History, Natural History & the Arts
He would claim that his chains, padlocks and handcuffs would shackle him to salvation. He would be forced to do as Jesus had done – fast for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. It was a quest to purify his body and his soul.
But his desert wasn’t exactly the howling wilderness Jesus had wandered, it was a patch of woods in North Hudson, about a half-mile from the Northway . [Read more…] about The Adirondack ‘Man in Chains’ Died Alone
During Prohibition the social life of so many Americans was made criminal overnight. Here’s a little nugget from the July 2, 1931 Ticonderoga Sentinel.
One wonders if the men arrested here ever served any hard time. I suspect they did. [Read more…] about July 1931: Prohibition Agents Seize A Still Near Lake George
Noted local historical archeologist David R. Starbuck has said that the interconnected routes from the Richelieu River at the north end of Lake Champlain to Albany has the highest density of military sites in North America in the 1700s.
The large military encampments that attended the big campaigns of that era were among the largest cities in America, albeit for short intervals. [Read more…] about Settler Fears of Indian Conflict Near Albany Before 1664
In the 1680s and 1690s the latest in a long string of European wars broke out. The War of the Grand Alliance, also known in New York State as King Williams War (1688-1697), pitted France against England, the Netherlands, and Austria.
It quickly spilled over to a bitter conflict of raids and counter-raids which took place between New France and frontier settlements of Eastern New York and Western Massachusetts. Each side employed their Indian allies to fight on their behalf and to guide their small armies to their respective enemies. [Read more…] about King William and Queen Anne Wars in NYS
William F. Fox was born in 1840 in Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, and graduated from Union College in Schenectady in 1860. He served in the Civil War as Captain, Major and then Lieutenant Colonel in the 107th New York Volunteers and later wrote a number of books on both the Civil War and forestry.
Fox’s 1902 History of the Lumber Industry in the State of New York, written under the auspicious of Gifford Pinchot, is considered among the first authoritative works on the logging industry in New York. [Read more…] about William Fox Helped Create Modern NYS Forest Rangers
The New York History Blog is getting a new look, expanding its coverage and getting a new name – New York Almanack.
This new publication is an expanded offering, including not only History in the Empire State, but also Arts & Culture, Nature & Environment (including wildlife, environmental politics, etc.), and Outdoor Recreation.
(If you’re not already getting our daily news e-mail, sign up for a subscription here). [Read more…] about ‘The New York History Blog’ Becomes ‘New York Almanack’
Museum Associaion of New York (MANY) staff, members of their Board of Directors’ Advocacy Committee and MANY’s government relations consultant Sheila Healy will lead a conference call July 18th to discuss museum advocacy efforts and recent legislation.
Recently passed New York State legislation is expected to impact museums’ relationships with their communities and their financial sustainability. The call will also address the museum community’s efforts to increase in funding to the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) in 2020. [Read more…] about Museums Advocacy Call Thurs, Registration Deadline Today
A recent call from the California State Library praising the work of the The New York History Blog and inquiring about how to model the blog’s successes in The Golden State, reminded me that it’s been ten years.
It couldn’t have happened without the many supporters and contributors, our long time advertiser The Adirondack Experience, and especially our longest and most generous supporter Suzanne Clary, executive director of the Jay Heritage Center. Without the generous contributions of our supporters, we simply could not have produced the most widely read publication about New York State history these long years.
In addition to keeping the state’s history community informed about new publications, newly available collections, the efforts of public history and historic preservation advocates, and notices about exhibits, events, conferences, and events, The New York History Blog has served as an important place to discuss the challenges, and I think there are some notable successes of this largely volunteer effort. [Read more…] about New York History Blog Marking 10 Years
Legislation has been introduced which would amend the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law to change New York State History Month from November to October according to an announcement made by the Office of State History.
The move comes on the heels of a revival of sorts for New York’s History Month, which suffered from years of being ignored. November was designed New York State History Month in 1997 by the State Legislature.
[Read more…] about Effort Underway To Move NYS History Month To October
Funds from New York State will reopened the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island today, in the wake of the U.S. government shutdown that closed the two iconic federally operated historic sites on Friday.
The two sites have played important parts in America’s immigration history and have a significant impact on the New York State economy. According to an annual report by the National Park Service, 4.5 million people visited Liberty Island in 2016, generating $263.2 million in visitor spending per year and supporting 3,400 jobs, with an economic output of $364 million. [Read more…] about Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island Reopen With NYS Funds