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Mohawk Valley

‘French Louie Day’ Recalls Adirondack Folk Hero

February 27, 2015 by Editorial Staff 2 Comments

young-louie-300The Herkimer County Legislature has named Friday “French Louie Day” in honor of the noted French-Canadian Adirondacker Louis Seymour. A celebration is planned for Saturday in the Town of Inlet.

Friday marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Seymour, who made the wilderness between Inlet and Lake Pleasant his home from the 1860s until his death in Newton’s Corners (now Speculator) on February 27, 1915. Seymour’s name became legend after the 1952 biography Adirondack French Louie: Life in the North Woods by Utica author Harvey Dunham, which portrayed him as a man of hard work, determination and humor. [Read more…] about ‘French Louie Day’ Recalls Adirondack Folk Hero

Filed Under: History, Mohawk Valley Tagged With: Adirondacks, Canada, Herkimer COunty, Immigration

Norm Bollen On Promoting Mohawk Valley History

February 13, 2015 by Bob Cudmore Leave a Comment

The Historians LogoThis week “The Historians” podcast features Norm Bollen of Fort Plain Museum discussing formation of the Mohawk Country Heritage Association. The association is promoting eight American Revolution-era historic sites in western Montgomery County. The initial start-up group includes the Fort Plain Museum, Fort Klock, Isaac Paris House, Nellis Tavern, Van Alstyne Homestead, Stone Arabia Church, Palatine Church and the Margaret Reaney Library, all within minutes of Thruway Exit 29 in Canajoharie. Listen at “The Historians” online archive at http://www.bobcudmore.com/thehistorians/
[Read more…] about Norm Bollen On Promoting Mohawk Valley History

Filed Under: History, Mohawk Valley Tagged With: American Revolution, Fort Plain Museum, Mohawk Country Heritage Association, Mohawk River, Podcasts, The Historians, Tourism

Heritage Holidays in the Mohawk Valley

December 4, 2014 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Johnson Hall ChristmasIn conjunction with the City of Johnstown’s Colonial Stroll holiday activities, Johnson Hall State Historic Site will hold an Open House on Friday, December 5th from 5 pm to 8:30 pm.

Johnson Hall’s first floor will be decorated for the holiday season, where music of the 18th century will be performed by Liaison Plaisantes. Refreshments will be offered in the historic butler’s pantry. The museum shop will offer 20% off for holiday shopping that evening. Horse-drawn wagon rides of the mansion’s south lawn will be available to visitors between 6 pm and 8 pm. [Read more…] about Heritage Holidays in the Mohawk Valley

Filed Under: Events, History, Mohawk Valley Tagged With: Fort Plain Museum, Johnson Hall, Johnstown Historical Society, Mayfield Historical Society, Mohawk Valley Museum Consortium, Walter Elwood Museum

Christmas at the Fort Plain Museum Dec 6th

November 26, 2014 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Fort Plain MuseumThe Fort Plain Museum will be hosting its annual “Christmas at the Fort” event on Saturday December 6, 2014 from 10 am to 6 pm. The Museum will present the Grand Opening of their new exhibit “The Children’s Attic”, which features children’s toys used in the Fort Plain area c. 1770-1920 that have been donated by residents of Fort Plain.

In addition to the authentic objects on display, the exhibit will also feature reproduction garments (both male and female) which reflect clothing worn during the colonial and Revolutionary War era. Youngsters visiting the museum will be able to try on these items and pose for a special “Photo-Op” during their visit. [Read more…] about Christmas at the Fort Plain Museum Dec 6th

Filed Under: Events, History, Mohawk Valley Tagged With: Fort Plain Museum

Amsterdam and the Flu Pandemic of 1918

November 11, 2014 by Bob Cudmore 3 Comments

newyork001When the world-wide influenza pandemic struck in 1918, Amsterdam had its share of disease and death.

The flu became more deadly in the fall of that year, near the end of World War I. From October 1918 through January 1919 there were 176 deaths in Amsterdam from flu or pneumonia, half of one percent of the city’s population.

Amsterdam had 23 cases of influenza in September and eight people had pneumonia. In October the number of flu cases jumped to an astounding 3,386; 255 people had pneumonia. Amsterdam had 43 flu deaths in October and 77 deaths from pneumonia, which often followed the flu. Both St. Mary’s and City Hospital were filled to capacity. [Read more…] about Amsterdam and the Flu Pandemic of 1918

Filed Under: History, Mohawk Valley Tagged With: Amsterdam, Influenza, Medical History, Montgomery County, World War One

American Revolution In The Mohawk Valley Events At Fort Plain Museum

September 24, 2014 by Editorial Staff 2 Comments

Fort Plain MuseumThe Fort Plain Museum will be hosting interpretive historians over the coming month, including: Glenn A. Bentz, who will present on the Haudenosaune (Iroquois) in the Mohawk Valley in the 18th Century; Jeff Tew who will discuss British Officers serving in the Mohawk Valley during the American Revolution; and John Anson, who specializes in Artillery, will offer an audio-visual presentation on cannon manufacturing in the 18th century.

Presentations begin at 7 pm. Admission is free and open to the public, although donations are appreciated. The Fort Plain Museum is located at 389 Canal Street, Fort Plain. Check their Facebook page or website at http://fortplainmuseum.com/index.html Details can be found below. [Read more…] about American Revolution In The Mohawk Valley Events At Fort Plain Museum

Filed Under: Events, History, Mohawk Valley Tagged With: American Revolution, Fort Plain Museum, Indigenous History, Iroquois, Military History, Mohawk River, Native American History

American Revolution Authors At Fort Plain Museum

September 16, 2014 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

Fort Plain MuseumThe Fort Plain Museum will be hosting authors Don Hagist and Todd Andrlik to talk about their recent books about the American Revolution this Thursday, September 18th at 7 pm. Hagist will be speaking about his book British Soldiers: American War which details the lives of British soldiers during the American Revolution. Also scheduled is author Todd Andrlik who will speak on his book Reporting the Revolution. The book is a collection of newspaper articles written and published in the colonial newspapers both here in America and in Great Britain. The articles offer insights on the war in America and how these events were viewed by the common people.

Additionally Hagist will offer a glimpse of a new book he is writing based on an 1864 publication Last Men of the Revolution. Recently the Fort Plain Museum, working in cooperation with the Hagist, uncovered research on a 2nd New Hampshire soldier stationed at Fort Plain. The soldier, Samuel Downing was photographed at the age of 102 with what was then a relatively new technology. Hagist is revisiting the topic and exploring the lives of these early veterans who lived well into the middle of the 19th century. [Read more…] about American Revolution Authors At Fort Plain Museum

Filed Under: Events, History, Mohawk Valley Tagged With: American Revolution, Fort Plain, Fort Plain Museum, Media, Military History

Underground Railroad History: Vigilance Committees

August 25, 2014 by Paul Stewart 22 Comments

The Vigilance Committee Flyer courtesy of American Antiquarian SocietyAs the 1830s drew to a close and the 1840s began, committees were formed in some cities in the north to protect freedom seekers from re-enslavement, and to assist them in their flight to freedom in the north or in Canada. As slave catchers sought freedom seekers, these “vigilance” committees provided legal assistance, food, clothing, money, employment, and temporary shelter.

Such a committee formed in Albany in the early 1840s, and one continued to exist up to the time of the Civil War. Albany’s anti-slavery newspaper, Tocsin of Liberty, identifies ten people, Blacks and whites, as members of the executive body of the local Vigilance Committee in 1842. Some are familiar names from the city’s history, such as Thomas Paul and Revolutionary War veteran Benjamin Lattimore. [Read more…] about Underground Railroad History: Vigilance Committees

Filed Under: History, Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, Hudson Valley - Catskills, Mohawk Valley, New York City, Western NY Tagged With: Abolition, Albany, Black History, Slavery, Troy, Underground Railroad

Revolutionary War Photographs Linked to Fort Plain

August 6, 2014 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

SamuelDowningThe Fort Plain Museum has announced that researchers have located several early photographs (called a carte de visite or CDV) of two Revolutionary War soldiers who served at Fort Plain.

Private Samuel Downing of Captain John Dennett’s Company, Colonel George Reid Commanding, 2nd New Hampshire Regiment, was stationed at Fort Rensselaer/Fort Plain from February 20, 1782 until September 20th that same year when the regiment was transferred to Johnstown. Downing had his picture taken in 1863 as one of the last surviving veterans of the war for American Independence, a time when the American Civil War was at its height. Downing, who had made Edinburgh, NY his home after the Revolution, passed away there three years later in 1866 at the age of 105. [Read more…] about Revolutionary War Photographs Linked to Fort Plain

Filed Under: History, Mohawk Valley, New Exhibits Tagged With: American Revolution, Fort Plain, Military History, Photography, Schoharie County, Schoharie Valley

Bob Cudmore: How ‘The Historians’ Came to WVTL Radio

July 30, 2014 by Bob Cudmore 1 Comment

Bob Cudmore on WVTLMy first foray into local history was in 2000 when Steve Dunn and I co-produced the WMHT television documentary “Historic Views of the Carpet City: Amsterdam, N.Y.” Amsterdam is my home town. That same year my first book came out, self published. You Can’t Go Wrong: Stories from Nero, N.Y. and Other Tales (2000). [Read more…] about Bob Cudmore: How ‘The Historians’ Came to WVTL Radio

Filed Under: History, Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, Mohawk Valley Tagged With: Amsterdam, Media, Public History, Radio History, Schenectady, WGY Radio, WMHT

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