Kingston, N.Y. - Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupack announced the opening of the Matthewis Persen House for public tours. The Persen House will have extended hours during its third summer season.
The Persen House, named after its longest resident Matthewis Persen (1739-1819) and owned by Ulster County since 1914, has undergone extensive restoration since emergency repairs in 1999 revealed its historical significance. A Historic Structure Report discovered that it was built in five phases from 1661 to 1922. The house has witnessed the entire history of Kingston and even pre-dates the formation of Ulster County.
“Ulster County is alive with history,” said County Executive Michael Hein. “From the Revolutionary War to the Canal Industry, from Historic Main Streets to Catskill Mountain Getaways, Ulster County possesses a rich heritage. I am proud to make this wonderful heritage resource available to the public and to expand the visiting hours so that more people can experience it.”
County Clerk, Nina Postupack, believes this opens up one of many doors in understanding our history, “The role of County Clerk is to preserve the past through the written word, how exciting to be able to expand and explore our cultural heritage by making available the Persen House for public tours.”
In a joint effort of the Offices of the County Executive and the County Clerk the house will be open for free tours this year as Ulster County forges ahead towards developing the building as a county-wide Cultural Heritage Center.
The Persen House, located at the corner of Crown and John Streets in uptown Kingston’s historic stockade district will be open from Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend (May 29) 2010 to Labor Day weekend (September 4) 2010 and Saturdays thereafter until November 20, 2010. Saturday tours are planned to be provided by historical society and museum volunteers from throughout the county.
For further information about this and other outreach programs of the Ulster County Clerk please call County Clerk Nina Postupack at 340-3040 or visit the Ulster County Alive website at www.ulstercountyalive.com. Organizations interested in hosting tours of the facility during the upcoming season should call the Ulster County Records Center at 340-3415 or visit the Ulster County Archives online at
ulstercountyny.gov/archives
