Keepers of Coursen Corners keep history alive and museum thriving

BY LAURIE GORDON
FREDON — Nine people from around the area have been bonded together by history and the common goal to keep a very realistic museum alive in Fredon. They are the Keepers of Coursen Corners and on Saturday afternoon, they held their annual 12th Night Open House Celebration.

“We wanted to showcase the Coursen Homestead to the public around the holidays, but everyone was pretty busy leading into Christmas,” said Linda Chirip, one of the Keepers of Coursen Corners who helps the museum stay alive. “Someone came up with a 12th night celebration, and so that's what we've been doing for the past few years.” People dressed in period clothes and toured visitors through the property including the old kitchen and the additions. Snacks and beverages were served and the whole experience felt like going back in time.

“This is a great winter affair and we got lots of people here this year,” said Ginny Richardson, another Keeper of Coursen Corners. “Everyone involved in this group has their specialty and we work hard to make the house look like it's actually lived in in contrast to other museums of this sort where the rooms are empty.” One disparaging thing to the Keepers is the lack of visits by area schools. “We wish more schools from around the area would come and see the museum and learn about its history,” Richardson said, “It's right here and we're happy to take tours through.”

Don Thoneig walked around playing and singing holiday music and the Keepers were on hand to answer questions about the property and its history.

The nine Keepers of Coursen Corners used to be a group of 10 until the untimely passing of one of its most energetic members, Ginny Wask, who lost her battle with cancer in April, 2012. Known for her locally famous homemade chocolate chip cookies and pancakes, Wask was passionate about the Coursen home and it's garden and history. “She was a wonderful, energetic person and we miss her a lot,” Richardson said.

About Coursen Corners
Coursen Corners is located at the intersection of Phil Hardin Road and Fredon-Stillwater Road, at Route 94 across from the Fredon School in the confines of Lodestar park. In the mid 18th Century, two descendents of New Amsterdam Dutch families, Johannes (John) Coursen, and his wife, Gertrude Van Tuyle, arrived in the Fredon area. In 1763, Johannes purchased over 800 acres, which included land extending from Paulinskill Road past the four-corners area by the Stillwater Road. When he died, his property was inherited by two of his sons — the Paulinskill Mill Farm by Jacob Coursen, and the four-corners land, by Colonel John. Starting in 1811, Colonel John’s sons built and operated a blacksmith’s shop, a tannery, a store, and later a tailor shop.

Also, his son Isaac established a post office and was the first postmaster. After Isaac’s death, the position was taken over by his son, William P. Coursen until 1881. A log cabin was most likely the first building on the present site of the Coursen House. The Coursen mansion was built about 1805. It contained four rooms on the first floor with a chimney across the corner of two rooms. There were three bedrooms on the second floor, and the kitchen, located on the southern end of the house, had a large bake oven Isaac Coursen added a first floor parlor and two more bedrooms upstairs as the family grew.

Some time ago, the Coursen House was purchased by Fredon Township as part of developing Lodestar Park, immediately adjacent to the House. The goal is to continue the tradition of community that this family gave us, and restore the house for use as a museum of Fredon’s fascinating history, a meeting place for groups, and a learning site for the school.

A volunteer group, Keepers of Coursens Corners, was formed in 2001 to begin the process of restoration. In the following five years, by their hard work, and with contributions from interested local citizens, six rooms were repaired, repainted and refurnished.