Maybe it’s our lack of front lawns, or the relative scarcity of children living among us, but I’ve long believed that we don’t see enough snowmen here in the Schenectady Stockade. That’s ironic, because snowmen entered into Stockade lore at the time of our infamous Massacre of 1690, when the French and Indian raiders slipped through a Stockade gate allegedly guarded only by snowmen made that day by the children of Fort Schenectady. Indeed, Bob Eckstein, the author of The History of the Snowman has asked:
“Was the first snowman in America made in Schenectady, New York, on the eve of one of the bloodiest days in early American history?”
Eckstein concludes: “We may never know whether this was the first American snowman, but the Schenectady Snowman is definitely the earliest reference to one.” [The Gang here at Suns Along the Mohawk believe that Native Americans almost certainly made snow figures long before the Europeans arrived, but the Dutch or English or “Americans” were the first to write about North American snowmen.]
Eckstein displays the above drawing of the feckless Stockade Snow Guards in a posting at his site, Today’s Snowman. He retells the tale in Chapter 12 of The History of the Snowman, at pp. 110 – 112 (which can be read in full by scrolling down this preview of the book). I’ve also discussed the Massacre Snowmen and Bob’s book (as well as his visit to Schenectady a year ago this week) at my weblog f/k/a.
“The History of the Snowman: From the Ice Age to the Flea Market,” by Bob Eckstein (Simon & Schuster, 2007); The Open Door has a few remaining autographed copies. If you need more encouragement to seek out Bob’s book for yourself or as a holiday present, see a sneek peek and a chapter-by-chapter pictorial YouTube Preview.
follow-up: see our sister local-issues weblog, “snowmen at the gates.”
That lengthy preface was inspired by my delightful Stockade Snowmen encounters today in Riverside Park. The trio at the head of this paragraph were constructed by the Petta Family last Saturday night (December 5, 2009) after our first snowfall of the season. You can find them at the west end of Riverside Park, near the flower garden and alongside 1 Washington Avenue. I wish I had seen the charming threesome earlier this week to capture them in their full glory. In fact, I obliviously walked right by them early on Sunday, when I was out taking pictures of our first snowy morning, after my camera and brain both froze up in the frigid air.
Here are two more shots of the Petta snowmen taken this afternoon (as always, click on a photo for a larger version):
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The little snowman at the very top of this posting may look like he’s guarding a modern Stockade fence again marauders, but he’s really taking a well-earned nap after a long, windy morning being constructed in Riverside Park, west of the Pump House. Thanks to an invitation from Loraine and Devin, I even had a small role in making the natty little snowmanoid.
Here are some shots I took during and shortly after his construction. The shots need no explanation, you can find a brief description by scrolling over each photo and a larger version of the image by clicking on the photo.
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Finally, Devin proudly displaying his very first snowman:
p.s. The snowman’s posse forms a canine fence patrol.
update (Dec. 13, 2009): As you can see at the head of this update report, the three Petta snowpersons are doing fine three days after our first visit. I can’t say the same for the snowman made by Devin, Loraine and myself on Thursday (see below). He’s still standing on guard, but has lost a couple accessories. I bet he’ll soon be back to his original dapper self (as always, click on a photo for a larger version).
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follow-up (Dec. 14, 2009): Devin and Loraine headed out to do some touch-up on their snowman early this afternoon. With the temperature around 40 degrees F., we found soggy snow on the ground and a shrunken, terminally ill snowman. I don’t know if a cute snow-woman was to blame, but our guy had lost his head. Here’s what we found this afternoon:
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As I left the Park, I passed the three Petta snowmen, which I am happy to say had held their shapes and were only a little bit smaller than yesterday.
follow-up photos – more Stockade snow-person sculpture:
[Dec. 28, 2009] This lovely switch-grass blonde appeared in a Union St. backyard on Sunday, Dec. 27th, and a Stockade neighbor passed along a photo of the shapely snowlady:
More Stockade Snowmen: see out post “SnowMommy rules on Cucumber Alley” (Jan. 6, 2010); and “a cool Snow Gnome visits Lawrence” (January 18, 2010);
– Devin’s 2nd Snowman, built with his crew on Feb. 18, 2010 –
followup: see Stockade snowmen 2011 . . .
With their two active pre-schoolers and large backyard, I’ve been waiting for the Couture family to add to this winter’s Stockade Snowman Census (see our post “rare Stockade snowmen spied” from Dec. 10, 2009). Daddy Aaron and the twins indeed did themselves proud last Sunday (Jan. 3), constructing a robust Snow-Mommy, flanked by an almost complete Snow-Miles and the beginnings of a fine snow version of Arthur. Below average temperatures have preserved them three days later.
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When I saw that round mound to the right of Snow-Mommy, I feared there would a sad tale to tell. Mommy Samantha, however, reassured me that her guys just got tired on Sunday and are planning to finish Snow Miles (he needs a face and arms) and complete construction of Snow Arthur when the next batch of good snow arrives.
Whether you are already in the holiday spirit or are just warming up to it, you might enjoy the “stocking stuffer” I put together two years ago called “
suns along the Mohawk 
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