Tag Archives: mcbride

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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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Grant Takes Vicksburg – By Sandy McBride

THIS MONTH IN THE CIVIL WAR – July, 1863

Vicksburg, Mississippi was a natural fortress.  On a high bluff on the east side of the wide Mississippi River where it makes a sharp hairpin turn, the city was protected on its land sides by terrain so rough and hilly that it made ground assaults perilous, but also lent itself to the building of fortifications. Whoever controlled Vicksburg controlled the river.

The Union’s first attempts to capture Vicksburg and thus open transportation routes on the Mississippi occurred in June of 1862 when Union Admirals David Farragut and Charles Henry Davis attacked the city from the river.  It was the first of a long series of failed attempts by Federal forces to dislodge the rebels from their stronghold.

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Marty Canavan Inducted into Hall of Fame – By Sandy McBride

Marty Canavan, Mechanicville native and 1960 graduate of Mechanicville High School, was one of 24 contributors to the great sport of basketball inducted into the Upstate New York Basketball Hall of Fame at their fifth annual induction ceremony held last week at the Troy Hilton Garden. 400 people attended the ceremony.
Marty retired in 2011 as an Associate Professor Emeritus in the Business Department at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs after a thirty year career in higher education. A graduate of Siena College, he served as a second lieutenant the United States Army’s Transportation Corps following his graduation.

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July, 1863: Gettysburg Part I – By Sandy McBride

In the beginning, it was about shoes.

In the green and glorious countryside of northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania at the end of June in 1863, two opposing armies groped their way toward destiny, neither knowing for sure where the other was or where it was headed.

There was a small town called Gettysburg in southern Pennsylvania where nine roads converged, almost like the spokes of a wheel.  It was rumored that there were shoes to be had in Gettysburg, and many of the Confederate soldiers who had marched all the way from Virginia still had no shoes.

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Battle of Midway Commemorated on USS Slater in Albany – By Sandy McBride

The Battle of Midway took place on June 3, 1942, and was the first significant American victory in the Pacific Theater of World War II.  Just six months after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor plunged the United States of America into war with Japan, our Pacific Fleet had only three duty-ready aircraft carriers with support craft and a limited number of pilots, planes and provisions.  Yet the US Navy took on a superior Japanese force at Midway Atoll and defeated them soundly.

It was a turning point for the United States, and each year for 71 years, that victory is remembered throughout the nation.

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Sister Bernadette Catellier to Celebrate Her 70th Jubilee – By Sandy McBride

June 8 is a very special day for the All Saints on the Hudson Roman Catholic parish here in our hometown.  On that day, Sister Bernadette Catellier, CSJ, will be honored at a special Mass at 11 a.m.  at the south church on North Main Street in Mechanicville in commemoration of her 70th Jubilee.  Following the Mass, a reception and dinner will be held at the Mechanicville/Stillwater Elks Lodge on Park Avenue.

Sister Bernadette entered the Sisters of St. Joseph Convent at the age of 18 back in 1942 shortly after graduating from Catholic Central High School in Troy.  At that time our nation was heavily engaged in a world-wide war.  In fact, the same year she entered the convent, her two brothers enlisted in the military and went to war, one going into the US Army and the other into the US Navy.

“It was like my mother lost half her family in that one year,” Sister Bernadette says.

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John J. McBride, Sr. – 84

MECHANICVILLE – John J. McBride, Sr., affectionately known as “J.J.” of South Third Ave., died Sunday, May 19, in the home where he was born 84 years ago.  He was the son of the late William and Clara Wojtowicz McBride, Sr., and husband of 43 years to the late Teresa J. Gavin McBride, who died May 10, 1995. 

John joined the US Marine Corps during WWII, serving from 1945-1948, stationed in occupied Japanand China during his active duty.

After military service, he went to work for New York State Electric and Gas Co. of Mechanicville, for 38 years, serving as chief gas fitter, retiring in 1988, or as J.J. used to say, “out the gate in ‘88”.

A charter member of the Hillcrest Fire Dept., he was a patriotic American, holding memberships in the American Legion Post 91, and the V.F.W. Post 6328 both of Mechanicville, where he was a past Commander of both organizations.  He was also a member of the China Marine Assoc. and the Marine Corps League.

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Roundabout Road To Vicksburg – By Sandy McBride


This Month in the Civil War – May, 1863

  General Ulysses S. Grant’s attempt to cross his Army of the Tennessee into Mississippi at Grand Gulf on April 29, 1863 met with fierce resistance from the Confederates whose hastily constructed defenses atop a 50 foot high promontory featured 16 artillery pieces.  As Admiral David Porter bombarded them from his ships in the river, the rebels fought back fiercely.  A duel went on for five hours, with Grant watching the action from a tug in the middle of the Mississippi.

Seeing that the Confederates were not about to give in, Grant opted to seek out a new crossing site where his soldiers would have a passable route overland to Grand Gulf.  He needed Grand Gulf for a supply base as he moved to capture the crucial Mississippi river port of Vicksburg.

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Nate Hatalsky Singed Letter of Intent – By Sandy McBride

MECHANICVILLE - Before a large gathering of teachers, friends and family at the Mechanicville High School Library on Monday, June 13, Nathan Hatalsky signed a national letter of intent to play football at the State University of New York at Albany in the 2013 season.

Nathan was introduced by high school Principal Kevin Kolakowski who congratulated the senior on his success both on the playing fields and in the classroom.  He noted that in addition to his numerous honors for sports, Nathan is also a member of the National Honor Society as well as the All Saints on the Hudson Youth Council. He was also voted by his classmates to be King of the Senior Prom.

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Students Plant Flowers at Mechanicville Elementary – By Sandy McBride

MECHANICVILLE - Beautiful flowers now grace the entrance to Mechanicville Elementary School and the area at the base of its flag pole thanks to students in Mrs. Elyse Pooler’s 2nd grade class and Mrs. Nicola Billert’s 5th grade class.  On Tuesday, May 7, the kids got down in the dirt to make it happen, planting some brightly blooming salvia and marigolds that were provided to them by Hewitt’s Garden Center in Halfmoon, creating a beautiful welcome for visitors to the school.

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Mrs. Billert with some of her studentsDSC_4953DSC_4947