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Tag: Mohawk Valley

Events

NYS History Month Series At Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site

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Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site announces that it will conduct the eighth annual Tuesday Talk series to recognize New York State History Month this October.  Each week a speaker will present on regional or New York State related history.  All presentations are free and open to the public. They will begin at 6:30 PM in the Enders House adjacent to the Schoharie Crossing Visitor Center, 129 Schoharie Street, Fort Hunter. Refreshments will be provided, and donations are always appreciated.

On October 4th, Anne Clothier from the Saratoga Historical Society at Brookside Museum will present, “Medicine, Maladies, and Mortality.”  This presentation will include a display of medical instruments as Clothier discusses how illnesses influenced the lives of our ancestors.  Her focus will be toward medical technology and at home practices between 1750-1920.

Tuesday, October 11th Cassandra Castle from the Herkimer Historical Society will discuss some of that county’s history. Discover some curious facts about its people and places. Castle will cover how Herkimer County was founded, who it’s named for and some of the mysterious events that have happened in its history.  The program is designed to be a wicked good time, showing how Herkimer County is a diamond in the crown of the Mohawk Valley.

October 18th, Brad Utter, a Senior Historian and Curator at the New York State Museum will be discussing the Button Fire Engine Company. For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, New York State was a hotbed of fire engine and apparatus manufacturing. One of the main players in that industry was Lysander Button of Waterford. Starting around 1831, Lysander Button worked his way up the ladder from mechanic turned inventor to owner of the firm that would eventually take his name. Utter will present the results of his latest research on Mr. Button, his company, and the engines they made, which were said to set the “Standard of the Age.”

Rounding out the series, on Tuesday, October 25th is Caitlin Sheldon, who is an independent historian that focuses on clothing of by-gone eras. She will present, “Dress in the Gilded Age.” Learn about the fashions that inspired the HBO show, “The Gilded Age,” and watch a dressing demonstration of the many layers and pieces that make up the lady’s fashionable ensemble. Caitlin Sheldon is a public librarian by day and hobby historical costumer in any bit of spare time she has. Sheldon has been sewing historical costumes since 2014 and takes inspiration from movies and shows as well as from the historical documents she finds in her library’s archives.

 

New York State History Month:

October is designated as New York State History Month by the New York State Legislature with the addition of Section 57.02 to the state’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Law.  “The purpose of this month shall be to celebrate the history of New York State and recognize the contributions of the state and local historians.”  New York State History Month represents an opportunity for historians, cultural institutions, and the public to assert the vital importance of preserving and learning about our state’s history.

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 78 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.

Firework’s Displays in the County for the Holiday weekend and beyond!

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Here is a line-up of Firework’s displays happening in the County over the Holiday Weekend and beyond.

For a full list of events happening in the county, please check our Event Calendar HERE.

 

Saturday, July 02, 2022

  • Amsterdam Mohawks Game, Shuttleworth Park, Crescent Ave, Amsterdam
    • After Game

 

Sunday, July 03, 2022

  • Amsterdam’s Independence Day Fest, Riverlink Park
    • 9:30 PM
  • 4th on the Weekend, Wiles Park, Fort Plain
    • Fireworks at dusk
  • Firecracker 50, Fonda Speedway, Fonda
    • After Race

 

Saturday, July 9, 2022

  • Wishfest, Riverlink Park, Amsterdam
    • At Dusk
  • After the 4th Celebration, Village of Fonda Recreation Park, Park St, Fonda
    • 9:00 PM

Great Outdoors Month Events Planned at Schoharie Crossing

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Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will celebrate June as Great Outdoors Month by offering fun opportunities to enjoy the outdoor spaces at the Erie Canal site. Great Outdoors Month is a month-long celebration of responsible, healthy outdoor recreation on local, state, and federal lands and waters.

The return of Putman Porch Music on Thursdays from 6:30pm to 8:00pm will be a great way to enjoy an evening of musicians jamming Americana, Roots, Bluegrass, and Folk tunes. Kicking off on June 2nd, this series invites local musicians to come spend an evening on the historic Putman Canal Store porch to jam and enliven the vibe of the former Erie Canal stop off.  Putman’s store building is located at Yankee Hill Lock on the grounds of Schoharie Crossing, 553 Queen Anne Road.  Much like a group of canawlers that happen to be stuck waiting at the lock, a few instruments and strong voices is all that is needed to pass the time. 

Get outdoors and peddle your way on World Bicycle Day, June 3rd at 6:00pm from Yankee Hill Lock to Karen’s Ice Cream. This staff lead ride will be along the Empire State Trail, covering three miles each way.  The site encourages families to participate and enjoy a delicious ice cream cone before riding back.

On National Trails Day, Saturday, June 4th, Schoharie Crossing is collaborating with ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse to offer a paddle on the Schoharie and Mohawk River starting at 9am and a guided nature–walk at 1pm from the Visitor Center. Bring your canoe or kayak to the Schoharie Aqueduct Boat-launch on Dufel Rd, just off NYS Rt. 5S for a leisurely paddle to explore the nature and history of these waterways. Overall, we’ll paddle about three miles and discover some fascinating connections this spot has to places near and far. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy after the paddle and before the nature walk, starting from 129 Schoharie Street in Fort Hunter. We’ll traverse about a mile of the old canal towpath, were mules once pulled barges.  Now, these paths are lined with interesting plants, wildflowers, birds, and other critters we might see along the way.

Saturday, June 18th we’ll host a picnic at Empire Lock as we celebrate International Picnic Day. At 11:30am, we’ll take a short half-mile walk from our Visitor Center to Empire Lock to enjoy a Bring Your Own Picnic together.This is a great way to spend part of the day before Father’s Day! Discover some beauty among the towpath trail and historic Erie Canal features.  The site will provide a Picnic Basket Shuttle, transporting your lunch and keeping it safe from Yogi.

These events are a fun way to add miles to the Canalway Challenge, a program sponsored by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. More information on this free challenge can be found online at: https://eriecanalway.org/canalway-challenge

To wrap up the month, on Tuesday, June 28th at 6:30pm the Friends of Schoharie Crossing host environmental educator and author, Anita Sanchez for Puddles! “There’s nothing shallow about a puddle! Puddles are homes, bathtubs, and drinking fountains for wildlife. They also provide a key ingredient for many animal homes: mud!” This hands-on program will introduce naturalists to the animals that use puddles as a habitat. We’ll meet some puddle-loving creatures, including snails, and have some close-up experience with mud.  

The grounds for the site are open all year from sunrise to sunset.  Visitor Center hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm and Sunday 1pm to 4pm. Group reservations available for off hours.

For information about these events or what is available at Schoharie Crossing, please call the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516 or email SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov. Find and like us on Facebook. For more information about New York State Parks, visit the website at www.nysparks.com.

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 78 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.

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Putman Porch Music at Yankee Hill Lock. Photo Credit: Halldor Sigurdsson

Market on the Mohawk

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The City of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Tourism, Marketing & Recreation Department is pleased to announce we will be adding another great event to our schedule for 2022.  Market on the Mohawk will be an open-air green market which will run Saturday mornings from 10am-2pm adjacent to Amsterdam’s Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook.

Come visit as vendors, shoppers, family, and friends gather at the Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook located in the heart of our city to enjoy Amsterdam’s Open-Air Market.  At the Market you will find locally sourced produce, live music, and vendors who produce everything they sell. All our vendors accept cash, and many also accept debit and credit cards. If you don’t have cash, you can purchase market tokens using credit, debit, or EBT/SNAP cards at our booth

 

For information on becoming a vendor please contact Rob Spagnola or Michele Pawlik in the City of Amsterdam Tourism, Marketing and Recreation Department at 518-841-4328 or 518-841-4307. All vendor spaces are free of charge. Space is limited.

For complete details please visit the City of Amsterdam Market on the Mohawk Facebook event page.

 

Erie Canalway Hosting Winter FEBRUARY 15 Canalway Challenge

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The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is inviting New Yorkers to take part in a special winter fitness challenge, the FEBRUARY 15 Canalway Challenge. Participants pledge to complete 15 miles by walking, running, hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing during the month of February to earn a 15-Miler badge. Participants can choose to log miles at national, state and local parks, on the Canalway Trail, or even in their own neighborhoods. Any location within the boundaries of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor (opens in a new tab)  counts.

“With the upcoming Olympic Games and a focus on physical fitness, we hope the FEBRUARY 15 Challenge will provide an incentive for people to get up, get out, and get active to achieve their own fitness goals,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “Getting out this winter is an excellent way to explore the Canalway Corridor’s seasonal beauty and start a fitness habit that can last all year.”

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “There’s a special beauty about New York’s Canals in the winter, and the FEBRUARY 15 Canalway Challenge is the perfect opportunity for New Yorkers to get outdoors and appreciate the bucolic landscapes and exceptional history of this storied waterway. I encourage New Yorkers to take on the challenge and experience firsthand the tremendous opportunities for recreation that the Canalway Trail and our state and national parks have to offer.”

Four national parks, 24 state parks, and nine New York State historic sites are within the boundaries of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. The Corridor encompasses 23 counties and spans 524 miles across the full expanse of the upstate New York. It includes the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca, Oswego, and Champlain Canals and their historic alignments.

Registration is free and open to individuals, teams, and organizations. Sign up at: www.canalwaychallenge.org (opens in a new tab) .

ABOUT THE ERIE CANALWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR
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. It achieves its 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.
www.eriecanalway.org (opens in a new tab)

ATTACHED: FEBRUARY 15 social media images
Have fun and stay fit this winter with the FEBRUARY 15 Challenge. Walk, run, hike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski 15 miles anywhere in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to earn your 15 Miler badge. Free. Sign up: www.canalwaychallenge.org (opens in a new tab)  www.canalwaychallenge.org (opens in a new tab)

Cheese Factory System Lecture offered by Schoharie Crossing

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Schoharie Crossing will be hosting the first of their Third Thursday Winter Lecture series on January 20th at 7pm via the online platform WebEx.  Patrick Reynolds from the Oneida County Historical Center will discuss Jesse Williams and the Cheese Factory System.

Just North of Rome, NY, the modern cheese industry was born in 1851.  Jesse Williams was a successful farmer and cheese maker but believed by working together as cooperative dairies, farmers could maximize their profits.  This led him to start the first cheese factory in the United States, a move that revolutionized agriculture not only locally, but across the nation.

On the 100th anniversary of Jesse’s cheese factory, John H. Kraft, president of Kraft Foods, proclaimed that “pioneers like Jesse Williams… [fathered] the ideas and tools that have made America great.” This man, Kraft said, “exemplified the spirit which has made the dairy industry the largest agricultural industry in America.”

Jesse Williams died in 1864 at age 67. At that time Oneida County was making over eight million pounds of cheese per year.  Williams never patented his cheese-making inventions but gave them to the agricultural world.

Patrick Reynolds is Director of Public Programs at the Oneida County History Center.  He is a graduate of the Cooperstown Program in Museum Studies.  He has worked in museums throughout the United States including Hanford Mills Museum, Berks County Historical Society, Rome Historical Society, and The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation.

This program is free and open to the public.  No registration is required. A link to the WebEx can be found on the Schoharie Crossing Facebook or by contacting the site directly.  For more information about these programs, 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 78 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

Erie Canalway IMPACT! Grants Support Education and Tourism along the Erie Canal

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Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, in partnership with the NYS Canal Corporation, is pleased to announce that seven organizations have been selected to receive Erie Canalway IMPACT! Grants totaling $64,323. Funded projects include vital work to showcase canal heritage and welcome people to explore the canal in their local communities.

“We are thrilled to support these community-driven projects to strengthen the Canalway Corridor as a vibrant place to live, work, visit, and play,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “These exciting projects will foster greater awareness and pride in New York’s canals that will have lasting benefits for residents and visitors.”

The grants range from $2,000 to $12,000 and will leverage an additional $161,107 in private and public project support. Over the past 13 years, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has made 90 grants to communities and non-profit organizations that have spurred $2.4 million in additional investments in heritage preservation, recreation, and education.

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “It is an honor to join with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in supporting education, recreation, and tourism along New York’s canal system. The history of our canals provides the framework for our State’s great legacy, and we look forward to supporting and enhancing awareness of these storied waterways for years to come through these IMPACT! Grant projects.”

2020 ERIE CANALWAY IMPACT! GRANTS
Corn Hill Navigation, Pittsford

Award: $8,954

Improve educational and program delivery with new technology at a new visitor center being developed at Corn Hill Landing in Rochester.

 

Erie Canal Museum, Syracuse 

Award: $9,015

Develop programming related to the Empire State Trail including a Syracuse-based Trail Ambassador Program and trail amenities that raise user awareness of the museum. Pilot both weekend and Corridor-wide trail rides.

Explore & More: The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum, Buffalo

Award: $11,454

Design and present an Erie Canal themed educational play experience every Wednesday throughout 2022 that will engage children and families.

 

Friends of Stewart Park, Ithaca 

Award: $5,900

Design and install five outdoor interpretive signs that showcase the history of the Erie Canal and Cayuga Lake as they relate to the City of Ithaca.

 

National Abolition Hall of Fame, Peterboro

Award: $12,000

Design and install two outdoor interpretive signs within the Village of Canastota to raise awareness of the National Abolition Hall. Funds will also support a reenactment of a dramatic event that shaped the abolition movement in the United States.

 

Schoharie River Center, Esperance

Award: $12,000

Implement a series of educational programs with at-risk urban and rural youth to investigate water quality on the Erie Canal/Mohawk River and adjacent tributaries.

 

Village of Brockport, Brockport
Award: $5,000
Design and install a pair of outdoor interpretive signs that celebrate the history, design, and operation of the Village’s iconic lift bridges.

 

ABOUT THE ERIE CANALWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR
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. It achieves its 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.
www.eriecanalway.org

Doolittle performs at Schoharie Crossing

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Doolittle performs at Schoharie Crossing

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site is excited to host storyteller Joe Doolittle for the second installment in the return of our annual Not Just for Kids Storytelling series on Sunday, August 8th starting at 6:00pm.  Storytelling performances occur each week of the month and are open to the public of all ages.  Local tellers, with well-crafted tales will perform during the 29th year of this program at Schoharie Crossing.

Doolittle, who resides in Scotia, will tell, “If the Waters Could Talk, the Stories They’d Tell…” This storyteller delivers with his humorous, good-natured style for audiences throughout upstate New York. He loves to tell personal and family stories and has developed many historically based tales about the early history of the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys and the Erie Canal. Doolittle is also co-producer of Story Circle at Proctors in Schenectady.

The lineup for the rest of the series is: August 15th, Margaret French. August 22nd, Jeannine Laverty. August 29th, Sandy Schuman.

Not Just for Kids Storytelling will be held outside, under a tent near the Visitor Center, 129 Schoharie Street, Fort Hunter, NY 12069. We encourage you to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket to sit on. In case of rain, there is limited seating inside the Visitor Center and we will stream on Facebook.  The program begins at 6pm and is free to the public due to the generous support of a Saratoga Arts’ Community Arts Grant that has been made possible with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.  Karen’s Produce and Ice Cream is also another wonderful supporter of these programs.

For information please call the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, email SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, or visit our web page: www.parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/schohariecrossing.

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.

Storyteller Kate Dudding to Perform at Schoharie Crossing

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Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site (opens in a new tab) will host local storyteller, Kate Dudding on Sunday, August 1st at 6:00pm to perform, “Pandemic Ponderings: Stories of How I’ve Been Coping and Finding Joy.”

Dudding is a storyteller from Saratoga County and has won several Regional and National storytelling awards such as the Northeast Region ORACLE Award from the National Storytelling Network.  She is an award-winning author and storyteller who won the Story Slam at the 2010 National Storytelling Conference in Los Angeles and specializes in telling true stories about people who have made a difference. She has told stories at many venues in the Northeastern USA, including The New-York Historical Society (New York City, NY), The Clearwater Festival (Croton-on-Hudson, NY), First Night Saratoga (Saratoga Springs, NY), and The Norman Rockwell Museum (Stockbridge, MA).

Schoharie Crossing is excited to bring back the annual Not Just for Kids Storytelling series on Sunday evenings in August, starting at 6:00pm.  This storytelling performance each week is open to the public of all ages.  Local tellers, with well-crafted tales will perform during the 29th year of this program at Schoharie Crossing.

The lineup for the rest of the series is: August 8th, Joe Doolittle; August 15th, Margaret French. August 22nd, Jeannine Laverty. August 29th, Sandy Schuman.

Not Just for Kids Storytelling will be held outside, under a tent near the Visitor Center, 129 Schoharie Street, Fort Hunter, NY 12069. We encourage you to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket to sit on. The program begins at 6pm and is free to the public due to the generous support of a Saratoga Arts’ Community Arts Grant that has been made possible with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.  Karen’s Produce and Ice Cream is also another wonderful supporter of these programs.

For information please call the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516, email SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov, or visit our web page: www.parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/schohariecrossing (opens in a new tab) .

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.

Paddle the Mohawk Valley Set for August 7!

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The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is inviting people to sign up now for Paddle the Mohawk Valley, Saturday, August 7 from 9am-1pm. Participants will paddle the scenic and historic Mohawk River through Erie Canal Locks 11 and 12 and past several islands on this 5.5-mile guided half-day trip. Paddlers will start at Schoharie Crossing Boat Launch and paddle to Port Jackson/Amsterdam.

“We are eager to introduce people to paddling on the Erie Canal. Paddling safely together after a year of social isolation will be a wonderful way to celebrate and appreciate the recreational, scenic, and historic bounty of the Mohawk Valley,” said Mona Caron, Program Manager for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

“This summer is a season of economic recovery and finally getting back to the people and activities we love,” said New York State Canal Corporation Director Brain U. Stratton. “That’s why we’re incredibly excited to promote paddling on the historic and scenic Erie Canal, one of the premier waters ways in the Empire State which will allow New Yorkers and tourists alike to appreciate it in all its glory.”

Registration of $25 includes shuttle to and from parking and lunch. Kayak rentals are available for a fee. To register: http://paddlethemohawk2021.eventbrite.com

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. It achieves its 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. www.eriecanalway.org