History, Natural History & the Arts
In 1906, the murder of the pregnant Grace Brown by her boyfriend Chester Gillette at Big Moose Lake in northern Herkimer County became one of New York State’s most widely followed criminal cases.
The two met at Gillette’s uncle’s skirt factory in Cortland, NY, where they became involved and Brown became pregnant. Refusing to accept responsibility, he made arrangements for a trip to the Adirondacks. [Read more…] about Grace Brown, Her Murderer Chester Gillette & Old Herkimer Jailhouse
Love is rolling into Central New York this Valentine’s Day during an evening aboard the Adirondack Railroad’s Valentine’s Day Dinner Train. Set against the scenic backdrop of the Adirondack region, everyone is invited to enjoy a round-trip journey from Utica’s Union Station to the historic Remsen Depot, complete with a gourmet dinner and an enchanting atmosphere on rails. [Read more…] about Adirondack Railroad’s Valentine’s Day Dinner Train Returns
Travel through the Saratoga County community of Corinth, NY, was difficult at best in the mid-nineteenth century. The Hudson River was navigable only a few months of the year. At a time when roads were rutted, muddy, or ice and snow covered the railroad offered the best form of reliable transportation for passengers and goods.
The Adirondack Railroad from Saratoga Springs to Hadley was completed at the end of the Civil War in 1865. The rail system helped spur industrial development in the area with the advent of dependable transportation. [Read more…] about The Railroad’s Impact on Life in Corinth, Saratoga County, NY
This is a story about growing up on the west side of Saratoga Springs as a member of the post-World War II baby boom generation (1946-1964). Which side was the east side or the west side of Saratoga Springs was determined by the railroad tracks until the late 1950s, but today Broadway is considered the dividing line.
Our neighborhood was centered on the intersection of Waterbury and Lawrence Streets and was very similar to other neighborhoods in Saratoga. Kids were everywhere. [Read more…] about Growing Up On Saratoga Springs’ West Side
The Adirondack Railway Preservation Society (ARPS), the esteemed operator of the Adirondack Railroad and Adirondack Railbike Adventures, has announced the appointment of Amanda Hill as its new General Manager, effective January 1, 2025. Hill was chosen from rose among more than 60 applicants, a press release from ARPS said. [Read more…] about Adirondack Railway Preservation Society Names New Leader
It was high-speed rail – a little too high speed for some passengers’ comfort level. “The fastest time on the new railroad was made yesterday by the accommodation freight train, which ran from this place [Glens Falls] to Lake George in eleven minutes,” the Glen’s Falls Messenger reported on June 23, 1882. [Read more…] about 19th Century Railroad News from Northern New York
Use your bank’s “bill pay” option (or just send a check)
Thanks for your support! These are difficult times. Without your support we cannot publish the Almanack.
*Donations are not tax deductible.
(Click the X in the top right corner this box to not see this message again for 7 days).