Events

Views and Vistas Art Opening At Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site

Posted on July 5, 2017

Views and Vistas Art Opening

At Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site

The Friends of Schoharie Crossing are hosting a juried art exhibition entitled Views and Vistas: The Natural and Built Environment of Schoharie Crossing. The opening will take place on July 8 at the Schoharie Crossing Visitor Center from 4-7pm. Refreshments will be served, and singer song writer, Kate Blain will perform for the event.

Schoharie Crossing provides magnificent views of nature as well as human engineering. Historic Erie Canal structures are juxtaposed among the natural world of plants and animals along the Schoharie Creek and Mohawk River. The tranquil waterways, wetlands, and Erie Canal structures of Schoharie Crossing are wonderfully presented in the art work on display in the Schoharie Crossing Visitor Center.

The show was juried by 3 notable artists: Natalie Bobinka, Visual Arts Resource Teacher Schenectady High School, International Baccalaureate Visual Arts Instructor, Curator Butzel Gallery/Schenectady, NY, Joel Chapin, Professor of Fine Arts, director of the Perrella Gallery, and J. Bruce Schwabach, Emeritus Associate Professor of Art, Herkimer College of SUNY.

Sponsors of the opening include: Bourbon Street Wine and Liquor Warehouse, Hummingbird Hills Winery, The Wine Barrel, MaryJane’s Market, 518 Grille, Olde Brick House, Black Bear Wine and Spirits and Italian Oven.

The art opening will close out the first day of Canal Days, an annual community festival celebrating the history of the Erie Canal. Events earlier in the day include performances by blue grass band, Three Quarter North, wagon rides, J.D. Winslow Equestrian Entertainment,

Views and Vistas will run until August 20^th in the newly renovated Visitor Center on Schoharie Street in Fort Hunter. Please visit the Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site page of the New York State Parks website, nysparks.com, call Schoharie Crossing at 518 829-7516, or email SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov for more information.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 180 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by 60 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 Itineraries to Help Visitors Find Great Experiences Along the Canal

Posted on June 1, 2017

WATERFORD, NY- As the NYS Canal System gets set to open on May 19, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has released nine new itineraries to lead people to great places and experiences along the Erie and Champlain Canals. The itineraries showcase some of the best historic sites, national and state parks, museums, and recreational experiences and are suited for weekend and day trips. Suggestions for cycling, hiking, paddling, and canal tours, as well as nearby places to eat or picnic are also included.

The itineraries are available to download for free at https://eriecanalway.org/explore/itineraries (opens in a new tab) .

“As we celebrate the bicentennial of Erie Canal construction in 1817, we hope these itineraries will entice people to enjoy the canal today and learn about its lasting impact on New York State and the Nation,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Strong collaboration among national, state, and local partners made this project possible. Erie Canalway itineraries were funded with support from the National Park Service and Empire State Development’s Market NY program, part of the State’s Regional Economic Development Council awards. Each one features a national or state park along with nearby historic sites and canal recreation experiences.

Gavin Landry, Executive Director of Tourism for Empire State Development said, “We are proud to support the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor as we celebrate and promote the bicentennial of the Erie Canal this summer. These new itineraries will introduce travelers to some of Upstate New York’s best destinations, which will further bolster statewide tourism and the economic boost visitors bring to local businesses.”

“Whether it’s your first time on the Erie Canal or you’ve spent a lifetime enjoying this iconic waterway, these itineraries have something for everyone,” said New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton. “They are a great way to discover the rich history of the region and learn more about how the Erie Canal transformed the nation.”

Erie Canalway Itineraries INCLUDE:

Western New York

Go Where the Buffalonians Roam (Buffalo)
Experience the Power of Water (Niagara Falls and Lockport)

Central New York

Follow Where Mules Once Trod (Greater Syracuse)
Be Moved By Women and Water (Seneca Falls)

Mohawk Valley Region

Discover Why All Roads Lead to Rome (Rome)
Hike-Bike-Explore Little Falls (Little Falls)
Mohawk Valley Treasure Hunt (opens in a new tab) (Mohawk Valley Villages (opens in a new tab) to Amsterdam (opens in a new tab) )

Capital Region

Discover the Erie Canal (Albany, Troy, Waterford)

Champlain Canal

Follow America’s Destiny (Stillwater to Schuylerville)

The NYS Canal System is a NationalHistoric Landmark (opens in a new tab) that includes the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning more than 500 miles, the waterway links the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes, and Lake Champlain. The canals form the backbone of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and connect hundreds of unique and historic communities. The 365-mile Erie Canalway Trail (opens in a new tab) is a multi-use trail from Albany to Buffalo, much of it along the canal’s former towpath. Together the canals and trail create a world-class recreationway that is a vibrant, scenic and unique New York resource.

ABOUT THE ERIE CANALWAY
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)

Mohawk Country Itinerary

Posted on April 14, 2017

America’s First Frontier: Where the Revolutionary War in the Mohawk Valley comes to life!

Follow our Mohawk Valley Path Through History (opens in a new tab) to eight historic sites (opens in a new tab) .

Your journey begins in Canajoharie (Exit 29 off the New York State Thruway) at the Van Alstyne Homestead (opens in a new tab) . According to family tradition, the original structure was built by Martin Van Alstyne as early as 1729. By 1765 son Goshen Van Alstyne had converted and expanded the house to a colonial tavern. The tavern became a frequent meeting place of the Tryon County Committee of Safety and is the place where Nicholas Herkimer received his commission as General of the Tryon County Militia.

Continue your travels west on State Highway 5S to Fort Plain. The Fort Plain Museum & Historical Park (opens in a new tab) is the site of the original Fort Plain also known as Fort Rensselaer. The construction of Fort Plain began in the late fall of 1778 after the Cherry Valley Massacre convinced locals of the need for a haven in the event of enemy attack. By 1781 the fort had become an important Continental Army Depot for the western Mohawk Frontier and was inspected by General Washington in August of 1783.

Also located in Fort Plain is the Isaac Paris House (opens in a new tab) . In 1777 Isaac Paris, Sr. was killed at the Battle if Oriskany making Isaac Paris, Jr. sole owner of the Paris holdings. Paris was an accomplished businessman who served as the business representative for Washington’s major general, the famed Baron de Steuben, a regular guest at the house and nearby Fort Plain.

From Fort Plain, cross the Mohawk River to Nelliston following Hickory Hill Road to the historic farming community of Stone Arabia. Visit the Stone Arabia Dutch Church (opens in a new tab) burned by the British in October of 1780 during the Battle of Stone Arabia. It was rebuilt in 1788 and has remained unchanged since. The cemetery behind the church is the final resting place of Patriot leader Colonel John Brown of the Berkshire Massachusetts Militia killed in the battle on October 19^th. Historic marker signs along Route 10 mark the locations of engagements and forts involved in the battle.

Continue westward, following the old Stone Arabia Road, to the Palatine Church (opens in a new tab) of “Drums Along the Mohawk” fame. The historic church was erected in 1770 and is the oldest church standing in Montgomery County. It was built by German Palatine settlers who originally migrated to America from the Palatine region of Germany in 1710.

Next is Fort Klock (opens in a new tab) , a fortified homestead built circa 1750 by Johannes Klock, a German Palatine who came to the area with the great Palatine migration. On October 19, 1780, the Battle of Klock’s Field was fought just west-northwest of the fort.

Located less than a mile west of Fort Klock is the 1747 Nellis Tavern (opens in a new tab) , an historic inn and tavern. Built by Christian Nellis, Sr., as a farmhouse, was expanded to its present form about 1800 with the construction of the Mohawk Turnpike. The original timber-frame clapboard structure survived the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.

St. Johnsville is also the home of the Margaret Reaney Memorial Library (opens in a new tab) which houses a collection of fine art, sculpture, and historically important memorabilia. Spanning many years, from pre-Revolutionary to present time, the exhibits reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Mohawk Valley.

Tour of Mohawk Country sites or visit for a special event. Take your time exploring the historic heritage of Montgomery County. Dine (opens in a new tab) , relax, spend the night (opens in a new tab) !

2016 Fall Lecture Series Fort Plain Museum

Posted on October 5, 2016

Fort Plain Museum (opens in a new tab)

389 Canal Street, Fort Plain, NY 13339

fortplainmuseum@yahoo.com (opens in a new tab)

518-774-5669

Lectures start at 7:00pm

Admission is free but donations are appreciated.

Thursday, October 13

“War on the Middleline – The Founding of a Community in the Kayaderosseras Patent in the Midst of the American Revolution” by James E. Richmond

Thursday, October 20

“Sir William Johnson and the Evolution of the Mohawk Valley Fur Trade” by Michael Perazzini

Thursday, October 27

“350 Years of Firearms” including the Hamilton/Burr Dueling Pistols by John Phillips (Phillips will discuss and showcase replica Hamilton/Burr Dueling Pistols made before the American Revolution Bicentennial)

Thursday, November 3

“Forgotten Pioneers: African Americans in the Mohawk Valley” by Wayne Lenig and “West African Drumming in Colonial America” (drumming demonstrations included) by Charles Lenig

Fall Foliage Report: September 28- October 4

Posted on September 30, 2016

I LOVE NY started the “New York Fall Foliage Report (opens in a new tab) ” on September 14 and continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November. Montgomery County has started its own annual report this year as well.

Reporting station: Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site (opens in a new tab) , Fort Hunter

Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend: 30%

Brilliance: Dull

Predominating colors: Greenish-Yellow, Rusty Brown with touches of Orange

Rating: Just changing

lock-e13-foliage-9_29_16 — View from the Taste NY store at Lock E13 Living History Park.

October is a good time to take a scenic ride through the Mohawk Valley. Many of our agritourism (opens in a new tab) sites are open featuring local products. Have lunch or dinner at one of our many restaurants (opens in a new tab) . Enjoy fall harvest events (opens in a new tab) or take in an art exhibit. There is so much to do in Montgomery County!

The new Taste NY Store at Lock E13 Living History Park (opens in a new tab) is open daily. Purchase local and regional products; take in the fall foliage and the Mohawk River views. If you are lucky you’ll see a boat locking through. Located in the New York State Thruway at milepost 187 westbound between exits 28 (Fultonville) and 29 (Canajoharie), you find a unique experience waiting for you.

Call for a free Harvest Tour Map!

1.800.743.7337

Currytown Raids

Posted on August 25, 2016

During the weekend of Aug. 27, a reenactment has been scheduled to commemorate the Currytown Raids, off of Currytown Rd. & Route 162, in Sprakers, in the town of Root. This event is to commemorate the 235^th anniversary of the raid, which took place on July 9, 1781. A commemorative button has been created and will be for sale.

Colonial camps will be on display and open for the public to see what life was like back in the 1780s. The reenactment will take place on Sunday, Aug. 28. There is no admission fee for the event.

On Saturday, the Root Historical Society will host a Chicken BBQ at the Currytown Church, starting at 2 p.m., and on Sunday, they will host an Ice Cream Social, starting at 4 p.m.

Off-street parking will be available and marked and a shuttle service will be available for those using the lots away from the camps. The organizers are asking that the public refrain from parking on the sides of Route 162, due to increased traffic for the event.

For more information, visit the “Currytown Set Afire” Facebook page. If you are interesting in participating in the event, either as a reenactor or sutler, please contact William Maring at williammaring@yahoo.com.

Canal Days at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site- July 9 & 10

Posted on July 6, 2016

Schoharie Crossing will host Canal Days on July 9 & 10 from 11am – 4pm both Saturday and Sunday. This event is a free community festival celebrating the Erie Canal and the character of the people and towns along the way.

The festival will offer a variety of attractions and demonstrations including wagon rides, the Utica Zoomobile, magic performances by Jim Snack, Tri County Old Time Engine display, games, food vendors, and a garage sale. The Dudley Observatory will have a solar telescope to safely view the sun. There will also be two performances each day by J.D. Winslow Equestrian Entertainment. Various community organizations will be participating including the Fort Hunter Library, Montgomery Sheriff’s Department, Girl Scouts, Mohawk River Basin Program, Golden Fleece spinning and weaving guild, Run By Dogs, SPCA, Audubon Society and Forever Greyhound Adoptions. Upstate Kayak Rentals will be offering kayak demonstrations.

On Saturday the nationally known blue grass band Roosevelt Dime will have two performances. Local artists Cosby Gibson and Tom Staudle will also play and will offer a music workshop after their performance. In addition, The Friends of Schoharie Crossing will host a chicken barbeque. There will also be a wild life rehabilitation exhibit featuring live animals.

On Sunday, the program will feature the music of the exciting local swing band The Jump Daddies. There will also be a Rat Pack Cruzers Car show with prizes for best of show.

The festival is made possible with grant funds from Montgomery County. It is sponsored in part by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, the New York State Canal Corporation, Alpin Haus, and Shorty’s Southside Tavern.

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

Toe Tapping at Putman Porch Music

Posted on June 13, 2016

Come tap your toes this Thursday at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site (opens in a new tab) as Putman Porch Music (opens in a new tab) will start at 6:00pm. This great 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.

Musicians with an interest in American roots, bluegrass and folk music are encouraged to spend some time on the porch and be a part of a great experience. 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.

Putman Porch Music each Thursday for the rest of June from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. These are free events open to the public.

The grounds for the site are open all year from dawn until dusk.

For more information contact the site: SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov (opens in a new tab) (518) 829-7516.

Singer/songwriters kick off MVC Summer Concert Series June 18 at Unity Hall

Posted on June 13, 2016

Encore performances and a Battle of the Bands are among highlights of the Mohawk Valley Collective’s (opens in a new tab) 2016 Summer Music Series at Unity Hall this summer. Five concerts are on tap during the nonprofit’s third annual series, which kicks off on Saturday, June 18, with Singer/Songwriter Night at 19 Center Street, Fort Plain.

Musicians from the local folk group, Stone Soup, and New York City-based singer-songwriters Leah Shaw and Aviva Jaye will be the first performers to take the stage that night. Doors open at 5:30pm, with music starting at 6pm. Tickets are $7.50 and can be purchased at the door. Once again, refreshments will be available for purchase, and the Erie Station Bar & Grill will be on hand to provide wine and beer.

Mohawk Valley-based Stone Soup, featuring the talents of Suzanne Bladek, Joe Sinchak, Pete Liljeberg, Nick Frirsz, and David Bladek, performs American Roots music with a blend of folk, blues, gospel, traditional country, zydeco and the like. A crowd favorite, the acoustic group performed “unplugged” the last time they were in Unity Hall’s second floor performance space – once the sanctuary of the Universalist Church. To hear a sample of their music, go to http://bit.ly/1VgGmxw (opens in a new tab) .

Also turning up that night are returning artists Shaw and Jaye, who often perform together. Jaye, a trained vocalist, employs her voice, guitar, piano, ukulele and harp “to share raw material with simple, haunting motifs and transparent lyrics.” Her influences include old movie-musicals, classical music, Motown and pop. For samples of her music or more information about her, visit http://avivajaye.com (opens in a new tab) .

The multi-‐talented Shaw, who moved to New York from North Carolina, performs original music that pulls from soul, folk, country and pop influences. To learn more about her, visit her at http://leahshawmusic.com (opens in a new tab) or go to http://bit.ly/1qGJxSg (opens in a new tab) to hear a studio recording.

Other concerts include the July 16 Battle of the Bands, which features $500 in prizes. The current lineup includes Phil Arcuri, Stanley Hall, Heathcliff and Front of the House. Interested performers are asked to contact the MVC at info@mohawkvalleycollective.com (opens in a new tab) or by calling (518)993-5506 in order to sign up.

On July 30, Pat Ruddy, Leslie Kubica and the Matchstick Menagerie, The Eugene Tyler Band, and the Screaming Rebel Angels will hit the stage for Matchstick Menagerie and More; and on August 13, the fourth annual River Through Time celebration in Fort Plain’s Haslett Park will take place from 12pm to 5pm. Performance groups include Christie Belanger, Cosby Gibson and Tom Staudle, The Kennesaw Mt. Boys, and Caitlin Bingham, whose performances are offered at no cost to the public. Also featured during the event are the well-liked raffle drawing, which features Kayak and bike giveaways, face painting, vendors and a pulled pork barbecue.

The series will conclude on August 27 as Tumbleweed Highway, Steven Albert Wood, and Aircrafting perform during New York Country Night.

The local musicians support the mission of the non-profit MVC to host arts and cultural events in Montgomery County. The organization is dedicated to the restoration and adaptive reuse of Unity Hall and one of the area’s other historic architectural gems, the former West Hill School in Canajoharie.

Funding for 2016 programs and the River Through Time event has been made possible, in part, through grants by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, the NYS Canal Corporation, and additional funding from the Montgomery County Occupancy Tax administered by the Montgomery County Legislature, the Stewart’s Foundation, and the Dominion Foundation. Also partnering in support of the concert programming is the Erie Station Bar & Grill of Fort Plain.

Go to http://mohawkvalleycollective.com/upcoming-events/ (opens in a new tab) for more information, advance tickets (cost doesn’t include third-party ticket seller’s processing fees), links to performers’ websites, and schedules. All proceeds go toward future event programming and preservation efforts.

Find Your Own Path Through History at Schoharie Crossing

Posted on June 9, 2016

Celebrate history and create memories during this year’s Path Through History Weekend on June 18 and 19 at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site (opens in a new tab) . The Path Through History (opens in a new tab) program is an established state-wide series of events that consists of many organizations that participate in a focus on local history.

During the last almost two centuries, the Erie Canal has been the waterway used as the path for so many traveling through the wonderful Mohawk Valley (opens in a new tab) and across New York State. Schoharie Crossing is the only location where all three of the major phases of the canal can be witnessed.

For 2016 the site will be holding a Schoharie Crossing Scavenger Hunt that will ask questions pertaining to all aspects of this great historic site. Questions range from historical facts, to plant and animal spotting as well as getting you to really seek out things you may otherwise miss on your visit. The challenge is worth it and a whole lot of fun too!

The site will be hosting Scavenger Hunt participants on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The passport can be turned into Visitor Center staff during operating hours or sent to the site by no later than July 1st. A winner will be selected at random and an announcement made.

To print a copy of the 2016 Mohawk Valley Path Through History Schoharie Crossing Scavenger Hunt Passport visit the New York State Parks webpage for Schoharie Crossing or pick one up at the Visitor Center. Discover fascinating facts about the Erie Canal and Fort Hunter as you answer questions for a chance to win a prize package. Please – only one entry per person. Get out there, Explore and Enjoy! PathScavHunt (opens in a new tab)

For more information about this event and more, please call the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516 or email: SchoharieCrossing@parks.ny.gov (opens in a new tab) .

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Tag: Mohawk Valley