Oak Orchard Creek Swamp NY

Show aired May 22, 2014 2-4 PM
*=new music **=local music

From high atop the Oak Orchard Creek Swamp NY aka the Iroquois National Wildlife refuge,  we bring you the Stranger Show. Today we continue our series featuring the less well-known towns of the United States. Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is a namesake of the Iroquois Indians, a Native American federation that resided in the north east. The federation was originally made up of five tribes: Cayuga, Oneida, Mohawk, Seneca and Onondaga. The Tuscarora entered the federation in the 1800's.
At the end of the last glacial period, a huge lake called Tonawanda covered much of Western New York. Through the slow passage of time the lake drained and filled until only a few swampy areas remained. Here, wildlife flourished in the diverse habitat.
Centuries later, the Seneca Indians began to drain the swamp and clear some of the forests for farming. To the first European settlers in the early 19th century the remaining clusters of oak trees were reminiscent of an orchard and so they named the area "Oak Orchard Swamp." Settlers expanded artificial drainage of the swamp to improve logging and farming operations, but, plagued by high costs, and a cycle of muck fires and floods, the outcome was marginal at best. By the 1950s, landowners were looking to develop further and convert the lands to other uses. This development would have resulted in the loss of these vital wetlands forever.
On May 19, 1958 the federal government established the Oak Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, using funds from the sale of Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, or "Duck Stamps". To avoid confusion with the neighboring Oak Orchard State Wildlife Management Area, the refuge was renamed Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in 1964.
 Today we ask the musical question: Why is there so much swampy music in the pop music industry?  Only here at WUSR Scranton do we know the answer.
Bottom 20 swampy groups
20. Spin Doctors "Two Princes" "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong"
19. The Raconteurs with Jack White "Steady as She Goes" from Broken Boy Soldiers "Salute Your Solution" Consolers of the Lonely

18. Oasis "Wonderwall" "The Shock of the Lighting"

17. Phish "Take The A Train"

16. 4 Non Blondes What's Up?  – Bigger, Better, Faster, More !
15. Pretty Ricky   – Grind With Me - Radio Version, same

14. Foreigner  I Want to know what love is, Cold As Ice

13. Wings With a Little Luck" is a single and track from the 1978 album, "Londontown"/ Goodnight Tonight
12. Fleet Foxes Dancing on My Own

11. Red Hot Chili Peppers Can't Stop

10. Pussycat Dolls I Hate This Part
9. Rush Fly by Night
8. Hootie & The Blowfish Let Her Cry

7. Pearl Jam Sometimes

Ran out of time for the very bottom!
6. Black Eyed Peas
5. Animal Collective
4. Sex Pistols
3. LCD Soundsystem
2. Eagles
1. Dave Matthews Band