Kiryas Joel Village

Kiryas Joel Village Municipal Water Report Info

Johanna began her career in historic preservation in the City of Newburgh as a tour guide in the East End Historic District. This 445-acre district represents New York State's largest contiguous historic area, showcasing four centuries of architectural history including rare designs by A.J. Downing and Calvert Vaux.

From 2004-2010, Johanna specialized in American Revolution research as a Historic Interpreter at Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site, the nation's first historic house museum open to the public since 1850. She completed her European History degree from Franklin College in Switzerland in 2004, participating in archaeological academic travel across Italy, Greece, and Turkey.

In 2006, she earned an Anthropology degree focusing on 18th century military history and local historic archaeology, including studies on how local Mastodon discoveries influenced 19th century scientific theory. She subsequently pursued a Museum Studies certificate from Smith College (2007), an Archaeology certificate from University of Virginia with fieldwork at Historic Jamestown (2011), and a Master of Public Administration from Marist College (2010).

During her Marist studies, she researched the institutional history of New York State historic sites and conducted comparative analyses of how different Mediterranean communities preserve their historic resources. In 2011, she completed an internship in Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Trades Carpentry Department, learning and demonstrating 18th century craftsmanship techniques.

Now back in Newburgh, she's restoring a Cotswold revival home with her husband Douglas and son Calvert. From 2012-2014, Johanna directed the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands and the Crawford House Museum and Archives, receiving recognition from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and appearing in the New York Times and on C-Span. Since 2014, she has served as Orange County Historian and represented the County on the Communities Council for Hudson River Valley Greenway.