New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Cornell University

Baseball’s John Milligan: A Saratoga County Legend

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John Milligan in 1930When people think of Schuylerville, in Saratoga County, they think of history. The region is known for the 1777 Battles of Saratoga, but people are typically less aware of it’s baseball history.

For many years however, the community was known for pitcher John Milligan, one of the finest athletes in the county’s history. He hurled for the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League and the Washington Senators of the American League, among other teams. [Read more…] about Baseball’s John Milligan: A Saratoga County Legend

Moose Are Back in New York State: A Population Update

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moose courtesy DECMoose have been present in the northern tier of New York since the Pleistocene. However, by as early as the 1860s over-exploitation and habitat degradation had extirpated moose from all of New York State.

In response, a handful of small-scale moose restoration efforts were undertaken between 1870 and 1902, but none proved successful. Over the next eighty years there were periodic moose sightings, but none seemed to suggest an established population. [Read more…] about Moose Are Back in New York State: A Population Update

Active Dissent: 1970s College Protests in New York

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Active Dissent - 1970s College ProtestsOn May 8th, 1972, New Paltz students went from dorm to dorm at the state university, pulling fire alarms, their reaction quick and spontaneous. Few students had television sets, but word spread quickly about President Nixon’s broadcast announcing he had ordered the mining of North Vietnam ports.

Just hours after Nixon’s address, around midnight, the college’s assistant director of housing placed a frantic call to campus security. [Read more…] about Active Dissent: 1970s College Protests in New York

Cornell Agricultural Dean Liberty Hyde Bailey: A Man for All Seasons

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“Groundbreaking repeats elements of ’05 ceremony,”I joined the faculty of Syracuse University in 1975. I was surprised to learn that my institution once had a farm and hopes for a college of agriculture.

To my chagrin, I learned that my school lost out to Cornell back in 1904 when Liberty Hyde Bailey (1858-1954) bested Syracuse University’s Chancellor James R. Day in getting legislation passed in Albany to provide Cornell with state funding for an agricultural school. [Read more…] about Cornell Agricultural Dean Liberty Hyde Bailey: A Man for All Seasons

Adirondack Moose Research Project Launched

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DEC's moose research projectThe New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the start of a new moose research project in the Adirondack region. This winter, 14 moose were fitted with GPS collars as part of a multi-year project assessing moose health and population. [Read more…] about Adirondack Moose Research Project Launched

New York History Journal Call for Papers

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new york historyThe academic journal New York History, now being published by Cornell University Press working with staff from the New York State Museum, seeks to unify the diverse field of New York State history and meet the needs of a growing historical community that includes scholars, public historians, museum professionals, local government historians, and those seeking an in-depth look at the Empire State’s history. [Read more…] about New York History Journal Call for Papers

Climate-Adaptive Design Opportunity for A Hudson Waterfront Community

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East Strand waterfront design proposal along the Rondout CreekThere is an opportunity for a Hudson riverfront municipality to host the Cornell University Department of Landscape Architecture’s Climate-adaptive Design studio during Fall 2021.

The studio links Cornell University students in landscape architecture with communities to explore design alternatives for more climate resilient and connected waterfront areas. It’s a collaboration between DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program and the Cornell University Department of Landscape Architecture. [Read more…] about Climate-Adaptive Design Opportunity for A Hudson Waterfront Community

Volunteers Prepare for Salamander and Frog Migration

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spotted salamander courtesy L HeadyCommunity volunteers throughout the Hudson Valley are getting out their flashlights, reflective vests, and raingear in anticipation of annual breeding migrations of salamanders and frogs, which typically begin in mid-March.

Volunteers in the Hudson Valley will record their observations as part of DEC’s Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project, coordinated by the Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University. [Read more…] about Volunteers Prepare for Salamander and Frog Migration

Land Trust Grants To Protect Bird Habitats Offered

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Yellow-headed Blackbird by Ian Davies Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of OrnithologyThe Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative (LTBCI) has announced they are offering around $300,000 in grants for land trusts in 2021. [Read more…] about Land Trust Grants To Protect Bird Habitats Offered