Historic Huguenot Street (HHS) has announced the revival of Stone House Day, a formerly annual tradition, which will be hosted in partnership with the Town of New Paltz on Saturday, September 8. The event will celebrate the 340th anniversary of the settling of New Paltz by twelve French Huguenot refugees in 1678.
Beginning in 1950, when all of the historic houses on Huguenot Street were still privately owned residential homes, the Reformed Church of New Paltz, located on Huguenot Street, organized a fundraiser called Stone House Day in which the residents of the historic houses would dress up in colonial costume and allow visitors to tour their homes. The event also included pageants, reenactments, performances, crafts, games and more.
Eventually, HHS acquired the historic houses and continued hosting the event, which became a popular draw for both the local community and visiting tourists. The event continued to be an annual affair in New Paltz until 2009. Nearly ten years have passed since the last Old New Paltz Stone House Day was held on Huguenot Street.
This year, HHS is bringing back Old New Paltz Stone House Day, with a stronger focus on the diversity of Hudson Valley history. It will be a celebration of all the cultures that impacted New Paltz and Ulster County including African, Dutch, English, Esopus Munsee and French. The Reformed Church of New Paltz will once again be a partner in this event as well.
Seven historic stone houses will be open for public tours or viewing, two of which have been closed for many years. Performances, skits and vendor demonstrations will take place throughout the day while artisans and craftspeople sell handmade goods. Members of the 5th NY Regiment will bring reenactors from multiple time periods, engaging in musket firing, candle making, sewing, blacksmithing and other activities.
New Paltz Brewing Company will be on site selling their handcrafted beer and hot-baked pretzels out of the DuBois Fort Visitor Center.
To become a vendor or volunteer, visit huguenotstreet.org/stonehouseday.
Join the family! 
