Tag Archives: mcbride

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Stillwater’s 9/11 Ceremony – By Sandy McBride

For the past eleven years, the Stillwater community has gathered at Blockhouse Park in the center of the village on September 11 to remember Stillwater native Diane “Dani” Moore Parsons and the other 2,977 victims of the brazen terrorist attack on our nation in 2001, as well as to honor the civil servants and volunteers who rushed in to save lives and recover victims on that awful day, many of them at the cost of their own lives. 6,000 people were also injured in the attack and in the resulting collapse of buildings.

 

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Historic Jewel in Mystic Seaport

By Sandy McBride

Mystic Seaport has long been on our “bucket list” of places we must see.  My friend Dick Garland told me years ago that I would love it.  Well, we finally made it.  After watching two of our grandchildren perform in the Shoreline Actors’ Collective’s “MacBeth” in Clinton, CT on a Sunday afternoon, we headed for Mystic.  We spent a weather-perfect Monday taking in the myriad sights and delights that Mystic Seaport-the Museum of America and the Sea has to offer.  Dick was right.  We loved it.

Those of you who know me may have already guessed that this will not be just about Mystic Seaport.  I often stumble upon a fascinating side story within the big picture.

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This Month In The Civil War

By Sandy McBride

 

Bleeding Kansas, Bleeding Country

August, 1863

William Clark Quantrill was an enigma. He was raised in the state of Ohio, but in 1859, he went west, traveling to Lawrence, Kansas. At that time the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in Kansas and neighboring Missouri were at often violent odds. He got a job as a teacher, but soon found more lucrative pursuits.  He joined a group of anti-slavery ruffians known as Jayhawkers.  They raided pro-slavery settlements, burning, looting and killing.

The community of Lawrence had been established in 1854 in Kansas territory by settlers who opposed slavery.  Whether new states would be admitted to the Union as slave states or free states was an ongoing debate in Congress.  Statehood for Kansas was being presented by both sides in 1856.

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Del’s Crown Royals

Del's Crown Royals won the championship game of the Sunday Night Co-Ed League at McBride Fields last week with an exciting back and forth victory over the Green Light Auto Team. Final score was 10 - 8.

Steve McBride, owner-operator of McBride Fields, would like to thank the sponsors who make it possible for the teams to compete.  The Sunday Night Co Ed sponsors also include Porsche of Clifton Park, Green Light Auto, First Investors and McBride Fields. The winning sponsor of the Crown Royals is Del's Wine and Spirits.

Crown Royals include in the front row Tom McBride Jr., Sarah McCullogh and Meghan Fuschino.

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Back row: Tom McBride III, Suzie DeCelle, Aaron Barr, Jim Fuschino, Dave DeCelle, Maria Daley Barr and Alex Grayson.  Missing are Eric Connors, John and Laurie Amodeo and Steve McBride.

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Kate Hewitt & John Reynolds: A Civil War Love Story

By Sandy McBride

John Fulton Reynolds was a career soldier.  He was a West Point graduate, an experienced commander who so impressed President Abraham Lincoln with his ability as a military man that the president offered him command of the Army of the Potomac as it pursued General Robert E. Lee and his Confederate Army of Virginia on their northward move in June of 1863.  Because Lincoln would not assure him there would be no political interference with the job, Reynolds politely declined and remained in the field.  He was well-respected, a much-loved leader of men and married to his job.  There was no time for romance . . . or so his family, friends and comrades-in-arms thought.

They would learn otherwise.

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Kayaking4Meso

By Sandy McBride

Calling all kayakers! The time is now to sign up for a challenging and enjoyable paddle down the beautiful and historic Hudson River from Schuylerville or Stillwater to Mechanicville to raise funds for research seeking a cure for mesothelioma.  Mark Wells, organizer of Kayaking4Meso, is hoping that 200 kayakers will join him in the third year of this event which will be held on September 21.

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John H. Ahearn to Merge With Clifton Park & Halfmoon Emergency Corps

By Sandy McBride

Mechanicville’s venerable John H. Ahearn Rescue Squad is planning to merge with the neighboring Clifton Park & Halfmoon Emergency Corps in 2014 according to a recent announcement by the squad’s Board of Directors.  With the approval of the Mechanicville City Council and the State of New York, the merger could become effective on January 1.

Larry Whalen, president of the board, says “We have always prided ourselves on giving our best to the community.  We feel that going with Clifton Park & Halfmoon will maintain that standard.”

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The Courage of Calgary

By Sandy McBride

Back in the 1950’s Tom and I and a lot of our friends belonged to a riding club that did the gymkhana circuit all around the area of Saratoga, Washington, Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties.  We all fancied ourselves pretty cool dudes, racing our horses in arenas in such fun events as the stake race, pony express, rescue race and spear-ring.  I like to think we were among the forerunners of today’s highly competitive barrel racers, because barrel racing was a particularly favored event.

Being horsemen, we attended the occasional rodeo, loving the excitement of watching cowboys versus bucking broncos, wily steers and big bad bulls.

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Calgary Stampede – By Sandy McBride

Back in the 1950’s Tom and I and a lot of our friends belonged to a riding club that did the gymkhana circuit all around the area of Saratoga, Washington, Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties.  We all fancied ourselves pretty cool dudes, racing our horses in arenas in such fun events as the stake race, pony express, rescue race and spear-ring.  I like to think we were among the forerunners of today’s highly competitive barrel racers, because barrel racing was a particularly favored event.

Being horsemen, we attended the occasional rodeo, loving the excitement of watching cowboys versus bucking broncos, wily steers and big bad bulls.

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This Month in the Civil War – July, 1863 New York City’s Draft Riots – By Sandy McBride

In the early days of July, 1863, thousands of Americans lay dead or dying while thousands more were suffering greatly as a result of two major confrontations in the Civil War.  With the Union finally able to claim two pivotal victories, one in the three-day battle in the Pennsylvania countryside at Gettysburg and another in the successful siege of the Mississippi River stronghold at Vicksburg, it would seem that the Federal government finally had the upper hand over the rebellious Confederate states.

It is said that “War is hell”, and for sure, a civil war is true hell.  Every family . . . every man, woman and child . . . on either side of a warring, divided nation is invested in a civil war in one way or another. Every facet of life is affected. By July, 1863, our divided nation was war-weary.  And the ugliness was about to get even uglier.

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