Tuesday, June 11, 2019-From the Archives of Focus on History from the Daily Gazette-Author Paul Keesler from the western Mohawk Valley. Audio Podcast is "Six Minutes" with The Historians Schedule and The Story of "Bill and Dusty"
Friday, June 14, 2019-Episode 270-Deborah Emmons-Andarawis is executive director at Historic Cherry Hill, an 18th century house museum on South Pearl Street in Albany, New York. Hear about the lives of former residents including the gripping tale of a murder at Cherry Hill.
Deborah Emmons-Andarawis
Keesler’s Mohawk Valley book now in print By Bob Cudmore, Focus on History, Daily Gazette, 06-27-09
Relatives and friends of the late M. Paul Keesler have published the book that the late Mohawk Valley historian and outdoorsman was working on before his death. Keesler died of cancer in July 2005 at age 67.
Keesler’s posthumously published book is “Mohawk—Discovering the Valley of the Crystals.” The book is available from North Country Books at 315-735-4877 or by email at ncbooks@verizon.net
The title is based on research Keesler believes explains the origin of the word “Kanyenkehaka,” which Keesler says is what the Mohawks called themselves. He said they called the Mohawk Valley “Kanyenka.”
The word Mohawk is a European corruption of a rival tribe’s slur, according to Keesler.
“The Mohican Indians living in the upper Hudson Valley called their enemies, who lived in the valley to their west, 'Mohowaug’—they eat living creatures,” Keesler said.
For years, the common wisdom was that Kanyenkehaka meant “people of the flint” and Kanyenka meant the “place of the flint.”
But Keesler came to the conclusion that the Mohawks’ name for themselves meant “people of the crystals” and the name for their homeland meant “place of the crystals.”
Flint was important for making cutting edge tools and weapons but no major source of flint has been found in the Mohawk Valley. The late University at Albany anthropologist Dean Snow has pointed out that the valley is a major source of clear quartz crystals embedded in dolostone rocks. These crystals are called “Herkimer diamonds” today and there is a tourist site north of Herkimer where people look for these “diamonds.”
“Crystals were symbolically important (to American Indians) as amulets of success, health and long life,” Keesler said. “The Mohawks were the main suppliers of quartz crystals up to 1644.”
Keesler added, “Mohawks and Indians around the Northeast used these crystals as a religious item. They were found at gravesites.”
Keesler explored the 161 miles of the river from Rome to Waterford, 30 miles on foot and the rest by canoe. He also explored tributaries including the Schoharie Creek and the North and South Chuctanunda Creeks in Amsterdam.
Originally an air traffic controller for the Federal Aviation Administration, Keesler began his writing career in 1966 with a magazine article about fishing on West Canada Creek. For several years, he wrote the outdoors column for the Utica Observer Dispatch. In 1972, he founded the Mid York Sportsman magazine, which became the New York Sportsman in 1975. In 1992, he retired as editor of the magazine.
In 1999 he wrote “Kuyahoora—Discovering West Canada Valley,” describing the history and wildlife of the valley of the West Canada Creek, which flows into the Mohawk River at Herkimer. Kuyahoora was the Indian name for the creek and means “leaping waters” because of a spectacular waterfall. Keesler lived in Newport, along the creek.
Unlike some in the western Mohawk Valley, Keesler also realized the importance of the eastern Mohawk Valley. According to Keesler, Wolf Hollow, east of Cranesville, was the site of the last battle between Mohawks and their eastern rivals, the Algonquain in 1669. The Algonquain had been driven off after attacking a Mohawk settlement near today’s Fonda. The Mohawks pursued their enemy to Wolf Hollow and ambushed them.
He also researched the meaning of the word “Schoharie,” an Indian word that he found meant driftwood or flood wood. Driftwood used to collect on the Schoharie Creek where two smaller streams enter, forming a natural bridge during high water.
Keesler said, “Today there are few huge trees along the river to anchor such a log pile, and farmers who grow corn in these rich bottomlands would never tolerate a ‘schoharie.’”
Mohawk Valley Weather, Tuesday, June 11, 2019-Showers likely, mainly before 9am. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 72. Breezy, with a west wind 16 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.
Thanks to a very generous contribution from author Dave Northrup, the 2019 Historians Podcast fund drive now stands at $2,225, 56% of the yearly goal of $4,000. Please contribute online. www.gofundme.com/2019-the-historians Or to donate by mail, please make out a check to Bob Cudmore and send to 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, N.Y. 12302
To invite Bob to speak to your organization, please email bobcudmore@yahoo.com
On April 30, 1789, George Washington was sworn in as the first president of the United States of America.The Schoharie County Historical Society will celebrate the 230th Anniversary of that inauguration with a special performance by the Musicians of Ma’alwyck, on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 7 pm at the Schoharie Presbyterian Church. NYHB https://newyorkhistoryblog.org/2019/06/musicians-of-maalwyck-performance-in-schoharie/
The Schenectady County Historical Society has announced a number of guided walking tours set in Schenectady County, beginning Saturday, June 22, 2019 NYHB https://newyorkhistoryblog.org/2019/06/schenectady-co-historical-plans-walking-tours/
Amsterdam News and Talk
Jason Subik Mid-Morning Program WCSS Radio Amsterdam 106.9FM and 1490AM Facebook Live Feed Monday-Thaursday at 9 https://www.facebook.com/jason.subik
Monday, June 10, 2019
Next Live Facebook Feed at 9
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