History of the Region

(03/09/12) The Potsdam Museum recently rediscovered an historic War of 1812 officer's uniform in its archives -- just in time for bicentennial commemorations. Museum officials say the dark blue and red wool uniform is in "very nice" condition for a 200-year old garment.

It's thought to have belonged to Shubel Clark, a soldier from Canton who was assigned to the New York Detached Militia in Ogdensburg. The heirloom was donated to the museum in 1953 by Clark's family.

Todd Moe stopped by for a closer look yesterday. The story behind the old coat is today's Heard Up North.

(02/22/12) This winter, one of the best places in the North Country to ski has been the trail to Santanoni Great Camp in the Essex County town of Newcomb.

In part, that's because the old road to the camp has enough snow to make skiing possible.

But the restored buildings of Santanoni also offer one of the most fascinating glimpses of the Adirondacks as they existed during the gilded age, when the North Country was a retreat for the rich and powerful.

This week, Brian Mann joined a ski tour of the great camp, organized by the coalition that has spent more than a decade stabilizing and restoring the historic site. more

(02/21/12) The Whallonsburg Grange Hall Lyceum series returns with "A History of the World in Nine Weeks." The classes are presented by Andy Buchanan, lecturer in global history at the University of Vermont. This first lecture is entitled, "Humankind Makes Itself: From the Origins of Humanity To the Farming Revolution"

(02/15/12) One city's relationship with trees is explored in a new museum exhibit in Ottawa.

Six moments in the history of an urban forest is the brainchild of Carleton University history professor Joanna Dean and graduate student Will Knight.

Present-day Ottawa began as rough riverside lumber shanties in the early 1800s. It grew to become the nation's capital, with various trends in tree clearing and tree planting along the way. More recently, the area has faced damage from natural disaster and invasive pests, like the emerald ash borer, which threatens perhaps 30% of Ottawa's existing tree population.

Although the display considers urban forestry from an Ottawa perspective, the challenge of combining trees with cities is universal. Lucy Martin spoke with co-curators, Joanna Dean and Will Knight on opening day at the Bytown Museum, beside the treed slopes of Parliament Hill. more

(02/14/12) A St. Lawrence County community is being reminded, again, of an 80 year-old rumor many people would rather forget.

A new novel re-imagines what happened when a little girl went missing overnight in Massena. It's based on a true story from 1928. The town's small Jewish community was accused of kidnapping her for a ritual murder.

Julie Grant set out to find out what really happened. She found that after 80 years, it's not easy to parse the truth from rumors and memories.

But she did find that people from cultures around the world brought together in America's "melting pot" were easily pulled apart in a time of crisis. more

(02/13/12) February is a big month for winter carnivals in the North Country, with celebrations from Lake George to Old Forge. Saranac Lake just wrapped up its big winter carnival last night, with a slide show and fireworks on the shore of Lake Flower.

Our Adirondack bureau chief Brian Mann was master of ceremonies for this year's carnival parade in Saranac Lake. As the festivities were wrapping up, he sent this audio postcard. more

(02/07/12) An investigation by the Associated Press has found that soldiers from the French and Indian War weren't buried properly in the village of Lake George.

(Correction: In the original version of this story, NCPR reported that AP and other news organizations broke this story, but the reporting was exclusively that of the Associated Press.)

A formal burial ceremony was held in 1993 and the soldiers' skeletons were removed from a public area visited by tourists.

But researchers now acknowledge that most of the human remains were later shipped to Arizona and Canada for study.

At least twelve soldiers from the conflict that broke out between England, France and Native American nations in the 1700s are still being studied by scientists.

According to the AP's report, republished in the Albany Times-Union, Glens Falls Post Star and other newspapers, some historians now say it's time for the remains to be returned to Lake George and buried.

(01/19/12) Part of Ottawa's Rideau Canal Skateway opened for skating this past Sunday, kicking off its 42nd season. Once weather permits, nearly five miles of frozen canal will see heavy use for another month or two. The free skateway is a star attraction for Winterlude, coming up February 3-20. Sunday, just a short section was open, and the ice conditions were listed as poor.

Long time canal enthusiast Hugh Graham keeps a kick sled on hand for bad ice days. The sled looks like a light kitchen chair on long, thin runners. Wearing home-made studded boots, he can ride the runner with one foot, and push along at a good clip with the other. There's even room for some gear or a light passenger on the chair. Graham showed off his kick sled to Lucy Martin for today's Heard Up North. more

(01/18/12) A new book tells the history of SUNY Potsdam through photographs. Potsdam is the oldest campus in the state university system and the new Arcadia Publishing book includes more than 200 vintage images. The book traces the school's history from its founding in 1816; its teacher training traditions, the Crane School of Music, School of Arts and Sciences, athletics and other activities. Todd Moe talks with the two local authors, Jane Subramanian and Virginia Rose Cayey, about their memories as students at SUNY Potsdam and some of the joys and challenges of sifting through hundreds of historic photos and documents.

(01/18/12) Fifty years ago, in the early morning darkness of Jan. 16, 1962, an Air Force jet bomber slammed into the top of Wright Peak, in the Adirondack backcountry near Lake Placid. The four crewmen on board all died when the B-47 went down. Wreckage scattered across the mountain's summit. Twisted remains still mark the site.

Chris Knight talked recently to some of the victims' family members and people who were involved in the search for the plane. more