Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Tuesday

Sorry I'm so late, but the phone calls and E-mails are constant and I think it's going to be that way until September 20th!

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It's 46.4 degrees. Sunny and bright!



WKTV: "High pressure will dominate our weather both today and tomorrow making for a pair of perfect late summer days!. Expect abundant sunshine. Temperatures will range from the mid 70s today to near 80 degrees on tomorrow. In between, another clear and cool night is on the way for tonight with lows in the 40's."

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The Library Book Sale

Go while there's still a good selection!
The price is right.



A Sign of the Season!


While many of the hanging baskets and planters around the village are showing signs of "fatigue," these - at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kaspar VonMatt, on Stafford Avenue - look as fresh as can be!

(Did you know that this residence was built of cobblestones from a double hop-house that once stood on the East side of Route 12?)

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(Click to enlarge)

This painting hangs in the lower gallery at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Art Institute in Utica.

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Mr. Peck sent me a newspaper article about the Madison County Hop Fest:

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the introduction of commercial hop growing in New York State by Madison County’s own resident, James Coolidge. This year’s event will continue the tradition of promoting the art of craft brewing and the influence of the hop industry on New York State.

The first day of Hop Fest commences on Friday, September 12 with a four-course brew dinner at the Ye Olde Landmark Tavern in Bouckville. James Coolidge came to Bouckville in 1808 and made an indelible impression on the area by introducing commercial hop growing.
The second day starts on Saturday, September 13 at the Madison County Historical Society in Oneida. The day opens with daylong activities centered on hop culture, brew vendors, raffle, brew sampling, and food and brew pairing in the‘ Blue Barbecue Taste of Hops Tent’ featuring: Blue Barbecue; Nirchi’s Italian Grill; Meyers Chocolate; Ye Olde Landmark Tavern; and Zabroso. Each restaurant will be matched with craft brewers to create exquisite appetizers using beer as the main ingredient.
The third day, Sunday, September 14, concludes the weekend with a Hop Heritage and Cuisine Tour. During the guided coach tour of beautiful hop kilns in Madison County there will be stops at area restaurants for light fare and craft brew.

(Tickets to events may be purchased online by clicking on the Hop Fest link.)

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I'll be doing a lot about Hops, in the next week or so. If anyone has any new/old photographs or postcards to share as well as "oral history" or family anecdotes, please let me know.

From the Archives of he Waterville Historical Society

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A great suggestion from a "non- native" blog-reader.

"I am one of those people that did not grow up around farming and have always been interested in knowing more. Wouldn't it be a great idea if we could have a local farmer(s) give a class or hands on tour of various crops. For instance, I don't recognize oats from wheat. I think the only thing I know for sure is corn. What does alfalfa look like? Do you know anyone that might be willing to do this next growing season? Maybe a one evening class at the Library followed by a tour of a farm on a Saturday? I think there are many people in the Waterville area that would be interested in "Farming 101". What do you think? Here's a list of interesting subjects:
  • Agriculture: Oats, Wheat, Hay, Straw, Alfalfa, Soybeans, Corn, etc.
  • Equipments: Tractors and various implements
  • Animals: Different Breeds of Cows, what they are fed,etc."
I'm all for that! If one of the above-mentioned agricultural experts (perhaps John/Jack Brouillette?) would be willing to work up a plan, I'd be glad to do whatever I could to help - i.e. Powerpoint slide show.

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It's all happening at Yankee Stadium, tonight!

(Click to enlarge.)

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Have a great Day, Everyone!