New York Almanack

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The Irish in the Gilded Age Albany

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Labor, Learning & PoliticsThe Gilded Age was a period of gross materialism and political corruption which began after the Civil War and lasted through the turn of the 20th century.

Many Irish Americans in Albany were still struggling to support themselves, working as laborers, maids, and often dealing with anti-Catholic resentment. However, there was a growing sense of solidarity and power within the group as many were lifted out of poverty and became involved in politics and civil service. [Read more…] about The Irish in the Gilded Age Albany

Painting Conservation Virtual Program Set For Thursday

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Edmund B. Rolfe, Landscape, 1914, 24 x 30 in, Oil on linen canvas. Photo by Nadia Ghannam.Enthusiasm for the rarely-seen Fine Art Collection of the Historical Society of Woodstock is growing along with the Historical Society’s resolve to restore as much artwork as possible to its original glory.

Two recently-restored paintings, Portrait of Hervey White (c.1926) by Arnold Blanch and Landscape (c.1914) by Edmund B. Rolfe are attracting attention in their renewed resplendence at the Eames House Museum, 20 Comeau Drive. The conservation project was supported by an award from the NYSCA/Greater Hudson Heritage Foundation. [Read more…] about Painting Conservation Virtual Program Set For Thursday

Brookside Museum Artisan Market Seeking Vendors

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Artisan Market LogoThe Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, NY is seeking craft vendors for its 22nd Annual Artisan’s Market.

This juried market is to be held at the Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum (SCHC @ Brookside Museum) from November 26th through December 24th. [Read more…] about Brookside Museum Artisan Market Seeking Vendors

Featured Collections: West Point Military Academy Photographs

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Formation Review at West Point courtesy National Archives CatalogMore than 2,500 photographs taken at the West Point Military Academy in the early 20th century are now available in the National Archives Catalog. [Read more…] about Featured Collections: West Point Military Academy Photographs

Sing Sing Prison Break: A Hudson River Fishing Tale

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Herald Statesman articleThe Hudson River Maritime Museum has an extensive collection of oral histories interviews of Hudson River commercial fisherman, including Edward Hatzmann, who was recorded on April 25th, 1992.

Hatzmann recalled a story told to him by fellow fisherman Charlie Rohr, about a prison break from Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York. [Read more…] about Sing Sing Prison Break: A Hudson River Fishing Tale

New Adirondack History Book About The Beaver River Country

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Beaver River CountryThe book Beaver River Country: An Adirondack History (Syracuse Univ. Press, 2022) by Edward I. Pitts is a vivid history of this remote section of the western Adirondacks and its inhabitants. Encompassing the lands immediately surrounding the upper reaches of the Beaver River from its headwaters at Lake Lila to Beaver Lake at the settlement of Number Four, Beaver River country is one of the largest undisturbed tracts of forest in the entire northeastern United States. [Read more…] about New Adirondack History Book About The Beaver River Country