History, Natural History & the Arts
Trivia clue: She was arrested at the St. Louis fair grounds in 1887 for throwing a pancake at First Lady Frances Cleveland.
Correct response: Who is Annie Sax? – who seemingly had good aim, but made a poor choice of targets. [Read more…] about Political Anecdotes From Historical Newspapers
“Let us talk about turkey,” proclaimed a New York Tribune humor column republished Nov.23, 1888 in The Granville Sentinel. Not Turkey in Europe, nor yet Turkey in Asia. But turkey in America – the esteemed bird that goes so well with cranberry sauce.”
The bald eagle, national bird of the United States, gets prominent attention for months at a time once every four years, when there is a presidential election, but the turkey is heralded every year, the columnist quipped.
“The eagle has had his full fling this year. He has ruled the roost ever since early summer, when the presidential conventions were held,” the columnist wrote. “Now that the election is over, let the eagle fold up his wings … and give way to the turkey. … The turkey stands for the refreshing calm that succeeds a quadrennial election. The turkey holds himself aloof from political parties, cares nothing for public life.” [Read more…] about Talkin’ Turkey: 19th Century Thanksgiving Newspaper Reports
Huge demand for slate in 1890 boosted prices for quarry owners and manufacturers in the Granville area of Washington County, NY, and workers sought a share of the wealth.
“The slate business is booming,” The Granville Sentinel reported on June 13, 1890, followed a week later with the report, “There is trouble at the quarries.” [Read more…] about ‘Trouble at the Quarries’: The 1890 Slate Workers Strike
Fans admired the Cuban Giants baseball team for its athletic skills, and Granville, Washington County, NY baseball promoters admired the black baseball team for its draw at the gate.
About 1,000 people, “including many ladies,” with groups of baseball enthusiasts traveling from Rutland, Whitehall, Glens Falls and Troy, attended the June 26, 1890 game when the Cuban Giants defeated the Granville Granvilles 7-0. [Read more…] about The Cuban Giants: Black Baseball in Northern New York
What Adirondack mammal did President Grover Cleveland chase while fishing with his outdoor guide, “Dave,” at Upper Saranac on June 4th, 1887?
A black bear. “The guide said it was a burned log, but the president thought otherwise, and keeping his eye on the object soon after saw it was a black bear,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on June 7th, 1887. “The two men followed the bear, which was a large one. The race was exciting, and ended by the bear shaking the water from his shaggy sides and disappearing in the depths of the forest.” [Read more…] about Some Anecdotes From Political History
Oh, the joy of October – the month of apple harvest and autumn foliage.
“The farmers of this village are now gathering their apple crop. They report the crop good,” The Granville Sentinel reported on October 6th, 1876. [Read more…] about October On The 19th Century Farm
Trivia clue: This New York governor showed up too late to play in a November 12th golf game promoted as a friendly match between “is” and “to be.”
Correct response: Gov. Nathan Miller, the Republican incumbent who just weeks before had lost re-election to Democrat Al Smith, who Miller had un-seated two years earlier. [Read more…] about Lighthearted Political Anecdotes From NNY Newspapers
September 1st was the opening of oyster season on the 19th century dining calendar.
“What the last Thursday of November is to the American turkey gobbler, such is the first day of September to the American oyster. … The autumn brings back the magical ‘r.’” The Post and Gazette of Elizabethtown, in Essex County, reported on September 11th, 1879. [Read more…] about Oyster Season In 19th Century New York
Visions of chestnuts roasting on an open fire come December could be squelched if Jack Frost nipped at your nose in September.
“We have good promise of a fine crop of chestnuts. Frost holding off is favorable for large nuts with rich meats,” the Fort Ann correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on September 22nd, 1876. [Read more…] about September 1886: When Winter Comes Early
Trivia clue: The piano company that First Lady Caroline Harrison, a music teacher, selected for the White House piano in 1889 after an extensive scrutiny of domestic and foreign brands.
Correct response: Who is J & C Fischer of New York City? [Read more…] about NY Newspaper Anecdotes From Political History