Fall–Winter 2001 Volume 27: 3–4 The Journal of New York Folklore September 11: In Memoriam Benjamin A. Botkin, on the centenary of his birth Oxen Teams: A Farm Tradition An Italian Family Chapel in the Bronx Building Cultural Bridges in Binghamton Coming of Age in the City: Two short stories The Tradition of Fiddlin’: Granny Sweet and Alice Clemens From the Director Unusual Times the benefits are innumerable, and we, as a state, Concertina All-Star Orchestra. The evening In a recent New York are the richer for such efforts. In the twentieth provided a wonderful variety of musical styles Folklore Society –spon- century there were many hard-working advo- and traditions, concluding with the rich sound sored event, folklorist cates for New York’s traditional culture who of polkas played on at least a dozen concertinas. Mark Klempner spoke formed organizations such as the New York We welcomed new board members Greer on Dutch citizens who Folklore Society or created folklore collections Smith of Highland, Debbie Silverman of Ham- rescued Jews in the that serve as testaments to the creativity of New burg, and Karen Canning of Piffard, as well as Netherlands during the York’s diverse peoples. The citizens of New returning board member Madaha Kinsey-Lamb Holocaust. Klempner York and our folk cultural organizations need of Brooklyn. We at the New York Folklore So- has been collecting oral to continue into the twenty-first century to cre- ciety would also like to thank departing board histories of the rescuers, and he presented his ate opportunities to draw attention to the rich member Dan Berggren of Fredonia for his past work in a Humanities Month program jointly cultural fabric of the state. We need to broaden service and all of his hard work to make the sponsored by the New York Folklore Society, our support to community and grassroots cul- 2001 conference the success that it was. the Jewish Community Center of Schenectady, tural organizations that serve their own, smaller and the Holocaust Survivors and Friends Edu- communities, and we need to expand our as- Vaughn Ward cation Center, with support from the New York sistance to traditional artists to realize their goals. As Voices was going to press, we were Council for the Humanities. Although the lec- We also need to continue to create and nurture saddened to hear of the death of our good ture had been arranged several months earlier, opportunities for the young people in our com- friend and colleague, Vaughn Ward. Vaughn was Klempner’s October 30 talk seemed particu- munities to experience the authenticity of their a talented folklorist who was known for her larly timely in light of the events on September own cultural traditions. In these actions we can gentle concern for local artists and regional 11 and the public responses to it. be assured of the proactive stance of those who culture. For more than thirty years she dedicated Among many attributes of the rescuers, follow us. her unquenchable energy to preserving the Klempner noted particularly their ability to think traditional culture of the lower Adirondack independently and to act upon their convictions, 2001 Fall Conference region, working through such agencies as the as well as the expression of altruism that the The Annual Fall Conference of the New Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council and rescuers had learned as children from witness- York Folklore Society was held on September the Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa, and ing the altruism of their parents. So much of 28–30 in Fredonia. “Culture, Innovation, and finally founding her own organization, the Black what we document as folklorists finds resonance Folklore on New York’s Niagara Frontier” Crow Network. in these abilities: Folklore’s creativity demands looked specifically at the emergence of the Vaughn was the originator of the popular the ability to use the materials and knowledge Grange movement, the impact of the Liars’ Club, which regularly brought together at hand to create independently, and the knowl- Chautauqua Institution, and the founding of some of the best tall-tale tellers of the edge used is learned through the examples of the Spiritualist Church—all movements that Adirondack region. Her visionary work with others. That is a formula for success, in my ex- have had a strong impact on our nation’s cul- community scholars as experts in their own perience. ture. Conference speakers included Carole communities eventually found national notice As folklorists, we are trained to be watchers Bailey, a historian of the Grange; Dr. Ross and acceptance. Vaughn passed on December and listeners. And as I struggle with my own MacKenzie, Chautauqua historian; and Andy 7, 2001, after a lengthy battle with cancer. She ineffectual efforts to provide emotional suste- Baugnet, a photographer who has been docu- was 62. nance in these unusual times, I wait, poised to menting New York’s grange halls. Conference Voices will be printing a memorial page in her offer what little I can if the occasion arises, and participants were able to tour the Spiritualist honor in the upcoming Spring-Summer 2002 hope that my future actions will come from my resort village of Lily Dale as well as participate issue. We welcome your contributions to this heart and (as Klempner observed about the in a medium service. tribute. Please send your memories of Vaughn Dutch rescuers) “without too much thinking.” In typical fashion, NYFS’s annual fall con- to me. Maybe lack of “too much thinking” is why a ference included celebration and socializing. On Ellen McHale, Ph.D. group of my neighbors banded together last Friday evening, the conference began with a [email protected] year to form a nonprofit to preserve an 1857 dinner and square dance. Held at the Fredonia Executive Director, New York Folklore Society Greek Revival church in our small town, or why Grange #1, the dance featured local square www.nyfolklore.org the last decade has seen the emergence of sev- dance musicians and callers. Board member eral nonprofits dedicated to the perpetuation Stanley Ransom remarked that he had never Erratum and documentation of New York’s traditional danced to so many hammered dulcimers all In the Spring-Summer 2001 issue of Voices, arts and culture. Surely, the creation of these playing at one time. Saturday night festivities credit for the photograph of Amy Godine was nonprofit organizations was done with thought, began with a wine-and-cheese reception at omitted. The photographer was Emma Dodge but not with too much thinking. Woodbury Vineyards, followed by a gala con- Hanson. The editor regrets the error. One has to make a ripple to see what the cert featuring Dick and Carmen Gilman, Kelly future impact will be. Although there is risk, Armor and Dave Sturtevant, and the Buffalo “Folklore is a tool and a resource to enrich and enliven. Wisely used, it can bring about greater understanding and mutuality.” —Louis Jones, 1953 Contents Fall–Winter 2001 Features 8 8 Hallowed Ground Photographs by Martha Cooper 10 Benjamin Botkin by Michael L. Murray 11 Growing Up in Folklore: A Conversation with Ben Botkin’s Children, Dorothy Rosenthal and Daniel Botkin 16 Two Classic Articles by B.A. Botkin: “We Called It ‘Living Lore’” and “The Spiels of New York” 22 Teaming Up with Oxen: A Farm Tradition by Kathleen E. Suits-Smith 26 The Lisanti Family Chapel in Williamsbridge, the Bronx by Joseph Sciorra 33 A Bridge in Binghamton: A Community Museum Reaches Out to Schools and Families by Merrill Douglas 36 Growing Up in the City Short stories by Barbara Rothman and Laura Silver 39 Wooden Whimsy: Gary Rathbone by Mary Zwolinski 41 Passing Tradition to the Young: Norma “Granny” Sweet 22 and Alice Colvin Clemens 26 Departments and Columns 3 New York Folklore Society News 6 Upstate by Varick A. Chittenden 7 Downstate by Steve Zeitlin and Ilana Harlow 21 Media Works by Barry Dornfeld 24 Eye of the Camera by Martha Cooper 25 Foodways by Lynn Case Ekfelt 36 31 On Air by Varick A. Chittenden and Lamar Bliss 40 Lawyer’s Sidebar by Paul Rapp The public grief that followed Archival Questions the attacks on the World Trade 43 Center brought forth many by Nancy Johnson examples of creative commemorative art. Photo: 44 Book Reviews Martha Cooper 46 Announcements Fall-Winter 2001, Volume 27: 3-4 1 scripts submitted as articles. The review process Submission Guidelines for takes several months. Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore Deadlines permitting, authors read and cor- Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore rect galley proofs for typographical errors. Authors receive two complimentary copies of the Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore is a spond; both pieces may be published together. issue in which their contribution appears and may membership magazine of the New York Any subject may be addressed or rebutted once purchase additional copies at a discount. Authors Folklore Society (www.nyfolklore.org). by any correspondent. The principal criteria for of feature articles may purchase offprints; price The New York Folklore Society is a nonprofit, publication are whether, in the opinion of the information is available upon publication. statewide organization dedicated to furthering editor or the editorial board, the comment con- cultural equity and cross-cultural understanding stitutes a substantive contribution to folklore Submission Deadlines through programs that nurture folk cultural ex- studies, and whether it will interest our general Spring–Summer December 31 pressions within communities where they readers. Fall–Winter issue June 31 originate, share these traditions across cultural Letters should not exceed 500 words. Manuscripts should be sent by regular mail (not boundaries, and enhance the understanding and e-mail) to Voices at the following address: appreciation of folk culture.