This week on The Historians Podcast, New York City correspondent Jim Kaplan discusses the life of Marinus Willett. Willett is well known to Upstate New York historians because of the work he did during the American Revolution in the Mohawk Valley. [Read more…] about The Downstate-Upstate Life of Marinus Willett
The Albany Congress of 1754: Native People, Colonists & the Monarchy
William Shirley was the Royal Governor of Massachusetts, appointed by the King of England. Shirley had been a British official in England serving on negotiating committees with French officials determining boundaries. This had led Shirley to a thorough dislike of the French.
He was very aggressive and had been a stalwart advocate of invading Canada and driving the French out of North America. Shirley had written a strong criticism of the New York Congress for its resistance to an invasion of Canada in 1748. He was upset when New Jersey and Rhode Island refused to cooperate in the invasion because they were not threatened. [Read more…] about The Albany Congress of 1754: Native People, Colonists & the Monarchy
Palatines in the Mohawk Valley: 300 Years of History
The earliest European settlers in the Mohawk Valley came from what is now southwestern Germany. Under near constant threat of destruction, whether from multiple wars, invasions, or the plague, in the near hundred years leading up to the 18th century, the southwest German population experienced extreme hardship.
In some cases, entire towns and villages were wiped out. Commercial crops in the vineyards either failed or were destroyed. Invading French armies added to the hardship by burdening residents with housing and supporting soldiers, albeit with scant family resources, forcing many German homeowners to flee. [Read more…] about Palatines in the Mohawk Valley: 300 Years of History
Amsterdam’s Racetrack and Other Mohawk Valley Stories
This week on The Historians Podcast, Bob Cudmore has stories from his Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorder Focus on History columns including Amsterdam’s horse racing track, the life of a volunteer nurse in the Civil War and Amsterdam radio announcers who served in Armed Forces Radio. [Read more…] about Amsterdam’s Racetrack and Other Mohawk Valley Stories
State Awards Mohawk River Watershed Grants for Flooding, Wildlife
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced funding for seven projects throughout the Mohawk River watershed.
The grants, supported by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund, will help reduce flood risks and bolster resiliency, improve stewardship and stakeholder engagement, and protect fish, wildlife, and associated aquatic and riparian habitats in the watershed. [Read more…] about State Awards Mohawk River Watershed Grants for Flooding, Wildlife
Mohawk Valley Crime History Virtual Program
Book purchases made through this link support New York Almanack’s mission to report new publications relevant to New York State.
The Oneida County History Center has announced a virtual lunchtime lecture with James Greiner, Herkimer County Historian and contributing author of Murder & Mayhem in Herkimer County, who will discuss historical murder cases with Utica connections, on Wednesday, August 26th. [Read more…] about Mohawk Valley Crime History Virtual Program
Forgotten Mohawk Valley Stories (Podcast)
This week on The Historians Podcast, Dan Weaver discusses his latest book containing 60 of his local history columns, most of which first appeared in the Amsterdam Recorder — Between the Cracks: Forgotten Stories of Amsterdam, N.Y. and the Mohawk Valley (2020). [Read more…] about Forgotten Mohawk Valley Stories (Podcast)
Mohawk Valley Baseball History Virtual Talk
The Oneida County History Center will host a virtual talk by Lou Parrotta, the City of Utica Historian, on the history of baseball in the Mohawk Valley, and the local players who made it to the Major Leagues, set for Wednesday, August 12th. [Read more…] about Mohawk Valley Baseball History Virtual Talk
Mohawk Valley Forts in the Fort Plain Era
This week on The Historians Podcast, archaeologist and historian Wayne Lenig discusses Revolutionary War forts in the Mohawk Valley. Lenig is author of Fort Plain, Fort Plank, Fort Rensselaer: The Revolutionary War Forts of Canajohary (Fort Plain Museum, 2020). [Read more…] about Mohawk Valley Forts in the Fort Plain Era
Oneida Co Seeks Names for History Hall of Fame, Living Legends
The Oneida County History Center has announced they are seeking nominations for the 2020 Historical Hall of Fame and Living Legends Awards. [Read more…] about Oneida Co Seeks Names for History Hall of Fame, Living Legends