Very special sign unveiled at Babble Rural and Farm Learning Museum
David Babbie
By John T Ryan
May 22, 2025 – Peru, NY Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum opened for its 2025 season last weekend. Saturday’s first highlight was the unveiling of a new roadside museum sign. After fifteen years in the elements, it was time!
The museum’s new sign is special because Peru art teacher and Peru Middle School students created it. Art teacher Greg Badger is the primary artist. His students Leah Akey, Sawyer DeZalia, Lenayah Senyah, Hudson Spiegel, Aiden Facteau, Hannah Charles, and Fern Battin helped with the lettering.
Babbie Museum’s focus on local farm history attracted Greg Badger, best known for his paintings at Heyworth Mason Park. He explained, “All of my murals focus on sharing history. I feel that my public art should function not only as a work of art but also as an educational tool. Each building and person on the Babbie Museum’s sign has a story. I want my painting to spur the viewer to question those elements. “Who is the blacksmith in the picture?” or “Where did that stagecoach come from?” In that way, my mural work pairs perfectly with the mission of the Babbie Museum. It was especially important that I include the museum founder, Leeward Babbie, in the sign. Last year, I walked the museum grounds with him, taking pictures. I settled on depicting him in front of the Goshen Store, a building that the museum relocated from its original site down River Road and restored here at the museum.” In addition to the Goshen Store, the sign depicts the museum’s blacksmith shop, granary, carriage house, and a one-room school.
Leeward Babbie, who resides at Meadowbrook Healthcare in Plattsburgh, couldn’t attend Saturday’s unveiling; however, many family members were present. They were “all smiles” when Todd Babbie unveiled the sign. Greg Badger, accompanied by his family, looked on with pride.
Babbie Museum’s next event is Saturday, June 7. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Treats and take-home crafts for children will be included in the small admission charge.
To see more of Greg
Badger’s work, go to gregbadgerart.com and his original artwork, cards, and prints on Etsy.
Posted: May 22nd, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Agricultural News, Arts and Entertainment, Community Events, Education News, General News, Northern NY News, Peru News, Peru/Regional History.