Chenango
Land Trust
EXPLORING CHENANGO
COUNTY is our theme. What's to explore?
You may be surprised. We are, because we are always discovering new
treasures. Find the really interesting places in Chenango County -- its
natural and historic resources. Learn how to discover them on your own, what to
look for, what basic information sources to consult. |
| Chenango County has a rich history, but most of its structures have been
destroyed. We will examine what is left and try to figure out what it was.
The main reason some of these relics remain is that they were hidden well enough to evade
the agents of destruction. We will teach you how to discover them. We cannot
do anything about past destruction, but we can strive to instill a basic appreciation of
historic remains and we can try to prevent any further demolition. |
|
The sites we examine are: house and barn foundations,
stone water wells, stone walls, stone dams, railroad, relics, old bridges, old cemeteries,
other historical remains. We also study beaver ponds, porcupine dens, waterfalls,
gorges, eskers, kames, moraines, and other glacial remnants, and hike the Finger Lakes
Trail. These excursions are also nature walks, so we point out the plants and
animals we encounter. Not all of these sites appear on every trip, but most
do. So come along with us and learn how to create your own adventure -- right here
in Chenango County.
|
Instructors are biologist Don Windsor, environmental educator Fred von
Mechow, Historian Tom Gray, Wilma Felton-Gray, gravestone specialist Marianne
Greenfield, and hiker Ed Sidote. |
All instructor fees go to the Chenango Land Trust, a not for profit
organization, which strives to conserve our rich biological and historical resources. Tours
consist of short walks and driving between points of interest. Don't miss out.
Sign up at the number below. Open to local residents and general public.
***For all of the Field courses, bringing a drink
and perhaps a snack is advised. Dressing for the weather is necessary. Bring
layers of clothing and rain gear. We will be walking through wet spots; wear
boots. We will meet at BOCES and then car pool to the sites. |
CALL TO REGISTER: (607) 335-1245 or (607) 865-2552
Exploring Chenango County
Anyone interested in exploring Chenango County, or in some cases, your own
neighborhood, is invited to attend this free session. Slides will be shown of the
kinds of places that we visit on our field trips. Presented as a "try before
you buy" sampler, attendees can then make informed decisions about enrolling in our
courses. Audience questions, comments and suggestions will be encouraged.
Presentation will be held in the Delaware Room of Support Services
Building.
1 Hour - Free
Held in Delaware Room of Support Services (Upper Building).
Instructors: Fred Von Mechow, Don Windsor, Tom Gray, Wilma Felton Gray, George
Kolb, Bob Smith and Phil Clement.
8/29/2002 Th 7:30PM
Grace Brown, the Movie
Grace Brown's story was the basis for Theodore Dreiser's classic novel, "An American Tragedy", and the movie, "A Place in the Sun", starring Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Cliff, and Shelley Winters. Even though the era, names, and places had been changed, the story line will provide a background to the events that occurred in 1906. We will explain the differences.
Chenango County Historical Museum, Rexford and Silver streets, Norwich.
2 Hours FREE
Instructors: Wilma Felton Gray and Diane Hamblin.
9/15/2002 Sun. 2:00 PM.
Spirits of Yaleville
Join us for another historical remains course focusing on an area of Guilford that will take us hiking in South Hill State Forest to old foundations, a new stone pile discovery, an old neglected cemetery, and the vestiges of an old turnpike. In this interesting hamlet we will study its cemeteries as related to the early settlers of this area, making the "Spirits of Yaleville" come to life! It will be a fascinating journey into the past.
We will meet at the Klee House (Route 35-Main street) in the hamlet of Guilford at 8:00 am and finish at the Yaleville Inn, where lunch can be purchased.
25 student maximum. 4 hours $15
Instructors: Tom Gray, Wilma Felton Gray, Tina Pabst, and Fred von Mechow
10/5/2002 Sat. 8 AM - noon or later.
Grace Brown - The Field Trip
We will venture to the sites of Grace Brown's childhood and grave in Otselic. The Adirondack murder of Grace was termed the crime of the century and was written as such in Dreiser's novel. We will then explore an early stagecoach turnpike and will hike the old plank road through a picturesque gorge termed the "Watkins Glen of Chenango County". This nature walk includes waterfalls, cliffs, and old dam remains. We will also explore Bucks Brook and point out some of the Finger Lakes Trailheads
We will meet at BOCES at 8:00 am.
25 student maximum. 4 hours $15
Instructors: Wilma Felton Gray, Tom Gray, and Don Windsor.
10/12/2002 Sat. 8 AM - noon or later.
Finger Lakes Trail -
Introduction and Sampler
The Finger Lakes Trail runs through Chenango County for 72 miles and is one of our most
famous attractions. If you have never hiked on it, you are missing out on a great
local resource. Learn where it is and how to navigate it. We will take some
short sample hikes, about a half mile each, at selected spots in the Towns of Smithville,
Oxford and Bainbridge. We will travel along gorges and waterfalls, and through the
biggest stand of American Chestnut trees in the county.
We will meet at BOCES and car pool to the sites.
25 Students Maximum 4 hours - $15
Instructors: Don Windsor, and Fred von Mechow and Ed Sidote.
10/19/2002 Sat. 8AM - 12PM or later.
Smithville Historical Remains
NEW
This town is an explorer's delight, because so much of its past still remains. We
will examine some very old foundations and try to imagine what they were. The old
trotting park and its amazing cluster of different structures will be explored.
Abutments from an old dam and the relics of its mill house will be viewed. We will
walk past some mysterious stone piles long the Finger Lakes Trail. Of course, we
will pay our respects in old cemeteries. The historic ruins of the famous Tarbell
farm will be included.
We will meet at BOCES. 25 student maximum. 4 hours. $15
Instructors: Don Windsor, Robert J. Smith, and Phil Clement.
April 7, 2001 Saturday, 8 AM - noon or later.
Afton Historical Remains
NEW
This course starts in the Village of Afton at the Historical Museum and ends up deep in
the woods. Our tour includes historic sites in the Village of Afton. Aftweard,
we will venture into the Melondy State Forest to hike to a remote site which contains
house and barn foundations and mysterious stone piles. As is our custom, we will end
up in an old cemetery. Warning: This hike is 2 miles in, uphill, and 2 miles
out.
We will meet at BOCES at 8:00 AM or at the Afton Museum at 8:30 AM.
25 Student Maximum
Instructors: Don Windsor, Fred von Mechow, Tom Gray, Wilma Felton-Gray and
Charles J. Decker.
April 28 Sat. 8AM to 12PM or later
Plymouth Historical Remains NEW
Starting with an old, but still active farm, we will explore the history of this town
by visiting old foundations of houses, barns, and even a creamery. We will try to
retrace part of the route of the O&W Railroad's AUburn branch and witness how it coped
with the meandering Canasawacta Creek. The most beautiful spot in Chenango County is
in Plymouth, so we will hike to it. An old schoolhouse, a roadside horse trough,
cemeteries and waterfalls will be featured.
We will meet at BOCES.
25 Student maximum. 4 hours. $15
Instructors: Don Windsor, Fred von Mechow and George Kolb.
May 5, Saturday, 8 AM - noon or later.
The Trail of the Coffin Man
Join us as we travel the old turnpikes following the path of an itinerant gravestone
carver of the early 1800's known as the Coffin Man. Learn of his legacy in Chenango
County. Visit old cemeteries, a stagecoach inn, and a historical museum. Hike
in the state lands in search of a "monster". Walk along Guilford Lake as
strange stories of the past unfold. We will meet at the Pillars in Guilford Center,
at the intersection of County Routes 35 and 36. We will NOT meet at BOCES.
25 Student Maximum
Instructors: Tom Gray, Wilma Felton-Gray, Marianne Greenfield, Phyllis Lerwick,
Don Windsor.
May 19, 2001 Sat. 8AM to 12PM or later
Pitcher
In addition to touring historic Pitcher Springs and the "Pitcheresque"
Otselic River, we will take a nature walk in the local state forests. The
unique aspects of this fascinating town will be investigated. We will examine the
old stone structures we encounter and will visit old cemeteries. We will also learn
about the famous murder mystery and ghosts, as well as the strange disappearance of the
lost lovers. We will meet at BOCES and car pool to the sites.
25 student maximum 4 hours - $15
Instructors: Fred von Mechow, Tom Gray, and Wilma Felton Gray.
June 9, 2001 Sat 8 AM - 12 PM or later
Guilford Historical Remains
We will be visiting a very old, stone saw/grist mill built in 1788, spectacular
waterfalls, a strange structure of uncertain purpose, railway and bridge from the Ontario
and Western Railroad, an old cemetery where immigrant railroad workers are interred,
former stage coach depot, the crossroads of the Catskill and Delaware-Oxford Turnpikes,
and much more. History comes alive when you stand on the actual sites where it
happened. We will meet at the pillars in Guilford Center, at the intersection of
County Routes 35 and 36. We will NOT meet at BOCES!
20 student maximum 4 hours - $15
Instructors: Fred Von Mechow, Tom Gray, Wilma Felton-Gray
June 23, 2001 Sat. 8am-12pm or later
Past Events
Guilford - Tours and talks about the old mill building,
waterfalls and the railway.
Pitcher - Historic Pitcher Springs and it's old stone
structures as well as walks in the local State Forest.
Coventry-Greene - Bobell Hill State Forest, old stone dam,
Page Brook, wetlands and a 3 mile hike. Tour of an Esker (a river bed that existed
inside a glacier).
North Norwich-Sherburne-New Berlin - Remnants of the
Chenango Canal and historic Rexford Falls. Hike and cemetery walk as well.
Pharsalia Woods - Explore some old foundations,
inspect an old dam, walk along stone walls, and visit a picturesque cemetery in the
woods. We will also survey the blow down from the 1998 tornado and discuss some of
its impact on the forest and on birds and other wildlife.
Guilford Remains - Cemeteries and the story of the Coffin Man of Chenango
County.
Brookfield - Stone ledges, check out a porcupine den, visit the Lost Pond,
poke around in the caves where the infamous Loomis gang is reputed to have hidden its
stolen horses.
Recent Photos from the BOCES Hike
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July 31, 2002