Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh’s Cigar Industry: 1860s-1940s

April 17, 2023 by Helen Allen Nerska 1 Comment

Plattsburgh, from the 1860s through to the Second World War, was a manufacturing center for the 5 cent cigar. The smell of a quality cigar could be detected walking down Margaret Street between Court and Broad Streets. What began with small businesses in the late 1860s, turned into a major cigar manufacturing industry for the City of Plattsburgh thanks to the Scheier, Mendelsohn, Levy, Merkel and Payette families, to name a few.

The handmade cigar industry in Plattsburgh employed dozens of workers and produced thousands of cigars. [Read more…] about Plattsburgh’s Cigar Industry: 1860s-1940s

A New Book On The 1962 B-47 Crash At Wright Peak

February 17, 2023 by Bob Cudmore 2 Comments

This week on The Historians Podcast the guest is Alan Maddaus, author of Wright Peak Elegy: A Story of Cold War, Nuclear Deterrence and Ultimate Sacrifice (Epigraph, 2022).

The book tells the story of a US Air Force B-47 jet bomber that crashed into Wright Peak in New York’s Adirondack Mountains in January 1962. [Read more…] about A New Book On The 1962 B-47 Crash At Wright Peak

Smugglers & The Law: Prohibition In Northern New York

January 19, 2023 by John Warren 7 Comments

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

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

December 19, 2022 by Anthony F. Hall 1 Comment

Rockwell 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

Adk Council: Manchin Harming Adirondacks, Local Green Jobs

July 19, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

West 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

Arto Monaco’s Valcour, Plattsburgh Battle Dioramas Being Conserved

January 9, 2022 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

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

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

July 30, 2021 by Bob Cudmore Leave a Comment

This 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)

Lake Champlain Bluff Point Lighthouse Tour August 8th

July 28, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The 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

Summer Sundays at Champlain’s Bluff Point Lighthouse

June 21, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The 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

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

May 14, 2021 by Bob Cudmore Leave a Comment

This 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