She recently hosted a brunch at SUNY Potsdam to honor the winners and runners up in three age categories.
Assemblywoman Russell said there were approximately 60 submissions in the contest focused on the history of communities in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties.
She said she was thinking about steps that could be taken to promote the North Country when she came up with the idea for the writing contest.
The contest sought entries from residents of St. Lawrence or Jefferson County with pieces that explored the region’s long history. It was open to non-fiction or historical fiction authors.
She said she felt the writing contest would be an opportunity to highlight the region's history.
"My hope was it would provide a forum to highlight our rich history, to talk about it and share it with each other. It was my desire to have have people share what they found the most interesting about our region's past. I was thrilled with the response and the depth and breadth of the submissions," Assemblywoman Russell said.
She noted the winning entries took readers from the grounds of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center to commencement exercises and a baseball game in the early part of the 20th Century at St. Lawrence University, from bootlegging on the St. Lawrence River to an attack on Fort Levis and from the battlefields of Sackets Harbor during the War of 1812 to the women's suffragette movement seen through the eyes of a student at the Potsdam Normal School.
"It was a beautiful representation of the history of our region, and it was purely organic. The authors were each able to convey something important about our region's past, the North Country experience," Assemblywoman Russell said.
"Everything we need to be successful is right here in the North Country. We are a very important and significant place in the world. We see that when we look back over our history and recognize the talented people and natural resources we have in this region," she added.
Author Alayna Bush, a sixth-grader from Adams, won the youth category for her story, “Whatever Destiny Has Laid Out For Me.” That story traces one young man’s life during the War of 1812 in Sackets Harbor.
"She has a maturity in her writing ability well beyond her years. The way she presented the topic of war still rings true today," Assemblywoman Russell said.
Clare Cragg, Norwood, was runner up in the category with “Clare the Woman Suffragist.”
In the teen category, Norwood’s Asher Cragg won with his story “Whiskey Run.” Asher’s story focuses on the bootlegging industry that sprung up across the St. Lawrence River during the prohibition era.
Assemblywoman Russell said the story included coming of age elements, the thrill of the chase and the father-son bond.
"There were a number of North Country themes layered into this piece. The undercurrent was they were risking the family's future by violating the law because the father was no longer able to financially support his family," she noted.
Gavin Murray of Heuvelton was the runner up in the teen category for his story, “Founders Day.”
Amanda Erin Stopa from Canton won the adult category with her story, “Apricity.” Apricity is a moving story about an employee at the St. Lawrence State Hospital in Ogdensburg and her interactions with one of the residents.
"Her work reflected evolving issues w still grapple with today. She tackled several social issues in a local setting. It talked about how we treat those who don't conform. It looked at family dynamics, who got to make the decisions at that time and how one decision by a family member could affect the rest of another family member's life," Assemblywoman Russell said.
Margaret Hockett of Canton was the runner up in the adult category with her story, “Thistle of Oak.”
The writing contest was co-sponsored by NorthCountryNow.com with assistance from SUNY Potsdam, the Jefferson County Historical Society and the North Country Library System.
Dr. Kristin C. Esterberg, president of SUNY Potsdam, congratulated the winners and welcomed them to the college campus.
"This is a wonderful event. Come back often. We want you to see our campus as your campus. We are a community resource," she told the contest winners.Judges for the writing contest were SUNY Potsdam History Department Chair Thomas Baker, Jefferson County Historical Society Director Diana Page Jordan, Flower Memorial Library in Watertown Director Yvonne Reff, Theresa Free Library Director Kristy Perry, Reading Room Association of Gouverneur Director Linda Adams, and Canton Free Library Director Emily Owen.
"We are grateful for the time and work the judges put into the contest, the support we received our co-sponsor and the assistance provided by SUNY Potsdam," Assemblywoman Russell said.
IN THE PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell recognized the winners of the North Country Historical Writing Contest during an awards' brunch at SUNY Potsdam. Pictured are, front row: Gavin Murray, runner up, teen division; Clare Cragg, runner up, youth division; and Alayna Bush, first place, youth division. Back row: Amanda Erin Stopa, first place, adult division; Margaret Hockett, runner up, adult division; and Asher Cragg, first place, teen division.