Warrensburgh - Thurman Historical Society
  • Marilyn
  • The Dream House
  • When Marilyn Came to town
  • When Marilyn Came to Town
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Our last exhibit/program for the 2015 season involved the much anticipated visit to Warrensburg by Marilyn Monroe who came to present the key to the winner of The Dream House contest sponsored by Photoplay magazine in 1949. 

Please take a moment to scroll through the tabs to views some of the media coverage from that event.
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Historic Warrensburgh Walking Tours This Weekend -

On Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21 the Warrensburgh Historical Society will be conducting a walking tour of the early residential and civic district of the village, led by architectural historian Delbert Chambers. The tour will pass more than 30 historic properties and is one of four walking and two driving tours being developed by the Society's Preservation Committee.

The Dream House - When Marilyn Came to Town

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In June, 1949, Virginia Bleeker McAllister won first prize in a contest sponsored by Photoplay magazine.  The prize was a fully equipped home on a lot of her choosing.  (The contest related to the 1948 Hollywood movie, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy.) Mrs. McAllister had been recently widowed with a young son, Gordon ("Rusty"), and chose to build it in Warrensburg, her home town.  Hollywood stars Marilyn Monroe, Don DeFore, Lon McCallister and Donald Buka arrived in Warrensburg to award the prize.  They stayed at the Colonial Arms Hotel (now the location of RiteAid).  The prize home, still standing on James Street, was fully furnished and included all appliances, all of which received national publicity at the award ceremony.  Click here for more images.
We were happy to have a packed house at "The Dream House" event.  Even after all these years Marilyn can still pull them in.  
Bramen, Lisa. "The Day Marilyn Monroe Came to Warrensburg." Glens Falls Post-Star. Glens Falls Post-Star, 17 Dec. 2006. Web. 13 Jan. 2016.
Town Supervisor Lee Orton gives key to Town to Marilyn Monroe, Done Defore and Lon Mcallister
"When Marilyn Came to Town." Glens Falls Post-Star. Glens Falls Post-Star, 28 Nov. 2015. Web. 13 Jan. 2016.