All Things Pumpkin at HSM October 19

MARGARETVILLE — “All Things Pumpkin!,” a new event on the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown’s roster, will be held Sunday, Oct. 19 from 2 to 4 at the Middletown History Center, 778 Cemetery Rd., Margaretville.

There will be pumpkin painting and decorating for kids, pumpkin trivia and a pumpkin seed spitting contest! Complementary pumpkin soup will be available, along with hot mulled cider. 

Guest judges will preside over a bake-off (with prizes!) for pumpkin cookies and bread. Bakers are asked to bring a plate of a dozen cookies or a loaf of pumpkin bread to the center by 1:30. Call Iris, 845-586-4689, for more information, or go to mtownhistory.org to find contest entry rules.

Contest entries will then be available for attendees to enjoy.

Weather permitting, accomplished angler and guide Lenny Millen will offer fishing lessons at the pond. Poles will be available for novice anglers to try to hook the lunker bass that lurk beneath the surface (catch and release, of course).

Rare Basket Auction

A special feature of the event will be a silent auction of hand-crafted baskets made by Karl Amor (1906-1992), a folk artist whose work has been on display at the center this season. 

Karl Amor baskets, woven from willow shoots, grapevines and spruce roots gathered by the artist along roadsides and streambanks, have long been highly sought after by local residents and folk-art collectors. This is a rare opportunity to bid on these one-of-a-kind baskets, with proceeds benefitting HSM.

The exhibit on the life and work of Amor, and of metal folk artist Joseph Schoell, will remain on display for the October 19 event.

Admission is by donation.