New York History: Civil War: Potential NYS Commemoration Initiatives...

New York History: Civil War: Potential NYS Commemoration Initiatives...: We are entering the second year of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. New York contributed more soldiers, war materiel, money, and suppo...

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

A couple of days ago I finished a book called Lost by Jacqueline Davies, which is an historical novel about the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, then I saw an ad on HBO about a new documentary about the fire. Today I saw an article about the remains of some the victims being identified and thought this is definite blog material...Guess this tragedy will always be with us.

An excellent website about the fire is at Cornell University.

Other excellent novels to use in the classroom are Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch and Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

Civil War Roundtable

Canton- This November marks 150 years since the election of President Abraham Lincoln. By the time Lincoln assumed office on March 4, 1861 seven states had seceded from the Union and established the Confederate States of America. Commemorating 150 Years since the Civil War is the topic of the Civil War Roundtable on Sunday, September 26th at 2 p.m. at the St. Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright House, 3 East Main St., Canton. This discussion about the association’s plans for the 150th commemoration of that bloody conflict known as the War Between the States is free and open to the public.

The Civil War Roundtable is hosting an open forum where plans that have already been made regarding the 150th commemoration can be shared, new ideas can be brought up and people can get involved. The fact that this war occurred seven score and 10 years ago has done nothing to lessen its impact on the psyche of America (in this context score refers to 20 years, and yes I did have to look that up). While many at the time might have felt that Lincoln’s election in November of 1860 meant an armed conflict was bound to happen, none could have foretold that such a conflict would become this country’s deadliest war with 620,000 soldiers killed, along with untold civilian casualties.

People of all ages interested in the Civil War and its impact on the North Country are welcome to attend this free Civil War Roundtable program at the St. Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright House, 3 East Main St., Canton. The program begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 26th, 2010. The St. Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright House is open Tuesday through Saturday noon to 4 p.m., Friday noon to 8 p.m. Admission to the museum is free; admission to the archives is free for members and children, $2.50 for college students, and $5 for the general public. The St. Lawrence County Historical Association is located at 3 E. Main St., Canton. Parking is available in the back of the SLCHA, next to the museum’s main entrance.



The Civil War Roundtable is a program of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association. For more information, call the SLCHA at 315-386-8133 or e-mail info@slcha.org. This free program is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. Visit the SLCHA’s website, www.slcha.org, for more information on St. Lawrence County History.

Adirondack History at the St. Lawrence County Historical Association

CANTON – A Brown Bag Lunch program on Turning Points in Adirondack History will be presented by Andy Flynn, author of the popular Adirondack Attic book series, at noon on Thursday, September 16th at the St. Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright House, 3 East Main St., Canton.



Flynn’s focus will be on on four major turning points in the history of the Adirondacks:



1 American Revolution and lead up events to the revolution

2 Creation of the Adirondack Park by New York State in 1892

3 World War II

4 Formation of the Adirondack Park Agency in 1971



The St. Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright House is open Tuesday through Saturday noon to 4 p.m., Friday noon to 8 p.m. Admission to the museum is free; admission to the archives is free for members and children, $2.50 for college students, and $5 for the general public. The St. Lawrence County Historical Association is located at 3 E. Main St., Canton. Parking is available in the back of the SLCHA, next to the museum’s main entrance.



For more information, call the SLCHA at 315-386-8133 or e-mail info@slcha.org. Visit the SLCHA’s website, www.slcha.org for more information on St. Lawrence County history. SLCHA exhibits and programs are made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

Frozen Summer

This novel by Mary Jane Auch was an easy read. It's set in western New York. It's 1816 and Remembrance Nye and her family are enduring a cold, hard summer in their new home. There's barely any food, since Papa's crops were destroyed by the late frosts. Mem's mama finds it even harder to cope after she gives birth to baby Lily. Papa puts Mem in charge of caring for Mama and the baby. Though Mem tries to do her best, the worst happens: One stormy night Mama and Lily disappear.