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The 115th
This weekend in The Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorder
Sunday on The Historians
Lightning Claimed the Life of Fort Johnson Speed Skater
by Bob Cudmore
Speed skating champion Ted Ellenwood, Jr., 27, died instantly on June 11, 1946 when struck by lightning while golfing.
Weekend Update
Historians Go Fund Me Drive
$3905.00 as of today with a goal of $7,000.00 for 2023
Please donate online today: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-historians-podcast Or send a check made out to Bob Cudmore to 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302. Thanks
DeGroff wrote the story in the form of a monologue spoken by Riggs at the end of his life. “I was born in Schenectady in the spring of 1839. My father was a printer and publisher who, along with my grandfather, published the Schenectady Cabinet (a local newspaper) and that was not my calling whatsoever!
The physician who wanted to be a singer
By Bob Cudmore
In about 1889 a well-established Amsterdam physician sold his medical practice to another doctor and went to New York City to become a performer.
Dr. John V. Riggs came back within two years, opened a drug store on Market Street and eventually manufactured patent medicines. Music and medicine dominated Riggs’s life.
The homeopathic physician had a strong bass voice. He founded and directed the Arion Society, an Amsterdam singing group. He was known for singing pieces called “Queen Esther” and “Belzhazzar’s Feast” in performances at the Sanford Hall on West Main Street and the Union Hall on East Main Street.
Riggs was a member and one time director of the St. Ann’s Church choir. Undertaker and Mohawk Valley historian W. Max Reid also belonged to the choir.
A story about Riggs, written by his great-granddaughter Anne DeGroff, of Amsterdam, was judged the top entry in my Stories from the Mohawk Valley history essay contest this week.
DeGroff wrote the story in the form of a monologue spoken by Riggs at the end of his life. “I was born in Schenectady in the spring of 1839. My father was a printer and publisher who, along with my grandfather, published the Schenectady Cabinet (a local newspaper) and that was not my calling whatsoever!
“After attending Princetown Academy and taking a course at Albany Medical College, I graduated from the Buffalo College of Physicians and Surgeons. But what I really wanted to do was sing and perform! So, after becoming a doctor, I managed to connect with the San Francisco minstrel troupe as an interlocutor and bass soloist and traveled with them.
“While this troupe was performing in the south however, I left the troupe to study yellow fever which was widespread at the time. I then returned to Amsterdam and began practicing medicine at 29 Market Street. Annie C Wilds and I were married at St George‘s Church in Schenectady on October 31, 1861.”
Annie Wilds Riggs died in 1909 and John died in 1917. The Recorder noted that Riggs provided the local paper with daily Amsterdam temperature statistics for 20 years. Husband and wife are buried at Fairview Cemetery.
The doctor died Thanksgiving eve and Thanksgiving night his son James S. Riggs carried on the family musical tradition. The younger Riggs conducted the Liberty Bond Vocal Club at a concert that raised $150 to make life easier for Amsterdam soldiers who had been drafted into the U.S. Army.
IRISH MELODIES
Reenactor musicians Liaisons Plaisantes will present Melodies for the Irish Heart this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church on Division Street in Amsterdam. The program of eighteenth century Irish music will benefit flood restoration work at Old Fort Johnson National Historic Landmark. So far $42,000 has been raised toward $130,000 in restoration expenses.
Although he served Britain, colonist Sir William Johnson was Irish and proud of it. Old Fort Johnson museum director Alessa Wylie said Johnson’s favorite holiday was St. Patrick’s Day. Wylie wrote that Johnson’s celebration, “Often left him apologizing for a shaky hand and an aching head.”
Colonial Governor George Clinton wrote to Johnson in 1746, “We kept St. Patrick yesterday & this Day and drank yr Health & all friends in Albany with so many other Healths, that I can scarce write.” Johnson’s brother Warren visited the area in 1760 and 1761 and wrote in his journal, “A great Meeting at my Brother’s House to drink St. Patrick, & most got vastly drunk.”
On a more cultural note, Johnson looked high and low to find an authentic blind Irish harpist to bring music and luck to his homes, Fort Johnson and Johnson Hall.
Mohawk Valley Weekend Weather, Saturday, October 7, 2023
64 degrees in The City of Amsterdam at 6:10AM
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 66. Southeast wind 7 to 13 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Tonight
Showers, mainly before 2am. Low around 47. West wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday
A chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. West wind 13 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Columbus Day
A slight chance of showers after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Mohawk Valley News Headlines, Saturday, October 7, 2023
Daily Gazette
Support Local Journalism
To subscribe https://dailygazette.com/subscribe/
Paper-Paper, On-line and e-edition
When Credibility Matters
Gloversville Fallfest rescheduled for Monday due to expected heavy rains
GLOVERSVILLE — The 11th annual Gloversville Fallfest has been rescheduled for Monday due to the expected bad weather this weekend….
Amsterdam Alderman Stephen Gomula mulling plea offer carrying five years probation
FONDA — Fourth Ward Alderman Stephen Gomula could be sentenced to five years probation if he accepts a plea offer…
Canajoharie mayor eyes dummy light return
CANAJOHARIE — Canajoharie Mayor Ronald O. Dievendorf hopes to bring a historic traffic signal back home to Wagner Square by…
https://dailygazette.com/
RecorderNews
Rain is affecting Super DIRT Week — Area Stock Car Racing
It just wouldn’t be Super DIRT Week if the weather forecast did not predict rain. Also being...
Amsterdam’s Wishfest is back on Bridge Street; vendors added, Ally the Piper to perform
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald Make Us A Part Of Your Day
https://www.leaderherald.com/
View all episodes
By Bob CudmoreThis weekend in The Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorder
Sunday on The Historians
Lightning Claimed the Life of Fort Johnson Speed Skater
by Bob Cudmore
Speed skating champion Ted Ellenwood, Jr., 27, died instantly on June 11, 1946 when struck by lightning while golfing.
Weekend Update
Historians Go Fund Me Drive
$3905.00 as of today with a goal of $7,000.00 for 2023
Please donate online today: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-historians-podcast Or send a check made out to Bob Cudmore to 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302. Thanks
DeGroff wrote the story in the form of a monologue spoken by Riggs at the end of his life. “I was born in Schenectady in the spring of 1839. My father was a printer and publisher who, along with my grandfather, published the Schenectady Cabinet (a local newspaper) and that was not my calling whatsoever!
The physician who wanted to be a singer
By Bob Cudmore
In about 1889 a well-established Amsterdam physician sold his medical practice to another doctor and went to New York City to become a performer.
Dr. John V. Riggs came back within two years, opened a drug store on Market Street and eventually manufactured patent medicines. Music and medicine dominated Riggs’s life.
The homeopathic physician had a strong bass voice. He founded and directed the Arion Society, an Amsterdam singing group. He was known for singing pieces called “Queen Esther” and “Belzhazzar’s Feast” in performances at the Sanford Hall on West Main Street and the Union Hall on East Main Street.
Riggs was a member and one time director of the St. Ann’s Church choir. Undertaker and Mohawk Valley historian W. Max Reid also belonged to the choir.
A story about Riggs, written by his great-granddaughter Anne DeGroff, of Amsterdam, was judged the top entry in my Stories from the Mohawk Valley history essay contest this week.
DeGroff wrote the story in the form of a monologue spoken by Riggs at the end of his life. “I was born in Schenectady in the spring of 1839. My father was a printer and publisher who, along with my grandfather, published the Schenectady Cabinet (a local newspaper) and that was not my calling whatsoever!
“After attending Princetown Academy and taking a course at Albany Medical College, I graduated from the Buffalo College of Physicians and Surgeons. But what I really wanted to do was sing and perform! So, after becoming a doctor, I managed to connect with the San Francisco minstrel troupe as an interlocutor and bass soloist and traveled with them.
“While this troupe was performing in the south however, I left the troupe to study yellow fever which was widespread at the time. I then returned to Amsterdam and began practicing medicine at 29 Market Street. Annie C Wilds and I were married at St George‘s Church in Schenectady on October 31, 1861.”
Annie Wilds Riggs died in 1909 and John died in 1917. The Recorder noted that Riggs provided the local paper with daily Amsterdam temperature statistics for 20 years. Husband and wife are buried at Fairview Cemetery.
The doctor died Thanksgiving eve and Thanksgiving night his son James S. Riggs carried on the family musical tradition. The younger Riggs conducted the Liberty Bond Vocal Club at a concert that raised $150 to make life easier for Amsterdam soldiers who had been drafted into the U.S. Army.
IRISH MELODIES
Reenactor musicians Liaisons Plaisantes will present Melodies for the Irish Heart this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church on Division Street in Amsterdam. The program of eighteenth century Irish music will benefit flood restoration work at Old Fort Johnson National Historic Landmark. So far $42,000 has been raised toward $130,000 in restoration expenses.
Although he served Britain, colonist Sir William Johnson was Irish and proud of it. Old Fort Johnson museum director Alessa Wylie said Johnson’s favorite holiday was St. Patrick’s Day. Wylie wrote that Johnson’s celebration, “Often left him apologizing for a shaky hand and an aching head.”
Colonial Governor George Clinton wrote to Johnson in 1746, “We kept St. Patrick yesterday & this Day and drank yr Health & all friends in Albany with so many other Healths, that I can scarce write.” Johnson’s brother Warren visited the area in 1760 and 1761 and wrote in his journal, “A great Meeting at my Brother’s House to drink St. Patrick, & most got vastly drunk.”
On a more cultural note, Johnson looked high and low to find an authentic blind Irish harpist to bring music and luck to his homes, Fort Johnson and Johnson Hall.
Mohawk Valley Weekend Weather, Saturday, October 7, 2023
64 degrees in The City of Amsterdam at 6:10AM
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 66. Southeast wind 7 to 13 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Tonight
Showers, mainly before 2am. Low around 47. West wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday
A chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. West wind 13 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Columbus Day
A slight chance of showers after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Mohawk Valley News Headlines, Saturday, October 7, 2023
Daily Gazette
Support Local Journalism
To subscribe https://dailygazette.com/subscribe/
Paper-Paper, On-line and e-edition
When Credibility Matters
Gloversville Fallfest rescheduled for Monday due to expected heavy rains
GLOVERSVILLE — The 11th annual Gloversville Fallfest has been rescheduled for Monday due to the expected bad weather this weekend….
Amsterdam Alderman Stephen Gomula mulling plea offer carrying five years probation
FONDA — Fourth Ward Alderman Stephen Gomula could be sentenced to five years probation if he accepts a plea offer…
Canajoharie mayor eyes dummy light return
CANAJOHARIE — Canajoharie Mayor Ronald O. Dievendorf hopes to bring a historic traffic signal back home to Wagner Square by…
https://dailygazette.com/
RecorderNews
Rain is affecting Super DIRT Week — Area Stock Car Racing
It just wouldn’t be Super DIRT Week if the weather forecast did not predict rain. Also being...
Amsterdam’s Wishfest is back on Bridge Street; vendors added, Ally the Piper to perform
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald Make Us A Part Of Your Day
https://www.leaderherald.com/