Essex on Lake Champlain | Community Blog for Essex, New York

Joe Call, the Lewis Giant

Joe Call, The Lewis Giant by Maitland C. De Sormo is a short biography of a 19th century strongman living in the Champlain Valley. He was known in his heyday as the "Modern Hercules" and the "Lewis Giant" and was recognized for performing several feats of spectacular strength. How much of a tall tale the Lewis Giant has become you must determine for yourself. Exploits of the Lewis Giant In 1781, Joseph Call was born into a family of … [Continue Reading]

Essex Farm: Alien Asparagus

Enjoy this Essex Farm update from Kristin Kimball at Essex Farm, in Essex, NY! A quick note today, as the girls and I are off to central New York to pick up a load of seed potatoes – a job that offers a nice excuse to spend the weekend with my parents. Here, asparagus harvest is in full swing. What a strange plant. It is like a priapic alien, prodding its way out of the cold ground before the earthling plants are awake. The stalks we eat … [Continue Reading]

Depot Theatre Gallery’s Julie Warren Reception & Internships Announced

The Depot Theatre is a professional theatre company located in a functioning train station built in 1876. This year they are celebrating their 35th Anniversary! The theatre is a beacon for the arts; along with all of the theatre productions put on here, another popular event hosted at the theatre are art galleries featuring local artists! Depot Theatre Gallery Reception for Artist Julie Warren The Depot Theatre Gallery will host an opening … [Continue Reading]

Lakeside children listening to a story being told (Credit: Jen Zahorchak)

Lakeside School: Storytelling

Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm offers birth – 1st grade (soon to be 2nd grade) education based on the Waldorf philosophy on a working farm in Essex, NY. Each week our Office Administrator, Kathleen Morse, writes on the Lakeside school and community and education based on the Waldorf philosophy through her perspective from the office window. View from the Office Window: Storytelling I was recently sent a research article, from the … [Continue Reading]

View of Essex, NY from North (Stereoview)

Vintage Stereoview: View of Essex from North

It’s time for another vintage Essex, NY, image! This is the fourth in a series of stereoviews that we have recently acquired. This historic image shows us a hill top view of the picturesque hamlet long before paved roads became the common in the area. The dirt road lined with low stone walls/fences visible in the photo is today's Lakeshore Road. The photograph gives us a view of Essex and its main bay from the north. The … [Continue Reading]

State Closes on Addition to Adirondack Park

Late last year we informed you when the Adirondack Park gained 69,000 acres, and we're now updating you with the news that the state has closed on a second piece of property to increase the park's land in a second phase of that deal. The complete 69,000 acre tract purchased by New York State was previously owned by Finch, Pruyn & Co., a timber and paper company that predates the Adirondack Park’s creation 120 years ago. The Nature … [Continue Reading]