New York Almanack

Jesse Sexton’s Lake George Boat-Building & Photography Shop

Joseph W. Zarzynski — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:00:35 +0000

During its glory years of operation, the first two decades of the 20th century, the J.E. Sexton Boat Shop, located in Hague, was one of the most respected boat-building businesses on Lake George.

Years later however, the decaying wooden structure where Jesse Sexton and his colleagues built many excellent vessels, finally tumbled to the ground.

The J. E. Sexton Boat Shop was in many respects, a landmark in Hague. On the evening of February 27, 1936 however, the once sturdy maritime warehouse collapsed under the massive weight of heavy snow and ice.

Remington Arms Environmental Assessment Finds Contamination

Editorial Staff — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:30:51 +0000

The former historic Remington Arms factory in Ilion, Herkimer County, NY, closed in March 2024, ending over 200 years of operation and laying off 270 workers. In the 1990s the company had employed about 1,100 people.

Many Republicans, including US Representative Elise Stefanik and state Senator Mark Walczyk, who both represented Ilion, blamed New York’s “unconstitutional gun-grab policies,” as Stefanik said, for the closure, according to a report in the Albany Times Union.

Memories of a Saratoga County One-Room School

Guest Contributor — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:00:01 +0000

I started first grade in our local one-room school in Daketown, in Greenfield, Saratoga County, sitting in the row of the smallest desks beside the blackboards in September 1942. I finished in the last seat of the last row of bigger seats on the window side of the room eight grades later in June 1950.

I had just turned five the previous year, but my mother refused to send me because the last mile of the walk was not plowed in winter.

Time to Clean Your Bird Feeders

Editorial Staff — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:00:55 +0000

Did you know that sanitizing your bird feeder helps limit the spread of disease? It’s a good practice to clean your bird feeders regularly as several diseases are commonly spread at bird feeders.

Clean bird feeders every two weeks with a warm, soapy solution and brush to remove solid particles. Then sanitize for 10 minutes with a 10% bleach solution (1 part household bleach, 9 parts water). Allow the feeder to dry thoroughly before re-filling it with feed.

35th Anniversary High School Juried Art Show Opens at The Hyde April 18th

Editorial Staff — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:33:53 +0000

The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, NY, has announced the return of the annual High School Juried Art Show for its 35th anniversary.

This spring exhibition serves as a platform for student artists across Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Hamilton, and Essex counties to showcase their talent and immerse themselves in a professional, competitive arts environment.

On view April 18 through May 17, 2026, the High School Juried Show is one of the nation’s longest-running events of its kind, spotlighting the works of dozens of outstanding regional artists.

Frederick Law Olmsted’s Reports on Slavery in the South

Alan J. Singer — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:00:32 +0000

From December 1852 until August 1854, Frederick Law Olmsted, who later gained renown as a landscape architect for designing New York City’s Central Park and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, traveled through the American South as a special correspondent for the New-York Daily Times, the predecessor of The New York Times.

His reports published by the Times under the name Yeoman, were included in a 1856 book as A Journey in the Seaboard Slave States; With Remarks on Their Economy.

Peter Pan in the Catskills and Other Historical Essays

Editorial Staff — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:00:57 +0000

Peter Pan in the Catskills and Other Historical Essays (Purple Mountain Press, 2026) is a collection that evokes the magic of the region, from Rip Van Winkle to Maude Adams, whose renowned portrayal of Peter Pan made her famous.

This illustrated volume celebrates all that is extraordinary about the Catskill Mountains. In 33 essays, 28 writers dig into Catskills culture and history, bringing to light fossils, flora, and fauna, as well as art, railroads, baseball, and more.

DEC Considering Hiking Limits in Most Popular Adirondack, Catskill Areas

Editorial Staff — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:30:47 +0000

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the release of two report regarding Visitor Use Management (VUM) for the Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness and Kaaterskill Clove region of the Catskill Park.

DEC is soliciting feedback from the public to help inform additional actions the State may take to enhance safety and the visitor experience. These actions include recreation limits at the two Park’s most popular areas.

Over the last decade, visitation to public lands across the country, including New York’s Forest Preserve, has been on an upward trend and the Adirondack High Peaks and the Catskill Park’s Kaaterskill Clove are among the most highly visited regions in the State.

Occupied City: New York and the American Revolution

Editorial Staff — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:30:39 +0000

A crucial strategic site for both the Patriots and the British, the city of New York played an instrumental role in the founding of the United States.

The city was arguably the most significant strategic hub of the American Revolutionary War, serving as the British base of operations for seven years of their occupation (1776–1783) and later becoming the first capital of the United States. Its deep-water harbor and central location between the northern and southern colonies made it a strategic key for both sides.

New Interactive Map Celebrates Greenwich Village Jazz History

Editorial Staff — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:31:33 +0000

April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and Village Preservation in New York City is celebrating with a new way to explore the history of this art form in their neighborhoods: an interactive Jazz Map of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo.

This map traces the legacy of jazz in these streets, where legendary musicians lived and groundbreaking performances and recording sessions took place.

Map users can discover dozens of historic venues, recording studios, archives, and homes of major jazz artists, with photos, sound samples, and stories about their role in shaping jazz history.