WAWARSING – On Monday, Richard 'Doc' Craft got the news: the charter for the Wawarsing Historical Society and Knife Museum was approved by the New York State Board of Regents. The approval puts Craft's dream of a museum celebrating the longtime legacy of knife-making in Ellenville and Wawarsing one step closer to realization. In addition to its function as a museum, the organization will also be the first official historical society for the Town of Wawarsing.

"This is probably the first bright light that we've had in the Town of Wawarsing in the last two or three years since Schrade left," said Doc Craft. The approval comes with the assistance of the Wawarsing Town Board, Town Attorney Bill Collier, and the Greater Wawarsing Local Development Corporation, to whom Craft is extremely grateful. "We think, possibly within a year, this will all come together, and we'll be open for business on a permanent basis."

Craft, the president of the proposed museum, has been working closely with knife-enthusiast Rich Langston, who is vice president and curator of the museum, for the past two years. The approval of their charter comes on the heels of last week's grand opening of the Canal Street Knifeworks, a shop featuring the product line of Canal Street Cutlery, Ellenville's high-end knife-manufacturer that sprang from Schrade Knife Company's ashes. If things go well, according to Craft, the museum and the Knifeworks — a project spearheaded by local attorney Mike Siegel and the Greater Wawarsing Local Development Corporation — will work together in the future for the common purpose of promoting the area and its history of quality cutlery production.

"That will be expanded. It's a good possibility that both organizations will work together at one location," says Craft

Armed with $10,000 in seed money, given to them by the Town of Wawarsing Council, the group is on the hunt for a suitable home for the museum. Currently, the former nursery school building in Napanoch, owned by the town, is designated for the future museum, but the group is looking into finding a more suitable space for their endeavors.

In the meantime, the group will be seeking not-for-profit status, and welcomes those interested in contributing time or funds to the newest addition to the Wawarsing community. The group's mailing address is currently P.O. Box 2, Napanoch, NY 12458.

"We will be having a membership drive soon," adds Craft.