Snells Bush Church, Photo by Carol Vogel
By Carol Vogel
The annual Snell-Zimmerman-Timmerman family fundraiser and reunion will be held on August 24th and 25th at Snells Bush Church located on Snells Bush Road in Little Falls. All are welcome to attend the weekend events and support their mission to preserve this important piece of history in our community.
2 Days of Reunion Events
On Saturday, August 24th, a tent sale will take place during the day from 10 am-5 pm, with an ice cream social to follow at 6 pm. The fundraiser helps provide for the restoration and upkeep of the Snells Bush Church and surrounding grounds. Tours of the church and cemetery are also available during the day to learn about the local historical importance of these landmarks.
Reunion Ice Cream Social and Tent Sale 2023, courtesy of SZT Reunion Facebook.
Sunday, August 25th, will mark the Snell-Zimmerman-Timmerman family reunion. The day will include a flag raising ceremony and a dedication to those who have served our country in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, World War 1 and beyond. At 11am a church service will be held followed by a short briefing on the group’s activities and preservation efforts. A catered luncheon will follow.
From the President of the reunion board, Bill Timmerman “Come meet your cousins and view the memorabilia that we have at Snells Bush- we have many books, letters from family members, genealogy from family members, maps, photos, reunion church service reports, newspaper clippings of local events and activities at Snell’s Bush and so forth. This is your family history.”
Not only will you be supporting the efforts of the Reunion board in their upkeep of local historical locations, but you will be treated to beautiful vistas from the Snells Bush Church vantage point on the hill. They day will be a great outing for anyone looking to learn some local history.
Fascinating Local History
As early settlers of the Mohawk Valley, the genealogy runs deep. Many people in the area may be descendants of the Snell-Zimmerman line in some way and might not know it. The group has detailed genealogical information available, and you can check if you are a relative. Visit their website at http://www.szt-genealogy.org/ if you are interested in finding out more.
The Reunion group has many books, maps, photos and genealogy available to the public. There are also many books available for purchase which give detailed and interesting views into early settler life in our area and genealogical research.
The yearly newsletter from the Reunion included some interesting facts and insights into the family history:
- Little Freddie (Snell) hid in a bake oven at his family home during the Indian raid of Snell’s Bush on April 30, 1780, and survived.
- Jacob I Timmerman (1800-1880) was an abolitionist and maintained a station on the Underground Railroad on his farm.
- Henry Zimmerman (1770-1830) received a letter from his brother’s travels from the valley heading west. “We were on the canal one week, four days in Buffalo, and one week on the lakes to reach Chicago.”
For more historical context of the family, you may be interested in reading the article about the Snell-Zimmerman Land Patent featured in My Little Falls in August of 2023. It’s a fascinating story about the document, which was written in 1734, and how land was acquired in the area by these families. The article will give you a glimpse into these first European settlers of the Mohawk Valley: https://mylittlefalls.com/dolgeville-manheim-historical-society-receives-special-loan/
Preserving the Past
Bicentennial Plaque at Snells Bush Church, Photo by Carol Vogel
The Snell-Zimmerman-Timmerman Reunion, Inc., is a Membership Corporation under the Laws of the State of New York, incorporated on October 5, 1943. Their mission is to care for the historic Snell’s Bush Cemetery and lower Snell’s Bush Manheim Rural Cemetery, as well as the preservation of the historic Snell’s Bush Church.
Membership was established by the original bylaws (1942): “First, all descendants of the Snell, Zimmerman, Timmerman ancestors, by virtue of their ancestry, are corporate members. Secondly, all descendants of ancestors who at any time were affiliated with the Snell’s Bush church or are buried in either of the two cemeteries, manifesting practical interest in the above objectives, shall be associate members. Thirdly, other persons who by gift or deed demonstrate a vital interest in promoting the above objectives shall be associate members.”
According to their 2024 newsletter, the Reunion states they have three weddings scheduled at the church this year. Work to be done for the church includes installing a handicap-accessible ramp, getting bids for interior painting, mowing and general upkeep of the cemeteries, and updating their distribution lists for mail and email.
Donations to preserve the historical Snells Bush Church and the corresponding cemeteries are welcome and needed. More information can be found on the Reunion’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/snellsbushchurch/