History, Natural History & the Arts
On December 15, 1973, Canadian Charbot Germain attempted to drive his tractor-trailer from Stony Creek to Utica. It didn’t go well.
It started out as tales of the lost often do, with directions from a local.
They suggested Germain shorten his trip by taking Route 8 from the Northway toward North Creek. He found himself instead in Stony Creek, headed down the rough Harrisburg Road in the dark. [Read more…] about Charbot Germain’s Wrong Turn: An Adirondack Trucking Story
Despite record numbers of COVID deaths nationally, organizers of a new WinterFest are inviting tourists to visit Lake George’s bars and restaurants over four weekends of February according to an announcement sent to the press Tuesday.
Organizers of the Lake George Winter Carnival, which has been held since 1961, announced in November that their event was cancelled over concerns for the safety of volunteers and visitors. That Winter Carnival typically packs the village’s bars and restaurant and is a major boon for business owners. [Read more…] about New Lake George ‘Winterfest’ Planned Amid Record COVID Cases
In the 1830s, anti-Catholic attitudes inflamed by conspiracy theories were reaching a fevered pitch, especially in New York and Massachusetts where attacks on the homes of urban Irish immigrants occurred with some regularity.
In 1834 the bigotry turned particularly violent. Its greatest instigator was Samuel B. Morse who whipped his Protestant brethren into a fury. [Read more…] about ‘Monkish Traditions’: 1830s Hatred of Irish Immigrants
Although there had always been Irish immigrants to the colonies of the Americas, in the 1830s the pace of immigration of unskilled Irish quickened in the United States. (In 1820, only 21 percent had been unskilled laborers; by 1836 nearly 60 percent were.)
These newcomers were mostly Catholic. [Read more…] about Anti-Irish Sentiment In New York Before The 1830s
The Adirondacks are prone to powerful windstorms, isolated tornadoes, and occasional hurricanes, derechos, and microbursts. Perhaps the second most destructive of these in modern Adirondack history (next to the 1998 Ice Storm) occurred in November, 1950. [Read more…] about Remembering The Big Blowdown of 1950
North Country Books, a Utica publisher and major wholesaler and distributor of books throughout Upstate New York and Northern New England, is expected to close by the end of the year according to company owner Rob Igoe Jr.
The firm is a victim of COVID-19 Pandemic Igoe told the New York Almanack, but noted that times have been tough since their biggest clients, Borders and Walden Books, closed in 2011. [Read more…] about North Country Books Closing After 55 Years
Temperatures have taken a decided turn. We’re expected to see some 20s at night in colder mountain valleys this weekend.
If you’re headed into to the woods or onto the waters, now is the time to be sure you’ve got some extra clothing and be prepared to spend an unplanned night in cold temperatures.
Summit temperatures are not expected to rise out of the 30s this weekend. [Read more…] about Cold Temperatures, Dry Conditions In The Adirondacks This Weekend
Although colder spots have been seeing nighttime temperatures in the 40s, on Wednesday much of the region reached the lower 80s, and it’s remained warm enough for comfortable camping, with water temperatures warm enough for swimming. Temperatures are forecast to remain near normal for the next week.
There is some rain and morning fog in the forecast for this weekend however, so keep an eye on the weather. Summit temperatures are expected to remain mostly in the 50s, although Sunday morning could be windy and rainy at higher elevations. Be prepared against hypothermia by bringing extra clothing, and plenty of food and water. [Read more…] about Adirondack Conditions: Dry, Waters Remain Low, Popular Areas Remain Busy
The LaGoy brothers were rough. A neighbor near Severence, on the road between the village of Schroon Lake and Paradox Lake in the Adirondacks, once wrote a letter to a local newspaper asking for a telling retraction.
“I was not lost,” D.S. Knox wrote. “My wife was much excited by the delay of about an hour of time over due, thinking as I have an organic heart trouble, caused to give her alarm, and not ever thinking of any of the LeGoy family causing any harm as neither of us believe that any of the LeGoy family ever would cause any personal harm without a provocation.”
It was rather important to Knox to make it clear to the world, that even if his wife had been talking out of school, neither of them harbored any ill will toward the LaGoys. [Read more…] about Remembering Murdered Game Warden William Jackson
Unlock with Patreon