The Johnson Hall Historic Site will present a special weekend event titled Death and Diplomacy: The 240th Anniversary of Sir William Johnson’s Final Council, Death, and Funeral. The event will be held Saturday July 19th and Sunday, July 20th at Johnson Hall, 139 Hall Ave, Johnstown, NY.
On Saturday at 11:00am, author Darren Bonaparte will introduce visitors to a time when colonists and natives alike engaged in wampum diplomacy by the Great Council Fire using more than twenty historic wampum belts he has reproduced to illustrate his narrative. Darren is a Mohawk storyteller, the author of Creation and Confederation : The Living History of the Iroquois, and the creator of www.wampumchronicles.com .
At 1pm on Saturday, there will be a re-creation of the 1774 diplomatic council utilizing the original council minutes, demonstrations of various activities that took place during council events, and an open house. At 10:00am on Sunday, the event will continue with an open house featuring Johnson Hall draped in mourning. Beginning at 1pm, there will be a re-creation of Sir William Johnson’s funeral procession from Johnson Hall to St. John’s Church in Johnstown. The public is encouraged to accompany the procession to the church. The house will remain draped in mourning until September 14th.
For more information on these and other Johnson Hall events go to www.facebook.com/johnsonhallstatehistoricsite or call (518) 762-8712.
