Celebrating 17 years of community at the Indian Rock Schoolhouse picnic

AMENIA — The local community was invited to Indian Rock Schoolhouse on Saturday, Oct. 5, to take part in a tradition started by the schoolhouse’s late founder, Ann Linden: the 17th Annual Community Day and Picnic.

“The biggest thing is Ann wanted this to be a living museum,” said Indian Rock Schoolhouse Board member Beth Murphy, “and that’s what it’ll continue to be.”

“It’s to restore the schoolhouse,” said Amenia resident Sam Corrigan. “It’s about restoring historic places and keeping it up to par.”

“It brings different groups from the community together,” agreed Nancy Nowak, another member of the Indian Rock Schoolhouse Board.

The chill in the air and the shift in Mother Nature’s colors set the scene for the day. Running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors enjoyed festivities and took a look inside the schoolhouse itself. After camping out behind the pavilion the night before, Scouts from the Scouts BSA Troop 3029 helped set up booths and direct parking cars.

From the fresh baked pies and treats to the bottles of honey and syrup, the day featured the comforting tastes of the fall. Whether they stood underneath the shade of their tents or sat under the warmth of the sun, vendors and artists displayed their wares and works while local organizations distributed information about their efforts and upcoming community events, from the Amenia Historical Society and Amenia Free Library to the Bank of Millbrook and the Webutuck Teachers’ Association (WTA). Underneath the pavilion, musician Christina Dellea performed the best of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

Returning to the schoolhouse to host its annual chicken BBQ, the Amenia Lions Club set up a tent behind the pavilion and served meals with a smile.

“We love cooking chicken,” said Amenia Lions Club member Lori Hale. “We just wish we had more people to give it to, but it was a beautiful day so you can’t beat that.”

Standing out against the green fields, the Amenia Fire Company brought one of its firetrucks to the event for children to explore while the WTA’s booth had plenty of fall activities, such as painting wooden pumpkins and making bird feeders out of pine cones.

From the fresh tastes of fall, to the thick scent of falling leaves and changing seasons to the camaraderie afoot, the day invited all to embrace Amenia’s traditions and history.