Events

Amsterdam’s St. Paddy’s Day Pub Fest Re-Imagined

Posted on February 26, 2021

Amsterdam’s St. Paddy’s Day Pub Fest Re-Imagined
Sponsored by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service

The City of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Tourism, Marketing & Recreation Department will present the 4th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Pub Fest Re-Imagined Sponsored by Jackson Hewitt on Thursday, March 11th – Wednesday March 17th.

In a typical year Amsterdam’s St. Paddy’s Day Pub Fest is one of our most popular and highly anticipated events. However, to ensure the safety of everyone, the event has been reimagined for 2021. This year’s event will take place over seven days and will showcase local restaurants and bars and their St. Paddy’s Day food and drink specials and giveaways. Dine in or take out and support our local businesses throughout the city.

There will be no shuttle service this year but there will still be plenty of great food, drinks and fun!!

Participating Locations:
Lorenzo’s Southside, (518) 212-2256
DomAdi’s Deli, (518) 212-6444
Evolve Eatery, (518) 212-5674
Herks Tavern, (518) 842-9881
Shorty’s Southside Tavern, (518) 842-7800
Creek Stone, (518) 684-6272
G’s Famous Lemon Cookies, (518) 212-5177
Fresh Basil Pizza, (518) 212-2700:
Russo’s Bar & Grill, (518) 842-2630:
Polish American Veterans, (518) 842-3909
Mundos Café, (518) 212-2989:
Rosito’s Bakery, (518) 842-2616
Europa Café, (518) 843-6036
Cuba Havana, (518) 212-2679
Sharp Shooters Billiards Pub, (518) 627-4634
5 Corners Deli, (518) 843-9271
Miss Blues Pet Boutique, (518) 627-9668

Erie Canal Art the Topic for Presentation

Posted on October 8, 2020

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will host Mary Alexander, Curator of Education and Public Engagement at the Arkell Museum at Canajoharie, for a program on Tuesday, October 13th. Tune in at 6:30pm for the presentation, “Perennial in Frame: Picturesque History with The Arkell Museum.”

Explore some of the great paintings in the collection at the Arkell Museum with Mary Alexander, and David Brooks of Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site. Discover more about the collection, the artists, and the history represented in the amazing portraits and landscapes. “Pleasure is a shadow, wealth is vanity, and power a pageant; but knowledge is ecstatic in enjoyment, perennial in frame, unlimited in space and indefinite in duration.” ― DeWitt Clinton, The Life and Writings of DeWitt Clinton.

As part of the sixth annual Tuesday Talk series to recognize New York State History Month, the site will offer this program for free and via the online platform Webex. The link can be found on the Schoharie Crossing Facebook, the NYS Parks Website, or by contacting the site.

Other NY State History Month programs being offered by Schoharie Crossing are:

The Schuyler Sisters with Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site staff Jessica Serfilippi on Tuesday, October 20^th at 6:30pm.
The Life and Times of DeWitt Clinton with Ashley Maready of the Erie Canal Museum on Wednesday, October 21^st at 1:00pm.
Converging on the Canal: the 19^th Century Through Food with Amanda Massie and Valerie Balint on Tuesday, October 27^th at 6:30pm.
10 Stories with Bob Cudmore on Wednesday, October 28^th at 1pm.

For information about this program, please call the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, email SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, or visit our Facebook page.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 individual state parks, historic sites, golf courses, boat launches and recreational trails, which are visited by 71 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.

The D&H Canal: 19th Century Engine of Prosperity program offered by Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site

Posted on September 22, 2020

The D&H Canal: 19th Century Engine of Prosperity program offered by Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site!

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will host Bill Merchant of the D&H Canal Museum on Thursday, September 24^th at 6:30pm for a special online program. The D&H Canal: 19th Century Engine of Prosperity tells the basic history of the Delaware and Hudson Canal and illustrates how many of the industries it fostered. Discover just how the canal that spanned from Pennsylvania to the Hudson River impacted the history of New York State.

Bill Merchant has been with the D&H Canal Historical Society for over eight years. He previously served as board president and is now employed as the Deputy Director for Collections, Historian and Curator. He also serves as president of the Delaware and Hudson Transportation Heritage Council, vice president of the Ulster County Historical Society, and on the board of the Century House Historical Society, where he serves as historian and collections committee chair.

This is a free event hosted via Webex and the link can be found on the Schoharie Crossing Facebook event listing or by visiting their NYS Parks webpage. Please note that the link online goes live ten minutes prior to the presentation.

This is part of a series of online programs Schoharie Crossing has been offering in 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis. The Erie Canal historic site will continue to provide programs through Webex as well as other online programs and social media. Look for more great programs in October to recognize NYS History Month.

The site grounds remain open for appropriate socially distant recreational use from sunrise to sunset daily. Please observe NYS Guidelines while visiting Schoharie Crossing. For information about these programs, please find us on Facebook or you can call or email the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov.

Schoharie Crossing Offers Online Programs

Posted on July 24, 2020

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will continue to offer online programs throughout the summer even as the Visitor Center is now open by appointment. The Erie Canal historic site will provide programs through Webex as well as other online platforms and social media.

The next “virtual” program is scheduled for 6:30pm on Tuesday, July 28th and the topic will be how foodways in America changed because of westward expansion and the Erie Canal. Lavada Nahon will discuss how the movement of people and the mix of cultures transformed the way people eat. Nahon is a culinary historian, editor and historic interpreter for the Bureau of Historic Site and Park Services.

On Thursday, August 13^th at 6:30pm, join us via Webex as Schoharie Crossing hosts Schenectady City Historian Chris Leonard as he delivers a rollicking ride on the Erie Canal through Schenectady, from the Rexford Aqueduct to old Lock 23, the busiest transit point on the entire canal. Spend time with GE executives on boisterous pleasure cruises and hustle through backstreets with greenhorns desperately seeking whiskey. Travel with Leonard as he spins yarns of Schenectady’s unique characters, ne’er-do-well wharf rats, and foul-mouthed parrots, who made their livings on the canal.

During the month of August, the site is hosting a book club with weekly check-ins that will include discussion on the reading and an opportunity to pose questions. The selection is the 2016 release by author Jack Kelly, “Heaven’s Ditch: God, Gold, and Murder on the Erie Canal.” Participants can submit questions for the author, as Kelly will be providing an online presentation with Q&A on September 2nd.

Additional programs are being planned. The site grounds are open for appropriate socially distant recreational use from sunrise to sunset daily. Please observe NYS Guidelines while visiting Schoharie Crossing.

For information about these programs, please find us on Facebook or you can call or email the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov. You can make a reservation to explore the Pathway to Empire exhibit by contacting the site.

Schoharie Crossing re-opening Visitor Center

Posted on July 20, 2020

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will be opening their Visitor Center for the 2020 season on Wednesday, July 22^nd. Days of operation for exhibit reservations will be Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 3pm. The site grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

In response to the covid-19 pandemic, the following health and safety guidelines will be in effect for the season:

Guided tours of the site grounds will be given on Wednesday through Saturday by advance reservation only. These tours are $2 per person. Grounds Tours will be limited to 10 people.
Access to the exhibit, “Pathway to Empire” is by reservation only. Visitors can call (518) 518-829-7516 during normal business hours to schedule. Exhibit area limited to 6 people.
Masks must be worn by all visitors inside the buildings or when social distance cannot be kept.
Access into the buildings will only be provided by staff. Visitors should arrive no more than 10 minutes prior to their scheduled reservation. Tours will start in front of the Visitor Center. Access to the exhibit will meet at the entrance door.

For information about the historic site, please call the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, email SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, or visit our Facebook page.

Canalway Challenge Promotes Health and History Along New York’s Canals

Posted on May 20, 2020

Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor invites New Yorkers to take part in the Canalway Challenge in 2020, tracing history and tracking miles along New York’s canals and Canalway Trail. Part fitness challenge, part journey of discovery, the Canalway Challenge is free and registration is open to people of all ages and abilities.

“Staying healthy is a #1 priority for everyone right now. The Canalway Challenge is a great way for people to get outside and invest in mental and physical health, while exploring the canals in their local area,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Participants register online and choose a mileage goal of 15, 90, 180, or 360 miles; then walk, run or cycle on the Canalway Trail or paddle safe sections of the NYS Canal System to achieve it. The Canalway Challenge can be done in one big trip or many small ones.

This year’s Challenge runs through the end of October, so people have plenty of time to complete it.

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “Set alongside our state’s iconic canals, the Canalway Challenge offers participants an opportunity to enjoy the bucolic landscapes of Upstate New York, exercising their minds and bodies, while also practicing safe social distancing.”

Families are encouraged to use the Canalway Challenge to supplement home-based learning about New York State history. Educational worksheets and learning resources are available from the National Heritage Corridor to complement what children will see while on the trail.

Participants in last year’s Canalway Challenge logged 285,000 miles, the equivalent of circling the Earth 11 times.

Participants should follow all New York State Department of Health guidelines for social distancing, wearing a mask and proper hygiene while on the Canalway Trail and while visiting state parks, historic sites, and communities along the way. Updates are posted https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-pause.

Sign up at www.canalwaychallenge.org

ABOUT THE ERIE CANALWAY
Nearly 200 years after its construction, the Erie Canal remains an iconic symbol of American ingenuity and determination. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor preserves our extraordinary canal heritage, promotes the Corridor as a world-class tourism destination, and fosters vibrant communities connected by more than 500 miles of waterway. We achieve our mission in partnership with the National Park Service, New York State agencies, non-profit organizations, local residents, and more than 200 communities across the full expanse of upstate New York.
http://www.eriecanalway.org/

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NOTICE TO MARINERS – 2020 CANAL SEASON OPENING SCHEDULE

Posted on May 18, 2020

The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that much of the 524-mile Canal system will open for through navigation of the locks by July 4, 2020 as maintenance and construction projects are set to resume on a regional basis under the “NY Forward Reopening” plan.

Canal Corporation crews and contractors will mobilize to work sites in the Capital Region, Mohawk Valley, Central NY, Finger Lakes, and Western NY regions as those areas reopen. Maintenance work that needs to be completed at specific Canal facilities varies by location and locks along the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca Canals will open for passage in a staggered fashion. Announcements regarding specific lock or regional openings will be communicated through the Canal Corporation’s “Notice to Mariners” notification program available at www.canals.ny.gov.

OPENING SCHEDULE (TENTATIVE)

Capital Region – “NY Forward Reopening” Date TBD

Erie Canal from Lock E-2 in Waterford to Lock E-9 in Rotterdam
Champlain Canal from Lock C-1 in Waterford to Lock C-12 in Whitehall

Mohawk Valley Region – Locks opening in phases, targeted for between July 4^th & August 10^th

Erie Canal Lock E-10 in Cranesville through Sylvan Beach at Oneida Lake

Central NY Region – Locks targeted for opening by July 4^th

Erie Canal from Oneida Lake to Lock E-25 in May’s Point
Oswego Canal – except Lock O-7 in Oswego

Finger Lakes Region – Locks targeted for opening by July 4^th

Erie Canal from Lock E-25 in May’s Point to Locks E-34/35 in Lockport – except Lock E-26 in Clyde
Cayuga – Seneca Canal – except Locks CS-2/3 in Seneca Falls

Western NY Region – “NY Forward Reopening” Date TBD

Erie Canal Locks E-34/35 in Lockport through Tonawanda

As maintenance and construction work commences, most boaters, paddlers, and anglers can access sections of the Canal system for recreational use today. Mariners are advised that some sections of the Canal system will have reduced water levels until such time as the Canal Corporation completes its projects. In addition, navigation aids are not currently in place, but will be installed on the Canal system as the regions open.

All users of the Canal system and adjacent Empire State Trail are encouraged to practice social distancing while using boat launches, trails and other public resources.

The Canal Corporation appreciates the public’s patience during this time and urges all users to register to receive updates through the “Notice to Mariners” notification program

at www.canals.ny.gov.

Freedom Seekers in the Mohawk Valley as Museum Monday Program at Schoharie Crossing

Posted on January 28, 2020

The Visitor Center at Schoharie Crossing will be open on Monday, February 3^rd for the second Museum Monday program of the year. The topic will be Abolition and Slavery in Montgomery County with Montgomery County Historian Kelly Farquhar. Discover information on freedom seekers in the Mohawk Valley and how the Erie Canal was used to spread ideas, shape ideology, and as a way to escape bondage.

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will be opening the doors at their Visitor Center this off season on each first Monday of the month for these Museum Monday Programs. The building will open at 10:00am on February 3^rd, March 2^nd, and April 6^th to provide a themed discussion within the Pathway to Empire Exhibit beginning at 12:00pm.

The exhibit space will be open until 2pm on these days. Each program is open to the public and questions are encouraged. This is not a formal presentation and the idea is to explore the exhibit and discover more about each theme topic.

The rest of the program schedule is as follows:

On March 2^nd we say HAPPY BIRTHDAY DeWitt! Celebrate the Birthday of DeWitt Clinton, Erie Canal proponent, NYS Governor, and founding son of early America. We will take a look at his portrait inside the gallery, enjoy cupcakes, and learn more about his life.

April 6^th the theme will be a discussion on how the federal government rejected funding the NYS project to build the Erie Canal. Learn more about how NY constructed the canal anyway, and some thoughts on how a conspiracy may have been involved.

For information about this program, please call the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, email SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, or visit our Facebook page.

TravelStorys Give Visitors and Residents a New Interactive Way to Experience Montgomery County

Posted on October 25, 2019

TravelStorys App provides free GPS guided tours that share the stories of Montgomery County

The Montgomery County Tourism department of the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce (opens in a new tab) , in partnership with economic development and the Department of History and Archives (opens in a new tab) , announce new TravelStorys audio tour (opens in a new tab) that allows listeners to hear the historic stories of Montgomery County while traveling the Erie Canalway Trail (opens in a new tab) throughout the county.

The Mohawk River and the Noses near Canajoharie

The Cycling the Erie Canal: A Path Through History audio tour is available through the free TravelStorys app (available for download on smartphones). TravelStorys brings the little-known stories about the land to life, and by using GPS technology, stories on the tours automatically play as listeners pass through each site.

The Cycling the Erie Canal tour follows the scenic Erie Canalway Trail/Empire State Trail from St. Johnsville to Amsterdam (in either direction). As cyclists travel the trail, they’re serenaded with stories of the history (opens in a new tab) , landscape, culture (opens in a new tab) , and attractions (opens in a new tab) of Montgomery County. Narrated by Bob Cudmore, the historic stories were compiled and edited by Montgomery County Historian, Kelly Yacobucci Farquhar. The 35 stories tell about Montgomery County’s past and how they shaped the future – spanning from native (opens in a new tab) and colonial (opens in a new tab) times through the Revolutionary War (opens in a new tab) to the Underground Railroad (opens in a new tab) and the Industrial Revolution (opens in a new tab) to present day. The stories tell about nature, transportation, industry, and the people that helped form Montgomery County.

While the Cycling the Erie Canal stories are timed for cyclists, pedestrians utilizing the trail can enjoy the stories as well. Once the app is downloaded, each story will automatically play after entering the story’s radius. Each story is told in a manner that traveling the trail from east to west or west to east will not affect the storytelling experience.

The Montgomery County TravelStorys Audio Tour invites visitors to interact with the region in a deeper way, and to experience the Erie Canalway Trail in a new way. To download TravelStorys and take the tour, visit Google Play (opens in a new tab) or the Apple Store (opens in a new tab) .

Funding for the Cycling the Erie Canal: A Path Through History audio tour was made possible by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor (opens in a new tab) and Montgomery County’s I LOVE NY (opens in a new tab) matching funds program.

History of Beer in New York State

Posted on August 23, 2019

History of Beer in New York State

On August 27 at 6:30 pm Historian Craig Gravina will be speaking at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site about the history of beer brewing in New York State. The talk will take place in the Enders House adjacent to the Schoharie Crossing Visitor Center at 129 Schoharie Street. The Friends of Schoharie Crossing will have a very brief meeting before the talk, and refreshments will be served following the presentation. All are welcome to attend.

As Craig Gravina says he is a ‘”world class beer drinker, so infatuated with the stuff that he took to researching and writing about over the last ten years”. He will talk about the history of the brewing industry in the Hudson Valley and include its close connection with the Mohawk Valley including the Erie Canal and grain production in the valley and as well as other interesting personalities and events. He will also be doing a book signing of his book Upper Hudson Valley Beer.

For more information about these events and more, please call the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, email: SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, or visit our Facebook page Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site.

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