Ann E. Burg - E Is for Empire: A New York Alphabet

A New York State Alphabet

Written by Ann E. Burg and Illustrated by Maureen K. Brookfield

Many people helped me capture the diversity and spirit of New York. I am particularly grateful to
the knowledgeable librarians and teachers, curators, and assistants who aided me in my research.

My sincerest thanks to Mary Craven for sharing with me the enthusiastic exploits of the Apple
Muffin Gang. A very special thanks to my daughter, Celia, who continually demonstrates the
sensitivity and creativity of a typical New York student. Thanks to Dr. Steven Burg, Professor
of History at Shippensburg University, for his insight and encouragement.

My deepest gratitude to my husband Marcmy first reader and truest friend.
Ann

In memory of Joseph and Anna, Michael and Rose, and most especially
my father, Louis, who loved New York almost as much as he loved Helen;
for Joseph who is from Brooklyn, and Michael and Rosemary
who are not; for anyone who has ever loved New York.
ANN

To my wonderful husband Don and our sons Ian and Colin
for all the love and support and for always believing in me. And to Margot
whose unfailing faith and friendship mean so much. Thank you.
MAUREEN

New York State has a diversity of landforms, including mountains, rivers, hills, and plains. The highest mountain in our state, Mount Marcy, is 5,344 feet above sea level and is part of the Adirondack mountain range. Other New York mountain ranges are the Catskill and Shawangunk Mountains located in central New York, and the Taconic Mountains located in the eastern part of our state.

New York also boasts several drumlins which are smaller, oval shaped-hills formed by melted glaciers. Are there any drumlins in your neighborhood?

A is for the Adirondacks With mountains lush and high, sparkling lakes, and fragrant pines that touch the open sky.

To truly appreciate the magnificence of the Brooklyn Bridge, it is important to remember that at the time of the bridges completion, people were still traveling by horse and buggy. By the light of oil lanterns, hundreds of workers, many of them immigrants, labored in unhealthy, dangerous conditions to clear away tons of mud and slime so that the foundations for the bridge could be built.

Although there had been other suspension bridges, never before had the cables of a suspension bridge been made of steel. At the time of its completion in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was considered the eighth wonder of the world.

B is for the Brooklyn Bridge, opened in 1883.

The worlds first steel suspension bridge is still a thrill to see.

On April 20, 1777, patriots met in a stone house in Kingston, our first capital, and drafted the Constitution of New York. This constitution was the set of laws that would govern New York and declare it free from the rule of Great Britain. In 1797, the capital was moved to Albany. Early New Yorkers believed that Albany was a secure location and would make the capital as accessible to western farmers as it was to downstate merchants. Albany remains New Yorks capital city, a vital junction for our citizens and lawmakers.

New York also served as the first capital of our nation. It was at Federal Hall in New York City that George Washington promised a new nation that he would preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. New York might even be considered a world capital since the United Nations, a peacekeeping organization with global membership, is located in New York City.

C is for our Capital, once crossroads of the Northeast: Where laws are proposed and debated, and state representatives meet.

Hundreds of years before the founders of our country drafted the constitution, Hiawatha and his friend, Deganawida, worked together to found the Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Iroquois League. The Iroquois Confederacy brought the Onondaga, Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca nations together as members of one group. Around 1722, the Tuscarora also joined the confederacy.

Some historians believe that George Washington, Ben Franklin, and other framers of our constitution recognized that the democratic principles which guided the Iroquois Confederacy could also benefit our own colonies as they struggled to unite as one nation. In 1987 Congress formally recognized the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on our own democratic system of government.

D is for Deganawida, the Native American chief, who worked with Hiawatha so there could be Great Peace.

It is said that George Washington gave us our state nickname when he referred to New York as the seat of the empire because of its vast resources. New Yorks greatest resource may be the people who live and work here.

Like the Brooklyn Bridge, the Erie Canal was built by laborers who often faced dangerous conditions as they cleared away the trees and sludge to dig the Erie Canal. This magnificent waterway connected Lake Erie to the Hudson River, and brought together the outer boundaries of our new and expanding nation. The Erie Canal was a singular force in the development of New York State. Building and maintaining the canal created jobs, and new towns blossomed along the path of the canal.

Though its importance diminished once the railroad rumbled into town, the Erie Canal remains a glorious example of the vision, endurance, and creativity of people from the Empire State.

E is for the Empire State and the marvelous Erie Canal. Opened in 1825, this waterway carried the lumber and goods that helped our state to thrive.

New York has a multitude of museums, each one celebrating the diverse interests and accomplishments of our state. The Farmers Museum in Cooperstown explores our rural past while the Metropolitan Museum in New York City is brimming with art and artifacts from around the world. The Baseball Hall of Fame houses treasures from Americas favorite pastime, including a 1909 Honus Wagner trading card and a warm-up jacket belonging to Jackie Robinson. The Museum of Natural History has a spectacular hall of dinosaurs and a dazzling African rain forest.