Celebrate the spirit…

Awaken your native spirit this weekend at the Third Annual Native Circle Touch the Earth Festival on the shores of Great Lake Ontario. Experience indigenous music and dancing, storytelling, demonstrations, arts and crafts and food at this unique celebration.

The line-up for this festival includes Sacred Winds and The Storytellers, both from New Hampshire; as well as the Thunder Hawk Singers from Mexico, N.Y.; Gypsy Red, from Parish, N.Y.; and the head-liner Corn Bred from Syracuse, N.Y. Each will entertain audiences with sounds, songs and stories in their own blend of traditional Native American, Mi’kmaq, folk, and rhythm and blues.

The event also features interactive Iroquois social dancing with the People of the Standing Stone, a dance troupe from the Oneida Nation, and totem spirits workshops with Laura “Bright Star” Vannah.

Children of all ages will enjoy painting “spirit rocks,” making beaded bracelets, and learning about dream catchers and traditional Native American clothing. Sit for a visit with Richard and Leslie LaCrosse and see their early Native American encampment. For those with an adventurous spirit, Nancy Kaiser will lead a nature hike to sample wild edibles. The Salmon River International Sportfishing Museum will host displays and demonstrations as well.

The following pictures illustrate some of the festival highlights from previous years. Except where noted, they were generously provided by Donald Blackfox.

Leslie and Hannah LaCrosse at a traditional
Native American campsite
Photo provided by Sandra Scott

Performers David Searching Owl, Sacred Winds; Donald Blackfox, the Thunder Hawk Singers; Joseph Firecrow; Ken Quiet Hawk, The Storytellers

Performers David Searching Owl and Janet Quiet Dove, Sacred Winds;Laura “Bright Star” Vannah; Ken Quiet Hawk and Deborah New Moon Rising, The Storytellers

Audiences relax on a sunny afternoon

and enjoy indigenous music and entertainment

Reed Young, Floyd Vickery, Laura “Bright Star” Vannah,
and Dallas DeFee celebrate cultural heritage at the festival

Joanne Hart’s Earthstone Jewelry from the Onondaga Nation

New this year to the Native Circle Festival, Gypsy Red performed
at the Arts in the Square Festival in Central Square
Photo provided by Kevin Abbott

Deborah New Moon Rising of The Storytellers

Audiences are captivated by traditional Native American storytelling

Corn Bred headlines the 2010 Native Circle Touch the Earth Festival

The focus of the Native Circle Touch the Earth Festival is to strengthen the inner spirit and celebrate our native cultural heritage. This not-for-profit event combines history, education and fun with family-friendly performances and activities.

Bring your own curious spirit and join the fun at Mexico Point Park just off state Route 104B in the town of Mexico. Festivities at this scenic lakeside park run from noon to 5 p.m. on both Saturday, May 29 and Sunday, May 30. Admission is free.

For more information about the festival, go to http://www.brightstarproductionz.com/ or call 315-963-3820.

Cheers,
Kelly

Into the Wild…

This weekend, let’s go into the wild with the Fulton Art Association (FAA) as they hold their annual art show and competition. The special category theme for this year is “Wild Big Cats.” Thank you to Kathy Mihalek, president of the FAA, for giving us a preview of some of the pieces in the show.

The exhibit features FAA artists from Fulton, Baldwinsville, Central Square, Hannibal, Liverpool, Mexico, Oswego and Phoenix. They will be competing for first-place, second-place and honorable mention ribbons in a variety of mediums. There will also be awards for Best of Show and Viewer’s Choice. The latter is given to an artist who receives the most votes from the public for its favorite piece.

There will be prizes for the public as well. FAA members have donated several pieces to be raffled at the show. The winners will be announced on Sunday; however, ticket holders do not need to be present to win. The proceeds from the raffle benefit the FAA’s annual high school invitational in February.

Some of the entrants in the FAA’s show this weekend are also participating in the exhibit, “On My Own Time,” a program co-sponsored by the Everson Museum of Art, the Cultural Resources Council and several area companies. Its mission is to foster a closer relationship between the business community and the arts.

Pictured below are two FAA members who have works exhibited in both shows:

Rhoda Cunningham of Oswego

Diane Shumway of Mexico

Two framed prints donated by FAA artists for raffle

The Fulton Art Association is open to all artists regardless of age, experience, and artistic style or medium. The group’s roster includes children, seniors and everyone in-between, whether they are full-time artists or dabbling Picassos, shutterbugs and ceramicists.

Now in its 37th year, the FAA is a vital component of the arts community in Fulton, New York and its environs. The organization strives to promote awareness and education as well as to provide encouragement, support and advocacy for the arts.

Come to the FAA’s annual art show and competition in the Community Room of the Fulton Municipal Building at 141 South First Street. Vote for your favorite piece in the exhibition. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 22 and from 12 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 23. A reception is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information about this show or the Fulton Art Association, call 315-532-3803.

Cheers,
Kelly

Commemorating heroes of the War of 1812 (Vol. III)…

This weekend, come to the Fort Ontario State Historic Site in Oswego, New York to re-discover the history in your backyard. Learn all about the 1814 Battle of Oswego as part of the upcoming 200th commemoration of the War of 1812.

Because of its geographical location, Lake Ontario was a major staging area for the battle between American and British naval fleets, the latter being located in Canada. As both sides fought for control of the lake, shipbuilding had become the race and there were, in the spring of 1814, three American ships awaiting armament at Sackets Harbor, New York. The naval supplies for these warships had been stored at Oswego Falls (Fulton, New York) and the British were determined to make their capture.

British forces prepare for an amphibious assault on the beach at Fort Ontario. By William Steele. Collection of Paul Lear.

On May 4, the British navy, led by Commander-in-Chief Sir James Lucas Yeo, departed Kingston, Ontario and prepared to launch an attack on Fort Ontario. Assigned to protect the fort and, more importantly, the stores at Oswego Falls, was Lieutenant-Colonel George E. Mitchell.

Upon the arrival of the British, Mitchell implemented key military strategy and dispatched orders to sink the schooner Growler (to prevent its capture) and pitch every available tent on the opposite side of the river (to give the impression of a large show of force). These tactics brought the British to the shores of the fort where they were repelled by the Americans – with a little help from Mother Nature. A strong wind had come up, forcing the fleet back to the lake.

British sailors climb the bluff and ramparts of Fort Ontario while the British Marines, De Watteville Regiment, and Glengarry Light Infantry attack from the east. By William Steele. Collection of the Public Archives of Canada.

The following day, May 6, 1814, the British returned and immediately ascended the bluff at Fort Ontario and took its capture. Unable to defend the fort with his small battalion, Mitchell retreated to Oswego Falls to protect the naval stores hidden there, which included the main cable for the frigate, Superior.

By the next morning, the British had set several fort buildings ablaze and left with what little supplies remained. With Fort Ontario destroyed, it was imperative to transport the naval supplies to Sackets Harbor where shipbuilding was nearing completion.

British forces suffered many casualties in their attack on Fort Ontario. Here, wounded British sailors are transported back to their ships. By William Steele. Collection of Fort Ontario State Historic Site.

This Saturday, May 8, join retired U.S. Army Colonel Harold Youmans, historian and editor of the Journal of the War of 1812, as he presents a program on the 1814 Battle of Oswego. The featured speaker of this commemoration event, Youmans’ presentation begins at 1:15 p.m. at the Fort Ontario State Historic Site on East Fourth Street in Oswego.

Cheers,
Kelly

Grooming a Winter Wonderland...

Our latest tour led us to the northernmost reaches of Oswego County. On the edge of the Tug Hill plateau, outdoor adventure-seekers will discover the Winona State Forest. A special thanks to Rose Driscoll, one of the original board members of the Winona Forest Recreation Association (WFRA), as well as to Claire and Mary Shadduck and Dave Cronk, our trail guide and groomer extraordinaire.

The all-volunteer group maintains approximately 70 miles of motorized and non-motorized trails throughout the forest. This area covers more than 9,000 acres in Oswego and Jefferson counties, providing more than enough room to accommodate outdoor enthusiasts of all interests in every season. Favorite activities include: hiking, biking, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, mushing (dog sledding), birding, horseback-riding, hunting, fishing, and ATV riding.

While Winona State Forest may be a bit of a hidden treasure locally, it is well-known internationally as a popular training and racing ground for sled dogs. It also hosts an Empire State Games Qualifier for the New York State Ski Racing Association.

Year-round, there is much work to be done in order to keep this area operational for all users. The winter season requires two-person groom teams to create and maintain a good snow base. Throughout the remainder of the year, fallen trees are removed, branches are trimmed and trails are cut back. Much of these tasks are accomplished through the hard work and devotion of WFRA volunteers and local civic groups.

From our front row seat on the groomer, we witnessed the untouched beauty of this winter wonderland and enjoyed the great satisfaction of a fresh-cut trail! See our pictures below:

Many groves throughout Winona State Forest were planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was the brainchild of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in an effort to revitalize the nation’s economy during the Great Depression. Thousands of unemployed young men were recruited to work on improving millions of acres of federal and state lands throughout the country.

The CCC camps stimulated local economies; improved forest activity through reforestation, flood control and fire protection; and developed forest recreation by building campgrounds in many areas.

Between 1933 and 1941, more than 3 million men served in the corps and more than 3 billion trees were planted on municipal lands and parks. The CCC has given us the tenets of modern conservation and a legacy of natural resources.

Claire Shadduck and Dave Cronk groom a trail at Winona State Forest.

Volunteers have been involved in organizing events and grooming trails at Winona State Forest for more than 30 years. Originally the Tug Hill Ski Club, the WFRA organized the Tug Hill Tour-a-thon, an annual marathon race to promote recreational cross-country skiing in the area. Since then, the group has re-organized to include all user groups of the forest.

The WFRA is an active, not-for-profit volunteer organization supported through memberships and donations. Additional fundraising helps with year-round trail maintenance. For more information about the WFRA, upcoming events or trail reports, visit the group’s Web site at: www.winonaforest.com.

Visit Winona State Forest and discover the natural beauty of the area. Parking is available along the north side of Center Road at the Wart Road and Bargy Road intersections. See map below:

Map of Winona State Forest
(highlighting Center Road)

Don’t miss the upcoming Winona Forest Winterfest & Try-It Ski Race! Explore the snow-covered forest with a cross-country ski race, a dog sled ride and a snowshoe walk. Try the thrilling excitement of skijoring and enjoy demonstrations by a chainsaw wood-carving artist and a snow sculptor. There will also be food, raffles, a silent auction and a groomer display. On Saturday, January 16, the festival begins at 9 a.m. and admission is free. The Try-It Cross-Country Ski Race starts at 10:30 a.m. and admission is $30 with additional discount for family or BKSYL skiers if they register online at http://www.skireg.com/ by Friday, January 15 at 5 p.m. Registration on race day is $40. The festival and race will be held at CCC Camp on county Route 89 east of Mannsville and parking is available at the camp. For event details, visit the WFRA Web site listed above.

If you would like more information about the great outdoors and events in Oswego County, please visit our Web site at http://www.visitoswegocounty.com/.

Cheers,
Kelly

The history behind the theatre…

If Nila Mack was known as “The Fairy Godmother of Radio,” then certainly Marge Thomas could be called “The Fairy Godmother of the Children’s Glassworks Theatre” in Cleveland, New York. I would like to say a very special thank you to this group for inviting me into their home to share their love of storytelling.

Once Upon A Time… there was a children’s community theatre group sponsored by the Cleveland Historical Society who calls home the former St. James Episcopal Church. This nearly 150-year-old building was deconsecrated and donated by the Diocese of Central New York in 2003. With the hard work of Dave and Marge Thomas, and the tremendous support of this tight-knit community, a stage was built, costumes were created, and the Children’s Glassworks Theatre put out their first casting call.

Then and now, every child who answers that call has a role to play. They participate in all aspects of the production – acting, stage management, sound and lighting control. This involvement gives each member of the troupe a vested interest in the show and all suggestions are considered. The mutual respect between the children and Marge is as evident as their shared passion for the theatre. It is this connection which drives them and makes it difficult to tell who is having more fun – the children or Marge!

Now in their fifth year, the group has put together 10 different productions, including fairy tales and family classics such as “Cinderella,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

In this year’s show, “House of the World,” Good Will shows a small boy how to ‘break down the walls’ of Greed, Poverty, Vanity, Selfishness and Intolerance to promote love and compassion. The play was adapted by Marge from audio tapes of the landmark children’s radio show, “Let’s Pretend.” Stage direction and an additional scene were added to the hand-written script and production got underway.

Here are a few images of what you can look forward to. However, we saved the best for last… come to the show to see the grand finale!

The history behind the “House of the World”:
The play “House of the World” was created by Nila Mack in 1934 and performed annually by children on the radio program, “Let’s Pretend.” This quintessential Christmas show promotes brotherhood and tolerance.

Nila Mack

Once Upon A Time… a pioneer radio show director blazed her own trail on the airwaves. Nila Mack created the children’s program “Let’s Pretend;” which ran on CBS radio from 1934-1954. This critically-acclaimed and award-winning show presented adaptations of classic fairy tales and other children’s stories, including Hans Christian Anderson and the Brothers Grimm. These weekly programs focused on education and entertainment for the whole family.

The history behind the Children’s Glassworks Theatre:
The name, Children’s Glassworks Theatre, pays homage to the industry that once made the little village of Cleveland prosperous – glassmaking. The following images appear courtesy of Mabry Benson.

Cleveland Glass Works

Union Glass Company

Once Upon A Time… a German glassmaker came to America to continue his craft and Anthony Landgraff and Sons was founded. The family began manufacturing glass in Vernon, New York before moving the company to Cleveland for the thick hemlock forests that surrounded the village. This was very important as large quantities of wood were needed for the melting furnaces. The Landgraff family continued their trade until 1861 and their company eventually came under ownership of Crawford Getman.

The Union Glass Factory was another glassmaking plant located on the north shore of Oneida Lake. It was organized as a stock company by Cleveland citizens until it too, was eventually sold to Crawford Getman. He successfully ran both companies until 1889 when he sold them to the United Glass Company.

As time went on, the Cleveland factories were re-organized and modernized before falling victim to the fast-moving tides of the industrial age. They finally closed in 1912.

The superior quality of sand found here gave the glass its exceptional brilliance. So much so, that it was used in part by Corning Glass to make the lens for the world’s largest telescope which sits atop Palomar Mountain in California. The primary product of these factories was window glass; however, collectors have found and authenticated many ‘off-hand pieces’. These items were produced by the blower after hours from leftover bits of glass and include canes, pitchers, bowls, chains and the like.

Children's Glassworks Theatre

"House of the World" Cast

The Children’s Glassworks Theatre celebrates the Christmas season with Nila Mack’s “House of the World” this weekend. Performances on Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5 begin at 7 p.m. Bring the family to St. James Episcopal Church on North Road in Cleveland to see this holiday classic. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for seniors and children.

Cheers,
Kelly

Commemorating heroes of the War of 1812 (Vol. II)…

As we continue our series honoring the local heroes of the War of 1812, we would like to share the interesting tale of the brothers Meacham. Captain John Meacham and Colonel Thomas Standish Meacham were leaders in our communities and leave behind a wealth of history.

The eldest son of Isaac and Lucy, John was born in 1777 in Williamstown, Massachusetts and the younger Thomas was born in 1794 in Pawlet, Vermont. Both were great-great-great grandsons of Captain Myles Standish, a famous military captain who arrived on the Mayflower with the early Pilgrims to settle Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The Meacham families were some of the early settlers of the Richland area. In 1810, John and his wife Polly moved their family to the village of Pulaski. He opened its first mercantile on the corner of Bridge and Jefferson Streets and was later joined in this enterprise by Polly’s brother, Silas.

John was one of the original nine members of the First Congregational Church of Pulaski and, together with another brother Simon, was among its first board of trustees. The founders organized the church in Pawlet, Vermont in anticipation of their relocation to Pulaski. Following his brothers, Thomas and his wife Sally soon left Vermont and settled into the Sandy Creek area.

By the start of the War of 1812, John had recruited many of his neighbors to form a military company. They were called upon to defend Sackets Harbor on two occasions and Oswego once. He died in Richland just after the war and now rests with his family in the Pulaski Village Cemetery.

Thomas was as colorful an addition to the community as John was a civic leader. He became a commandant and local military leader himself and, for many years, led the annual training on the village green in front of the courthouse – reportedly one of the best training grounds in the area. With Thomas’ flair for presentation, these lively events were as much for play as for drill and drew participants and spectators from near and far.

Despite the popularity of these events, Thomas may have been better-known for his adventures in cheese-making. In 1835, he devised a plan to create an enormous cheese round (1,400 pounds) as a gift to President Andrew Jackson. Thomas accompanied the cheese to Washington (D.C.) to make the formal presentation to the president from the “people of the State of New York.” The gift was met with cheers and ovations and, on February 22, 1836, President Jackson invited one and all to partake of the cheese in celebration of Washington’s Birthday.

Just ten years after this triumph, Thomas died and is now interred in the Pulaski Village Cemetery with his brother, John.

Yet another pair of brothers joined the Meacham’s …

The aforementioned Private Silas Harmon (sic) was also a veteran of the War of 1812. He was born in Pawlet, Vermont in 1776 to Joel Harmon Jr. and Chloe Sheldon. Along with the Meacham brothers, he was a founding trustee of the First Congregational Church of Pulaski. Silas relocated to Richland with the Meacham families and the church congregation. His first wife, Jemima Terrell, died in 1814 and he remarried to Lucy Wales of Norwich, Connecticut.

Silas joined John Meacham in the mercantile business, and the two passed the firm on to Silas’ nephew, Milton. Silas then went on to open a tavern where he orchestrated the famous 1823 Revolutionary War salute to the 32 surviving veterans in Richland. He died four years later and is buried in the Pulaski Village Cemetery.

Silas’ brother Major Joel Harmon III was in the War of 1812 as well. A musician, Joel is perhaps more well-known for writing “The Columbian Sacred Minstrel”, a book of music and anthems published in 1809. The introduction of this new style was his opposition to the fugue style that was popular at the time. Joel was a music teacher in Richland before moving to York, Pennsylvania where he died in 1833.

As we continue our series commemorating local soldiers of the War of 1812, we look forward to including yours. Please e-mail me at kjordal@oswegocounty.com to share your stories.

If you would like more information about historical sites and genealogy in Oswego County, please visit our Web site at http://www.visitoswegocounty.com/.

Cheers,
Kelly

Geocaching IS the treasure…

Over the last few months, we toured Oswego County to discover the hidden treasures – from trinkets to history - left by those who came before us. We owe a debt of thanks to Tim, our personal guide and savant, for introducing us to the excitement of geocaching.

Similar to the 150-year-old game letterboxing (see Jessica's blog), which uses clues and references to landmarks to find hidden treasures, geocaching also uses latitude and longitude coordinates on a GPS receiver.

A History Lesson:
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a radio-navigation system that provides accurate location information through the use of satellites. In May 2000, Selective Availability was removed and the accuracy of civilian GPS receivers was increased from 100m to 20m. The hunt was on!

The first-known cache was placed by Dave Ulmer in Oregon to test the accuracy of GPS. The coordinates were posted online and readers were directed to locate the “stash” using their GPS receivers and report back. There was only one rule: “Take Something, Leave Something”. Originally called the Great American GPS Stash Hunt, this new hobby eventually became known as geocaching and a Web site was developed to track caches all over the world.

A New Adventure:
Our first geocache search led us to find Dr. Mary Walker. We enjoyed the great outdoors and learned a bit of our local history, as well:

Dr. Walker was among the first women in the country to receive a medical degree and was cited for valor for going behind enemy lines during the Civil War to attend to the wounded. For these acts of bravery, she was presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor, the only woman to receive this award. Among her many credits, she was a surgeon, a public lecturer and an early champion of women’s rights.

We had great fun in this multi-cache hunt! Using GPS coordinates and clues from the Web site, we found the first cache; which gave us the coordinates to locate the final cache. With the prize in hand, we took a token, left a token and signed the log book. Later, we went online and registered our find.

Careful not to include spoilers, we took these photos of our quest:

Our next geocache adventure led us to Mexico Point Park in the Town of Mexico. This time, we decided to hide a cache of our own! We had a terrific visit to the park and learned of its famous resident, Silas Town, an American spy and Revolutionary War hero. (See my post dated August 7, 2009)

Here are a few pictures of the park (again, no spoilers!):

It was equally fun developing clues as unraveling them! I cannot give you any further hints as to the whereabouts of this cache; however, if you would like to discover it for yourself, you can start online at http://www.geocaching.com/. Click on “Hide and Seek a Cache” and enter “GC1Z9RQ” in the GC code box at the bottom of the screen.

There are hundreds of caches hidden all over Oswego County. To find one in your neighborhood, visit the Web site listed above. Becoming a basic member is free, quick and simple. As always, please be mindful of your surroundings and respect area properties and environments.

Happy hunting, cachers!

Cheers,
Kelly