jobs.   These first pictures show the progression in the first room, upstairs.  To the right, you can see the finished paint job, as well as some new signage.  Below-right, spring intern Jennifer Rubik and Executive Director Mercedes Niess pose in another corner of the transformed room.  The bottom row shows volunteers Robin Snyder and Dave Curtin painting the walls and a series of floor-to-ceiling cabinets that were uncovered in the room.

"Kids' Pirate Day" was fun for all, this June.  The temperature was in the 80's, but a beautiful lake breeze and umbrellas, made this the place to be! Clockwise:  Pirate Alex, Pirate Hawkeye, the Pirate King and court arriving by boat. Games, a scavenger hunt, crafts, grub and more were enjoyed by all.

In June, 2008, the Oswego Fire Department kindly assisted the Museum by installing new line for the US flag on the LT-5.

In May, 2008, Boy Scout Troop #888 helped prepare the vessels for the season, as they do every year.

SUNY Oswego Theatre students presented area youth with a wonderful storytelling program this spring.

Annual Benefit Drawing

Drawing September 30!

Thanks to a generous 1^st prize donation, this year’s ANNUAL BENEFIT DRAWING offers you a special opportunity to win a truly exceptional prize.  This drawing will help support the Marine Museum’s numerous programs and events.

Drawing September 30, 2008
Vintage Dome-Top Sea Trunk		$1,200 value  Restored by “Trunks by Owen Lavery”  Donated by Eileen and Mike Goldych and Martha and Terry Hammill of Oswego.   All original exterior wood, hardware & casters.   New brass screws and leather straps.   Lined with ¼” Aromatic Solid Cedar (originals had wallpaper lining).   Extra Large (31”x19”x25”
Framed Kingsford Starch Cross Stitch		Handcrafted by Cross stitch instructor Eileen Elrod Back stitching is as perfect as the front.
Hand Crocheted Afghan		Award Winning Hand Crocheted Afghan Beautiful lavender, green & cream color scheme with blue & yellow accents Designed & crafted by Mrs. Fanny Knapp Big and comfy
Framed Niagara Photograph		Large digital photograph of the brig Niagara in Oswego harbor. By Central New York’s Michael Brown. Beautifully matted & framed by  Picture Connection
$25 Gift Certificate To Patz Restaurant		Use this prize to treat yourself to a night out. East First Street, Oswego

Stargazing

New Date due to uncooperative weather last week:

Friday, September 19, (Rain date Saturday, September 20)

7:15pm - doors open at 6:45pm

Full.

No spaces left.

Kids' Pirate Day

Saturday, September 6, 2008

1-3 pm

History Lecture Series

Saturday, September 13, 2008

1:30pm

Speaker: Dr. Michael Ameigh of SUNY Oswego

Topic: “Winter Water Birds of Eastern Lake Ontario”

"Art For Kids" Workshops

July & August dates

pre-registration required

The Royaliste in port for viewing

Sunday, August 24, 2008

10am - 5pm

The Royaliste in Oswego Harbor, 2007.

Yarrgh!  There be pirates in these waters.   Flying pirate colors from her mizzen mast, Royaliste and her crew have set their sails for Oswego!  The ship will be here for a short visit Sunday, August 24, berthed outside the H. Lee White Marine Museum, at the West First Street Pier.  Then, after stepping her masts (for land lubbers, taking them down), she will head down the Oswego Canal.   Royaliste is a private historic re-enactment vessel that strives to be a reminder of the roles privateers and pirates played in early America.  She has four working canons and the public is invited, from 10am - 5pm, to view an on-deck display of edged weapons and flintlocks as well as actual used cannon balls from the 1700s.    Originally built in Nova Scotia in 1971 and transported from California three years ago, Royaliste travels to ports of call for contracted appearances.  Following on the popularity of recent pirate movies, the tall ship was prominently featured in an A&E History Channel documentary, True Caribbean Pirates that was filmed in December 2005 and most recently appeared in The Privateer, filmed in Wilmington, NC in the fall of 2007.

Remembrance Ceremony

honoring the women and children who died at Fort Oswego during the French & Indian War.

Friday, August 15, 2008

8:15pm

at Derrick Barge No. 8 immediately preceding Tales of the Haunted Harbor

Tales of the Haunted Harbor

Friday, August 15, 2008

7:45 gate - 8:45 program

Canal Celebration

Saturday, August 2, 2008, 10am - 4:30pm

Canal Boat Rides added to event! ($5)

Kids' Pirate Day

Thursday, July 10, 10am-noon

pre-registration and pre-payment are required

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History Lecture Series

Saturday, June 21, 1:30pm

Guest Speaker: Dr. Robert Salisbury

Topic: The Patriots' War

Free and open to the public

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Opening Weekend

Busy season begins with the vessels re-opening and free admission to all sites all weekend

Give-aways, drawings and more.

Saturday, May 17 & Sunday, May 18

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Season Kick-off Party

for volunteers and potential volunteers

Sunday, May 18 1-2:30pm

(Site refresher following the party)

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History Lecture Series

First lecture of the year

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

Speaker: Steven Wapen

Topic: Camp Oswego Desertions of 1755/56

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"Art & History Rule!" and "Write Away!"

Judging has finished.  Results are below.

(Results will be mailed to all entrants as well as being posted here)

The Award Ceremonies were Wednesday, May 28; a standing-room-only crowd attended

There was a special reading at the river's end bookstore on Thursday, June 26, at 6pm.

The winning artwork is on display at the Museum.

See below for an overview and or click one of these links to see rules

Art Rules               Writing Rules

Winning Artwork         Winning Writing

"Art & History Rule!" Judging Results	"Write Away! Judging Results
Grades 1 - 3 (Non-competitive - all receive participation award) Bethany Ames Sarah Canfield Destiny Fitzsimmons David Gray Hannah Gray Andrew Noyes Mark Winheld   Grades 4 - 6 1st Prize  -  Mayraliz Lopez      2nd Prize - Chloe Patterson 3rd Prize - Arthur Nygard (tie) 3rd Prize - Audrey Ravas (tie) Honorable Mentions: Taylor Hamer Stephen Mahan   Grades 7 - 9 1st Prize  -  Emily Canfield      2nd Prize - Susan Nygard 3rd Prize - Rebecca Gray Honorable Mention: Elora Cordone   Grades 10 - 12 1st Prize  -  Jennaca Longley      2nd Prize - Elizabeth Canfield 3rd Prize - Sonya Nygard Honorable Mention: Evangeline Canfield	Grades 4 - 6 1st Prize  -  Kara Weiss      2nd Prize - Christopher Gray 3rd Prize - Brenna Sherman Honorable Mention: Thomas Simmonds   Grades 7 - 9 1st Prize  -  Rebecca Gray (tie) 1st Prize  -  Hannah Valentino (tie) 1st Prize  -  Steven Watros (tie)      2nd Prize - Emily Gray 3rd Prize - Taylor DiVirgilio (tie) 3rd Prize - Brittany Weimar (tie) Honorable Mention: Meghan Gillen   Grades 10 - 12 1st Prize  -  Sonya Nygard      2nd Prize - Delreon Williams 3rd Prize - Derek Grindle
Click here to see the winning artwork and the winning writing