The Cherry Valley Community Facilities Corporation (CVCFC) is a nonprofit organization, dedicated to the concepts of community, education, and cultural enrichment. Originally formed for the purpose of restoring the abandoned Cherry Valley school building after the school’s merger with Springfield and relocation to another site, CVCFC now participates in or provides facilities for a wide range of community activities. One of the programs currently being held at the Cherry Valley Old School is the Performance and Production Workshops. The program’s mission is to help area youth develop their musical and entrepreneurial skills in a collective way. Adult musicians mentor the students in music technique, playing in ensembles, and putting on performances. Three of the dedicated students have been Addy Schneider (age 19) and her twin sisters, Avery and Marlise (age 15). The address of the Workshops’ Facebook group is: http://www.facebook.com/groups/186310836623/. At the request of Megan Mast Holken of Beekman 1802, Carl Waldman, the director of the P&P Workshops, wrote a song about the Beekman Boys. He in turn asked the Schneider sisters to audition it for Brent and Josh. Then, with Megan as producer, they made a recording at Cotton Hill Studios in Albany, NY. Addy sings lead vocals and harmonies and plays piano; Avery plays bass; Marlise plays drums; and Carl is on guitar. With other teens participating – Annie Anderson (age 16) on backup vocals and Will Fredette (age 17) on guitar – Addy, the twins, and Carl performed the song at the Harvest Hop, part of 2012 Harvest Weekend in Sharon Springs. World of Wonder used a shortened version of the song for a video with Brent and Josh and friends.

You can purchase the song from the online Mercantile.  Proceeds from the sale will go to support the cultural programs at the CVCFC.  Click here to listen and purchase.

 

The Ballad of the Fabulous Beekman Boys

 

Beekman Mansion on beautiful land

Heirloom garden, stone wall shaped by hand

You got Polka Spot the llama and her goat friends

You got the pigs in the old silo pen

Turkeys, chickens, calves, and sheep

It’s a wonder Farmer John gets any sleep

 

Brent and Josh

Living their dream

Came to the country

And built a scene

 

You got Farmer John, Megan, Maria, and Michelle

You got Doug and Garth at the American Hotel

Martha, Rosie, Douglas, and Kat

Good friends are where it’s at

Haunted crypt and Mary the Ghost

Spirits share Beekman as welcoming hosts

 

Brent and Josh

Living their dream

Came to the country

And built a scene

 

Brent at Beekman Josh in the city

Sure makes everything feel iffy

It takes a year of sacrifice (and thensome)

To make everything right

Aspire to healthy living

It also takes a lot of giving

The challenges sure can make them blue

But love carries them through

I say love carries them through

Love carries them through

Love carries them through

Love carries them through

 

1802 building a brand

Bountiful offerings from the land

Goat milk soap, wheels of Blaak cheese

The Beekman way sure does please

Garden Parties, Harvest Weekends

Victorian Festivals good folks attend

 

Fabulous Beekman Boys

Living their dream

Came to the country

And built a scene

 

Fabulous Beekman Boys

I say Fabulous Beekman Boys

Spreading their joy

Fabulous Beekman Boys

Fabulous Beekman Boys

Fabulous Beekman Boys

 

 

Carl Waldman is a published author and screenwriter who has worked in both fiction and nonfiction and has written history blogs for the Beekman 1802 website. He is also a musician and producer who has directed and hosted musical events in New York City and upstate New York. He is the creator of the Performance and Production Workshops at the Cherry Valley Old School.