Fall–Winter 2012 Volume 38: 3–4 The Journal of New York Folklore Drummer, Give Me My Sound: Frisner Augustin Andy Statman, National Heritage Fellow Dude Ranch Days in Warren County, NY Saranac Lake Winter Carnival The Making of the Adirondack Folk School From the Director The Schoharie Creek, had stood since 1855 as the longest single- From the Editor which has its origins span covered wooden bridge in the world. near Windham, NY, The Schoharie’s waters then accelerated to In the spirit of full dis- feeds the Gilboa Res- the rate of flow of Niagara Falls as its path closure, I’m the one who ervoir in Southern narrowed, uprooting houses and trees, be- asked his mom to share Schoharie County. fore bursting onto the Mohawk River, just her Gingerbread Cookie Its waters provide west of Schenectady to flood Rotterdam recipe and Christmas drinking water for Junction and the historic Stockade section story as guest contribu- New York City, turn of Schenectady. tor for our new Food- the electricity-generating turbines at the A year later, in October 2012, Hurricane ways column. And, why not? It’s really not New York Power Authority, and are then Sandy hit the metropolitan New York that we couldn’t find someone else [be in loosed again to meander up the Schoharie area, causing widespread flooding, wind, touch, if you’re interested!]. Rather, I think Valley to Schoharie Crossing, the site of and storm damage. Clean up from this it’s good practice and quite humbling to an Erie Canal Aqueduct, where the waters storm is taking place throughout the entire turn the cultural investigator glass upon of the Schoharie Creek enter the Mohawk Northeast Corridor of the United States oneself from time to time, and to partici- River. Because it is a “captive river” (in and will continue for years to come. In its pate in at least a bit of the intimate sharing that its waters do not flow unheeded and aftermath, folklorists around the metro- that we routinely ask our subjects to do for are interrupted by the dam at Gilboa), the politan New York area have been meeting our profession. Schoharie Creek in summertime is sleepy to talk about their communities’ responses The Christmas of my youth is an exam- and unhurried. In my little hamlet along the to Sandy and the role that culture plays in ple of a wonderfully layered holiday tradi- Schoharie, summertime visitors clamber one’s response to climate change. Dubbed tion, with religious and secular elements, over rocks to float in the dwindling swim- “SandyLore,” this group has expanded to family and community all intertwined. ming holes, which shrink as the summer include folklorists in other parts of New We were not immune to the Christmas heat intensifies. York State who were hit by earlier storms, of 1960s–1970s. We got caught up in the In August 2011, the Schoharie Valley such as Irene. Climate change and cultural trappings of a rosy cheeked Santa with a experienced mass destruction and loss sustainability were the theme of the 2013 reindeer sleigh led by Rudolph, a real tree of property as Hurricane Irene barreled New York State Folk Arts Roundtable that decorated with colored glass ornaments through the northern Catskills region took place in Schenectady in May. Other and aluminum tinsel, multi-colored lights and down the Valley. Originally forecast initiatives exploring the intersections of outlining the house, and the many TV spe- as headed for New York City and Long cultural sustainability and responses to cials. We kids expected the overload of toys Island, Hurricane Irene caught residents climate change will be ongoing. and gifts, marking up the Sears Christmas unaware, as torrential rains engorged creek Ellen McHale, PhD, Executive Director Catalog as a wish list of our many desires. beds and toppled trees, and strong winds New York Folklore Society I remember being quite shaken when my tore roofs from buildings. The Schoharie [email protected] older brother, home from prep school, la- Creek swelled to over a mile wide through www.nyfolklore.org beled it a “manufactured holiday of corpo- the Schoharie Valley, flooding homes and rate commercial interests.” businesses in numerous Catskills communi- Of course, we knew “the real meaning ties and destroying historic landmarks such of Christmas,” as recited in the final scene as Blenheim’s historic Covered Bridge that of A Charlie Brown Christmas. It reinforced continued on page 2 “Formal sacred rituals surrounding seasonal holidays may happen in places of worship; however, in members’ homes, informal, more secularized rituals may also occur, marking the date as personally significant to the member as well as significant to the entire congregation of their church or religious group.” —Martha C. Sims and Martine Stephens, Living Folklore: An Introduction to the Study of People and Their Traditions (2005), p. 104. VOICES: The Journal of New York Folklore Contents Fall–Winter 2012 Features 3 Drummer, Give Me My Sound: Reflections on the Life and Legacy of Frisner Augustin by Lois Wilcken 13 Flash Fiction Stories by Joseph Sciorra 14 14 Keeping the Adirondack Arts, Crafts, & Traditions Alive by Jim Mandle 22 Andy Statman, National Heritage Fellow Innovating across Musical Worlds by Pete Rushefsky 30 Rounding up the Memories: Personal Histories of the Dude Ranch Days in Warren County, New York by Annie S. Yocum 38 Hanging on to Tradition by Andy Flynn 22 Departments and Columns 12 View from the Waterfront by Nancy Solomon 20 Upstate by Varick A. Chittenden 21 Downstate by Steve Zeitlin 30 28 Play by John Thorn 37 Good Spirits by Libby Tucker 44 Voices in New York by Lisa Overholser 46 Foodways by Elsie Borden DeGarmo-Smith 47 NYFS News and Notes Cover: Portrait of Frisner Augustin in a Vodou temple in Brooklyn, 1998. See Lois Wilcken’s article, “Drummer, Give Me My Sound: Reflections on the Life and Legacy of Frisner Augustin,” 38 beginning on page 3. Photo by Martha Cooper. Courtesy of City Lore. Fall–WinterFall–Winter 2012,2012, VolumeVolume 38:38:3–4 3–4 1 1 From the Editor (continued) whate w were learning at our United Meth- Her large, open house Christmas Eve buf- odist Church—in an Advent season full of fets always ended with a reading of Clement Gospel stories, familiar hymns and carols, Moore’s The Night before Christmas by Miss Lulu costumed pageants, and choir cantatas, lead- Kisselbrack, with all the animation one would Fall–Winter 2012 · Volume 38: 3–4 ing to the finale of the candlelight service on expect from a beloved second grade teacher. Acquisitions Editor Todd DeGarmo Copy Editor Patricia Mason Christmas Eve and the birth of the baby Jesus, Everyone left happy, driving off to the can- Administrative Manager Laurie Longfield adored by his earthly parents and surrounded dlelight services at various churches in town, Design Mary Beth Malmsheimer by the gaggle of shepherds, wise men, and wishing each other a “Merry Christmas.” Printer Eastwood Litho angels. Folklife is not neat and sterile. It’s messy Editorial Board Varick Chittenden, Lydia Fish, José Gomez-Davidson, Hanna Griff-Sleven, But it was Mom’s own personal touch that and personal and wonderful. People follow Nancy Groce, Lee Haring, Bruce Jackson, created the magic of the season. Her credo of the ritual but also make it their own. I encour- Christopher Mulé, Libby Tucker, Kay Turner, reaching out to others, caring for the lonely age you to turn the glass upon yourself and Dan Ward, Steve Zeitlin and downtrodden, even though she, herself, think about sharing some of your personal Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore might be grieving for lost husbands. Along traditions with us. is published twice a year by the New York Folklore Society, Inc. with the gingerbread man tradition, she had Todd DeGarmo 129 Jay Street us, at an early age, sending our own home- Voices Acquisitions Editor Schenectady, NY 12305 made Christmas cards and gifts to extended Founding Director of the Folklife Center at New York Folklore Society, Inc. family, including many elderly folk in town. Crandall Public Library Executive Director Ellen McHale Folklorist Lisa Overholser [email protected] Administration and Gallery Laurie Longfield Web Administrator Patti Mason Voice (518) 346-7008 Fax (518) 346-6617 Web Site www.nyfolklore.org Board of Directors President Gabrielle Hamilton Vice President Christopher Mulé Treasurer Jessica Schein Ellen Fladger, Anna Mulé, Puja Sahney, Gregory Shatan, Connie Sullivan-Blum, Kay Turner, Thomas van Buren Advertisers: To inquire, please call the NYFS (518) 346-7008 or fax (518) 346-6617. The New York Folklore Society, in collaboration with Building Cultural Bridges, The American Voices is available in Braille and recorded Folklore Society, and New York State Council on the Arts, presented the workshop, “The Art versions. Call the NYFS at (518) 346-7008. of Community: Building an Arts & Culture Support Network for Newcomer Artists in Central New York State” on May 17, 2013, in Utica, NY. The first presentation above( ) was on the The New York Folklore Society is committed to Karen weaving micro-enterprise project of the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, providing services with integrity, in a manner that Utica, NY. The afternoon included opportunities for artists to present their work in an conveys respect for the dignity of the individuals and informal setting, and to speak about difficulties which are encountered in America below( ). communities the NYFS serves, as well as for their Visit the NYFS website, www.nyfolklore.org/progs/conf-symp/newcomer.html, to see more cultures, including ethnic, religious, occupational, and photos and learn more about the workshop.