In recognition of Valentine’s Day, here are some stories that speak to love in the Adirondacks, from the Almanack archive:

(Pictured here: Mary Welday and Duke Huntington, finding love and companionship in Saranac Lake. during the time of tuberculosis. Courtesy of Priscilla Goss/Historic Saranac Lake)

1. Love during a pandemic: Historic Saranac Lake Executive Director Amy Catania wrote this essay about tuberculosis patients finding romance, as part of her “Letters from the Porch” series. Amy writes “Before antibiotics, one of the most powerful medicines against tuberculosis was love. Happy patients tended to be more successful in overcoming the disease, so health care providers took every step to improve patients’ state of mind.” READ MORE
2. Beekeeping: A labor of love: Contributor Jackie Woodcock writes “There are very few things that can prepare you for the experiences you will discover with the amazing creatures we call honey bees.” Jackie shares her love of beekeeping and provides tips for getting started with a hive of your own. READ MORE
3. A Bonnie and Clyde tale for the Adirondacks: Lawrence Gooley tells a tale of a real-life criminal couple from 1883 in Speculator. READ MORE
4. The closest thing to flying: Those who dare to go down Olympic ski jumps compare the sensation to flying, writes Naj Wikoff in this story from 2014. READ MORE
5. Love for all creatures, even the creepy crawlies: In a homage to all creatures (not just the great, but also the small), Ellen Rathbone writes in 2009: “Where is the cheering section for sea slugs? Is there a “Hug a Millipede” campaign? What about bladderworts? As a naturalist, many people ask me what my favorite animal is, or they want to know my area of expertise. It’s a difficult question to answer because the more I learn about my fellow beings on this chunk of space debris, the more fascinating I find each to be.” READ MORE