Capital-Saratoga

Colonial Conflict, Native People, Anti-Catholicism & The Burning of Schenectady

January 12, 2022 by Peter Hess 5 Comments

In 1652, New Netherland Director General Peter Stuyvesant declared that Fort Orange and everything around it, including the village outside the fort, often called Oranje after the fort, was independent of the ownership of the Van Rensselaer family. He named the small mostly Dutch village “Beverwyck.”

Possibly at the urging of the Van Rensselaers, their earlier manager Arendt Van Curler (Corlear) began planning the construction of a new village. [Read more…] about Colonial Conflict, Native People, Anti-Catholicism & The Burning of Schenectady

Preservation Grantees Announced; New Funding Available

January 12, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Preservation League of New York State and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts, Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, and Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area have announced the recipients of their 2021 Technical Assistance Grants. During this grant cycle, 17 projects representing 14 counties across the state have been selected by an independent panel of preservation professionals. A total of $62,953 was awarded. [Read more…] about Preservation Grantees Announced; New Funding Available

Forest Rangers Recover Body, Make Rescue at Crane Mtn

January 11, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people.

What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers. [Read more…] about Forest Rangers Recover Body, Make Rescue at Crane Mtn

‘Shockingly Decomposed’: Morgan Filkins Returns Albany Co Civil War Dead

January 11, 2022 by Harold Miller 5 Comments

Morgan Filkins was born August 20, 1826, son of Richard Filkins and his second wife, Catherine Angle. Of English and Dutch descent, he was the twentieth of twenty-five children born in the town of Berne, Albany County.

His paternal ancestors were originally from Dutchess County. His father was a volunteer in the War of 1812 and after living awhile in Rensselaer, he moved across the Hudson River to Albany County, where he died in 1841. His maternal grandfather came to America as a soldier under Burgoyne, and after the latter’s surrender, remained in the service until honorably discharged in 1783 at West Point. [Read more…] about ‘Shockingly Decomposed’: Morgan Filkins Returns Albany Co Civil War Dead

Schoharie Crossing Winter Virtual Lectures Schedule

January 10, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Erie Canal historic site, Schoharie Crossing will host several online programs this winter on a variety of history related topics.

Presentations will be offered in two series: Lunchbox Lessons and the Third Thursday Lectures. Both series will be offered live online and most will be recorded for later viewing on YouTube. [Read more…] about Schoharie Crossing Winter Virtual Lectures Schedule

Annual DEC Tree and Shrub Seedling Sale Underway

January 9, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The State’s Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery annual spring seedling sale is now open to the public and runs until May 13th.

Each year, the nursery offers low-cost, New York-grown tree and shrub species for sale to encourage conservation plantings and foster the next generation of forests. [Read more…] about Annual DEC Tree and Shrub Seedling Sale Underway

Suggest A Hudson River Estuary River Or Stream For Monitoring

January 8, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Hudson River Estuary Program is soliciting recommendations from applicants on the selection of 1-3 unassessed stream or river segments to be monitored.

The monitoring partnership will benefit New York State by creating a baseline condition assessment of the selected waterbodies, while benefiting local partners by providing accurate water quality data that can assist with local land use planning, watershed management, and community outreach. [Read more…] about Suggest A Hudson River Estuary River Or Stream For Monitoring

Saratoga Co’s First Female Supervisor & A Filling Station Assault

January 7, 2022 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

Anna Riddell came to the town of Hadley in Saratoga County, NY, from Boston in 1910 after marrying a local man. She first made the local paper in 1915 when The Saratogian reported, “Mrs. Anna Riddell has purchased a Ford runabout which she intends to operate herself after taking a few lessons.” Apparently, the lessons were a success and Anna’s love for automobiles flourished.

In 1920, when Riddell’s house was destroyed by fire in the middle of the night, the family barely escaped with nothing but their nightclothes, and “a Dodge touring car belonging to Mrs. Riddell which was in a building connected with the house was saved through great difficulty because of the deep snow.” No longer just a hobby, Anna had become a chauffeur for hire and was among the first women to obtain a driver’s license in Saratoga County.

In addition to her passion for cars, Anna also showed conviction for civic groups and local government. She was active in the women’s suffrage movement and volunteered for the Red Cross during the First World War, chairing liberty loan drives and serving as a member of the Red Cross Motor Corps in Hadley. [Read more…] about Saratoga Co’s First Female Supervisor & A Filling Station Assault

1840s Troy: Blacksmith Dan, John Morrissey & Friends

January 6, 2022 by John Warren Leave a Comment

Throughout the 19th century the blacksmith’s shop was a central part of American life. Even the smallest forge was kept busy mending and making the variety of tools and implements for home and garden, for workshop and industry, and tack and shoes for mules, horses and oxen. Blacksmiths were critical to transportation, manufacturing and home life. Like today’s auto garage, nearly every substantial crossroads had a blacksmith’s shop.

Better shops included the blacksmith, a fireman, a helper, and sometimes a furrier. In 1850 there were more than 150 blacksmiths in Troy, NY, a city of about 30,000 people, including one woman, Canadian Cyrilla Turcott. About half of these smithies were born in Ireland. More blacksmiths of all skill levels could be found in the city’s wagon, carriage and wheelwright shops, or employed in the city’s booming iron industry. [Read more…] about 1840s Troy: Blacksmith Dan, John Morrissey & Friends

Climber Falls 50′, Alcohol Poisoning, More Keep Rangers Busy

January 6, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers. [Read more…] about Climber Falls 50′, Alcohol Poisoning, More Keep Rangers Busy