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Plattsburgh

Smugglers & The Law: Prohibition In Northern New York

January 19, 2023 by John Warren 6 Comments

A recreated chase of bootleggers in Chestertown, NY in 2013 (photo by John Warren)Dennis Warren left his job as a coal shoveler on the New York Central Railroad in Albany to ship out to the First World War. His transport ship had a close call with a German submarine on the way over, but got there in time to take part in what one of the bloodiest military campaigns in American history.

For Americans after the war, the Argonne would mean what Normandy meant just 25 years later – sacrifice. Sadly, that sacrifice in the Argonne Forest was never repaid to Dennis Warren, who met the death of a smuggler – running from an officious and invasive law on a treacherous mountain road near Port Henry on Lake Champlain.

According to the newsman who reported his death at the age of 29, “Canadian Ale was spread across the road.” [Read more…] about Smugglers & The Law: Prohibition In Northern New York

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, History Tagged With: Al Smith, beer, Canada, Clinton County, Crime and Justice, DeWitt, Essex County, Franklin County, Genealogy, Journalism, Lafayette, Lake Champlain, Legal History, liquor, Manlius, Newspapers, Onondaga, Onondaga County, Oral History, Plattsburgh, Political History, Pompey, Port Henry, Prohibition, Quebec, Rouses Point, Route 9, St Lawrence County, State Police, SUNY Plattsburgh, Vice, World War One

The Origins of Rockwell Kent: The Development of an Artist and His Craft

December 19, 2022 by Anthony F. Hall 1 Comment

Our America a series designed by Kent for sets of chinaRockwell Kent, the artist who made the Adirondacks his home from 1928 until his death in 1971, mastered more media than any of his contemporaries, even if one were to include Andy Warhol.

And no one was more skillful than he at agitprop – exhorting the masses to political action through expressive combinations of images and words, in posters, pamphlets, books and even bottle caps, those he used to seal the milk bottles from his Ausable Forks dairy farm. [Read more…] about The Origins of Rockwell Kent: The Development of an Artist and His Craft

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Arts, History, New Exhibits Tagged With: Adirondacks, Art History, Ausable Forks, Clinton County, Cultural History, Essex County, New Deal, Plattsburgh, Political History, SUNY Plattsburgh

Adk Council: Manchin Harming Adirondacks, Local Green Jobs

July 19, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Adirondack CouncilWest Virginia Senator Joe Manchin’s refusal to negotiate legislation to curb climate change will harm New York’s Adirondack Park as well as the growing clean-manufacturing economy in nearby Plattsburgh, according to the Adirondack Council.

The Council called on New York State government to intensify its efforts to reduce carbon emissions, and called on the state’s voters to approve the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act on the ballot November 8th. [Read more…] about Adk Council: Manchin Harming Adirondacks, Local Green Jobs

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Nature Tagged With: Adirondack Council, Adirondacks, clean air, Climate Change, Clinton County, energy, Environmental History, Essex County, Franklin County, Hamilton County, Herkimer COunty, nature, Plattsburgh, politics, St Lawrence County, Warren County

Arto Monaco’s Valcour, Plattsburgh Battle Dioramas Being Conserved

January 9, 2022 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

Battle of Valcour diorama created by Arto Monaco The Clinton County Historical Association has announce it has received a Conservation Treatment Grant from the Greater Hudson Heritage Network for the conservation of a diorama created by Adirondack artist and theme park creator Arto Monaco (1913-2003).

The diorama was a gift from the Plattsburgh Rotary who commissioned the work for the 1976 United States Bicentennial celebration. It’s been moved to several locations over the years, resting finally within the CCHA Museum at 98 Ohio Avenue on the Old Base Museum Campus in Plattsburgh, NY. [Read more…] about Arto Monaco’s Valcour, Plattsburgh Battle Dioramas Being Conserved

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Arts, History Tagged With: American Revolution, Battle of Plattsburgh, Battle of Valcour Bay, Clinton County Historical Association, Greater Hudson Heritage Network, Lake Champlain, Maritime History, Military History, Plattsburgh

Aaron Burr, Marcus Garvey, Lady Bird Johnson & More (Historians Podcast)

July 30, 2021 by Bob Cudmore Leave a Comment

The Historians LogoThis highlights edition of The Historians Podcast has excerpts from a dozen shows that were posted this year. Topics include the battle of Valcour, black separatist Marcus Garvey, Lady Bird Johnson, women’s suffrage, time travel, the history of deceit and more. [Read more…] about Aaron Burr, Marcus Garvey, Lady Bird Johnson & More (Historians Podcast)

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Battle of Valcour Bay, Lake Champlain, Maritime History, Military History, Plattsburgh, Podcasts, Suffrage Movement, womens history

Lake Champlain Bluff Point Lighthouse Tour August 8th

July 28, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Bluff Point Lighthouse courtesy Wikimedia user MwannerThe Clinton County Historical Association (CCHA) will host a tour of the historic Bluff Point Lighthouse on Valcour Island on Lake Champlain on Sunday, August 8th. [Read more…] about Lake Champlain Bluff Point Lighthouse Tour August 8th

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Events, History Tagged With: Battle of Valcour Bay, Clinton County Historical Association, Lake Champlain, Maritime History, Military History, Plattsburgh

Summer Sundays at Champlain’s Bluff Point Lighthouse

June 21, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Bluff Point Lighthouse courtesy Wikimedia user MwannerThe Clinton County Historical Association has announced “Sunday on Valcour Island,” an event featuring tours of the historic Bluff Point Lighthouse on Lake Champlain with additional historic island farm tours, set for Sunday, July 11th. [Read more…] about Summer Sundays at Champlain’s Bluff Point Lighthouse

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Events, History Tagged With: Battle of Valcour Bay, Clinton County Historical Association, Lake Champlain, Maritime History, Military History, Plattsburgh

Jack Kelly Talks About His New Book On Battle of Valcour Island

May 14, 2021 by Bob Cudmore Leave a Comment

The Historians LogoThis week on The Historians Podcast, Jack Kelly discusses his new book Valcour: The 1776 Campaign That Saved the Cause of Liberty (St. Martins Press, 2021).  Rebel forces were led by Benedict Arnold in this key naval battle with Great Britain around Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in Northern New York. [Read more…] about Jack Kelly Talks About His New Book On Battle of Valcour Island

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, History Tagged With: American Revolution, Battle of Valcour Bay, Benedict Arnold, Books, Lake Champlain, Maritime History, Military History, Plattsburgh, Podcasts

Saranac River Restoration Efforts Underway at Former Gas Plant

April 18, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

river being protected while coal tar is being removed from sediment by Mary Jo CranceA former manufactured gas plant (MGP) was located on an approximately 11-acre area in Plattsburgh near the Saranac River from 1896 to 1960. The coal tar by-product of the manufacturing process was pumped into an on-site unlined lagoon for storage.

It was later discovered that the coal tar by-product seeped out of the unlined lagoon into bedrock and the nearby Saranac River. [Read more…] about Saranac River Restoration Efforts Underway at Former Gas Plant

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Nature Tagged With: DEC, energy, Environmental History, Plattsburgh, pollution, Saranac River

Patriot Then Traitor: Saratoga County’s Joe Bettys

April 5, 2021 by Guest Contributor 4 Comments

The Capture of Joe Bettys from United States Magazine, 1857 page 569On April Fool’s Day, April 1st, 1782, Joe Bettys was hanged. It was, as was the custom, a public spectacle in Albany where the notorious traitor had been taken for his trial and sentencing.

On the scaffold, just after a noose was tied around his neck, he jumped to his death, thereby depriving his executioners from carrying out his sentence. [Read more…] about Patriot Then Traitor: Saratoga County’s Joe Bettys

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History Tagged With: American Revolution, Ballston Spa, Battle of Valcour Bay, Crime and Justice, Lake Champlain, Maritime History, Military History, Plattsburgh, Saratoga, Saratoga County, Saratoga County History Center

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