Article on page 10 of the 12/15 Express.
Lincoln Sends His Condolences – by Paul Loatman
Tag Archives: loatman
Apples of Their Irish Eyes – by P. Loatman
The current political debate surrounding immigration serves as a reminder that such disputes have arisen many times in our past. As President John F. Kennedy stated in “A Nation of Immigrants,” more than 45 million immigrants had come to America by 1965, almost all of them without any documentation. Ironically, the only “documented aliens” entering American shores in our early history were African slaves. However, given the fact that they were deemed chattel, they were listed as nameless items of property to be sold rather than as individuals who had had any choice in emigrating.
Read the entire article in the 03-17 edition.
The History of Amann’s Cigar Store – by P. Loatman
A few years ago, movie critics were raving about the originality of a Harvey Keitel film that captured a “slice of life” by viewing a 24-hour day through the eyes of a Brooklyn cigar store proprietor. “Artistes” and big-city sophisticates admired its cleverness, but the film lacked the verisimilitude of River City’s old cigar store-AMANN’S-which had a sixty year run on Park Ave. on the site of present-day Stewart’s. A picture in “The Express” showing the century-old store being bulldozed reminded me of this recently. The caption accompanying the photo correctly noted that “a cigar store” was the object of demolition, and readers were asked if they knew anything about the place.
Then entire article is in the Feb. 19 issue.
The Express Newspaper – February 19, 2015
Roosevelt Returns: October 1940 – by P. Loatman
Tuesday, October 7, marked the seventy-fourth anniversary of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second and final trip to the Mechanicville area. Things had changed dramatically since his initial trip here on October 17, 1929. Then, the newly-elected Governor was pre-occupied helping Mechanicville Mayor George O. Slingerland organize ceremonies marking the transfer of Saratoga battlefield properties to the State. Yet, a few days later, the New York Stock Market crashed, ultimately plunging the nation into the Depression and thrusting the young Empire State governor into the White House where he would spend the rest of his career confronting both domestic economic devastation and the rise of fascist dictatorships abroad.
Read the entire article in the October 16th edition of the Express.
The Express Newspaper October 16, 2014
Bother President Roosevelts Visit Mechanicville – by P. Loatman
The recent PBS series on the Roosevelt family that produced two New York Governors who later became President reminds us that both TR and FDR visited Mechanicville during their public lives. Fresh from his triumphs in Cuba, Teddy Roosevelt, despite being widely acclaimed while campaigning for Governor, left Editor Farrington Mead of The Saturday Mercury clearly unimpressed when he visited Mechanicville in 1898. An outspoken Democrat, Mead dismissed TR’s appeal to local voters by editorializing on October 22: “The Rough Rider left a poor impression in Mechanicville. The consuming vanity of the man drives away support.” Mead’s lack of enthusiasm, however, did little to stop TR from being swept into office by a political landslide.
Read the entire article in the Oct. 2nd issue of the Express.
Bank of America to Close
Article on Page 5 of the January 16th issue of the Express.
Book Review: “Mechanicville” By Dr. Paul Loatman, Jr.
Reviewed By: Sandy McBride
"Mechanicville" by Dr. Paul Loatman,Jr., city historian, is the latest in Arcadia Publishing Company's outstanding "Images of America" series. This book, which will be released on July 22, is a visual treat as well as a thoroughly-researched story of the origins and the evolution of our town.
Paul Loatman is not a Mechanicville native. In his dedication, he says "To the people of Mechanicville whose saga keeps me endlessly fascinated and wanting to learn more."
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