If you haven't visited the Chapman Museum on Glens Street in Glens Falls in a while, you should treat yourself to an afternoon in the Victorian household of the DeLongs.  In 1868 Zopher DeLong, a Glens Falls hardware merchant, remodeled his modest wood frame home on Glen Street to demonstrate his rising status in the community, adding the brick façade and mansard roof seen by visitors today.  Following Zopher’s death in 1901, his son John remodeled it again to reflect his desire for modern tastes and conveniences.  Visitors to the museum today can learn about the history of the Glens Falls area by visiting the DeLong’s home furnished as it would have been a century ago.

Mr. Weidner said the interior of the museum has had considerable attention and construction in recent years, and now it is time for exterior work.  The front porch is in need of repair as is the cornice of the roof.  A paint job is also expected to improve the appearance of the museum.  "We will have a paint analysis done to help us come up with the paint scheme.  The house is 140 years old and there have been numerous paint schemes, we want to determine what they were," he said.

The Chapman hosted 14,000 visitors in 2001, which includes those attending outreach programs that were not held in the museum.  Exhibits change twice a year and often include hands-on elements to allow visitors a more personal experience.

Volunteers and contributions are always welcomed at The Chapman Museum.  Mr. Weidner said there are approximately 25 active docents currently, but more are needed.  "Some docents work one afternoon a month, others come in every other week or seasonally," he said.  The schedule is matched to the volunteer's wishes, although he said at least one shift a month is requested.

Membership ($22 for seniors, $40 for individuals, and $50 for families) provides a number of benefits, including a 10 percent discount in the well-stocked Museum Shop, discounts or free admission to programs, a quarterly newsletter subscription, free museum admission and voting privileges at the annual meeting.