History at the Old Stone Fort - Ballots & Bullets

Bullet Mold

This bullet mold was used to make .58 caliber musket balls. Molten lead was poured into the opening at the top while the mold was held closed. 

Once cooled, the mold was opened and the excess metal was trimmed away using the cutter located just below the hinge.

The ends of the handles also function as a caliper, allowing the user to check that each musket ball was the correct size before use. These items were sent to us by the Old Stone Fort’s Clay Edmunds.

Ballot Box

This ballot box was used in one of Schoharie's elections. Voters placed their handwritten ballots through the slot in the top of the box.

Before the introduction of ballot boxes, voting was often conducted publicly, with voters announcing their choices aloud. During the early 1800s, written ballots became more common, allowing for greater privacy and helping to establish the secret voting practices used today.