Community Foundation Grant Supports Historic Trail Project in Henderson

$2,500 Award Will Help Raise Visibility of Community Landmarks, Locations

     WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation recently awarded a $2,500 grant to support the launch of an interactive trail project that highlights history in the Town of Henderson.

     The Henderson Community Improvement Group is a local nonprofit leading the initiative to reignite the trail project and generate greater interest in the community’s history and features. The group is developing a variety of engaging content that will be accessible online and at several physical locations. Audio and visual presentations, as well as digital photographs, will be packaged with specific project branding to create an immersive experience for residents and community visitors.

     “The Henderson Community Improvement Group is grateful for this grant from the Northern New York Community Foundation,” said Dana Keefer, president, Henderson Community Improvement Group. “It will enable us to complete phase one of the interactive history trail we are creating to promote the complex and fascinating history of Henderson and the Henderson Harbor.”

     Five sites have been identified as part of the initial project phase. Examples of feature stories include the “Great Cable Carry” from the War of 1812 and “The Great Balloon Crash” of 1859. The group is collaborating closely on this effort with the Henderson Historical Society and a few other community partners. The trail will be available by driving or walking to each site.

     Planning and development for the first phase of the history trail project will be completed later this year with a public launch expected in spring 2026. A second project phase will include the identification and development of additional historical sites to expand the trail’s reach. The project will serve as a long-term educational and cultural resource for the southern Jefferson County region.

About the Northern New York Community Foundation

     Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

     Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.

     The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.