From the Newsletter
The Life and Times of Johannes Crispell | Canadian Cousin Finds CFA Online | Location, Location, Location | 30th Anniversary of French Church | What Do You Know About French Church? | Caitlin Adams Presents | A Note From Roger Crispell | Crispell Brothers Receive Scout Awards | Crispell School Museum Sold | Luncheon Presentation by David Baker | From One Room to the Moon
Colonial Street Festival
The first weekend of August was steamy, just the kind of weather to appreciate the comfort of contemporary clothing. My daughter Alice and I spent the morning of August 2nd decked out in Colonial outfits, meaning long sleeves and long skirts. It was our first time volunteering at the annual Colonial Street Festival in New Paltz. Our beat? The French Church, of course.
Lew Crispell, an old hand at this event, shared our shift with us and took the lead at regaling visitors with tales of the history of the church, while I listened and learned how it’s done. Alice, who is 8, stood at the entrance to the churchyard, where she handed out Crispell family brochures and directed people to the church. She was indefatigable in this task and apparently made an impression on HHS director Jack Braunlein when he stopped by. (See her own story below.)
The church hosted several musical performances and religious services throughout the day. While we were there, we enjoyed a Dutch service, harpsichord playing, and recorder concert. It got steamier as the day progressed, and people were happy to come into the shade of the church and have a seat for a few minutes. I was glad I had a fan.
We were relieved at midday by another old hand at this event, Eileen Crispell, also dressed in period costume. At that point, we joined my son Devon and a family friend to see the sights for ourselves, including, of course, a stop at the HHS gift shop, as well as an inside look at some of the stone houses. But first, we changed into our shorts.
--Diane Crispell
Alice’s Story
 At the beginning of the day, my mom and I got name tags so people would know who we were. Then we got dressed, and it was kind of hard because it was a small bathroom. Then we went to the church. We passed out papers to the people who came by so they would know about the Crispell family.
Later on, there was a group of people who played recorders. I saw a girl that had the same kind of doll that I did, an American Girl doll, and we kind of got to be friends. She was dressed up, too. And I said maybe if we meet each other again next year, maybe we could shop together!
After we were done working at the church, we bought some cool stuff. I got a wooden hoop game. My brother Devon saw a sword he liked, but he couldn’t get it because it belonged to the house. I saw this blacksmith guy who was making some metal that was really cool. We went upstairs in one house near the Crispell church and saw two coffins.
It was really hot. We got ice cream at the end of the day. And I got bit by ants because I was sitting on a stone wall. So don’t sit on the stone wall by the church at the cemetery if you come next year!
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