Palatines of Germantown, Then & Now
In Columbia County, Germantown is looking closely into its Palatine heritage. Nadine Rumke, in her early 80’s, Helen Coons Henderson, 98, and Peter Fingar, 80, are exemplars of the energetic Palatine spirit. They and many other Palatine descendants, with names like Lasher, Cooper, Sheffer, Potts, Kline, Moore and Craig, will join hundreds of local residents, tourists and visitors, to celebrate Germantown’s 300th Birthday during the first two weekends of October 2010 (1st -3rd & 8th-10th). Were those original settlers able to join in the celebration, they would undoubtedly be proud of what their Palatine descendants continue to accomplish in “East Camp.”
Peter Fingar
In his Germantown office, Peter Fingar, an eighth generation Palatine descendant, proudly displays “Descendants of Johannes Finger,” his family tree, printed on 29 pages. Johannes Finger was born in Germany in about 1700. He and his family survived the difficult voyage, arriving here when Johannes was only 10. He was married in 1725 to Catharina Hess in the Linlithgo Reformed Church; they had twelve children. “Everyone wanted to have plenty of children in those days,” explains Peter, “because they were needed to help with the work.”
There was no family discussion of the Palatines while Peter was growing up — he heard more about his mother’s family, the Rockefellers. “From its inception, this was an agricultural community,” he said. “We were farmers and fishermen. My father and uncle were successful fruit farmers, with 120 acres between them.”
Peter remembers long trips to Hudson for supplies when he was a child. “Then, Northern Boulevard was a main highway, and the Roe Jan Bridge was originally 100 yards to the east,” Peter added. In the early 1800’s, the town was divided into eleven “Road Districts,” and a “roadmaster” for each was required to maintain the roads. The roadmasters issued reports to the highway commissioners before each town meeting.
The retired President of the Fingar Insurance Company, Peter was a member of the Town Council, and a long-time volunteer serving with the Lions Club, the Germantown Reformed Church, the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, and Columbia Memorial Hospital. He remains active in local politics.
Celebration Update:
Oktoberfests have been held before, but this year’s celebration honoring the town’s 300th Birthday will be the biggest and best. Tax dollars are not being used, and there will be no admission or parking fees. Free horse- and tractor-drawn wagon rides will be available to travel the 1.3 miles of the Oktoberfest grounds and around the Halloween Trail.
A new Friday night Wagon/Trailer Parade will kick off the big weekend on October 8th. There will be bands and wagons honoring local businesses, Germantown Central School students, and local farmers. The Parade will wind down Main Street and into Palatine Park, where there will be music, food booths, craft and other vendors, and a campfire. In another exciting first, spectacular fireworks will close Saturday’s festivities. Events will continue through Sunday the 10th. Other Oktoberfest surprises will be announced in coming months. Visit www.germantownnyhistory.org to learn more, or call 518.537.6687 x 308, with any inquiries.
