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In this episode:
History Along the Mohawk: Life in the Ditch: The Hidden Stories of Fort Stanwix
At Fort Stanwix in Rome, visitors often mistake the defensive ditch around the fort for a moat, but it was actually a dry trench called a fosse, designed to slow attackers while giving defenders a tactical advantage. During the Revolutionary War, the ditch also sheltered soldiers’ families, nurses, washerwomen, children, and even livestock.
Park Ranger Kelly Caldwell explains how archaeologists use everyday objects, such as a wooden scrub brush found in the ditch, to better understand daily life in the past. She notes that ordinary items left behind can become valuable historical artifacts centuries later.
Caldwell also discusses the hardships faced by women during the Revolution. Some remained safely at home, while others followed the Continental Army, serving as nurses and washerwomen and caring for their families. As the war dragged on and officers ran short of money, some brought their families to live at Fort Stanwix. Although living in the ditch may sound difficult, it was often safer than being exposed to battles or harsh conditions elsewhere.
Before the British siege of Fort Stanwix in 1777, most women and children were evacuated inside the fort. One woman, Nancy McCarty, who was nine months pregnant, remained behind. During the final night of the siege, she was struck in the hip by shrapnel from an exploding mortar, immediately went into labor, and gave birth. Nancy, her husband Dennis, and their daughter Rachel all survived the siege. Historians only identified the family’s names a few years ago.
Fort Stanwix National Monument, 100 N James St, Rome, NY www.nps.gov/fost/index.htm
Road Trip: Route 20 to Sharon Springs
A summer drive along Route 20, the historic Cherry Valley Turnpike, recalls the days before the New York State Thruway, when travelers explored New York by car and roadside attractions and farm stands were part of the journey. The drive also pays tribute to longtime friend Richard Enders, who fondly remembered the farm stands that once lined the highway.
The trip continues to Sharon Springs, a village that became a popular destination in the 1800s for its mineral springs and has experienced a revival in recent decades as artists, makers, and entrepreneurs have restored its historic charm.
The Black Cat Cafe
At the Black Cat Café, owner Tony Dow talks about what drew him to Sharon Springs, the village’s unique sense of community, and how a stray black cat named Pinky inspired the café’s name. He also shares the philosophy behind the café’s simple, homemade food, including its popular “Thanksgiving Every Day” sandwich, house-made balsamic dressings, and the fruitcake recipe passed down from his great-grandmother.
The Black Cat Cafe, 195 Main St., Sharon Springs, NY ⋅ Open Thurs-Mon 11-3, except Sat & Sun 9-3
MENU ⋅ Shop their balsamics online anytime
McGillycuddy’s Naturals
Next door at McGillicuddy’s Naturals, owner Deb McGillicuddy explains how she discovered soap making, why she switched to goat’s milk after moving to Sharon Springs, and the benefits of using natural, chemical-free ingredients. She also discusses the wide variety of products made in her shop and how her soap-making classes have become a popular way for visitors to learn a new skill while enjoying everything Sharon Springs has to offer.
McGillycuddy’s Naturals, 197 Main Street, Sharon Springs ⋅ Open daily 10am-5pm (Closed Wednesdays)
http://www.mcgillycuddysoap.com
Maggie’s Minute: Native Shrubs and Bushes, Building a Backyard for Birds and Butterflies
At Maggie Reilly’s Garden in New York Mills, Maggie explains how creating layers of native plants helps support birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. Beginning with understory trees like the serviceberry, she describes how shrubs and large bushes provide food, nesting areas, and shelter from predators while creating a more diverse and attractive landscape.
Maggie also discusses the importance of a “soft landing” beneath trees. Instead of keeping the ground bare or heavily mowed, she recommends using native ground covers, perennials, and leaf litter to provide habitat for caterpillars and other beneficial insects that birds depend on for food.
The conversation also covers practical landscaping advice, including planting trees and shrubs together when possible, choosing smaller plants around established trees to avoid damaging roots, and understanding that native landscapes take time to mature. While patience is required, Maggie explains that many native shrubs and trees become established quickly, creating a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape that benefits both people and wildlife.
Extended Interview: Native Shrubs and Bushes:
Learn more at Wild Ones Mohawk Valley
The Scarlet Tanager: One of the Mohawk Valley’s Most Colorful Songbirds
In this Mohawk Valley Soundscape, Matt Perry introduces the scarlet tanager, one of the region’s most striking songbirds. He describes the male’s brilliant scarlet feathers and black wings, the female’s more subtle yellow-green coloring, and the bird’s distinctive song, often compared to a robin with a sore throat.
Matt explains that although the scarlet tanager’s bright colors are remarkable, the birds spend most of their time high in the forest canopy, making them easier to hear than to see. During midsummer, adults descend to care for their recently fledged young, calling loudly to warn of predators.
As summer comes to an end, the male undergoes a dramatic molt, replacing his scarlet plumage with yellow-green feathers before migrating to Central and South America. By autumn, the tanagers have left the Mohawk Valley, returning again the following spring.
Learn more