Nothing
compares with being in the midst of a group,
singing with good courage. From my soprano
days in a boys’ choir to leading audiences
on choruses, it’s the most fun that I’ve ever
had and continues to be so.
Rural
Upstate
Upstate
The author’s search for a humorous song, collected by Frank and Anne Warner from Lena Bourne Fish who was born in the Adirondack region.
Echoes of a New England Past: The Hopkinton Town Green
The village green is a public common that is found in many northern New York towns and is reflective of the influence of settlement by former New Englanders. The influence of New England migration is also evidenced in place names, foodways, dialect choices, and vernacular architecture. Hopkinton, New York is an example of such cultural migration.
Dance Night at the Barn: Documenting the Line Dancing Tradition of Upstate New York
A fieldwork inspired portrait of line dancing in a rural, Saratoga County Town in New York State.
Hog-Rassle: Impromptu Behavior at Old-Time Square Dances
Dance historian and ethnomusicologist, James Kimball, examines the term, “Hog Rassle,” as it refers to an unruly and energetic square dance.
From the Waterfront
Portraits of Long Island decoy carvers and hunters.
Fruit in the Forest Foraging Apples and Pressing Cider in the Finger Lakes
A research based article about the craft cider business in New York and the regional practice of cider pressing gatherings.
From Trapper’s Cabin to Festival Stage: The Evolution of an Adirondack Storyteller
Noted storyteller and pack basket maker, Bill Smith, grew up in an environment steeped in local oral tradition. He has become well known for his personal reminiscences, tall tales, poetry recitations, and ballads. This article chronicles his life and career on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
The Dream of America / El Sueño de América: Separation & Sacrifice in the Lives of North Country Latino Immigrants
A photo essay profiling Mexican farm laborers on North Country dairy farms, shining a light on workers, the work they do, and the impact on their families and on the local community.
Why I Love the PO!
An essay on the rural post office, the “Upstate” Column
Inside Millie’s Kitchen
Personal narratives enable us to define a specific group’s values within the context of daily life. Using one Adirondack narrator as the subject of the paper, McMahon demonstrates how whe creates and defines her narrative space within the boundaries of her community,