New York Folklore Society Fall 2003 Annual Conference

2003
Annual Meeting of the New York Folklore Society
in cooperation with
Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (TAUNY)

Common Places, Uncommon Stories: Cultural Landmarking and Cultural Conservation in Upstate New York Communities

Common Places, Uncommon Stories: Cultural Landmarking and Cultural Conservation in Upstate New York Communities

October 24-26, 2003
Sackets Harbor, New York

The New York Folklore Society’s programs are made possible in part with public funds from the Folk Arts Program of the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

New York Folklore Society
P.O. Box 764
Schenectady, NY 12301
518/346-7008
Fax 518/346-6617
nyfs@nyfolklore.org

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NYFS CONFERENCE 2003

The 2003 Annual Fall Conference of the New York Folklore Society was presented this year in cooperation with Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (TAUNY).

It was held October 24-26 in Sackets Harbor, New York, on the shores of Lake Ontario, a New York State Heritage Area Community, and entitled "Common Places, Uncommon Stories: Cultural Landmarking and Cultural Conservation in Upstate New York Communities."

Conference participants—here, Steve Zeitlin, Amanda Dargan, and Mary Hufford—took a bus trip to sites designated by TAUNY as the North Country’s "very special places," including the Crystal Restaurant in Watertown.

Sackets Harbor proved to be a lovely setting for the conference, and TAUNY was a gracious host. Supported by a grant from the New York Council for the Humanities, the conference presentations were part of the council’s Humanities Month and included architectural advocates Steve Zeitlin of City Lore on his program "Place Matters," Nancy Solomon of Long Island Traditions on her advocacy work with bay houses, Steve Engelhart of Adirondack Architectural Heritage, and Jane Busch, an independent architiectural historian.

Varick Chittenden moderated a panel discussion, "Common Places: Uncommon Stories," with [from left] Steve Zeitlin, City Lore; Steve Engelhart, Adirondack Architectural Heritage; Nancy Solomon, Long Island Traditions; and Jane Busch, architectural consultant.

Stanley Ransom performs at fall conference

Stanley Ransom, who serves as a board member for NYFS and TAUNY, performed music from the Lake Champlain region for conference participants.

Fred Higby of Black River, recipient of a TAUNY North Country Heritage Award in 2002, performed on the harmonica at the Society’s fall conference.

After a morning of provocative presentations and discussion of issues of cultural landmarking, historic preservation, and cultural conservation, we loaded a tour bus for visits to several sites included in TAUNY’s inventory of "Very Special Places"—the Crystal Lunch Room in Watertown, the Burrville Cider Mill, Marilley’s General Store in Croghan, and Thousand Island Park. The day’s events concluded back at Sackets Harbor with a dinner at the 1812 Steak and Seafood House and a presentation by Mary Hufford of the University of Pennsylvania.

Inside Marilley’s General Store in Croghan, New York—another one of TAUNY’s "very speical places"— are [from front] Pamela Cooley, Brenda Verardi, Stan Ransom, and Makalé Faber.