Library Celebrates “Poestenkill Flag” On July 4

On Poestenkill’s Town Green families and folks of all ages will gather at 9:30 am on the Fourth of July to honor a remarkable flag. More than 140 years ago Poestenkill seamstress Chloe Ives created a 12’ x 20’ Stars and Stripes entirely by hand. Every July Fourth for more than sixty years the Ives family proudly flew their 35-star flag at the Ives Corners Hotel.
Eight years ago surviving members of the Ives family donated the flag to the Poestenkill Library. Now each Independence Day volunteers gently remove it from its archival wrappings and carefully hang it on the Library porch, where musicians Gene and CarolLynne Langley offer tunes of the era.
Meanwhile, on the Green, folks enjoy traditional games, watermelon and lemonade and just chatting with friends. It’s free, and it’s fun. The event is early since some families plan to go on to parades in other towns.