The Beat

Canton, N.Y. – Are you planning to attend the Canton Canoe Weekend and Rushton Memorial Races? On May 5^th, the first day of the races, the St. Lawrence County Historical Association will be hosting its first-ever “white glove” event, featuring items from the Rushton collection! Participants will be able to don white cotton gloves and carefully handle Rushton-related objects and archival items under the watchful eyes of the SLCHA curator and archives manager. If you have ever wanted to peruse the pages of a Rushton catalogue or look through scrapbooks of photographs of the factory floor, now is your chance!…

Seventeen sugarhouses, the American Maple Museum, pancake breakfasts, and the 4th Annual Maple Sap Run and Walk are set to offer visitors sweet enjoyment on the March 17-18 and March 24-25, 2018 New York State Maple Weekends. The tours and tastings are free.

Canton, N.Y. – Are you ready for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang? Learn more about the history of the Olympic Winter Games when Mark Friden speaks at noon on Thursday, January 18^th, at the St. Lawrence County Historical Association. The talk will cover his involvement in figure skating as a competitor and as an official, leading up to his work for ABC Sports as their technical consultant for figure skating at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics. Brown Bag Lunches are free and open to the public. Bring your own lunch and enjoy a beverage and dessert provided by SLCHA.

Special Program on Lincoln’s Private Secretary, John G. Nicolay -

Oswego, N.Y.  – History buffs have a rare opportunity to learn about President Abraham Lincoln’s private secretary John George Nicolay Wednesday, Aug. 23, when Civil War historian and Oswego native Tom Ebert presents a free lecture at Fort Ontario State Historic Site. The program begins at 7 p.m. in the Enlisted Men’s Barracks at old Fort Ontario and is open to the public.

Massena, N.Y. This year, the St. Lawrence County Historical Association is proud to welcome Linda Russell as a guest to the 16^th annual Civil War Weekend. For sixteen years, Ms. Russell worked as a singing interpreter at the Federal Hall National Memorial before becoming an independent, touring musician specializing in historical programming. She will perform a concert for the public at 12:30pm on Saturday, July 29^th, and at 11:30am on Sunday, July 30^th, at the reenactment site at Robert Moses State Park in Massena. The concerts are free with admission, which is $4 per person per day and free for veterans and children 6 and under, with a maximum charge of $15 per vehicle.

Clayton, NY. – The 40th Annual Thousand Island Gun Show is set for Saturday and Sunday, August 19 and 20, 2017 at Cerow Recreation Park Arena in Clayton, NY.

Along with more than 60 vendors, the special featured exhibitor at the show will be the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation with information on its Young Forest Initiative, accessible recreation for people with disabilities, and education programs for hunters and trappers.

Massena, N.Y.  – Yanks and Johnny Rebs will be at it again during the St. Lawrence County Historical Association’s annual Civil War Reenactment Weekend at Robert Moses State Park, Massena.  The sights and sounds of the Civil War will fill the air at the 16^th annual Civil War Reenactment Saturday and Sunday July 29-30. The event is sponsored by SeaComm Federal Credit Union, with additional support from Stewart’s Shops, Gene and Connie Barto, Niles Asset Management, St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union, Massena AMVETS Post #4, and Gouverneur VFW Post #6338.

Canton, N.Y. - A sure sign that spring has sprung is the upcoming St. Lawrence County Historical Association's 27^th annual Antique & Artisan Show and Sale. If you have antiques or artisanal crafts to sell, there is still time to register for booth space at this not-to-be missed show and sale. Two tables are provided as part of the registration fee, with others available for rental; vendors can also bring their own.

Oswego was a vital staging area for invasions of New France

April 21 - 23: Fort Ontario History and Archaeology Explores Centuries of Conflict

Oswego, N.Y.  - The Fort Ontario History and Archaeology Conference will be held at the Great Lakes Event and Conference Center at the Best Western Hotel in Oswego, NY, on April 21 through 23. 

Renown historians including several SUNY professors will speak at annual conference, which explores the history and archaeology of warfare and human conflict in the United States and Canada from its earliest evidence around 5,000 BCE to the 21^st century War on Terrorism.

Mannsville, N.Y. - Ready for a taste of fresh, sweet, pure New York maple syrup. . . Looking for pancake breakfasts, sugarhouse tours, tapping ceremonies, Sap Run, and other special events at maple sites in Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and Oswego counties?

Maple producers in the four-county region have announced their 2017 Maple Weekends tree tapping ceremonies and special events with free tastings, tours, syrup and confection-making demonstrations, recipes and treats for sale on March 18-19 and 25-26.