New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Adirondacks Region

Remembering The Christmas of 1945 in Northern NY

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1945 Ad Welcome Home VetsAmong the finest Christmas seasons in America’s long history took place in 1945. We’re constantly bombarded with how special the holidays are, so it’s tough for any one year to stand out as extra special, but 1945 makes the list.

Events across the Adirondacks that year epitomized the nation’s attitude. Surprisingly, it wasn’t all about celebrating, even though the most destructive war in history had just ended a few months earlier. We often mumble mindlessly that we’re proud to be Americans. But the first post-World War II Christmas was the real deal, worthy of the word “pride.” [Read more…] about Remembering The Christmas of 1945 in Northern NY

10 Organizations Unite to Call for Adirondack Investments

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Entering Adirondack Park sign photo credit, Eric Meier;A coalition of 10 conservation and educational organizations has sent a letter to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul urging her upcoming State of the State message and Executive Budget proposal to advance investments and strengthened policies to improve the protection and management of the Adirondack Park. [Read more…] about 10 Organizations Unite to Call for Adirondack Investments

Former Saratoga and North Creek Railway Purchased

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Tahawus Railway Map Dec 2022Revolution Rail Company (RevRail) has announced its purchase of the Saratoga and North Creek Railway, which stretches from the hamlet of North Creek in Johnsburg, Warren County, north to the Tahawus mining works in the Town of Newcomb, Essex County. [Read more…] about Former Saratoga and North Creek Railway Purchased

Two Dramatic Adirondack High Peaks Rescues From Same Area

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Rangers rescue hiker with hip injuryNew York State Forest Rangers led the efforts in difficult and dramatic rescues from nearly the same spot in the Adirondack High Peaks this week.

On Tuesday, December 13 at 2:25 pm, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Ray Brook Dispatch office requested Forest Ranger assistance with a hiker who may have broken their ankle near the junction of the trails to Wright and Algonquin Peaks in the High Peaks Wilderness in the town of Keene, Essex County. [Read more…] about Two Dramatic Adirondack High Peaks Rescues From Same Area

The Origins of Rockwell Kent: The Development of an Artist and His Craft

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Our America a series designed by Kent for sets of chinaRockwell Kent, the artist who made the Adirondacks his home from 1928 until his death in 1971, mastered more media than any of his contemporaries, even if one were to include Andy Warhol.

And no one was more skillful than he at agitprop – exhorting the masses to political action through expressive combinations of images and words, in posters, pamphlets, books and even bottle caps, those he used to seal the milk bottles from his Ausable Forks dairy farm. [Read more…] about The Origins of Rockwell Kent: The Development of an Artist and His Craft

A Settler History the Adirondacks

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With an Ax and a Rifle Vol I Erik Schlimmer dedicated three years of research to produce the two-volume With an Ax and a Rifle: Settler and Onomastic History of the Adirondacks (Beechwood Books, 2023). Onomastics is the study of the etymology, history, and use of proper names.

This tome consists of 92 chapters that tell the settlement history of each of the Adirondack Park‘s 92 towns. With an Ax and a Rifle totals 1,200 pages, includes nearly 200 images, and comes with a settlement poster map. [Read more…] about A Settler History the Adirondacks

Adirondack Advocates, Officials, Seek Reuse of State Prison

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Moriah Shock Incarceration Facility in Essex County, NYLeaders of Adirondack environmental organizations joined with local elected officials Tuesday to urge Governor Kathy Hochul not to mothball the former Moriah Shock Incarceration Facility in Essex County, NY, as is planned by December 31, but instead to reuse it to bolster conservation and boost employment.

The leaders said there were several possible options that would bring new life to the structure.  Reuse would help a small Adirondack community recover from the job losses and lost business opportunities associated with the closure of a state institution, they said.  They also pointed to several recent state initiatives that would benefit from an additional state building in the Adirondacks, from which to offer training and housing. [Read more…] about Adirondack Advocates, Officials, Seek Reuse of State Prison

Adirondack Conservation News: 5 Things You Should Know

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Forever Adirondacks Campaign Director Aaron Mair in Egypt for the COP27 climate meetingAn Adirondack environmentalist leaves UN Climate talks in Egypt more determined 

The Adirondack Council’s Forever Adirondacks Campaign Director Aaron Mair was recently in Egypt for the COP27 climate meeting. Mair said it was great to hear from Indigenous communities, but also noted that this COP meeting was highly attended by non-renewable energy concerns. But Mair came back more determined to have a positive impact on the climate change front. [Read more…] about Adirondack Conservation News: 5 Things You Should Know

A Perfect Storm of Bad Luck; One Tough Guy on Black Lake

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Harry BaxterA front-runner for 1930’s “it seemed like a good idea at the time” award was 40-year-old Harry Baxter of Syracuse, NY.

In early September, he and his wife, Louisa, and one of their sons were camping at Black Lake in western St. Lawrence County. Thirty-six hours later he was in desperate straits, clinging to a small, rocky island and life itself. [Read more…] about A Perfect Storm of Bad Luck; One Tough Guy on Black Lake