Second Look: A paper's history of Northern New York
140 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★ - 18 ratingsSecond Look podcast returns to the pages of history for stories that still matter today. Take a closer look at New York state's largest, yet most sparsely populated, region and learn more about individuals who aren't that different from us today.
Second Look is produced by hosts Kelly Burdick and Christina Knott at the Watertown Daily Times in Watertown, N.Y.
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Episodes
Kentucky Christmas gifts
December 06, 2020 03:00 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MBHost Kelly Burdick shares a story of a Christmas past where people in the north country helped bring the holidays to a family in the Appalachians Mountains, with the help of the Rev. Robert W. Bird and an enterprising young letter writer in 1965. This episode is hosted by Kelly Burdick and edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and I...
Ghost Army
November 22, 2020 18:10 - 15 minutes - 14.7 MBDuring World War II, American soldiers embarked on a mission to mislead and deceive the German Army. Their mission remained a military secret for decades. Now, a Family’s donation sheds light on the program at Pine Camp. Host Kelly Burdick discusses this formerly classified part of local history to go along with "The 'Ghosts' on Post" article written by Chris Brock for the Watertown Daily Times and NNY60.com. For more information ... http://www.ghostarmylegacyproject.org/overview1.htm...
Follow ups from Kelly
November 16, 2020 13:31 - 12 minutes - 12 MBThis episode is hosted by Kelly Burdick and edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us at [email protected]. To subscribe to the Watertown Daily Times at NNY360, visit nny360.com. You can also follow our affiliate link to get a free audio book from Audible.com and try it out for 30 days. Enter our promo code "s...
Planting for the future: Tree Cities in the north country
November 01, 2020 02:30 - 19 minutes - 18.9 MB“You can gauge a country’s wealth, its real wealth, by its tree cover.” ~ Richard St. Barbe Baker Host Kelly Burdick talks about how people of the past helped grow a better future today. For more information: Tree City USA official website Psychology Today article: The benefits of indoor plants This episode is hosted by Kelly Burdick and edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse...
War of the Worlds in the North
October 25, 2020 21:06 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBThis episode is hosted by Kelly Burdick and edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us at [email protected]. To subscribe to the Watertown Daily Times at NNY360, visit nny360.com. You can also follow our affiliate link to get a free audio book from Audible.com and try it out for 30 days. Enter our promo code "s...
Dogs for Defense
October 18, 2020 00:54 - 19 minutes - 19.3 MBHost and local history fan Kelly Burdick talks about Dogs for Defense, a military program in which pet owners -- including those in the north country -- were asked to donate their pet dogs to help fight in World War II. For more information ... The Dogs of War DogsforDefense.com This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Fa...
The sad sinking of the Eastcliff Hall ship
October 11, 2020 02:30 - 16 minutes - 15.9 MBKelly Burdick talks about a tragic event from 1970 when a ship near Massena went down, claiming the lives of nine people, including two children. The Eastcliff Hall ship is still visited by underwater divers today, but many are unaware of its sad history. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us ...
The Adirondack fire of 1903
September 25, 2020 14:06 - 21 minutes - 21.3 MB"The sun today is still obscured by smoke and ashes. ... The heat is so intense and the smoke so dense, that the fighters cannot approach with two miles of the fires." ~ June 5, 1903, Watertown Daily Times Kelly Burdick talks about the 1903 Adirondack fire that burned through 600,000 acres of the north country more than 100 years ago. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other....
How Carry A. Nation came to Watertown
September 20, 2020 02:30 - 20 minutes - 19.3 MBCarry A. Nation was one of the most famous anti-alcohol protesters in American history. She made her mark across the country and even to Watertown, swinging her hatchet at bars and warning of the fires of hell to those who mocked her. Kelly Burdick talks about the American protest leader, what drove her to smash bottles and fight for change, as well as her legacy today. Thanks to Larry Corbett for the topic idea and research. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nob...
Looking back at some listener mail
September 13, 2020 02:00 - 20 minutes - 20.6 MBHost Kelly Burdick is joined by two special guests to share some of your listener feedback, as well as this history highlight for the week and a preview of what's ahead for her weekly newspaper column. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us at [email protected]. To subscribe to the Watertown...
Barnum and Bailey's dircus train derailed in Potsdam
September 06, 2020 02:00 - 18 minutes - 18.2 MBHost Kelly Burdick discusses the 1889 Potsdam circus train wreck, in which a train carrying Barnum and Bailey’s circus, animals and all, barreled down the tracks toward Montreal before meeting its dreadful demise, derailing just north of Potsdam. Listen and hear why this train wreck made such a mark on north country history. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our...
A baby up for adoption
August 30, 2020 01:13 - 12 minutes - 13 MBHost Kelly Burdick talks about a tiny treasure of a story from north country history about a mother in need of a home for her baby girl. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us at [email protected]. To subscribe to the Watertown Daily Times at NNY360, visit nny360.com. You can also follow o...
A little look at the past: 125 years ago
August 22, 2020 14:59 - 6 minutes - 6.91 MBHost Kelly Burdick discusses and reads some of her favorite history highlights of Northern New York from the Watertown Daily Times archives. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us at [email protected]. To subscribe to the Watertown Daily Times at NNY360, visit nny360.com. You can also foll...
After the end of World War Two
August 16, 2020 02:30 - 20 minutes - 20.5 MBThe second World War ended 75 years ago this month to much fanfare. After the celebrations died down and service members returned, what was it is like when life returned to "normal" (was there a return to normal)? Host Kelly Burdick talks about how what life changed for the average Northern New Yorker. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6...
Genius at play: Albert Einstein and his love for the Adirondacks
August 09, 2020 02:30 - 18 minutes - 18.9 MBAlbert Einstein was famously private. He came to Saranac Lake for the first time in July 1936 to spend his summer vacation from Princeton in relative anonymity. As the Times reported, Einstein said he was there to escape those who “peer into my windows.” Listen as host Kelly Burdick explains the history of Albert Einstein's ties to the north country in Northern New York. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is...
How the Adirondack chair came to be
August 02, 2020 02:30 - 17 minutes - 17.9 MBThe Adirondack chair is a well-known rustic hallmark of outdoor relaxation, and in this week's episode, Kelly Burdick dives into its history and connection to New York's own Adirondack Mountains. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us at [email protected]. To subscribe to the Watertown Daily...
1911's heatwave for this history books
July 26, 2020 02:30 - 24 minutes - 24.2 MBPeople slept outside in parks, soaked themselves in water and tried desperately to stay out of the heat as blazing hot temperatures soared across New England and New York in 1911. The north country may have been spared the worst of the record-setting heat, but residents still struggled to stay cool. Host Kelly Burdick talks about what happened in this episode. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Paper...
Old Watertown City Hall bites the dust
July 12, 2020 02:30 - 22 minutes - 22 MBThe Watertown's City Hall stood from 1895 to 1966, when it was eventually torn down as part of urban renewal. Host Kelly Burdick tells the story of old City Hall, from when city council approved D.D. Keiff’s architectural plans, to Mayor J.B. Wise’s dedication address in 1887, to the many structural problems that plagued the building almost from the start. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl...
The mask debate during the Spanish flu
July 05, 2020 02:30 - 19 minutes - 19.2 MBAn apparent hot topic during the COVID-19 pandemic is the wearing of masks. The debate isn't unique to the 21st century. During the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918, the mask rules faced resistance as well. Host Kelly Burdick discusses this historical topic and how the issue continues to raise emotions today For more, read the articles mentioned by Kelly at History.com and at nny360.com. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearin...
The life and death of a Noble woman
June 28, 2020 02:30 - 18 minutes - 14.3 MBIn her last days, memories of her time in the Thousand Islands continued to bring a smile to June Noble Smith Larkin Gibson, who died at the age of 98 at her home in Greenwich, Conn. Host Kelly Burdick discusses the life of June Noble, her idyllic summers spent in the Thousand Islands family home and her charitable works and legacy as an adult. For more on this topic, read Chris Brock's article on June Noble at nny360.com. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is ...
Re-release: 2018 interview with Perry White
June 23, 2020 16:31 - 33 minutes - 46.5 MBPerry White, former managing editor of the Watertown Daily Times, sat down with Christina Knott and Kelly Burdick during his last week before retirement in late 2018. He died June 20, 2020, less than two years after he began this new chapter in his life. He often talked about the plans he had back in New Mexico, as well as his love of journalism and the north country area. We are re-releasing this episode with some minor edits to give those of us who miss Perry White another chance to hear...
From Carnegie Hall to Watertown, Booker T. Washington speaks
June 21, 2020 02:30 - 25 minutes - 18.8 MBHost Kelly Burdick talks about Booker T. Washington's influence and impact as he spoke to crowds throughout the U.S., including in Watertown, N.Y. He actually visited the city twice after the first time didn't go so well. Listen and find out why. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us at seco...
How children helped build the zoo at Thompson Park
June 14, 2020 02:30 - 21 minutes - 15.5 MBHost Kelly Burdick talks about the Park Zoo Club's children-run organization that raised $3,000 ($38,000 in 2020 money) to buy the first animals for the zoo at Thompson Park in Watertown, N.Y., in 1920. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us at [email protected]. To subscribe to the Watertow...
Ray Martin: Watertown's own Forest Gump
June 05, 2020 20:45 - 17 minutes - 23.9 MBKelly Burdick talks about Ray Martin, Watertown's own Forest Gump. Based on research by Chris Brock, learn about his amazing life and visit nny360.com for the full story. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us at [email protected]. To subscribe to the Watertown Daily Times at NNY360, vis...
Dear listeners ...
June 03, 2020 17:13 - 17 minutes - 12 MBThis is a special episodes on the state of our podcast and where we may be headed going forward. Reach out to me, Christina Knott, at [email protected] Thank you!
The amazing life of Watertown Daily Times owner Stephanie Brockway
May 17, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 104 MBWatertown Daily Times owner Stephanie Brockway took over part ownership of the newspaper in New York's north country after the death of her husband, Henry Brockway, in 1903. During her time, she saw the paper through a pressroom strike and the purchase of Watertown Daily Standard. While she was remembered fondly after her death, she is less discussed by history. Today, Christina Knott, Dennis O'Brien and Kelly Burdick take a lot at her life and the people around her who helped shape who sh...
Impact of Kent State shootings in Northern New York
May 10, 2020 02:30 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBFifty years ago, the deaths of unarmed students demonstrating at Kent State by police officers changed a country in the grips of the Vietnam War. Today, Kelly Burdick talks about how this tragic event in history impact us in the north country. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us at secondloo...
BONUS: Interview with Karen Kiorpes on preserving family history
May 08, 2020 15:39 - 13 minutes - 9.19 MBKaren Kiorpes, Head of the Preservation Department the State University of New York at Albany, speaks with Watertown Daily Times features writer Chris Brock on how to make sure your family photos, records and other treasures survive to tell stories for decades to come.
A stolen fortune, an honest man and a tragic suicide
May 03, 2020 02:30 - 29 minutes - 24.6 MBBuried in Evans Mills, Nehemiah Gale was famous for his honesty. Find out how his truthfulness led to the downfall of a Coen brothers-type crime in the north country of New York nearly 200 years ago. Dennis O'Brien and Christina Knott discuss. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us at secondloo...
A man so honest, it uncovered a crime and led to a woman's death
May 03, 2020 02:30 - 29 minutes - 24.6 MBBuried in Evans Mills, Nehemiah Gale was famous for his honesty. Find out how his truthfulness led to the downfall of a Coen brothers-type crime in the north country of New York nearly 200 years ago. Dennis O'Brien and Christina Knott discuss. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us at secondloo...
The return of Capt. O'Toole's schooner
April 26, 2020 02:30 - 26 minutes - 16.4 MBCapt. William O’Toole, 45, Clayton, a native of Constableville and son of Civil War soldier and Irish immigrant, Peter O’Toole, piloted the Hartford. In addition to the captain, also lost when the ship went down were his wife, Mary Manson O’Toole and their 5-month-old child, Mary Kathleen, along with four others. The O’Tooles left five other children orphans, who after the tragedy were cared for by their 68-year-old grandmother, Sarah O’Toole of Clayton. Accompanying the washing up of th...
The murder of war widow Mary A. Ward
April 19, 2020 02:30 - 51 minutes - 32.8 MBThis episode deals with domestic abuse. If you need help, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24-hours a day at 1−800−799−7233 or online at www.thehotline.org. Deception, bigamy, jealousy and violence set the stage for a tragic death more than a century ago three miles outside of the north country village of Evans Mills. Was it murder? Was it an accident? The details played out in the newspaper at the time, but what truly happened that morning would become muddied, at lea...
The undated life and death of Eleanor Dingman
April 12, 2020 02:30 - 11 minutes - 8.15 MBListen as Christina Knott explores the history of a Watertown native who survived the tragic early death of both her husband and daughter, and find out why her headstone here at Watertown North Cemetery from nearly 100 years ago still has no date of death. This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us...
Vic Hanson: The amazing all-around athlete from Northern New York
April 05, 2020 03:00 - 27 minutes - 23.9 MBChristina Knott talks with Dennis O'Brien about Watertown native and amazing all-around athlete from the 1920s, Vic Hanson. We are recording from our home "studio" this week, and fair warning ... the audio isn't great. We'll make some improvements before next time. Meanwhile, everyone stay healthy! This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Browse our merch at Society 6. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram; email us at secondlook...
A tale of two castles
March 29, 2020 02:30 - 17 minutes - 12.4 MBLooking for a home with history? Two different castles are up for sale in the Thousand Islands region. While both homes go back to the Guilded Age, they have drastically different stories that illustrate the region's history. Hopewell Hall is part of what was called millionaire’s row, a stretch of lavish homes and castles inhabited by affluent families such as the John Rockefellers, the Pullmans (Pullman railroad car), the Bournes (Singer Sewing Machine), Edward Noble (Life Saver’s candy),...
Beware the fakers peddling "cures"
March 22, 2020 02:30 - 33 minutes - 23.6 MBCures for the new coronavirus are everywhere ... as long as you aren't concerned with whether they work. Kelly Burdick and Christina Knott discuss how scammers from 100 years ago compare to today. We get a visit via telephone with friend of the show, Dennis O'Brien for his ever-present opinions on the subject. And Kelly concludes with some sound advice about victory gardens. Enjoy! This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearin...
The 1918 Spanish flu epidemic versus Covid-19
March 16, 2020 18:19 - 22 minutes - 16.9 MBStuck at home without much to do now that Covid-19 has forced us all into social isolation? Curious how this compares to past outbreaks? It's on all our minds, too. And we have some answers. Kelly Burdick and Christina Knott talk about a past outbreak, the 1918 influenza epidemic, known as the Spanish flu. Why was it so devastating? How does it compare to today's outbreak? Stay home, relax and listen (and stay safe) as we discuss. --- This episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro ...
Interview with "Historic North Country Disasters" author Cheri L. Farnsworth
March 15, 2020 03:30 - 29 minutes - 21.4 MBChris Brock takes the lead in this interview with Cheri L. Farnsworth, author of a multitude of books about Northern New York history, about her newest book: "Historic North Country Disasters." In it, she compiles both the man-made and natural disasters that shocked the North Country in the hundred years between 1850 and 1950. Why is she drawn to dark topics? What did she learn about life a hundred years ago? What is her process of writing? Listen in as she tells us. Episode is ed...
The twists and turns of the George Rhoads Perpetuball Motion Machine
March 08, 2020 07:00 - 27 minutes - 21.2 MBThe Perpetuball Motion Machine at the Salmon Run Mall in Watertown, N.Y., has been a popular attraction since the building first opened its doors in 1986. Today, Christina Knott and Kelly Burdick learn more about the machine, its artist and the perpetually popular kinetic art installation. Episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on...
Pigeon problems, paper bags, a viral pandemic and more
March 03, 2020 06:30 - 28 minutes - 21 MBWe're back! Sickness, snow and school breaks have slowed us but not stopped us. Kelly Burdick and Christina Knott talk about the news and history connections that happened throughout the month of February from the corona virus and the Spanish flu and how the city's pigeon problems compare to crows today. And more. We also get a visit from a surprise guest that you don't want to miss. Subscribe now (and rate and review) so you don't miss an episode. Episode is edited by Christina Knott...
What is the controversy surrounding Melvil Dewey?
February 02, 2020 11:30 - 21 minutes - 15.6 MBKelly Burdick and Christina Knott talk about the controversial north country character, Melvil Dewey, who created the method of organization for libraries still in use around the world today. In the north country, he also founded the Lake Placid Club in the Adirondacks and helped bring the 1932 Winter Olympics to that area. At the same time, Melvil Dewey is a problematic figure. Just this past year, the American Library Association voted to drop his name from its highest awards, the Melv...
What is the real origin of Shredded Wheat?
January 26, 2020 11:30 - 21 minutes - 16.6 MBThink you know where your breakfast came from? This past week, Watertown lost a historic building with ties to one of the original American cereals. Kelly Burdick and Christina Knott untangle the soggy origin of Shredded Wheat, from Watertown to Niagara Falls and beyond. Episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on @SecondLookHis...
Why do people love to hate kitsch art?
January 19, 2020 11:30 - 12 minutes - 13.4 MBOne hundred years ago, Antwerp native Cassius Marcellus Coolidge created what has become the iconic American kitsch painting series of Dogs Playing Poker. Even if you haven't heard of the artist, you've no doubt seen his work. Whether you love it or hate it, kitsch art is here to stay. Kelly Burdick and Christina Knott talk about C.M. Coolidge's famous paintings, the value of both art fine and kitsch and why you shouldn't be afraid to love what you love. Read our article on this topic at...
How did women start Prohibition (and end it)?
January 12, 2020 11:00 - 29 minutes - 22.1 MBThe 18th amendment was ratified Jan. 17, 1920, in attempt to create a more sober, a less corrupt and a more moral population. This week it will be 100 years since the nation went dry -- and what followed wasn't Kelly Burdick joins Christina Knott to discuss women's role prior to Prohibition and how this changed by the end of the 13-year "noble experiment." We look anti-Prohibition activists Pauline Morton Sabin, a former Prohibition activist who created the Women's Organization for Nati...
20 facts about the north country for 2020
January 05, 2020 11:30 - 25 minutes - 26.5 MBFor the new year of 2020, Christina Knott digs up 20 interesting facts about New York's north country. How many do you know?? Listen and find out. Episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro music is "The Papergirl" by The Whole Other. Browse our new merch at Society 6. Follow us on @SecondLookHistory on Facebook and Instagram, or email us at [email protected] to share feedback or your own tales from history. To subscribe...
Who invented the paper bag?
December 29, 2019 11:30 - 23 minutes - 24.4 MBThe modern paper bag was first produced in Watertown, N.Y. We wanted to learn more about how this bag came to be. It sounded like an easy question, but we ended up unearthing a variety of interesting tales about a variety of interesting characters. Christina Knott and Kelly Burdick discuss how the modern paper bag came to be and who almost tried to steal the credit from one inventor. Join us as we discuss. Episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro and outro music is "Nobody Calls It Sa...
Why are the holidays so extra?
December 22, 2019 11:00 - 34 minutes - 26 MBHanging lights, decorating and baking, visits to Santa, presents and cards ... there's a lot to do during this "most wonderful time of the year." But why do we do it all? Christina Knott and Kelly Burdick discuss the ritual of holidays and why we perform them (or why we don't). Then we drop in on how some residents of the north country spent their Christmas more than a hundred years ago. Episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Ou...
Was it the end of the world?
December 15, 2019 11:30 - 28 minutes - 21.6 MBThe world was supposed to end one hundred years ago on Dec. 17. Experts denied it was so. Newspapers promised it wasn't to be. And in the end, it didn't happen. But that didn't mean it was the end of such predictions. Kelly Burdick and Christina Knott discuss how the end of the world that never was and the reaction leading up the end -- and the days after -- in Northern New York. Episode is edited by Christina Knott. Intro music is "Nobody Calls It San Fran" by Coyote Hearing. Outro mus...
When is a billboard not a billboard?
December 08, 2019 11:30 - 30 minutes - 23.6 MBThe city of Watertown wrestled with the idea of allowing a billboard on the side of a truck in 1919. Fears were that "Public Square will look like a flock of circus posters if all truck and automobile dealers carry out the plan.” One hundred years later, the city is still wrestling with the signage ordinances in Public Square after a local business proposed installing an LED sign in the area. From billboards to golf courses, Kelly Burdick and Christina Knott discuss how city ordinances h...
What happened to Diamond Bessie?
December 01, 2019 11:00 - 31 minutes - 24.3 MBIn the mid-1800s, Diamond Bessie was a young girl was disowned by her family, cast out from her Watertown home and left to fend for herself in a difficult world. While forgotten in the north country, her name helped revive the small town of Jefferson, Texas, where she was killed. There she has been remembered long after her death. The "Diamond Bessie Murder Trial" just finished its 65th year. Today, Kelly Burdick and Christina Knott talk about Diamond Bessie, the challenges she worked t...