by David Flint
The official seals of the Towns of Hoosick, Stephentown, Petersburgh and Grafton, among others, could be seen in one of the displays presented by Marvin Bubie in his illustrated talk to the Stephentown Historical Society on Monday. Americans, according to Bubie, having thrown out the King also largely abandoned the ancient tradition of regal and noble heraldry on state seals. Seals of American states, counties, cities and towns often depict historic events and many are just scenic. Some have retained heraldic imagery such as Stephentown’s use of the Van Rensselaer coat of arms borrowed by permission from the family.
Although Seals of towns and counties in New York State must be approved by the State legislature, the design of them, as in other states, has been left up to the imagination of the local citizenry. The meaning behind the symbolism on many of these seals has often been long forgotten by the general populace. But in his recently published book, On the Trail of Henry Hudson and Our Dutch Heritage Through the Municipal Seals in New York, Bubie has teased out from historians and other sources the history and meaning of these official icons. Bubie is now preparing to publish a second book following the symbolism trail out along the Erie Canal.
