New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Montgomery County

The Mystery of Joseph Brant’s Watch

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Evening journal (Wilmington, Del.), 1888-07-14, [p ] There was a story that had been passed down in the Minthorn family for generations. It told of how an ancestor had hidden her two infants under the roots of a tree to save them during the Revolutionary War attack on Cherry Valley, NY, in 1778. It was said that in her zeal to quiet her children, the youngsters were rendered unconscious, being revived only after the attackers had departed.

While this story is most likely fiction, there is some truth mixed in. [Read more…] about The Mystery of Joseph Brant’s Watch

A Schoharie Crossing Aqueduct Project Update

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work at Schoharie Crossing aqueductWorkers are shoring up the remains of the aqueduct at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site in Fort Hunter, Montgomery County, NY.

With the water in the Erie Canal drawn down for the winter, the project is well into the construction phase. Workers are creating a large concrete wedge at the end of the piers and arches to act as a brace, so the arches won’t shift. Protections are being added around the base to prevent problems as the water rises in the spring. [Read more…] about A Schoharie Crossing Aqueduct Project Update

Erie Canal Aqueduct Stabilization Project Begins

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Schoharie Crossing on Erie Canal showing 9 arches of aqueduct at Fort HunterThe New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) has announced that construction has begun on a $1.7 million project to stabilize the historic Erie Canal Aqueduct at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site in Montgomery County.

The aqueduct, which was built in 1841, is within the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor. [Read more…] about Erie Canal Aqueduct Stabilization Project Begins

Amsterdam’s Guy Park Manor: Some History

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The Historians LogoThis week on The Historians Podcast, Bob Cudmore and Dave Greene take a look at Guy Park Manor, Amsterdam, New York’s, oldest house.

The colonial era stone building was originally a marriage gift for Guy and Polly Johnson. Guy was the nephew of British Indian agent Sir William Johnson and Polly was Sir William’s daughter. [Read more…] about Amsterdam’s Guy Park Manor: Some History

Battles of Stone Arabia, Klock’s Field Archeological Study Complete

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painting of Klock’s FieldOn October 19, 1780, Loyalists, Native Allies and British soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Johnson and Captain Joseph Brant began destroying farms in Stone Arabia, a village about a mile north of Fort Keyser, in what was then Tryon County (today, Palatine Township in Montgomery County).

Colonel John Brown, leading a force of New York and Massachusetts revolutionaries left Fort Paris in Stone Arabia in an attempt to attack what he believed was a smaller, isolated enemy force. [Read more…] about Battles of Stone Arabia, Klock’s Field Archeological Study Complete

Amsterdam’s Polish Cowboy and Other Tales

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The Historians LogoThis week on The Historians Podcast, Bob Cudmore’s history columns from Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorder provide information for this chit chat podcast with producer Dave Greene.

Hear stories about Amsterdam’s connections with Ukraine, World War II, Amsterdam’s link with singer Jeff Buckley’s popular version of “Hallelujah” by songwriter Leonard Cohen and the story of Jack Patton, the Polish cowboy from Amsterdam. [Read more…] about Amsterdam’s Polish Cowboy and Other Tales

Laddie Sanford: Polo Star & Carpet Mill Owner (Podcast)

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The Historians LogoThis week on The Historians Podcast, Bob Cudmore and Dave Greene discuss several stories from Bob’s newspaper columns in the Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorder including a look at the life of Laddie Sanford. Laddie Sanford was a polo star, race horse owner and on the board of directors of Bigelow Sanford in 1955 when the carpet company left Amsterdam, Montgomery County, NY. [Read more…] about Laddie Sanford: Polo Star & Carpet Mill Owner (Podcast)

Amsterdam’s Arts: Visual Artists, Actors & Singers

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The Historians LogoThis week on The Historians Podcast, Jerry Snyder of Historic Amsterdam League has stories from a new booklet called Amsterdam’s Arts, focusing on visual artists, actors, singers and more with ties to Amsterdam, New York. [Read more…] about Amsterdam’s Arts: Visual Artists, Actors & Singers