Tompkins Cottage and Thomas James Store museums will open for the 2021 season on Saturday. Both historic structures celebrated their 200th birthdays very quietly last year and will be commemorated appropriately as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Tompkins Cottage

The Tompkins Cottage Museum, which is headquarters for the society and located at 43 Brickbat Road, is named for Christopher Tompkins, a local sea captain, planter, merchant and member of the state legislature who lived at Poplar Grove.

He bought this property in 1837 and is the first known owner. Over the years, the Cottage has been several different businesses as well as a residence and was last known as the Miller House.

The east room, hall and rear shed room are exhibited to represent a home from the 1840s to the 1920s. The west shed room is dedicated to Tompkins daughter Sally who was the first woman commissioned in an American military unit. Historical artifacts in the room include Capt. Sally’s c. 1865 woo...