• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar

New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Adirondacks & NNY
  • Capital-Saratoga
  • Mohawk Valley
  • Hudson Valley & Catskills
  • NYC & Long Island
  • Western NY
  • History
  • Nature & Environment
  • Arts & Culture
  • Outdoor Recreation
  • Food & Farms
  • Subscribe
  • Support
  • Submit
  • About
  • New Books
  • Events
  • Podcasts

Ogdensburg

Dams, Canals, Locks & Inclined Planes: Farrand Benedict In The Adirondacks

October 20, 2020 by Mike Prescott 1 Comment

Farrand Benedict portrait This is a story of a fascinating but rather forgotten individual from the history of the Adirondacks.

Along with his slightly older mentor Ebenezer Emmons, and his younger contemporary Verplanck Colvin, he was among the first to accurately survey much of the Adirondacks. He also proposed a number of early dams, canals, locks and inclined planes and considered using historic waterways and canals to traverse the Adirondacks by water. [Read more…] about Dams, Canals, Locks & Inclined Planes: Farrand Benedict In The Adirondacks

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, History, Mohawk Valley, Recreation, Western NY Tagged With: Farrand Benedict, Lake Champlain, Ogdensburg, Old Forge, paddling, railroads, Township 40, Transportation, Transportation History

Republican Music: Ogdensburg’s ‘Victory Quartet’

April 9, 2020 by Maury Thompson Leave a Comment

Thomas E Dewey (Thomas Dewey)The “Victory Quartet” was in political harmony with fellow Republicans when it performed on the GOP “No Third Term” broadcast at 6:30 pm on October 23rd, 1940 on WSLB radio in Ogdensburg.

The musicians had been singing much longer that FDR, who they hoped to turn out of office. [Read more…] about Republican Music: Ogdensburg’s ‘Victory Quartet’

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Arts, History Tagged With: Music, Ogdensburg, Political History

The Patriot War: Republic of Canada

July 30, 2019 by Stan Evans 2 Comments

map of the location of Navy IslandA nineteenth century invading army’s journey into battle had two options, by land or by water. In the winter of 1838 the patriot army, which sought to invade Canada from New York State and overthrow the British Crown, saw a third alternative – by ice.

With Lake Erie covered with ice, “a band of the invaders determined to make it an avenue of passage across to Canada at a point where discovery would be improbable,” according to Our County and Its People, A History of Erie County published in 1898. [Read more…] about The Patriot War: Republic of Canada

Filed Under: History, Western NY Tagged With: Buffalo, Canada, Canandaigua, Erie County, Lake Erie, Military History, Ogdensburg, Political History

Early Professional Wrestler Al Marlowe: The French Cyclone

July 8, 2019 by Richard White Leave a Comment

Al Marlow with his trainer Joe Malcewicz courtesy Ogdensburg journal“Al Marlowe, ‘the French Cyclone,’ returned yesterday from Alburg, Vt. where he wrestled Leo Desbriches, champion of the New England states, to a draw…. The Ogdensburg man is proving himself one of the best wrestlers in this section….”

On November 28, 1919, this was the reportage in Ogdensburg’s Republican Journal’s sports section regarding the city’s 21 year old professional grappler’s two hour match. His career was marked by two championships, and many print sources referred to Marlowe as “an artist of the mat.” Today he is recognized as one of the last legitimate professional wrestling champions in the North Country as well. [Read more…] about Early Professional Wrestler Al Marlowe: The French Cyclone

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Ogdensburg, Sports History

Ogdens of Ogdensburg Topic of Brown Bag Lunch

March 19, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

charlotte ogdenThe St. Lawrence County Historical Association is set to continue their Brown Bag Lunch series on Thursday, March 21st. Philip Paige will speak on the Ogden family, of which Ogdensburg, NY, got its name.

While they’re obscure today, the Ogden family’s influence in early New York State can hardly be overstated, especially in St. Lawrence County. Two Ogdens negotiated the Treaty of New York (1796), which largely ended Native American title to North Country land; members of the family shortly thereafter bought up large tracts of land, and began settling it. [Read more…] about Ogdens of Ogdensburg Topic of Brown Bag Lunch

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Events, History Tagged With: Genealogy, Ogdensburg, St Lawrence County, St Lawrence County Historical Association

Ogdensburg Historical Talk & Walk Sept 8th

August 27, 2018 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Ford Street in OgdensburgThe St. Lawrence County Historical Association has announced the fifth tour of its new series, Historic North Country Village Talk & Walks. This tour will take place in Ogdensburg on Saturday, September 8th, and be led by city historian Julie Madlin.

The tour will start across from the First Baptist Church, 617 State Street, at 10 am, for a talk on the history of the oldest European settlement, and only city, in St. Lawrence County. Following this, Madlin will lead the group on a walking tour of Ogdensburg. The program will run from 10 am to approximately 11:30, and is free and open to the public. No advance registration is required. [Read more…] about Ogdensburg Historical Talk & Walk Sept 8th

Filed Under: Events, History Tagged With: Ogdensburg, St Lawrence County Historical Association

Ruth Williams: A World War One Nurse Overseas

August 19, 2018 by Lawrence P. Gooley Leave a Comment

The word hero is often tossed around loosely, but when it comes to wounded soldiers, no one argues that it’s fitting — so what does it say about someone else when wounded soldiers call them heroes? Consider American women during World War I. Although many wanted to, they didn’t have to serve because of their sex, and could support the troops by important actions at home. But some chose to place themselves near the front lines, and with no weapons to defend themselves. Their only protection came from nebulous agreements by both sides not to bomb hospitals and care centers.

That’s what nurses did, risking their lives to comfort, save the lives of, or ease the deaths of, soldiers. Which explains why so many wounded men referred to nurses as the real heroes. A fine example of that circumstance, with an unusual twist or two, involved Ruth Williams of Ogdensburg. [Read more…] about Ruth Williams: A World War One Nurse Overseas

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, History Tagged With: Military History, Ogdensburg, World War One

Ogdensburg and the 1918 Influenza Pandemic

March 1, 2016 by Julie Madlin 18 Comments

ogdensburg Our current flu season is a reminder that not so long ago the 1918 Influenza Pandemic – known then as the “Spanish Flu” or “La Grippe” –  killed over 22 million people. It sickened thousands in Northern New York and killed hundreds.

The first documented case occurred on March 11, 1918 at Camp Funston, Kansas. By the end of that week more than 500 soldiers had been sickened. Influenza first spread through army bases, but by September 5th the Massachusetts State Department of Health warned that “unless precautions are taken, the disease in all probability will spread to the civilian population,” which it did. By October 22nd the city of Philadelphia’s death rate was 700 times higher than normal for a single week. [Read more…] about Ogdensburg and the 1918 Influenza Pandemic

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, History Tagged With: Medical History, Ogdensburg, St Lawrence County

17th Century Cannon Returned To New York

August 3, 2015 by Editorial Staff 2 Comments

Cape Vincent Cannon display 2A cannon dating to the mid 1600s, which had been salvaged from the St. Lawrence River at the head of Carleton Island in the Town of Cape Vincent decades ago, has been returned to New York.

Plans are in the works for a long term loan to allow for the cannon’s display at the Village of Cape Vincent’s East End Park on the shores overlooking Carleton Island, where so much of the cannon’s history played itself out. [Read more…] about 17th Century Cannon Returned To New York

Filed Under: History, New Exhibits Tagged With: American Revolution, Battle of Isle Royal, French And Indian War, Military History, New France, Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence River, War of 1812

Talk, Exhibit Features General Newton Curtis

January 15, 2015 by Editorial Staff 2 Comments

NMC postcard statueAn Ogdensburg statue stands in honor of General Newton Martin Curtis, a DePeyster native, who distinguished himself during the Civil War and won a Congressional Medal of Honor 150 years ago this week.

On January 15, 1865, General Curtis successfully led the Union forces at the Battle of Fort Fisher, North Carolina.  Find out more about the life and accomplishments of this true American hero at a special lecture and exhibit this Saturday, January 17th, from 11 am to 4 pm at the St. Lawrence County Historical Association’s Silas Wright House in Canton, NY.  [Read more…] about Talk, Exhibit Features General Newton Curtis

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Events, History, New Exhibits Tagged With: Canton, Civil War, Military History, Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County Hist Soc

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Help Us Reach Our Fundraising Goal

Subscribe to New York Almanack

Subscribe! Follow the New York Almanack each day via E-mail, RSS, Twitter or Facebook updates.

Recent Comments

  • Gerald Ladouceur on A Street by Street History of Albany Published
  • Ellen on Catskills Resorts: The Beginning of the End
  • Ellen on Catskills Resorts: The Beginning of the End
  • Ellen on Catskills Resorts: The Beginning of the End
  • DENNIS COLLINS on Train Ferries: The Hudson River’s Most Unusual Steamers
  • John Warren on Train Ferries: The Hudson River’s Most Unusual Steamers
  • John Kilbride on Train Ferries: The Hudson River’s Most Unusual Steamers
  • Tim Record on Train Ferries: The Hudson River’s Most Unusual Steamers
  • Paul Huey on Patriot Then Traitor: Saratoga County’s Joe Bettys
  • Sean on Valcour Island: Keeping The Cause of Liberty Alive

Recent New York Books

laughing_rain_and_awakens_corn_03 (2) cover
Manufacturing Advantage
The Red Badge to Gettysburg
Prohibition in the Hudson Valley book
Long Island Migrant Labor Camps Dust for Blood
Valcour The 1776 Campaign That Saved the Cause of Liberty
Past and Prologue: Politics and Memory in the American Revolution
The Indestructible Man
Unworthy Republic

Secondary Sidebar

New York State Historic Markers
Kearns_New York Almanack