Wednesday, November 22, 2023-From the Archives-March 1, 2017-Episode 121, July 22, 2016- Jack Kelly discusses his book “Heaven’s Ditch: God, Gold, and Murder on the Erie Canal.”

"The Erie Canal rubbed Aladdin's lamp. America awoke, catching for the first time the wondrous vision of its own dimensions and power." - Francis Kimball, American architect

The technological marvel of its age, the Erie Canal grew out of a sudden fit of inspiration. Proponents didn't just dream; they built a 360-mile waterway entirely by hand and largely through wilderness. As excitement crackled down its length, the canal became the scene of the most striking outburst of imagination in American history.

Tomorrow, Thanksgiving 2023

A Bob Cudmore story about "Work clothese in the factory age"

They wore leather shoes all day, at work, how did they do that...??

Mohawk Valley—The Way West plus Where was Dimaggio?

By Bob Cudmore

As one of the few natural breaks in America’s eastern mountains, the Mohawk Valley has played an important role in travel east and west for centuries.

The late Amsterdam area historian Katherine Strobeck said, “At the time that the West was being settled how could you get there except through the Mohawk Valley? 

“You couldn’t go through Pennsylvania because of the mountains.  You couldn’t go through the Carolinas because of the mountains.  There were mountains all the way down to Georgia.  And that’s why the Erie Canal was built.  That’s why the Thruway was built.”

WHERE WAS DIMAGGIO?

Fort Johnson native and New York City resident Michael Cuddy recalled attending the 1949 baseball game at Mohawk Mills Park between the Amsterdam Rugmakers and New York Yankees.

Yogi Berra hit a home run, according to Cuddy, who said he was disappointed that Joe Dimaggio did not play in Amsterdam that year because of problems with his heel.  Dimaggio had come to Amsterdam in 1942 for a previous exhibition game with the Rugmakers.

Cuddy, an attorney who spends summers near Oneonta, remembered he used to caddy for members of the Shuttleworth family at the Antlers Golf Course in Fort Johnson, now called Rolling Hills.  The Shuttleworths operated Mohawk Carpet Mill.  Cuddy said he especially enjoyed the company of Howard Shuttleworth.

Regarding a recent mention of singer, dancer and Amsterdam native Arlene Fontana, Cuddy said that he and his wife went to see Fontana when she performed at La Maisonette at the St. Regis Sheraton Hotel in New York City in 1969 or 1970.  They went backstage and introduced themselves as fellow Amsterdam area natives.  Fontana was happy to reminisce about her hometown.

Also on hand for the get together was Carmen LaVia, Fontana’s husband and agent who had married the singer in 1965.  Fontana died in 1990 after a six-year battle with breast cancer and other complications.

“Her greatest appeal was her energy and appearance on stage,” LaVia said.  LaVia said his wife had a sophisticated act with international songs translated from Italian and French and grand costumes.

Auditioned by Richard Rodgers, Fontana played Linda Low in the national touring company of “Flower Drum Song” in almost two thousand performances.  She and LaVia met at one of those performances in Las Vegas.  They were married at St. Michael’s Church in Amsterdam.

In addition to her work on stage and television, Fontana played numerous nightclubs during her 40-year career.  After she graduated from Amsterdam’s Wilbur H. Lynch High school in 1954, Fontana and her parents—Marty and Palmera Fontana—moved to Miami so the young singer and dancer could pursue her career.  She was offered a contract to sing at the Shell Room Lounge in Miami operated by Amsterdam native and Fontana family friend Joe Miller.

Over the years, Fontana sang in nightclubs in England plus bookings throughout the United States.

Historians Episode #500 this Friday

Friday, November 24, 2023-Episode 500-Dana Cudmore, author of Farming with Dynamite.  Before the introduction of concrete in the early 1900s, cut stones were used to build impressive structures such as churches, public buildings and homes.  Cudmore documents more than 30 stone quarries across Schoharie County where dynamite was used to get large stones from the land.

Author Dana Cudmore grew up in the middle of New York State’s “Cave Country”―home to an astonishing 150+ caves including world-famous Howe Caverns and Secret Caverns.

Mohawk Valley Weather for Thanksgiving Week

Wednesday

37 degrees in The City of Amsterdam at 6:14AM 

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