Spring–Summer 2017 Volume 43: 1–2 The Journal of New York Folklore Bill Smith: Evolution of an Adirondack Storyteller Crossing Cultures: Sicilian and Scottish Family Portraits Racquette River Dams: Oral History Project The Poetry of Everyday Life Fingernail Fiddle Making Food as Family History From the Director Cutting federal funding communities by corporations and private citi- • Local Learning: The National Network for for the arts and humani- zens. As stated by Janet Brown of Grantmak- Folk Arts in Education supports traditional arts ties will hurt everyone. ers in the Arts: “Since the inception of these and culture activities in schools, working directly The impact won’t be agencies [NEA and NEH], private foundations with educators and teaching artists and impact- short-term. There are have supported arts and culture knowing they ing communities and arts education throughout many arguments for were acting in tandem and as a ‘business inves- the state. In 2018, Local Learning will work with continuing support for tor’ with the federal government” <http://www. western New York schools, with themes of the National Endow- giarts.org/blog/janet/preserving-soul-america>. As “sense of place” and the environment. ment for the Arts (NEA) and the National recognized by private foundations and other • The Iroquois Museum, Howes Cave Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), two granting organizations, government support (Schoharie) will offer a series of public dem- federal agencies slated for elimination in the for the arts leverages other public and private onstrations and workshops focused upon arts President’s 2018 budget and crippled in his rec- investment. Economic development through of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederacy. ommended 2017 budget. As someone involved the arts is also strengthened by direct public • Long Island Traditions (Nassau/Suffolk) in the arts for my entire life, I am alarmed by participation. Cultural activities engage resi- and the New York Folklore Society (Sche- the shortsightedness of this action. dents and visitors alike; a dollar invested by NEA, nectady/ Montgomery/Schoharie/Greene) are Government dollars carry extraordinary for example, generates four additional dollars through collaborating to explore the effects of weather weight, even if actual amounts are relatively private investment and tourism, as arts and culture events impacted by climate change. Individual small. NEA and NEH each have been support- audiences buy tickets, go out to dinner, browse responses to Hurricane Irene and Superstorm ed recently at the modest level of $148 million, retail establishments, and enjoy our communi- Sandy are being collected through oral histo- only 0.004 percent (four thousandths of one percent) of ties’ downtowns. ries. Two resulting exhibitions and programs the annual federal budget. Trump proposed to cut In New York State, federal support of the will be mounted concurrently and shown in this small amount by an additional $15 million arts and humanities has a direct effect on all partnership with the Long Island Museum for the 2017 fiscal year and totally eliminate of our communities. Although New York and Schenectady County Historical Society’s the agencies in 2018! At less than 1 percent of City is often viewed as the “Arts Capital of Mabie Farm. the budget, eliminating NEA and NEH will the World,” communities throughout the state • Staten Island Arts (Staten Island) is docu- do little to reduce our nation’s deficit. Rather, it benefit from federal support. A quick look at menting the working waterfront, exploring the will result in a loss of revenue to communities. 2016 grants for arts projects throughout the borough’s rich occupational history and lives of Even though $148 million is a small percent- state indicates that every county and congres- those who live along the waterfront. age of the national budget, the effects on our sional district of New York has benefitted from • Hamilton County and their county his- communities are wide ranging. The grants pro- the NEA. As executive director of the New torian received support from NEH for public vided by the National Endowments to cultural York Folklore Society, the statewide service forums and programs on the occasion of agencies of all sizes allows them to invest in organization for folk and traditional arts, I am Hamilton County’s Bicentennial. the cultural lives of their communities and to most knowledgeable of grants that benefit the • Historic Hudson Valley (Ulster) received nurture creative activities for people of all ages. heritage of New Yorkers. Here are a few of support for public programs on Washington Organizations and individuals in New York the 2016 Folk Arts grants: Irving and the Art of Storytelling. receive support—directly from the Federal En- • The Erie Canal Museum, Syracuse (On- Direct support to artists is an important role dowments or indirectly through grant support ondaga) received support for a tour of live of NEA, providing awards and fellowships for from Humanities New York or the New York traditional arts performances, staged on a re- writing, lifetime achievement, jazz, and folk State Council on the Arts. With grants from the furbished barge traveling the Mohawk Barge/ and traditional arts. National Heritage Fellow- Endowments matched dollar for dollar, NEA Erie Canal, traversing New York, and providing ships recognize and honor masters of folk and and NEH grants invite further investment in performances and other programs. continued on page 48 “Just as America values its national parks for all to enjoy, our history, culture, and art are no less valuable to Americans. They are the soul of our nation and the conscience of our people. The elimination of these federal agencies would send the message that Americans don’t care about their history, their culture, and their art.” —Janet Brown, President & CEO, Grantmakers in the Arts, VOICES: The Journal of New York Folklore www.giarts.org/blog/janet/preserving-soul-america Contents Spring–Summer 2017 Features 3 From Trapper’s Cabin To Festival Stage: The Evolution of an Adirondack Storyteller by Varick A. Chittenden 18 Crossing Cultures by Thomas J. MacPherson 24 You’ll See Our Tracks: The Raquette River Dams Oral History Project 15 by Camilla Ammirati 36 Gouging Tradition: Musings on Fingernail Fiddle Making by Eric L. Ball Departments and Columns 14 Upstate by Dan Berggren 15 Downstate by Molly Garfinkel with Steve Zeitlin and Elena Martínez 22 ALN8BAL8MO: A Native Voice 18 by Joseph Bruchac 23 Good Spirits 24 by Libby Tucker 32 Book Review: Sad Characters of American Folk Songs by Frieda Toth 33 The Poetry Of Everyday Life by Steve Zeitlin 35 Book Review: A Jumpstart for Inspiration, A Salve for Troubled Times 36 by Nancy Scheemaker 44 From the Waterfront by Nancy Solomon Foodways 46 Cover: Bill Smith in his dooryard by Jennifer Morrisey with an Adirondack ash splint pack basket he made and uses in the woods, 1995. Photo by Martha Cooper, courtesy of TAUNY Archives. Read “The Evolution of an Adirondack Storyteller,” beginning on p. 3. Spring–SummerSpring–Summer 2017,2017, VolumeVolume 43:43:1–2 1–2 1 1 From the Editor The Smithsonian’s 1986 This life-altering job grew out of an in- Festival of American ternship while I was a doctoral student at Folklife launched my George Washington University. I worked on Spring–Summer 2017 · Volume 43: 1–2 career. In my first paid the photo text panels that complemented Acquisitions Editor Todd DeGarmo job as a folklorist, I was the living, performative presentations of Copy Editor Patricia Mason Administrative Manager Laurie Longfield hired as an Assistant Pro- the festival. It was a practical application for Design Mary Beth Malmsheimer gram Coordinator for my studies in folk culture and Japanese lit- Printer Eastwood Litho the program, “Rice in erature, and my Editorial Board Gabrielle Berlinger, Chair. Japanese Folk Culture,” curated by Alicia “seriousness Sydney Hutchinson, Maria Kennedy, David Puglia, Puja Sahney, Joseph Sciorra, Maria Gonzalez of the Office of Folklife and exactitude” Emily Socolov, Nancy Solomon Programs. were noticed. Advisory Board Varick Chittenden, Nancy Now in its 50th year, the Folklife Festival In this first Groce, Lee Haring, Elizabeth Tucker, Dan Ward, remains a premier international exhibition job, I could George Ward, Steve Zeitlin of living cultural heritage, presented annu- share my love Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore is published twice a year by the ally for two weeks around the Fourth of of Japanese cul- New York Folklore Society, Inc. July on the National Mall in Washington, ture acquired in 129 Jay Street, Schenectady, NY 12305 DC. Attracting over a million visitors yearly, Tokyo (1983– New York Folklore Society, Inc. Executive Director Ellen McHale the celebration is the largest annual cultural 84) while teach- “Tokyo Todd,” a Administration and Gallery Laurie Longfield departing gift from a event in the nation’s capital. ing conversa- Web Administrator Patti Mason Japanese friend. Some 30 years ago, I was part of the team tional English NYC Regional Representative Eileen Condon Upstate Regional Representative that created a temporary Japanese village on to corporate management. It was a means Hannah Davis the National Mall. It ran from the village rice to immerse myself in a culture so different Voice (518) 346-7008 / Fax (518) 346-6617 paddy, through a collection of craft work- from my own. The ever present aroma of a Website www.nyfolklore.org shops and performance stages for music and simple dashi broth. Water spilling over the Board of Directors President Tom van Buren dance, cooking, and children’s activities, to rim of a cedar hot tub, as cherry blossoms Vice President Julie Tay the Shinto shrine at the end of the lane–all petals began to fall. Treasurer John Braungard populated by guest artisans and performers In Japan, I was introduced to a reverence Secretary Naomi Sturm Gabrielle Berlinger, John Gleason, James Hall, from Japan.