by Patrick Reynolds
Oneida County History Center 1608 Genesee Street Utica, New York 13502-5425
Phone: 315-735-3642
Saturday, March 28, 2:00 p.m.
Behind the Scenes of the Revolution in the Mohawk Valley:
The Tryon County Committee of Safety, with Terry McMaster
UTICA, NY — Oneida County History Center will host a special presentation, “Behind the Scenes of the Revolution in the Mohawk Valley: The Tryon County Committee of Safety,” featuring speaker Terry McMaster on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
While historical narratives often focus on the smoke of battle, this program digs into the wave of activism that predated the first shots of the American Revolution. Beginning in August 1774, Mohawk Valley residents organized to resist British oppression, forming a “shadow government” that coordinated with committees in New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
Attendees will learn how members of the districts of Kingsland, German Flatts, Palatine, Canajoharie, and Mohawk assumed civil and military responsibilities for the entire region. Drawing on the published meeting minutes from the Committee of Safety, McMaster will shift the spotlight from traditional “heroes and villains” to the everyday people who orchestrated the movement that forever changed central New York.
About the Oneida County History Center:
Located at 1608 Genesee Street, Utica, NY, Oneida County History Center is a private 501(c) (3) not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to preserving the history, heritage, and culture of the Greater Mohawk Valley for present and future generations. Free for History Center members, $5.00 suggested admission for non-members. Please contact the History Center at 315-735-3642 or visit oneidacountyhistory.org for additional information.
Patrick Reynolds: Director of Public Programs
Oneida County History Center 315.735.3642
