Along The Mohawk #18

For the Mohawk Valley, Central New York region. 

Along the Mohawk features local music and interviews with musicians, storytellers, restaurateurs, and manufacturers and also features Soundscapes with local naturalist Matt Perry. The show will also include a short weekly old-time radio serial, Annie and the Loomis Gang, written and produced by Sharry Whitney and performed by a cast of local voice actors. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_17 0:02

Big Apple Music in New Hartford presents Along the Mohawk.

SPEAKER_09 0:07

Come with me as we travel along the Mohawk, sharing the stories of the people and places where we belong.

SPEAKER_17 0:19

Good morning, and thank you for tuning in. I'm Sherry Whitney. On today's show, we take a shady hike on the Dr. Asa Gray Nature Trail in the town of Paris. And Maggie Riley talks about her favorite tree, the service berry. But first, as we come out of the 4th of July holiday and reflect on the 250th anniversary of America's independence, it's worth remembering that declaring independence was only the first step. I visit the Shigoue Cultural Center in Oneida and speak with Oneida member Ron Patterson, Wolf Clan, about how the Hoden-Ashone Confederacy's century-old system of representative government influenced our nation's founders.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

Benjamin Franklin attended several of our official proceedings that we called Grand Council. In Grand Council, all 50 chiefs would come together and it would be presided by the overall chair of the Ottawa Shoney, which is still to this day called Tatadaho. Benjamin Franklin is quoted saying, How can these five savage nations come together and be unified with such a sophisticated government? Because at the time, the order of operation goes such that the Seneca's, which are also known as keepers of the Western Door, and the Mohawks, which are known as Keepers of the Eastern Door, they would first get any conflict or issue on the table of the Grand Council. It would be discussed among them, and then it would be handed down to the lower little brothers, which are the Cayuga and the Oneida. They would review and look over the issue in the case that has come to hand and discussed amongst their chiefs. And once they got done with it, it would be handed down to the 14 chiefs of the Onadaga nation. And if there was any deciding vote that needed to be split against, just like the United States of America in the House, if there's a tie, it is the vice president that casts a vote. So that's what the Onadaga were responsible for. And so Tatadaho would say yes or no, we're gonna go with it, or it would come up to him and he would just reveal. Everyone agrees, and he would reveal the answer to that. And giving that recognition that not one person made the decisions, all of the nations were represented by the amount of people that we had. So for each of our clans, we have three clans in the United Nations. In such, we have three representations from each of those clans. So we have a total of nine representations at the Grand Council. Today, in Congress, you have a recognition by they break them up into different districts. So each senator has a representation of each district within the Congress. Benjamin Franklin and James Madison, when they developed the Constitution of the United States, they recognized it and broke the government down into that. So there was not one monarchy that was running the government, not one person that was making all the decisions like it is in a monarchy. Yes. Exactly. The founding government, the United States, was based on the Hodanashone government and leadership at the time. And a development of that and some of the Magna Carta of the time from the European style was brought together to develop what we know today as the Constitution of the United States.

SPEAKER_17 3:55

The Shigoy Cultural Center is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 to 5, and Saturdays from 9 to 3 at 5 Territory Road in Oneida.

SPEAKER_12 4:07

Attention, listeners, your Mohawk Valley time travel experiment is about to commence. Stand by as we recalibrate the decades.

SPEAKER_19 4:20

Welcome to Utica 1978. It's a warm July morning, and runners have just started running outside the Utica Radiator Plant for something brand new in the Mohawk Valley, the very first Utica Boilermaker 15K Road Race. The event was created by Earl Reed, who was looking for a special way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Utica Radiator Corporation, today known as Utica Boilers. Working with a small local committee that included people like Tom Hubby and Joe Faco, Reed helped launch what many thought would simply be a fun community race. On July 16, 1978, 876 runners signed up to take part. By the time the race was over, 782 runners crossed the finish line, winding their way through Utica neighborhoods and cheering crowds. And here's something that's almost hard to believe today. The entire event was organized with an operating budget of just $750. From that modest beginning in 1978, the Boilermaker has grown into one of the premier 15K road races in the United States, drawing thousands of runners from around the world to Utica every summer. All from a simple idea and a $750 budget. Well, it's time to get back to the future.

SPEAKER_17 5:56

After the break, we learn about Dr. Asa Gray and hike the nature trail named for this renowned botanist. And Maggie Riley talks about the Keystone plant, the Service Ferry.

SPEAKER_09 6:07

Come with me as we travel along the Mohawk.

SPEAKER_18 6:14

From the arts and education to community development and human services, we're proud to contribute to the hearts of our community. We're proud to support the place we call home. Bank with Utica.

SPEAKER_19 6:30

Big Apple Music in New Hartford has served Central New York and the best musicians since 1979. Guitars, amps, drums, sound systems, digital pianos, and school instruments. And providing sales, rentals, repairs, and musical instrument private lessons. Got an instrument that needs a little love? Let Big Apple Music repair it for you. Check us out for sound system installs and repairs. The best brands for the best bands. Shop local, shop smart, shop Big Apple Music in New Hartford. Loving people for over 46 years. Check us out on Facebook and our website.

SPEAKER_13 7:02

Since 1917, NGMs Flooring America has delivered quality floors and expert installations. Save on carpeting, laminate flooring, ceramic tiles, and more. Plus, we offer 12 months of interest-free financing for qualified buyers. Stop by our location today.

SPEAKER_15 7:17

You work hard here in the Mohawk Valley. You make a difference. You leave your mark. You deserve a financial advisor who works hard to make a difference for your future.

SPEAKER_11 7:27

Investing for retirement, college, thinking about your legacy. We have spent most of our adult lives giving you straightforward answers for your financial decisions.

SPEAKER_15 7:37

We pride ourselves on being local, prudent, and trustworthy for you. Van Meter and Van Meter with three offices to serve your financial future.

SPEAKER_17 7:52

Let's head to New York Mills to visit Maggie Riley's garden. Okay, so we're here. It's July, things are getting hot, but the plants are blooming, and I see lots of berries forming and flowers everywhere. And last week we talked about keystone plants, and you mentioned one of your favorites. Can you tell us about the service berry?

SPEAKER_10 8:15

Sure, Sherry. Nice to see you again today. And yes, the gardens are definitely beginning of July. Everything will start to bloom for the pollinators. And like you said, one of my favorites is the service berry. It is a keystone, it is an understory tree. It can also be a large bush, a multi-stem. They usually get to be about 15 to 30 feet tall, about 15-20 feet wide. In urban and suburban settings, they may not get quite that big.

SPEAKER_17 8:49

And they're kind of wispy trees.

SPEAKER_10 8:50

Oh yeah, they're wispy. They have a great habit. I love the bushes that are multi-stemmed. So the scientific name or the Latin name is Armalincur Arboria. There's another name, Alnifolia, or Canandensis. And the thought is that the more names a plant has for a species, the greater the cultural importance is. And there's, you know, different varieties, but it's a Saskatoon, it's called Juneberry, a shad bush, a shad blow. It's one of the real early bloomers on the edge of a woodland or in the woodland early, early on.

SPEAKER_17 9:30

When I planted my service berry, what someone told me was if you ever wanted to eat a service berry yourself, you're never gonna get one because the birds get them so they love them.

SPEAKER_10 9:40

They do love them. I leave mine out for the birds. We actually, like I told you, I think one week that we only have four-tenths of an acre and we have over 40 trees. And I have 11 service berries because I love them so much. There is a folklore about why they're called service berries. It was the sign that the ground had thawed, that the mountain roads became passable for circuit preachers to conduct service, church services. Yeah. And then there's a name Shad Blow, and the fisher folk say that the shad are running upstream at that time. So the service berry is really important, and even back for the indigenous people, that it was a calendar plant, knew what the season was and what time it was to do things based on when the service berry came into bloom. Um, but it is one of those early pollen plants for the insects and the bees. This spring, the my service berries were full of blooms. It was a really good year for blooms, and it was filled with bees and insects. But you know, it's a host to butterflies like to tiger swallow tail. But the real important part is the berries for the birds. They really rely on them in the breeding season. Like you said, the humans hardly get them, but humans do get them. Actually, a friend of mine made service berry jam, and I had it for the first time. It's really good if you do get yourself some.

SPEAKER_17 11:13

I do like them. They're they're you can relate them a little to the blueberry, but they're they're sweeter almost. Yeah, very, very sweet. Yes, yeah, small. What kind of conditions do you need to have to have a service berry?

SPEAKER_10 11:26

Well, there are different species of service berries. I have some of the canon densists. They can handle full sun a little bit drier, but truthfully, for them to get their full size and bloom really well, they like some moisture and partial to full sun. But the ones that I have in moister soil definitely are growing faster and fuller. You mentioned humans not getting it, but with the indigenous peoples, they did use them to eat. It was a food that they would use in their traditional feasts, they would trade them. Robin Wall Kimmer, who I'm sure a lot of you know, is the author of Braiding Sweetgrass, she's an indigenous person. She is a mother, grandmother, she's a scientist, and she has written a book called The Service Berry, where she talks about abundance and reciprocity in the natural world. And she talks about the service berry's relationship in the world as one of those interconnected and gratitude. The birds provide the service to the service berry, and the service berry provides a service to the natural world.

SPEAKER_17 12:38

Well, thank you. I enjoyed hearing about the service berry, and I knew it was your favorite tree. Um, what are we gonna talk about next week?

SPEAKER_10 12:44

Uh, how about we stay on the berry theme? We won't be in the trees anymore. We're gonna go down the lair and we'll hit the large shrubs that provide berries and habitat and nesting areas for the birds and the wildlife.

SPEAKER_17 13:03

Wonderful. Join Maggie this Saturday, July 18th from 10 to noon for a garden tour in New York Mills. Tour a popular Wild One's Mohawk Valley native garden. RSVP to Wild Ones Mohawk Valley at gmail.com or visit our website for more information. I'm here at the Town of Paris Recreational Park. I'm walking by the pond on my way to the Dr. Asa Gray Nature Trail. You'll see a paved path up to the gazebo. You can go on either side of the pond, and there's some young people fishing here. I've reached the gazebo at the top. There's a sign here it says the four-way test. One, is it the truth? Two, is it fair to all concerned? Three, will it build goodwill and better friendships? Four, will it be beneficial to all concerned? A nice view from the gazebo. We'll continue on the trail. Above the pond where the gazebo is, you'll see wide open fields. They're beautiful, they're all mowed, rolling hillside. You're going to head to the back of those fields for the trailhead. It's behind the swing sets. That's a good way to find them. And behind the pool. There are two pools here and they are being used today. Beautiful day for a swim. The path is a nice mowed, wide path, probably about ten feet wide. Asa Gray was born in 1810 in Sequoite, right near here. And although he spent most of his career at Harvard, his lifelong interest in plants began while exploring the forests, wetlands, and fields right around here in central New York. Okay, so that 10-foot wide grass path now becomes a five-foot-wide dirt path. And then back to open green areas. Beautiful, lots of benches along the way. One of Asa Gray's greatest contributions was helping establish a standardized system for identifying and classifying North American plants. His manuals have become the standard reference for botanists and laid the foundation for modern field guides. He is widely regarded as the father of American botany. If you're looking for a place to get out of the sun, it's a nice shady walk. And it does have uh, it's not flat. So if you really want to get some steps in, but you want them to be power steps, and but there are plenty of benches, so you can always take a break. Asa Gray became one of the closest American friends and supporters of Charles Darwin. The two exchange hundreds of letters discussing evolution, botany, and science. As you get to the upper part of the trail, you are walking along a ravine. I see a yellow swallowtail flying along the trail here. She's been with me now for a good couple minutes, leading the way. Many of the trees and wildflowers you see along this trail are the very kinds of plants Asa Grace spent his life studying and documenting. He believed careful observation outdoors was the best classroom. Scientists from Europe regularly sought Asa's opinion. Although he grew up in a small New York community, he became one of the most respected botanists in the world. Ooh, I found some free snacks along the way. Some black caps. Yum, lots of them. Goodness. My lucky day. Gray pioneered the study of plant biogeography, the distribution of plants across continents. His research demonstrated striking similarities between the forest of eastern North America and Eastern Asia, a pattern that scientists continue to study today. Now I'm walking by a creek down in the ravine. Very nice. So the trail will take you anywhere from 15-20 minutes to a half an hour. I stopped and ate a lot of black caps. Probably a hundred of them, but there are plenty more. You wouldn't notice I ate any because they are everywhere. So I would say you'd want to plan a half an hour to enjoy the field, a leisurely stroll around the trail. Plan an hour if you want to sit up on the hill and watch the clouds or the kids swimming in the pool. It's a beautiful little escape. It's amazing walking this trail and thinking about the fact that one of the world's greatest botanists began his journey right here in this quiet corner of the Mohawk Valley. If you're looking for a shady walk in nature, the Dr. Asa Gray Trail is about a mile long. It's located in the Town of Paris Recreational Park at 2580 Sulphur Springs Road in Sequoit. The trailhead for the Dr. Asa Gray Trail is up at the top of the fields. After the break, chapter 16 of Annie and the Loomis Gang, an MV Soundscape with Matt Perry.

SPEAKER_09 18:37

Come with me as we travel along the Mohawk.

SPEAKER_18 18:44

From the arts and education to community development and human services, we're proud to contribute to the hearts of our community. We're proud to support the place we call home. Bank with Utica.

SPEAKER_19 19:00

Big Apple Music in New Hartford has served Central New York and the best musicians since 1979. Guitars, amps, drums, sound systems, digital pianos, and school instruments, and providing sales, rentals, repairs, and musical instrument private lessons. Got an instrument that needs a little love? Let Big Apple Music repair it for you. Check us out for Sound System installs and repairs. The best brands for the best bands. Shop local, shop smart, shop Big Apple Music in New Hartford. Loving people for over 46 years. Check us out on Facebook and our website.

SPEAKER_15 19:33

You work hard here in the Mohawk Valley. You make a difference. You leave your mark. You deserve a financial advisor who works hard to make a difference for your future.

SPEAKER_11 19:42

Investing for retirement, college, thinking about your legacy. We have spent most of our adult lives giving you straightforward answers for your financial decisions.

SPEAKER_15 19:53

We pride ourselves on being local, prudent, and trustworthy for you, Van Meter and Van Meter, with three offices to serve your financial future.

SPEAKER_13 20:03

Since 1917, NGMs Flooring America has delivered quality floors and expert installations, save on carpeting, laminate flooring, ceramic tiles, and more. Plus, we offer 12 months of interest-free financing for qualified buyers. Stop by our location today.

SPEAKER_01 20:20

Previously on Annie and the Loomis Gang. After discovering the Loomis Gang's hidden horse operation in the swamp and seeing William there, Annie O'Connor spends a restless night, haunted by what she has learned. At sunrise, William arrives at the farm dressed in his gray traveling clothes. The man who had become Annie's closest friend is changed. And when he rides away, Annie fears she has lost him forever. Chapter 16. Settling Accounts.

SPEAKER_17 21:06

By the time the sun clears the trees, Annie has made up her mind. It's time to settle the debt. She saddles Hunter and rides to town. Inside W.J. Bissell's store, the scent of coffee, tobacco, and leather hangs in the air. Shelves are filled with kerosene lamps, seed packets, tools, and cigars. Farmers lean against barrels of salt pork and sacks of flour while William Bissell reads the latest news from the paper.

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And from the monitor, Mr. Amos Whitmore of Camden reports two horses missing from his farm. That's right. A bay gelding and a Apple Gray taken during the night of Friday, August 22nd.

SPEAKER_02 22:04

Sounds like them Loomis's.

SPEAKER_20 22:07

Morning, Miss O'Connor.

SPEAKER_06 22:09

Morning, Mr. Bissle. I'm looking for Constable Philkins.

SPEAKER_20 22:12

Wagon sheds by the mill, most likely. He keeps to where the work and trouble tend to end up.

SPEAKER_05 22:17

Thank you. I may need witnesses when I meet with Washington Loomis.

SPEAKER_20 22:22

You're meeting Wash Loomis? Don't meet that man alone, not under any circumstances.

SPEAKER_05 22:28

I was thinking you might attend.

SPEAKER_20 22:29

No, I don't go near Washington Loomis unless it's to see him answer for what he's done or run out of this town on a rail.

SPEAKER_05 22:37

Then who do I bring?

SPEAKER_20 22:39

Phillips will tell you how it has to be handled properly. With witnesses, in a place where nothing can be twisted afterward.

SPEAKER_04 22:47

Alright, I'll go to him. Also, I need to sell my house.

SPEAKER_20 22:52

There's a buyer coming through there. Military contracts. Pays well for good crop if it stands up under inspection. I'll send word he can come buy your place tomorrow.

SPEAKER_17 23:02

Thank you. Annie leads Hunter down Main Street, her head spinning with troubling thoughts.

SPEAKER_05 23:08

Uncle Seamus, the counterfeit notes in the barn, and now a dapple grey missing near Camden. William left this morning on such a horse.

SPEAKER_17 23:17

She finds Constable Filkins near the mill, talking with the miller as wagons creak through the dust.

SPEAKER_02 23:23

Mrs. O'Connor.

SPEAKER_17 23:24

Constable.

SPEAKER_02 23:25

Trouble?

SPEAKER_17 23:26

Not yet.

SPEAKER_02 23:27

Usually folks come to me when they're already up to their neck in it.

SPEAKER_06 23:30

I want to meet with Washington Loomis.

SPEAKER_02 23:33

Voluntarily?

SPEAKER_06 23:34

With witnesses.

SPEAKER_02 23:35

Good. Then you don't do it in private. You do it in town.

SPEAKER_06 23:38

Where can we meet him?

SPEAKER_02 23:39

Salisbury's store. Leave word with Salisbury. He'll pass it along.

SPEAKER_04 23:44

And Constable?

SPEAKER_02 23:45

Yes?

SPEAKER_04 23:46

What do you do when you think someone has done something wrong?

SPEAKER_03 23:49

First you make certain you know what you saw, then you tell the truth. But be careful. A rumor can do as much harm as a crime.

SPEAKER_17 23:57

Thank you, Constable.

SPEAKER_03 23:58

You're welcome, Miss O'Connor. I'll be nearby.

SPEAKER_17 24:01

Annie leaves a note with Mr. Salisbury requesting a meeting with Washington Loomis at his store. Mr. Salisbury suggested the following day at 2 p.m. Annie makes one final stop before heading home. The post office. There's a letter from home.

SPEAKER_16 24:16

My dear Annie, thank you for your letter. It was good to hear from you, and it sounds as though things are going well at your new farm. Ellen is doing very well at the Cheese Market. She goes in each week with Mrs. Whitaker, and I think Mrs. Whitaker looks forward to it as much as Ellen does. The news from Benjamin, he is stationed in Virginia near Washington. No word of sickness or injury, thank the Lord. He says camp life is mostly marching and drilling and not much else. And that we are not to worry. The house is much the same. Your father is well? He sends his love and says he trusts you are staying out of trouble. We think of you often, right when you can, your loving mother.

SPEAKER_17 24:59

Annie smiles. Staying out of trouble. She folds the letter and slips it into her saddlebag. Her hand brushes something inside. A stiff bundle of paper. She pauses. The letters, picked up at the post office. How could she have forgotten? Just two weeks ago, before the visit to the Loomis homestead, before Rhoda and the knife, before the box under the barn floor, before William and the tin soldier and the swamp. Before all of it. Uncle she's male. She pauses and holds them a moment. Then she tears one open.

SPEAKER_01 25:37

Next week, Chapter 17, From the Swamp.

SPEAKER_14 25:50

This is Mohawk Valley soundscape. Few sounds capture the spirit of an eastern forest more completely than the song of the wood thrush. From the shaded understory of mature woodlands come its clear flute-like phrases drifting through the trees like notes from a distant instrument. To many naturalists, the voice of the wood thrush is the sound of summer itself. A close relative of the American Robin, the wood thrush depends upon healthy forests with a rich understory of saplings and shrubs. Because it is sensitive to forest fragmentation and habitat loss, its presence is often a sign that a woodland ecosystem remains relatively intact. The bird's appearance is modest but elegant, a warm cinnamon brown back, a bright white breast, and bold dark spots scattered across its chest. Yet it is the voice that makes the species unforgettable. Each song is composed of short haunting phrases repeated in varying combinations. Listen carefully, and you may notice something extraordinary. The wood thrush can produce two tones at the same time, using the left and right sides of its earrings, its voice box. In effect, the bird can harmonize with itself, creating rich bell-like tones that seem to float through the forest. The result is a song many listeners describe as almost ethereal. And so, when a wood thrush sings from a wooded hillside or cool forest ravine, it is more than bird song. It is a reminder of the rich living forests that once blanketed much of the Mohawk Valley and that still endure in some of its quieter corners.

SPEAKER_08 28:14

Come with me as we travel along the mohawk.