On The Historians Podcast, Bob Cudmore has stories from the Mohawk Valley: Amsterdam’s downtown movie theaters, a syndicated journalist from Fonda and a Civil War surgeon who was born in Root, NY. [Read more…] about Theaters, a Journalist and a Prominent Mohawk Valley Doctor
Amsterdam
An 87-Year Old Recalls A Mohawk Valley Life
This week on The Historians Podcast, Richard Ratajak, now 87, looks back on his life as a paper boy in Amsterdam, NY, a soldier in the Korean War, and a priest in training who served summers at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, NY. Ratajak left the priesthood to marry the woman he loved and held jobs in state government as he gradually lost his eyesight. He worked for the state agency that helped blind people find meaningful work and served on the board of RISE, WMHT’s radio service for the blind. [Read more…] about An 87-Year Old Recalls A Mohawk Valley Life
Amsterdam’s North Chuctanunda Creek
On this episode of “The Historians” podcast, Jerry Snyder and John Naple discuss the importance of the North Chuctanunda Creek in the economic development of Amsterdam, NY.
Snyder and Historic Amsterdam League made the creek the focus of the League’s 2019 history calendar. Naple is a retired science teacher who leads tours of the creek along a newly created nature trail. [Read more…] about Amsterdam’s North Chuctanunda Creek
World War One’s End in Montgomery, Fulton Counties
This week on The Historians podcast, Bob Cudmore discusses the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and how the war impacted the Amsterdam, NY area. Another topic: a steam train excursion in upstate New York in 1968. [Read more…] about World War One’s End in Montgomery, Fulton Counties
The End of Amsterdam, New York’s Carpet City Days
This week on The Historians Podcast, Bob Cudmore chronicles the final years of the carpet mills that had dominated the economic life of Amsterdam, New York. Also discussed: the importance of a Montgomery County church in the American Revolution. [Read more…] about The End of Amsterdam, New York’s Carpet City Days
Floods Along The Mohawk (Historians Podcast)
This week on The Historians Podcast, Bob Cudmore and Dave Greene take a look at the history of flooding in the Amsterdam area of the Mohawk Valley, plus an account of the recent Schoharie River Center literary festival in Burtonville. There’s also the story of an animal farm in Cranesville, NY. [Read more…] about Floods Along The Mohawk (Historians Podcast)
Luxuray: Fort Plain’s Underwear Factory History
This week on The Historians Podcast, Bob Cudmore and Dave Greene discuss a factory building in Fort Plain that was the 20th century home of Luxuray, makers of women’s underwear. They also talk about the Mohawk Carpet Mills in Amsterdam as described in a 1950 mill publication. [Read more…] about Luxuray: Fort Plain’s Underwear Factory History
Amsterdam NY In 1918: Historians Podcast
This week on The Historians Podcast, Jerry Snyder of Historic Amsterdam League discusses the group’s Amsterdam Icons Calendar for 2018 which focuses on city history in 1918 — the Great War, the influenza epidemic, the temperance movement and more.
Listen to the podcast here. [Read more…] about Amsterdam NY In 1918: Historians Podcast
Bifocal Lenses and Ben Franklin
This week on The Historians Podcast, Dan Weaver says a 1768 letter to colonial leader Sir William Johnson casts doubt on the claim by some historians that Ben Franklin invented bifocal eyeglasses. Weaver is history columnist for the Amsterdam NY Recorder, president of Historic Amsterdam League and a trustee of Old Fort Johnson, one of Sir William’s homes.
Listen to the podcast here. [Read more…] about Bifocal Lenses and Ben Franklin
Top Ten Lists from Amsterdam, NY
This week on “The Historians” podcast, Michael Cinquanti, author of Amsterdam NY Top Ten Lists The lists range from heroism to sports to traditions.
Listen to the podcast here. [Read more…] about Top Ten Lists from Amsterdam, NY