Montezuma Heritage Park, Montezuma, NY

DON'T LET THE LEGACY OF SMALL TOWN USA FADE AWAY

2012-01-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

The lyrics to Justin Moore's song, Small Town USA go:

"A lot of people called it prison when I was growin' up
But these are my roots and that is what I love

'Cause everybody knows me and I know them

And I believe that's the way we're supposed to live

I wouldn't trade one single day in small town USA."

There's a lot to be said for growing up in a small town that I didn't so much appreciate when I was younger. Like Justin's song, my roots go deep here, and the things I used to take for granted are extremely important to me today. It seems like there was more of a sense of belonging and real connection that is slipping away. Do we need to raise our vision higher to our physical environment to empower us to promote a more prosperous and enduring way of life? How do we promote collaboration between community members to tackle the problems and opportunities in small towns today such as Montezuma? We need to wake up to the fact that its up to us to be more pro-active. With industrialization of agriculture, industrialized delivery systems and the globalization of our economy, our small towns are being by-passed and extremely challenged to endure.

Today's challenges require us to find the possible solutions that are unique to a place and its people. We must work towards a community that assures each citizen may hope to prosper and benefit from an inspired community life. We need to raise the bar on what we expect for our community and come together to create a stable, safe and healthy town that reveals our unique heritage and diverse values. One of the greatest challenges that our rural community faces today is the need to find ways for economic stability, growth and achieve a high quality of life. Unfortunately, there are limited resources, with limited assistance and access to information or the means for implementation.

We need to focus on the appreciation for the character of a people and its place. I'm looking forward to hiring an architect firm through the EPF grant in the next few weeks that will offer creative and practical skills towards improving the environments in which we live, work and meet. It is my hope that we will begin coming together to identify our community's needs. We will then begin addressing how they might be accommodated with existing rich natural and historic resources of our region, so we can begin to organize our community towards a shared vision. Working with local leadership and partners, it is possible to protect our small home town legacy from fading away.

2012 -- Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T10:54:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Looking forward to all we can do to bring in the new year, and with it a new "sense of place" to live and support one another.

HPDC MEETING SCHEDULED

2011-12-20T11:43:00.000-08:00

The last meeting of the year of the Montezuma Heritage Design Committee (HPDC) will be held Thursday, December 29th at 7 PM in the Town Hall. We welcome community residents to attend.

At this meeting we will be reviewing proposals for conceptual design services to develop the park. This planning project is partially funded through a grant received from the Environmental Protection Fund administered by New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. We also will be setting three main goals for the coming year as we partner with the Rivers, Trails, Conservation Assistance and Parks and Trails, New York Creating Healthy Trails, Healthy Places Program to assist us in putting together an Action Plan.

Park Plans Highlighted

2011-12-15T08:05:00.000-08:00

I would like to thank Dorothy Long, Contributing Writer to the Post Standard Neighbors Cayuga County section for today's article highlighting Montezuma's plans for the park. I enjoyed chatting with Dorothy about the article she did. Also, I enjoyed the walk to the aqueduct with Photographer, Stephen Cannerelli as I shared with him about the historic sites in the park. I appreciate the article and photos helping us to educate the public about the important natural and historic resources we have here. Supervisor John Malenick was quoted in the article as saying, "We are a very small community, but we are rich in history." This is so true, and when we recognize the value of our history as an asset, it helps our community focus on what resources we do have.

I would like to make one correction regarding the grant that was received by the town mentioned in the article. It is an Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) grant administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). The purpose of the grant is to conduct a park design project that will include building understanding and community support, exploring alternatives and preparing the final concept plan. The Town will then use a landscape architect to develop final designs, construction documents. and begin the permit process for this project of the priority components of the park design. The Request for Proposals are due today and the Heritage Park Design Committee will review the proposals, and make a recommendation to the Town Board for final approval at their January town board meeting.

The article may be read online at:
http://blog.syracuse.com/neighbors/2011/12/montezuma_inches_closer_to_new_park_with_new_planning_grant.html

A Gift Arrives in Time For the Holidays!

2011-12-07T04:38:00.001-08:00

Creating a healthy environment is important for our community. One way to do this has recently arrived for the Town of Montezuma wrapped in a bright green package just in time for the holidays.

To help manage residential organic waste that was previously burned and to build community understanding of the serious health and safety hazards of open burning, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) with the funding for the New York State Clean Air Grants Program under the Clean Air Act. Open burning of leaves, branches and other organic materials poses serious health risks and safety hazards that results in releasing harmful pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde and lead. Also, since open burning of residential waste is the single largest cause of wildfires, it puts the Montezuma Heritage Park and Montezuma National Wildlife that borders it at risk, and it is critical as stewards of this land we protect the habitat of these areas.

The Town of Montezuma received a Clean Air Grant through the DEC to help purchase a chipper. This will allow the Town to provide a service to residents to dispose of organic waste by bringing it to a designated site near the Recycling Center at the Town Highway Department barn. In return residents, will be able to use this recycled product as mulch as it becomes available. Another benefit is it will provide needed mulch along the newly self-guided nature trails now being developed in the Montezuma Heritage Park.


Denny Lapp (left) and Jeff Dawson (right) ready to tackle a huge pile of brush.

Jeffrey Dawson, newly elected Highway Superintendent will be in charge of the operation assisted by highway employee, Denny Lapp. More information will be published as the needed guidelines for collection are established.

It's a win-win solution and opportunity for the town -- thanks DEC!

Happy Holidays!

Harvesting Wonderful Partnerships!

2011-11-23T08:05:00.001-08:00

At this time of year there's so much to be grateful for in our homes and communities. I would like to thank the many individuals and agencies that helped support the Montezuma Heritage Park project. First of all I'd like to extend a very warm thanks to the Park Design Committee. This group has remained committed spending hours of their time in multiple ways. Also, thank you to the many residents and businesses that have supported our fundraising efforts. Then, there are so many wonderful agencies that helped support the park project including Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cayuga Community College, Cayuga County Planning, SUNY-ESF Center of Community Design Research, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work & Play Grant (funded by the NYSDOH), Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, The Pomeroy Foundation, Cayuga Community Foundation, Mural Mania and Forever Wild for Everyone Programs.
Now we can add to our list the assistance awarded from Parks and Trails, New York and again this year, the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program for their support. PTNY Healthy Trails, Healthy People program will be helping us to enrich the quality of life by connecting to multi-use trails in a natural, cultural and historical park setting. RTCA shares the benefits of the National Park System to help us further identify and accomplish our goals.

Through collaboratively working with these agencies, we will look forward to the coming year strengthening our vision, building constituencies and local support critical to long term success for the park. Easily accessible, close to home, multi-use trails will enhance opportunities for recreation, health and fitness, education and economic improvement, while focusing on areas of natural beauty and historic significance.

We hope you can join us this weekend for the Zumba-thon to benefit the Mural fund for the park. Many thanks to Kristen Decker and teachers from Stepping Stone Fitness Center and Roy Wilson and his DJ Service for hosting this event. Area businesses have been generous, and we have some great raffle donations waiting to be claimed if you're the lucky one! Come Zumba, or just watch and enjoy the music! We appreciate your support! It's being held Sunday, November 27, 2011, at the Town Hall, 8102 Dock Street off Route 90 in Montezuma from 1 PM - 4 PM.

With partners like this, I'm confident the end result will be a park that enriches our lives with recreation, health, fitness, education and economic improvement!

HPDC Meeting

2011-11-16T16:53:00.001-08:00

The Heritage Park Design Committee is scheduled for tomorrow night (Thursday, November 17th) at 7 PM at the Town Hall. The meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend. It was scheduled early this month because of the holiday next week. Happy Thanksgiving!

Which Way to the Park?

2011-11-11T11:48:00.001-08:00

Much of the focus for Montezuma Heritage Park Design Committee this past year has been planning for signage so that people can find the park. So many people have said to me, "I've heard of that Richmond Aqueduct, but where is it?" or "Montezuma? Is that where that Wildlife Refuge is?" This year we've made great progress to be able to help people find the park, trails and historic sites within it. Most of the trails are roughly formed, in good shape, and can be used now, but finding them can be challenging.

Which way to Montezuma Heritage Park?

That's all about to change with the help of the Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work, and Play grant program. This organization's objectives includeestablishing walking and recreation trails that focus on walking and biking funded by the state health department. Their mission seeks to bringgovernment, the business community and the nonprofit world togetherto improve transportation, recreation and nutrition options inCayuga County. The program encourages healthier choices to improve our lifestyles and creates a new context for physical activity by aiming to re-position it in our parks in terms of well-being, fun, stress reduction, and connections to other people and the natural world.

Through a generous grant received from the program, this winter volunteers will be busy building two new kiosks for the park entrances, benches, and designing signage for the park and along the trails. With the help of Cayuga Community College and Professor Walter Aikman's Geography class and County Planning, we will have well designed maps to put on our new signage to locate the sites and trails of interest within the park.

My thanks to Sabrina Hesford, of the Creating Healthy Places program for helping us obtain this funding that will improve our site -- one people will be able to find, and enjoy the many benefits it has to offer.

Fall at the Richmond Aqueduct

2011-11-01T16:35:00.000-07:00

A beautiful Fall photo of the Richmond Aqueduct taken by Jean Mackay, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, on her visit to Montezuma last week.

SUPPORT HISTORIC PRESERVATION

2011-10-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed reading Mike Riley's Citizen column today urging support of local historic societies. Many groups are struggling to survive because the public just does not understand their importance. Like Mike says, we are far from a group that just sits around and talks about the "good ole days." I have to say that some of the most rewarding experiences I have had in life have come from working with people that care about their communities. They understand the importance of our history, and spend long dedicated hours volunteering their time to make sure it is preserved. Often history is seen as having little relevance to what is happening in today's society. But history is made up of people and their experiences that shapes the future. So, it behooves us to learn from it to make informed choices for future generations.

The Montezuma Historical Society was formed in 2006, and has accomplished a lot of in our first five years to make sure our town's history is preserved for future generations. Contrary to what may be assumed, the Society does not receive any state, local government taxpayer support or outside help. We are self-sustaining through membership, donations, and fundraising activities. That means baking and selling a lot of pies & cookies, selling raffle tickets, continually seeking new members, and asking for renewals in order to continue our work. This is all in addition to the programs we plan and hold throughout the year!

Please support two upcoming fundraisers for our operating expenses and closing the gap for funding a historic mural in Montezuma:

ANNUAL HARVEST BAKE SALE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH -- 8 AM - ?

AT THE TOWN HALL -- DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!

Join the Party -- Help Close the Gap & Ditch the Workout!

ZUMBATHON

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH -- 1 - 4 PM

AT THE TOWN HALL

COURTESY OF

STEPPING STONE FITNESS LOFT, WEEDSPORT

AND THE SENSATIONAL SOUND ENTERTAINMENT OF

WILSON & COMPANY DJ SERVICE, MONTEZUMA

DONATION-$10/PERSON -- REFRESHMENTS -- RAFFLES

Join the millions of people that have decided having fun and working out are

not mutually exclusive. No experience, age limit or fitness level

needed....just a desire to have fun, get some exercise

and help us bring a mural to Montezuma!

VOLUNTEER TRAIL WORK COMPLETED

2011-10-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

Today's warm sunshine was quite a contrast to last weekend when twenty-four Cayuga Community College students, professors and Montezuma volunteers walked on several trails in the rain to GPS trail locations and sites in the park. It didn't dampen any one's enthusiasm, and we appreciate everyone hanging in there to get the job done! We divided students and volunteers into three groups. I went with the group on the Reservoir and Paper Mill Trail. We started at Chapman Road and walked south entering the trail in the woods that borders National Wildlife Refuge property. Climbing to the top of the drumlin students equipped with high powered GPS units to record the coordinates through the dense woods marked the site of the reservoir that fed water to what was once a papermill plant.

We came back down the hill and proceeded down the berm side of the Enlarged Erie to to the ruins of the Montezuma Fibre Company (1906-1916).The 20,000 acres of Montezuma Swamp produced a natural resource that was harvested to make a heavy-weight paper. Flag, better known as cattails was a raw material harvested and being shipped on the Canal to distance cities for making chair seats and caulking barrels. The "Montezuma Wheat" as it was called provided raw pulp to make the paper. The price of an acre of swamp land went from seven to sixty dollars. The business failed in 1916 and what remains today are the concrete basement walls and floors.

After leaving the papermill site we returned to the berm side of the canal and walked west toward the Seneca River. Here we came out on the South side of the Richmond Aqueduct, which is a view visitors don't usually get to see. Climbing the banks near the aqueduct, students got a a view of this magnificent structure from the top of it. From here we walked back to the parking lot to join the others waiting to board the bus back to Auburn.

Today a group of eleven local volunteers came out to work on the trails. Armed with chain saws and loppers we headed into the park again to do some clearing of trees and shrubs that were obstructing views and walking trails. Again, we divided up into three groups to accomplish the goals we decided to first work on. John Malenick, Dan Randolph and John Potter tackled the twisted brush and trees that was hiding the full view of the crossover abutment at the High Street Byron Lapp Memorial Trailhead.

Tom Fitzsimmons and Stan Longyear headed down to the aqueduct to where a tree had fallen against the wall of the aqueduct obstructing the view from the Seneca River bank. From there they went on a trail entering near Lock 62 and cut up several large branches blocking the trail.

Mike and Mary Riley, Paul and Bunny Baker, Mellony Carner and myself headed back to the Reservoir trail were we spotted a few tree and branches needing removal. Paul and Mike tackled the bigger jobs, while us girls cut smaller brush along the way. Having finished what we set out to do, we headed to the Town Hall where we had homemade chili and johnny cake made by Bunny Baker.

THANKS EVERYONE! AND OF COURSE WE CAN'T FORGET THE CLERK OF THE WORKS! LIZZIE

VOLUNTEER TRAIL WORK DAYS SCHEDULED

2011-09-25T16:42:00.000-07:00

The Heritage Park Design Committee (HPDC) has scheduled two upcoming fall trail workdays. On Saturday, October 1, we are very pleased to partner with Cayuga Community College and Professors Walter Aikman and Ronald Grube to work with US Geography students and volunteers to do field work gathering data for beginning a mapping project for the park.

This data will then be used to begin creating maps for kiosk signs, brochures, and the website. We also would like to create a map showing the relationship of the park to the great marsh area to give people an understanding where Montezuma is in relation to the Montezuma Wildlife marshes. A visioning map could also be created that would include insets building layers featuring trails, soils, historic sites, viewsheds, topography, flood plains, and natural areas. We plan to pair up in three teams with students and volunteers familiar with the trail areas to gather the data.

On Saturday October 8th we have another day scheduled to begin work on trails. Volunteers are needed to help out. This would be a great opportunity for students or youth groups to complete their community service credit and a chance to learn about local canal history. We will meet at 9:30 AM at the trailhead near the firehouse off Route 90 in Montezuma, and divide up into groups to begin work. Email me at cml115@tds.net if you would like to help us out.

Volunteers are the life blood for a project like this. But it's not only about giving...it's about the rewards of making a difference in our community, enjoying the experience of the great outdoors and our wonderful local natural and historic resources we can easily take for granted.

Erie Canal Heritage Corridor Point of Interest Sign Arrives Today!

2011-09-22T20:16:00.000-07:00


ECNHC Point of Interest Sign

In 2010, the Town of Montezuma was selected as a Point of Interest by the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor along with other canal-related museums and cultural heritage sites as part of the Erie Canalway Partner Program. The program is intended to advance the goals of the Erie Canalway Preservation and Management Plan by facilitating coordinated and sustained collaboration between the commission and staff and canal-related sites.

As a part of the program the twenty-five partner and point of interest sites were offered a high quality semi-custom exhibit panel to display. The new panel will be installed on one of the new kiosks designed for the park. It will showcase the park as one of the valuable "gems on the necklace" along the canal system, so that visitors can explore our site and become motivated to visit others along the Corridor.

The panel, 24" x 36", arrived today, and is it ever a beauty. I'm so thrilled to see the Richmond Aqueduct portrayed on this panel for the significance it held in Erie Canal history. It is an engineering marvel, the second largest built in 1849. Building this Aqueduct proved extremely difficult as the site was bottomless muck. Wooden pilings were driven over 90 feet deep and no rock was found. Eventually, a "mattress" built of logs was sunk to the bottom of the Seneca River and the stone construction was built on top of this base. The Aqueduct remained in use until 1917, when all but nine arches were dismantled on the east side and three on the west side of the river. The aqueduct was named after Van R. Richmond, the engineer who directed its construction. Today eight arches remain located within the Montezuma Heritage Park.

The US Congress designed the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in 2000 in recognition of the nationally-significant history, scenery, culture, and natural resources of the NYS Canal System and communities along its shores. The National Heritage Corridor includes the present day canal system and its historic alignments. It encompasses 234 municipalities; 4,834 square miles; home to 2.7 million people. It includes over 800 listings on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Montezuma's site listed as the Seneca River Canal Historic District.

The Corridor ties together significant canal sites and communities within the consistent framework that highlights the uniqueness and diversity of individual sites. It brings federal recognition and resources that serves as a bridge between for local initiatives.

Thank you Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor -- we're proud to be a Point of Interest and have this beautiful sign!

Heritage Park Design Committee Meeting

2011-09-21T06:06:00.000-07:00

Heritage Park Design Committee Meeting - Thursday, Sept. 22 @ 7pm, Montezuma Town Hall. Walter Aikman, CCC, will be there to discuss plans for the Oct 1st Student GPS Trail Project and Barry LaVoy on ATV use in the park. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Local Erie Canal History Brought to Life

2011-09-11T16:29:00.000-07:00

First Methodist Episcopal Church of Mentz

I had the pleasure of providing a local author with information for her latest fictional book drawn on the essence of early pioneer families' lives who settled in Mentz and Montezuma at the same time the Erie Canal was being built. Margaret Rose begins all her books with the following: "The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction must be realistic..." She has authored several books to capture the mood and spirit of the area with her "realistic" stories that make local history come alive. Thee Little Country Church -- The Mentz Church is indeed no exception. This one-room humble church was built on a strong foundation by the local farmers who took pride in their craftsmanship, and those who have followed to preserve it. It is now owned by the Town of Montezuma and is the home of the Montezuma Historical Society.

She tells the story the of the church enriched with the roots where it all began. The church was built in the countryside wilderness by a small congregation that immigrated here mostly from Ireland for the American dream to find a better life and religious freedom. It begins as settlers bury one of their young in the cemetery in 1813 on land they cleared at what became known as Mentz Corners. Here they later built their church that opened the same year the Erie Canal was completed in 1825. It tells tales of life imagined along a canal town and the excitement and changes it brought to the area. It shares what could have been the joys and sorrows of the families who first gathered for their Methodist camp meetings in the barn of John Gilmore not far from the canal. As time goes on Margaret Rose brings in Lester Ohara who was baptized in the church and later became its caretaker once it closed.

Although much of the church history was lost, it has been pieced back together by an ancestor of the early settlers who left no (grave) stone unturned in searching his family's roots. Gary Bell came from Michigan to trace and research his family heritage and has written his family story, "How We Came to Be Here, The Bell Family in America" which Margaret Rose used as research for her book.

The book, Thee Little Country Church, may be purchased through the Montezuma Historical Society. Cost is $12 with additional $3 for mailing. Email cml115@tds.net to order it.

BROADING A VISION FOR COMMUNITY SPIRIT

2011-09-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

Building community spirit is something I've been exploring for sometime with an attitude of restless discontent. It seemed to me it was a missing element in growth for our town. According to Wikipedia, community spirit is a phrase used to describe local people working together for a mutually positive and sometimes pleasurable result. Community spirit is associated with voluntary work, favours and gestures of good will by residents and local businesses.

I perceived our community somewhat lacking this spirit of working together that concerned me. Recently, I began to pay more attention to where I could spot it. Then I heard at our community picnic, Marian Ellinwood talk about the kind, supportive neighbors in our town who have done everything from mowing grass, plowing snow, and to making meals as months of hospitalization for her son, Ricky has now turned into years. In this small neighborhood of Willow Grove outside of the village, one of our town board members, Tom Fitzsimmons, took on a project to create a walking track. Now folks are enjoying a safe, enjoyable place close by to walk off the road. Then there is Barry LaVoy, founder of the ATV club, who for years has encouraged ATV'ers to respect our historic resources.

Mural in Lyons, NY at the G. Dobbins Memorial Park

So, I began to see community spirit wasn't really missing. It was my field of vision that needed to be broadened. It's like when you get a red car, you start seeing red cars everywhere. When I looked to see a bit farther to our neighbors west of here in the town of Lyons, I found a great example of how community spirit is being built. Mural Mania began several years ago in Lyons as a result of cleaning up an area along the canal and trolley abutment. As a result of this, an idea to create a historic mural grew out of their community spirit that has spread across the Erie Canal region from Macedon to Syracuse. Dawn Jordan, a local muralist, refers to this as a "new Renaissance of art" in the region by using the history of the Erie Canal to create a visual history book.

Now, Mark DeCracker, with Trail Works Inc. who volunteers to work with communities to organize community mural projects, has started another innovative idea to build community spirit. It's called, "Forever Wild For Everyone." With the intent of "opening the doors of nature to everyone," it promotes development and/or designates nature trails without barriers for everyone to enjoy.

Our park design committee has been discussing and making plans to incorporate both of these kinds of projects into the Montezuma Heritage Park. Mark DeCracker recently met with the HPDC (Heritage Park Design Committee) to show how Lyons is building a new "Forever Wild For Everyone" trail and encouraging community spirit by working together to accomplish this goal. The news is full of negative events that can pull us down and create a sense of insecurity. When a community's spirit is alive, it makes you feel like people care, and creates more of a sense of hope for our future.

CANAL SPLASH EVENT A SUCCESS!

2011-08-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

Richmond Aqueduct site on the Canal Splash Tour

A beautiful warm August day helped bring out twenty visitors for the Erie Canal Splash Historic Tour Walk in Montezuma on August 13th. Mike Riley led another interesting tour along the Byron Lapp Memorial Towpath Trail explaining the historic sites and how Montezuma played an important role in New York's canal history.
(Photo compliments of Ed Laraway)

Marian Ellinwood, Volunteer of the Year shares a special moment with her family

Following the tour a Community Picnic was held at Memorial Park to honor Marian Ellinwood as Volunteer of the Year. She was recognized for over 35 years of dedicated service to the Town of Montezuma. Anyone who has lived here and voted I'm sure can always remember Marian's smiling face greeting us on Election Day. A special surprise for the day was Marian and Don's son, Ricky was able to be at the recognition. He was transported from Newark Hospital to proudly see his mother receive the award. Marian made special note in receiving the award to share her sediments for the community she lives in with friends and neighbors who have generously helped in many ways while her and Don have visited Ricky everyday since his hospitalization nearly two years ago.

NEW HISTORIC MARKERS IN TOWN!!

2011-08-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

Located on the west side of Chapman Road near the Byron Lapp Memorial Towpath Trail that leads to the Richmond Aqueduct on the Seneca River

Dan Randolph and Stan Longyear installed two new historic markers received by the Montezuma Historical Society for the Town of Montezuma Heritage Park area today. The markers were made possible through a grant awarded to the Society from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. The William G. Pomeroy Foundation launched its Historic Roadside Marker program in 2006. This year it expanded its program from Onondaga County to Cayuga, Cortland, Madison Oswego and Onondaga Counties. The Foundation's focus for this program is to help preserve history with a particular interest in organizations supported in large part by volunteers.

Catskill Castings of Bloomville, NY, did an excellent job of making the markers.

The markers help to identify two very important historic sites in Montezuma, and we're thankful to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for making this possible.

Located off Rt 90 on High Street near the Firehouse and entrance of the Byron Lapp Memorial Towpath Trail.

CANAL SPLASH FOLLOWING THE FLOW TOURS - AUGUST 13TH

2011-08-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

A series of events are planned in connection with state sponsored Canal Splash weekend in Cayuga County. The second annual historic canal site driving and walking tour called, Following the Flow: The Tale of Two Erie Canals is sponsored by Old Brutus Historical Society, Port Byron Lock 52 Historical Society and the Montezuma Historical Society. Mike Riley, canal historian, will weave in interesting local history and canal stories to make the connections between man and river, ecology and geology, early explorers, settlers, industry and the evolution of New York’s canal system through Cayuga County.
For more information about canal history in Cayuga County go to:
http://www.cayugacountycanalhistory.org/

AUGUST 13TH SCHEDULE OF TOURS:

9:00 AM and 3:00 PM -- WEEDSPORT: Ongoing tours will be held at the Old Brutus Historical Museum in Weedsport, 8943 North Seneca Street featuring Erie Canal displays and heritage
11:00 AM -- WEEDSPORT/JORDAN on Route 31 at the site of the former Lock 51
12:30 PM -- PORT BYRON at St. John’s Church parking lot, Route 31, West
1:30 PM -- MONTEZUMA walking tour starts at the Heritage Park Byron Lapp Memorial Trailhead near the firehouse off Route 90.

MONTEZUMA COMMUNITY PICNIC & VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: MARIAN ELLINWOOD

The Town of Montezuma will continue the celebration by honoring a community volunteer created to recognize an individual who has unselfishly given to the community. This year’s award will be given to town resident, Marian Ellinwood. Marian has given countless hours and many years service to the community including serving as election officer for thirty-five years, and twenty years on the town planning board. She has helped many people preparing income taxes without expecting payment. For the last several years Marian and her husband, Don have devoted their life to daily visiting and caring for their son, Ricky who has been hospitalized in Rochester and Newark hospitals. In spite of the long days at the hospital, Marian faithfully continues to attend monthly planning board meetings.

4:00 PM at the Memorial Park pavilion, Dock Street. Bring a dish to pass, table service and beverage. Meat and rolls will be provided.
6:00 PM at the town hall, there will be a 1953 movie version of “A Farmer Takes a Wife,” starring Betty Grable and Dale Robertson. The movie was based on Walter Edmond’s novel "Rome Haul, " and is a tale of love and conflict along the Erie Canal in the mid 19^th century.

Good News for our Neighbors to the East

2011-07-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

The Canal Society of New York has received some really exciting news. This is a project some had long ago given up on, but the Society didn't throw in the towel and fifteen years later it looks like it's going to pay off. The New York State Thruway Authority has announced it will partner with the Society to become a major sponsor of the Port Byron Erie Canal Heritage Park Project which now raises the hope the dream will become a reality.

Founded in Buffalo on October13, 1956, the Canal Society is a not-for-profit educational organization that enables people to visit canal sites in New York State and beyond through regular, organized field trips, to share information and ideas about preserving canal history and traditions, and to advocate for canal renewal and development.

Peter Van Detto built the Erie House in the early 1890's. After the Erie Canal closed in Port Byron in 1917, the Erie House was abandoned as a tavern and hotel and became a family residence for the Van Detto's. It remained in the family for more than 70 years. His daughters Theresa and Marie served as teachers at the local schools for many years. Peter also ran a similar tavern near the trolley at Stop 69 in Montezuma.

The Society's vision is to create a canal history destination alongside the New York State Thruway in Port Byron. Within the former canal-side village in Central New York is the well-preserved and very visible Lock 52, a nearby canal prism and dry dock, the Erie House -- which served as a canal-era tavern and boarding house -- a mule barn and a blacksmith shop.

When completed, the site will provide a new and important cultural visitor facility interpreting New York State canal heritage with particular emphasis on America’s most famous canal, the Erie Canal. Because the site will be accessible from the Thruway, the Heritage Park will educate many people who might not normally come alongside a canal. In addition, the project will serve as a point of orientation and introduction to travelers on the New York State Thruway to canal destinations and attractions in other communities across New York State including it's neighbor to the west.

Congratulations Canal Society! And, kuddos to the New York State Thruway Authority for recognizing the potential this project offers for all of us in New York State.

What Does Apple Pie, Church and the Erie Canal Have in Common????

2011-07-21T11:02:00.000-07:00

Historic Mentz Church, Montezuma, NY (Circa 1825)

I came across an interesting article about a 1968 Canal Society of New York group tour of the historic canal sites in Port Byron and Montezuma. This organization is dedicated to keeping canal heritage alive, and plans are that Port Byron will house its large collection of canal history at the Port Byron Erie House complex once completed. According to the article written by Betty Auten for the Geneva Times," this is no small job because progress demands that the old must give way to the new." I guess that's true, but sometimes those "old ways" are worth carrying on. The following legend was shared in the Geneva Times article:

At 11 a.m., the sightseers left by way of Route 31 for Montezuma. About a quarter of a mile east of the village, the motorcade of 39 cars stopped to see the remnants of the Crane Brook Aqueduct. The prism of Clinton's Ditch curves as it crosses the Thruway and approaches this area; legend has it that this area was called Apple Pie Bend. Whenever the gate-keeper's wife heard a boat approaching in the distance, she would pop an apple pie into the oven so by the time the boat arrived, the men could have a tasty treat.

This reminds me of a story I heard today about three riders on the "Cycling the Erie Canalway bike ride. These gentlemen seen the sign on Route 31 for the Historic Mentz Church, and decided to take a side trip to check it out. They stopped and asked Paul Baker how much farther to the church. Paul showed them it was "just up the road a-piece" and asked if they would like to see the inside. So Paul dropped what he was doing in this garden, and gave them the grand tour. I can only imagine that Paul's wife, Bunny could have been the gate-keeper's wife. I can see her making apple pie and greeting the travelers along the Canal.

Paul & Bunny Baker -- Good Ambassadors for our Community

So this was the impression our visitors had as they passed through our town, whether by boat or bike, we can still appreciate those that share their time for others passing through town. Would you want to come back -- I sure would!

Heritage Park Design Committee (HPDC) Meeting

2011-07-20T20:00:00.000-07:00

The monthly HPDC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 28th, 7pm at the Montezuma Town Hall. Items up for discussion this month are logging proposal update, networking opportunities, signage, kiosks, trail designation, Canal Splash Canal Site Tours and community picnic, RTCA technical assistance, and funding. Anyone is welcome to join the group or just attend the meeting.

Cycling Through Montezuma

2011-07-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

It was a great morning meeting bikers from all over the US and Canada. Lots stopped by and were very interested in learning more about the great Erie Canal history and our plans for the park in Montezuma.

Cycling Along the Erie Canal -- Welcome to Montezuma

2011-07-12T06:50:00.000-07:00

The Montezuma Historical Society will be set up near the post office Wednesday, July 13th to welcome and cheer the bikers traveling through Montezuma on their way across the state for the 13th Cycling the Erie Canal tour. About 500 will be passing through on their trip that started in Buffalo on Sunday traveling across the state reaching Albany on Sunday. The bikers were scheduled to be in Seneca Falls today and will be riding through Montezuma tomorrow with a scheduled rest stop in Port Byron at the Middle School.

CANAL SPLASH MOVIE NIGHT

2011-07-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

Plans are in the works for the Canal Splash Celebration this year on Saturday, August 13th. Following the tour of sites in Montezuma, there will be a picnic in Memorial Park, and a rare showing of a classic film in the town hall that depicts life as it was on the Erie Canal in upstate New York set in the mid-19th century.

"The Farmer Takes a Wife" opened as a 1934 Broadway play based on a novel, "Rome Haul" by Walter D. Edmonds. This film is the 1953 movie version of “A Farmer Takes a Wife,” starring Betty Grable and Dale Robertson. The movie was based on Walter Edmond’s novel "Rome Haul," and is a tale of love and conflict along the Erie Canal.

Heritage Park Design Committee Meeting (HPDC)

2011-06-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

The monthly HPDC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 23rd, 7pm at the Montezuma Town Hall. Items up for discussion this month are signage, kiosk, trail designation, and funding sources. Anyone is welcome to join the group or just attend the meeting.

2011 FOLLOWING THE FLOW CANAL SPLASH TOUR - AUGUST 13TH

2011-06-12T19:01:00.000-07:00

Mike Riley has posted the schedule for this year's Following the Flow Canal Splash Tour. For information and updates visit: http://canalsplash.blogspot.com. This is a joint program sponsored by the historical societies of Weedsport, Port Byron and Montezuma.

INSPIRED BY ASHES -- PHOENIX RISING?

2011-06-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

What happened to our canal town that was once bustling with small businesses and civic organizations that helped support the needs of the community? The Erie Canal was the catalyst that led Montezuma to grow and prosper by providing a man-made flow of commerce, trade and activity for the town. When it became time for the old canals to close and move to the outskirts of town, I believe we lost a sense of place that held it together. Was the old just really abandoned left to a pile of ashes, or is it ready to give rise to something new. The new Erie Canal/Seneca River is still on the outskirts of the center of town. We are still connected to it by the parkland that holds our culture and heritage that gratefully has been preserved. We have an opportunity to bring this community alive again through it. It's flowing and alive with possibility for the town.

When Dan Randolph and my husband, Stan were digging the holes for the sign, they hit ashes. Much of the town burned down with fires that year after year finally destroyed what once existed here. I found it interesting that we discovered those ashes on the site and at a time where and when we have started to rebuild a sense of our identity and place lost so long ago.

In Greek mythology, a phoenix is a mythical bird with a colorful plumage It has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes. It then has the ability to be reborn from its own ashes and become the offspring of the older one.

The Phoenix has long been presented as a symbol of rebirth, immortality, and renewal. The Belgian silver coin commemorating sixty years of peace, depicts the Phoenix as a representation of a new Europe, post 1945. The capital of Arizona was so named as it was built on the ruins of a civilization that had existed on the site centuries before. What endless possibilities are there ready for the Halls of Montezuma to rebirth and renew? As the offspring of the older Phoenix, what can we do to rebuild from the ruins of the past?

IT'S OFFICIAL -- THE BYRON LAPP MEMORIAL TRAIL

2011-06-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

We now have our first officially named trail in the Montezuma Heritage Park! On Memorial Day we had a wonderful turnout to dedicate the Byron Lapp Memorial Trail. It was a day of honoring and celebration that brought to life what our town stands for: coming together in community -- and returning to the sense of place that has stood the test of time. Dominick Recckio, Byron's great-grandson, summed up what the day was all about when he spoke on behalf of his family saying "how honored they were to have the first trail named in honor of his great-grandfather. He would be very humbled, and very proud."

The look of smiling faces says it all!

SITE PREPARATION FOR MEMORIAL DAY DEDICATION

2011-05-27T15:17:00.000-07:00

Above: Town Supervisor John Malenick, his friends from Oswego, Chris and Josh, and Stan Longyear work on the landscaping for the Byron Lapp Memorial Trail Dedication on Monday. A plaque donated by the Thurston Schramm-Reynolds VFW Post 8137, Mens & Ladies Auxiliary, AM VETS, War Dads and the Montezuma Historical Society will be placed on the stone that was part of the crossover bridge at this Erie Canal Site.

Below: Dan Randolph and Stan Longyear, long time Scout buddies from their youth, and both veterans of Viet Nam dig holes for a sign donated by Farm Boy Graphics.

What does Hoopes Park have in common with Heritage Park?

I read with interest Carmen Cosentino's article about Hoopes Park in today's Citizen. The title of the article is "The park that almost wasn't." I thought for a minute he must be writing about the Montezuma Heritage Park.

He was writing about the Memorial Day second annual Healing Field, Field of Hopes and Dreams event sponsored by St. Joseph's School. To think, that the Hoopes Park almost didn't happen and what everyone whose ever enjoyed that beautiful park in Auburn would have missed. I used to go there on my lunch hour never knowing that one day I would be involved with a park project in my hometown town. Would you believe that Hoopes Park was once a rubbish and ash dumping ground before the days of landfills? So was the old Erie Canal and Dry Dock Basin area in the land that Byron Lapp helped the town acquire back in the 1960s and 1970s. We could have ended up with never having access to this beautiful historic area. Herman Hoopes donated land back in the 1920s to be turned into a park." It took several years of hearings, meetings and arguing." Carm says, "Sound familiar?" I can't help but wonder again, "Is he talking about Auburn or Montezuma?"

I guess there will always be those nay-sayers who are afraid of change; who can't see the importance of our heritage. We're not talking a million-dollar park here. We're talking simple historic trails, to preserve our heritage, and to enjoy the beauty of the natural resources that we in this rural area of the Finger Lakes can so quickly take for granted. We talking about pride in our community. The same pride that the soldiers have who go to war for their country and proudly serve.

This day is dedicated to those who gave their life, and to the beauty of parkland, and to Byron Lapp who worked so hard to preserve it!

Heritage Park Design Committee Meeting (HPDC)

2011-05-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

There will be a HPDC meeting on Thursday, May 26 at 7 PM at the Town Hall. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

I have updated this blog (click on the new page links at the top of the page) to introduce you to our committee and describe the conceptual plan and trail system the committee has been discussing for the park. Mike Riley has created this as a working document for the basis of our action plan.

The dedication of the first trail in memory of Byron Lapp will be held on Memorial Day, May 30th with the program starting at the VFW at 2 PM. Chicken BBQ by the Men's VFW Auxiliary from 11-?
(more details on the blog post below)

MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBRANCE & TRAIL DEDICATION

2011-05-10T14:27:00.000-07:00

The Town of Montezuma Highway employees, Jeff Dawson and Denny Lapp, Jr, have at demolished an old shed that remains on the historic property recently purchased by the Town of Montezuma just north of the firehouse on High Street. Two old trailers have been removed and a stone from the crossover bridge has been placed along the trail as a marker in preparation for a Memorial Day Trail Dedication Ceremony.

This site is adjacent to the towpath head located at what was the junction point of the Erie Canal and Cayuga-Seneca Canal. The remains of an abutment that held the crossover bridge which allowed drivers and teams to navigate between the canals are along the bank of the Erie Canal and site. The historic Exchange Hotel was built on this lot Circa 1830 and burned in 1918.

On Monday, May 30th at 2 PM, the Montezuma Thurston-Schramm-Reynolds VFW will join with the Montezuma Historical Society for a traditional service to honor a National Remembrance of those who have died in service to their country. As part of the Memorial Day event, the Town of Montezuma will recognize former town supervisor, Byron Lapp, for his dedication in service to his country and community. He is being honored by naming the first trail in Montezuma Heritage Park.

Byron served as Town Supervisor from 1966 to 1975. During that time he worked to acquire 136 acres of property with help of funding through the Outdoor Recreation Development Bond Act and Water Conservation Act of 1965. The site contained several historic sites of early Erie Canal history and natural resources along the Seneca River and adjacent to the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. He also was instrumental in acquiring public water for the Town of Montezuma during his tenure. Byron was a Army veteran of World War II and received a Silver Metal. He also was one of the early commanders of the VFW. Following his service as town supervisor, he was killed in a tragic muckland farming accident. His wife, Agnes is a lifelong resident and one of our oldest residents who resides in town at age 94.

Guest speakers for the trail dedication will include former town lawyer Peter Corning who assisted Byron with the legal aspects of acquiring the eight parcels; Mike Riley, Canal Society of New York; Town Supervisor, John Malenick; and a Proclamation presented by Cayuga County Legislator David Axton. Members of the Port Byron Band will play music throughout the event. The VFW Men's Auxiliary will hold a Chicken BBQ from 11 AM - ? The Thurston-Schramm-Reynolds Post 8137, Ladies & Men Auxiliary and AMVETS Post 513, and the Montezuma Historical Society contributed the plaque to be placed on the historic stonework of the crossover bridge abutment which will officially be named the Byron Lapp Memorial Trail at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

This signifies an important turning point for Montezuma in building of a greater sense of community by preserving the land which defines us, on which lives, livelihoods, and legacies were grounded. According to Senator George I. Mitchell in the Forward of a book about communities called Groundswell, "the passion for 'place' that defines a community is often the key element for achieving surprising agreement and positive results."

Join us in honoring those who have served our country, gave their lives for our freedom, and for Byron's work to preserve this important piece of history!

We're One Step Closer to Closing the Gap!

2011-05-06T16:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Cayuga Community Fund

View Article

THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORY THROUGH COMMUNITY ART -- Help Close the Gap

2011-04-27T20:43:00.000-07:00

I read an article that I saved from the 2010 September/October issue of Talk of the Towns which I recently revisited. It's a reprint from the Planning Commissioners Journal about considering art as a part of community planning. The article by Ric Stephens says that public art is rarely included in planning because art doesn't match the traditional approach to planning. Planners often ignore art because it cannot be quantified. It implies emotion and subjectivity, and we believe planning must be rational and objective.

The article goes on to explain it's a complex subject when considering art in the community's planning processes, yet there's evidence when measured in terms of increased property values, public participation, visitor and resident satisfaction, it adds real value to yielding a vital community. Signage for example can go beyond basic way-finding to help with the community's identity and sense of place. Another example of art are the murals seen in towns and cities across the country that have become a cherished part of the civic landscape. They are visual products of a powerful collaborative grassroots process in communities, and a great source of inspiration to residents and visitors. The mural-making process gives communities a voice to tell their individual and collective stories, a way to pass on culture and tradition.

Mark DeCracker of Lyons has worked to bring a dream of a friend, Noel Dobbins a reality. Noel's dream was of having 50 miles of murals along the Erie Canal. Noel's vision was just underway when he died in October of 2007. Mark has gone on to inspire and help communities along the Erie Canal corridor to plan mural projects.

Montezuma is the only canal town between Macedon and Syracuse that doesn't have a mural. The Montezuma Historical Society is working to Close the Gap, and put Montezuma on the map of murals across the state. As part of fund raising for the project, the Society is offering a chance to win two 2012 season tickets for a Dinner Cruise at the Camillus Erie Canal Park.

Please help us close the gap!

Heritage Park Design Committee Meeting

2011-04-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

There will be a meeting of the Design Committee this Thursday, April 28th at 7 PM at the Town Hall.

Everyone is welcome to attend, learn more about the project and help develop the plans. It is the intention of the committee to work with the community to consider preferences with regard to the park; identify issues and develop strategies for sustaining the historic and natural resources of the park; and identify phases needed to plan for orderly and manageable growth.

At the last meeting the committee discussed the overall objectives for the Heritage Park as opportunities to explain the history, create water access, youth development, community involvement, preservation, and marketing opportunities to Naturalists. It was recognized that there is significant potential for tourism as a growing part of the canal system. The committee noted important reasons for the Town to develop the park for use were preserving town's canal heritage, potential for economic, community development and involvement, recreational uses for the community and visitors, and the interpretation of the unique story for interpretation with regard to use and abuse of natural resources.

A goal was set to establish phases for the Heritage Park to work on over the next few months which will be broken into doable phases. Using the information and ideas gathered by the SUNY-ESF student project and through the grant received from the EPF (Environmental Protection Fund) objectives for the project phases will include the overall planning for clearing and layout of trails, developing the trailhead area, signage, dockage, identifying unique habitats, and agreements with agencies for land use.

SPOTTED TODAY IN MONTEZUMA....

2011-04-23T19:49:00.000-07:00

Were they bald eagles, were they cranes,

or was it the Easter Bunny?

No....they were volunteer stewards doing service for our community in celebration of Earth Day.

The second Clean Sweep event sponsored this week by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County worked on the other end of the towpath trail today in Heritage Park. Twenty-five volunteers with boy cub scouts and girl scouts, and American Heritage Girls traveling from Bloomfield came out to help with the clean up in Heritage Park. Working on badges for "Care for My Environment" and "Leave No Trace," they were practicing being good stewards of our environment.

These groups and the leaders are dedicated to helping youth build integrity through service. Thanks to Amy Barra, Environmental Educator at CCE for coordinating the event.

and to everyone -- THANKS -- GREAT JOB!

2011 Clean Sweep Brave Volunteer Ducks & A Goose

2011-04-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

Duck, Duck...Goose

"Hey, Paul how's it going?" JUST DUCKY!

Great Job! Leland, Mary and & Katherine Sumner

SWEEPING IN THE RAIN!

2011-04-16T05:19:00.000-07:00

For any brave ducks that want to come to the Montezuma clean up site north of the firehouse today, we're still on. MHS will have coffee and donuts at the firehouse. For those of you who would prefer to stay high and dry -- you lose no points. Thanks for wanting to be there! Next week Cornell Cooperative Extension will be out to help out and you're welcome to join them.

UPDATE:

Over twenty brave volunteer ducks showed up from Montezuma as well as some good neighbors from Conquest and Port Byron. Great job everyone! We ran out of bags, plus several wagon loads that went in a dumpster.

CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXENSION PARTNERS WITH CLEAN SWEEP -- APRIL 23 - 10 AM-NOON

2011-04-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

Amy Barra, Environmental Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County has signed up with the Clean Sweep Program in the Montezuma park. If you can't make it to the Clean Up on April 16th, you can join CCE on 4/23.

Montezuma, NY Community Now on Facebook

2011-04-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

Town Board Councilman, Tom Hitchcock, has recently added a facebook page for the Town of Montezuma to keep the community updated on news. Check it out at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Town-of-Montezuma-NY/189308987779220

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO SHOW PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY -- LET'S DO OUR PART FOR A BILLION ACTS OF GREEN

2011-03-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

It's been a long winter here in Central New York. I think we all are more than ready to welcome Spring and appreciate the warmer weather. Sadly, one of the first signs of Spring is the garbage and debris we see along the highways, parks and trails as the melted snow reveals what has collected over the winter. One way to celebrate Spring and honor Mother Earth is by volunteering to help clean our parks and trails through a multi-community event sponsored in connection with the New York State Canal Corporation, Parks & Trails New York, and the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation.

The Town of Montezuma is planning its second year of participation in the New York State Canal Clean Sweep program to organize clean-up activities on canal historic sites within the Heritage Park area. The clean up day will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Plans are to meet at the at 9:00 AM at the parking area on Erie Street, off Route 90 near the fire house. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves and supplies, and to wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

Robin Dropkin, executive director of Parks and Trails New York, said, “The growth of the Canal Clean Sweep in recent years clearly shows that local pride in the Canal and the Canalway Trail is high and the spirit of volunteerism is flourishing across the state. Especially in such challenging economic times, the canal system and Canalway Trail, which are growing in prominence as a world-class tourism destination, become even more important as close-to-home recreational resources for local residents and all New Yorkers. We are pleased to again join community groups and citizens in cleaning up the canal corridor in advance of the summer season.”

Site near the towpath and main trail leading to Heritage Park.

This event also coincides with the celebration of Earth Day on April 22, which began in 1970 launching the modern environmental movement. The Earth Day Network encourages Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. In recognition of the power of millions of individual actions, Earth Day 2011 has initiated a campaign to inspire and reward commitments both small and large to better sustain and support our environment. The goal is to register one billion actions in advance of the Earth Summit in Rio in 2012. A Billion Acts of Green® website quantifies acts of green through an easy-to-use online registration tool at: http://act.earthday.org/.

Unfortunately, we can't always stop this kind of illegal dumping, but we can help by being the change we want to see in others. Through our efforts in participating we can take pride knowing we are doing are part with cleanup and beautification activities on April 16th that will help the environment and protect the beauty of our historic canal and natural resources for years to come. Come enjoy the great outdoors and join the Clean Up!

Heritage Park Design Committee Meeting

2011-03-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

There will be a meeting of the Heritage Design Committee on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 7:00 PM. The meeting will be that the Montezuma Town Hall. Nancy Sumner of Bush Bow Consulting will moderate a discussion on plans for park development. Anyone interested in attending the meeting is welcome.

Engaging With the Power of Place

2011-03-19T20:14:00.000-07:00

For centuries, visitors have traveled to historical places to understand the impact of past generations. In the past decade, the cultural heritage tourism movement in the US has been gaining recognition and momentum with an impact on the economy and quality experiences for tourists. This week I had the pleasure of attending a symposium produced by the New York State Cultural Heritage Tourism Network and the Upstate Institute at Colgate University entitled "Bridges to the Future, Empowerment through Collaboration."

Cheryl Hargrove, keynote speaker, termed cultural heritage tourism "as a mosaic of places, traditions, art forms, celebrations and experiences that define this nation and its people reflecting the diversity and character of the U.S." She spoke about sustaining cultural heritage tourism through increased local benefit and value to its residents, long-term impact, opportunities for collaboration, and expanding partnerships that demand authentic experiences for visitors. Historic, cultural and natural attractions are experienced through the places and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.

There were five guiding principles that were stressed throughout this program: 1) collaboration; 2) preserving and protecting resources; 3) making sites and programs come alive; 4) find the fit between community and tourism; and 5) focusing on authenticity and quality.

The program was a wonderful opportunity to network with other cultural heritage museums and sites from New York State, share experiences, identify future needs for networking, and learn about the resources available to help communities wanting to showcase their unique "Place." Spike Herzig lead the wrap up session that identified advocacy by participants as important future topic for discussion to ensure this part of the growing tourism industry is understood, recognized and supported.

The "new" cultural heritage traveler is preferring leisure travel that is educational, they want to engage with locals and will travel farther to get that experience. Once again, I'm reminded that it's through the Power of Place and the people telling their unique and authentic stories, that is of most interest to visitors to our area.

Visit the New York Heritage Culture Tourism website at: http://nychtn.org

What's The Secret Ingredient?

2011-02-26T07:17:00.000-08:00

Way down in the Southern west corner of Georgia sits a small town named Colquitt, with big dreams, and no limits. I had the pleasure of visiting Colquitt with a population of 2000, not much bigger than Montezuma, attending a conference called, "Building Creative Communities, The Art of Storytelling, Community Building & Social Change." It's taken me some time to digest all that I received from attending. In addition to the warmth of the Southern sunshine, a much welcome break from our winter here in Central New York, and their genuine southern hospitality, I felt a warmth that went beyond the sunshine. It was the heart and soul of a town alive that had been miraculously transformed. The air tingled with it; you seen it in the smiles on their faces; and you heard and were touched by their voices as they humbly expressed from their hearts pride for their community.

What makes this town so special? What is their secret? They learned how to think outside the box. The box that had them trapped in thinking the same old way. They changed from thinking of themselves as a place limited with nothing (no-thing) to seeing what they already possessed and could tap into. The pride they have today was earned by breaking down barriers of the "norm" that was only supporting more of the status quo and coming into their greatness through their greatest resource -- the people.

According to Karen Kimbrel, one of the conference coordinators in a book published about Colquitt's progress, "What makes this community different from other small rural communities in the U.S. is the magic ingredient -- Creativity. Creative communities are different from traditional community and economic development models because creative communities rely on human potential, knowledge and capabilities as opposed to tangible goods and deliverable services. Also, rather than being physical place-focused, they are about human spirit......When creative projects enter the picture, people establish new and exciting networks to obtain social and economic entrees where before only walls existed preventing entrance." That is a powerful statement that comes from a new perspective of empowering people to use their own inborn gifts to create community.

So, Karen has given us the secret ingredient -- creativity. We have people -- so we have creativity. The question becomes how can we go beyond the "norm," or have we become too comfortable or numb to the status quo? Can we shake the box open a little and peak in to see what's possible. Karen said, "if Colquitt could do it, any town can." I'm going to hang on to that statement. What I came away with most from the conference was hope, because they helped me recognize and see what is possible. Thank you Colquitt!

NEW LOCAL CANAL HISTORY SITE LAUNCHED

2011-02-22T19:18:00.000-08:00

Through unexpected funding from the Canal Corporation, the historical societies of Weedsport, Port Byron and Montezuma were able to have a new website designed that highlights the history of the canals in Cayuga County. Mike Riley worked with web designer Adams Sweet of Sweet Designs to build the site. Check out the interactive map that leads to additional information and photos in each town. There are plenty of links to other resources and an events calendar in the works as well as other content that will be added.

Plans will be to build on the site to offer more material that will be especially useful to local teachers.

http://cayugacountycanalhistory.org/

DESIGN COMMITTEE MEETING INVITATION

2011-02-21T11:58:00.000-08:00

There will be a Heritage Park Design Committee meeting on Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 7 PM at the Montezuma Town Hall. Some of the topics we will be discussing are reviewing final designs ideas presented by the SUNY ESF students, signage, planning for the Canal Sweep clean up, upcoming programs for the year. At our last meeting we decided to make the last Thursday of the month our regular monthly scheduled meeting. This is an open invitation to join our committee, whether it's for one meeting or on a regular basis.

FINAL ESF PRESENTATIONS - A LOOK AT WHAT'S POSSIBLE

2011-02-13T15:08:00.000-08:00

Last Tuesday was another cold, blustery night we've become accustomed to here in Central New York, but the Halls of Montezuma were warmed with brightly colored visions and ideas posted on the walls of the town hall for what might be possible in the Montezuma Heritage Park. Representative examples originally done by over forty students of Syracuse's 3rd year landscape architectural design studio last fall were presented by four of the student designers: Lauren Christler, Megan Reymore, Sara Russo and Kyle Weissenburger assisted by faculty members, Cheryl Doble and Maren King.

Lauren Christler's focus points to an area off of Chapman Avenue
with linkage from past to present.

Most of the designs were focused ideas that linked our community's past Erie Canal history to the present. Using natural elements of water, plantings and organic contoured paths throughout the park, their designs showcased our history using the remains of historic sites such as the aqueduct and paper mill. This could be created through time lines flowing from the center of our town along the canal towpath to the park along the Seneca River. Monuments, statues, and an aqueduct sculpture featured throughout the site could tell the story of how the canal was built. Several recreational activities would provide for fishing, cross country skiing, walking, hiking, picnicking, primitive camping sites, boat dockage, bird and wildlife observation. Opportunities were seen for Erie Canal and natural resource education using open buildings that could later be enclosed.

The remains of the Montezuma Fibre Company on the south side of

the Enlarged Erie Canal could be made into a landscaped garden or a play area for children. The site still contains the arched doors shown in the drawing here could be incorporated into the design.

The 60' by 80' building was on an eleven feet high foundation. The foundation walls are still on the site. The main building was brick, two stories high with an attached boiler house 26' by 36', costing $22,000 when it was built in 1906.

The mill produced a heavy-weight paper product from flag (cattails), known as "Montezuma Wheat" that grew in the 20,000 acre swamp that surrounded the area. The finished product was loaded unto the canal boats for shipment.

It was noted that popular tours that have been offered including the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, Audubon Center and Howland's Island could include this site. Much thought and consideration was given to the landscape of the parkland with boardwalks to protect the land along the flood plain areas and enhance the walking experience. While much of the park would maintain its natural setting needing little maintenance, it was suggested the park could provide wonderful opportunities for the youth in the community to work in the park.

The students had a variety of practical, creative and innovative ideas to share while keeping with the natural elements and incorporating the Erie Canal historic resources. The design committee will consider the ideas, and begin to create a phased plan for development of the park. Anyone interested is invited to attend the planning meetings to be held on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM at the town hall.

The Town of Montezuma was selected to receive community technical assistance from the 2011 Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program, and will work with Karl Beard from the National Park Service. RTCA helps communities plan, organize partnerships and achieve on-the-ground success for projects they initiate. We are very grateful to the park service and SUNY ESF for support of our project.

Kyle Weissenburger focused on a Route 31 entrance with a nearby boat launch
marketing to New York State Fishing Clubs.

Maren King of SUNY ESF faculty member discusses student ideas with
Town Supervisor John Malenick; Stan Longyear and Paul Baker, Design
Committee members; Bill Hecht; and Karl Beard from the RTCA program at
the National Park Service.

MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT - SUNY ESF PARK DESIGN PROJECT

2011-01-31T11:58:00.000-08:00

The follow up meeting that had to be postponed in December for SUNY-ESF students to return with their final design ideas for the Montezuma Heritage Park has been rescheduled:

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2011 @ 6:30 PM

Montezuma Town Hall

Dock Street, Montezuma

Unfortunately, we are not expecting any of the students who worked on the project will be able to attend as they have moved onto to their next semester projects .

SUNY- ESF staff, Maren King and Cheryl Doble will share the results of the student's projects with us.

Please pass the word on to other community members. We need community input.

Following the Feb 8th meeting, the Design Committee will be reviewing the ESF students projects and begin to develop a plan that will work for our community. We will be taking into consideration all ideas and any concerns of the community.

Historic sites added to Parkland

2011-01-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

Two important parcels of property have been recently acquired by the Town of Montezuma that will be included with Heritage Park project. They are significant historic sites that tell the story of the town's Erie Canal history.

Cayuga County transferred a 23-acre parcel of land west of the former Cayuga-Seneca Canal and along the south side of the former Erie Canal. The parcel is the site of the former Meil's Drydock which was first started by William Thorn and Joshua Martin in 1860. The drydock provided a valuable service to canal business where boats were built, refurbished and repaired. The buildings in the background of the photograph above would have provided the necessary space for a blacksmith to fashion the metal parts, bolts and nails; a saw mill to cut beams and planks, and for offices and storehouses. Later in 1894 the business was purchased by George Meil of Veronia, NY. Fifteen men were employed to repair boats, build steamers and flag boats for use in the harvest of flag (cattails) in the swamps.

The other important piece of property purchased by the town is north of the present-day firehouse and at the entrance to the main trail head and former towpath of the Erie Canal. The Exchange Hotel in the photograph to the right was located here. It also had a stable to hold extra teams for the line boat compaines. Town Board meetings and elections were once held here. Built circa 1830, it burned to the ground on June 23, 1918, one of the oldest hotels in the village and on the Erie Canal.

This important site is near where the Cayuga section of the Cayuga-Seneca Canal opened in 1828 connecting with the Erie Canal. A crossover bridge allowed the mules and crews to move from the path along the Erie Canal to the Cayuga Canal. This was an important junction where boats headed either east to Albany or west to Buffalo as well as south to Cayuga and Seneca Lakes.

Trail Blazing!

2010-12-20T13:41:00.000-08:00

Well, maybe December is not such a good time for trail blazing, but I thought I would feature a slide show of an event last Spring. A great group of volunteers came out to participate in the Town of Montezuma sponsored Clean Sweep program to pick up trash, trim trail hedges, chip, and mulch on the Heritage Park site. Looking ahead to 2011, plans are already underway to do it again.

Since this is the time of year to reflect back, I've been doing some research on the history of park plans in Montezuma that goes back 45 years ago to December 1965. Not to give away my age, but that was the year I graduated from high school. David Butler was the Town Supervisor who applied for funding to acquire the parkland made possible through the Outdoor Recreation Development Bond Act and the Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965. Byron Lapp was elected the next supervisor who carried out the long process of completing the acquisition of parkland eventually in 1971.

As we look forward to envisioning plans for the park this coming year, we can appreciate the many years it took to complete this work. Through Byron's perseverance, we can be thankful the land has been preserved for public use and preservation of the great historic sites it holds.

Also, if you are starting to get the Cabin Fever Blues, Mike Riley has some great suggestions for getting out and enjoying the winter here in Cayuga County that were a part of last year's Canal Splash, Flowing the Flow: The Tale of Two Erie Canals.

http://canalsplash.blogspot.com

Wishing you a never-ending season of joy and peace.

SUNY ESF Student Presentations - Nov 1

2010-11-10T18:55:00.000-08:00

John Malenick, Montezuma Town Supervisor Introduces SUNY-ESF 3rd Year Design Students to the Community

SUNY -ESF 3rd Year Design Students

at Montezuma Town Hall

Ready to give their presentations to the community

Cheryl Doble, Associate Professor at the Center for Community Design

Research sets the stage for the students presentations

explaining the basis of the work to date

On Monday, November 1, 2010, the community listened as third year design studio students from SUNY - ESF Department of Landscape Architecture displayed graphic representations of their projects and described the results of their analysis and findings of the proposed park site. Through their analysis, the students have identified potential opportunities related to the Heritage Park. They highlighted the regional aspects of the site, history, wildlife and nature interpretation, commercial, recreation and performance such as music, plays, interpretative events and festivals. The students did an excellent job of researching the site and analyzing the potential for the park. There was good feedback and discussion from the audience for the students to consider as they now move on to their final design concepts for the park.

Maren King, Assistant Director at the Center of Community Design

Research, lists some points for the students to take into consideration

as the community gives feedback after the presentations for

their final design project.

ESF Students to Present Park Designs on November 1

2010-10-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

The public is invited to welcome landscape architecture students from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry on Monday evening, November 1, 2010 at 6:30 PM at the Montezuma Town Hall. The students will share their visions for the proposed development of 140 acres of town-owned parkland with historic and natural resources in the Town of Montezuma.

On October 1, 2010, forty-three ESF students and college staff made a preliminary visit to tour the park site followed by a meeting with design committee members at the town hall for the purpose of developing design ideas for the Heritage Park. The design process was initiated by Supervisor John Malenick, a graduate of the ESF collage. He contacted ESF's Center for Community Design Research to request design assistance from landscape architecture faculty and students to help prepare design studies. He realized that the time had come to look at the potential the parkland held economically and recreational for the community.

It was important to the supervisor that community members be involved in the park design process from the very early stages, and he requested in February 2010 the town board appoint a design committee and encouraged interested residents to become involved. The primary goal for the design committee working with the students was to look for ways to approach the park development based on an understanding of community values and needs, as well as an analysis of park site conditions and Erie Canal history to use as the basis of dialogue with the broader community. Academically, the primary goals were to provide an opportunity for design students to learn and practice skills of engaging community members in the design process, to understand the important roles that community members have in creating place-appropriate designs, and to apply emerging design and graphic skills on a project that would benefit our community.

It is anticipated that the collaboration between the landscape architecture students and the Town of Montezuma community will produce a series of useful outcomes, including site analysis and inventory, preliminary lists of activities and program, and alternative design ideas around which to base in-depth design proposals. Most importantly, it is the intent of the Design Committee that this will begin the process of additional involvement within the community members and encourage dialogue and participation to encourage development and pride in the community.

Come and see what the students have designed. Community members will have an opportunity to offer suggestions on their designs ideas and the students will return with the final project in a few weeks. This is the beginning of a community dialogue to have input on the development of the park.

Montezuma's Canal History: Where it All Began

2010-08-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

Both photos are located on the west side of Route 90

near the present-day firehouse.

This is the site of the junction of the Erie and Cayuga-Seneca Canals.

The Exchange Hotel in the older picture burned in 1917. The abutement

from the crossover bridge

still remains today near the entrance of the trail

leading into the proposed Montezuma Heritage Park

On August 14, 2010, the Montezuma Historical Society joined with the Old Brutus Historical Society and Lock 52 Historical Society to offer a combined historic site canal tour in Cayuga County. Representatives from Jordan also joined us to begin the tour at the Jordan/Weedsport line at the site of Lock 51. Both guided and self-guided tours were scheduled for the day. Mike Riley, Canal Historian lead the guided tours with five stops between Jordan and Montezuma.

The event was part of the statewide 5th Annual Canal Splash of locally organized events to celebrate the history, recreational appeal and beauty of the New York Canal System and Erie Canalway Trail. Folks got to visit many of the sites starting at the trail head pictured here that will be featured in the Heritage Park, including the magnificent Richmond Aqueduct pictured in our blog heading.

For more information, including downloads on the historic sites in Cayuga County visit the Canal Splash blog which will continue to be updated with new information for tours whether you are looking to explore the sites on your own or join in future tours; visit: http://canalsplash.blogspot.com

I Have A Dream –A New Vision for Building a Vibrant Community

2010-08-22T17:39:00.000-07:00

I last posted here with regard to the adventures of a 2009 Archaeological Dig held in Montezuma, NY, along the original Erie Canal that opened here in 1820. We've completed the dig and are awaiting the results of the report. This blog has now evolved into the next generation with a new face, a new name, and great adventure that will feature the plans and development for a public park.

I’ve long held a dream and vision that Montezuma’s historic canal sites and rich natural resources that once made this a booming canal town could help us once again become a strong and vibrant community.

Our historic and natural resources offer us such a rich opportunity to transform 140 acres of town parkland along Seneca River shore front into a public space that connects to the hamlet of Montezuma. The park would be part of the other regionally significant areas that celebrates our history and natural resources, provide green space for the growth of our town, and open the area to the Seneca River for recreation.

A Heritage Park will provide a balanced mix of public access including:

Creating pedestrian and bicycle trails from the Hamlet along Routes 90 and 31 to the Seneca River
Provide a safe and enjoyable park experience for residents, and tourists;
Blend smoothly with a vibrant mix of residential, restaurant, historic canal sites;
Complement and link to adjacent natural resources, canal heritage sites, trails, parks and other tourist attractions in the Finger Lakes;
Take advantage of the natural scenic view from the Seneca River waterfront;
Protect and enhance the natural environment;
Protect, preserve and enhance the town’s historic sites

To this end, the Heritage Park Design Committee formed in 2010, supports the community planning and development of the Montezuma Heritage Park and proposes to:

Provide for quality public space developed on 140 acres of Town owned property along the Seneca River;
Develop safe and accessible pedestrian trails;
Provide access to the site from Route 90, Route 31 and the Seneca River
Provide adequate parking areas from Route 90 and Route 31
Provide adequate dockage access from the waterfront
Seek sound funding structures to support the town for the park’s development and maintenance.

Over 185 years ago Dr. Peter Clarke and Comfort Tyler, the first settlers to the area, envisioned Montezuma being part of Governor Dewitt Clinton's dream -- opening the western country to settlers and offering cheap and safe ways of carrying produce to market. They dreamed of a hamlet that would grow and flourish into a vital, prosperous community. The original canal, that seems so small to us now, only four feet deep and 40 feet wide, became the Grand Canal of our forefathers. It became responsible for the unprecedented development and prosperity that came not only to New York State, but also to the whole nation in the first half of the nineteenth century and a model for canal-building throughout the world! Clinton’s dream was viewed by many, as imaginings of a most visionary dreamer, but the dream came true, and we have reason to feel pride in what the canals have done for our town, state and nation.

The writer of the “New York Memorial,” the chief instrument to mold public sentiment for the early canal, was gifted with prophecy when he said, “It remains for a free state to create a new era in history, and to erect a work more stupendous, more magnificent and more beneficial, than heretofore has been achieved by the human race.”

In 1903, the people of the State decided once again to enlarge the canal system in construction of what has been generally termed the “Barge Canal.” This was a turning point for Montezuma as the Erie and Cayuga-Seneca canals were abandoned, so was much of the town’s economic base. Today, the name “Barge Canal” is no longer an accurate description of the marine activity on New York’s canals, now known as the “New York State Canal System.” Trains and trucks have taken over the transport of cargo that once moved on barges along the canals, but the canals remain a viable waterway for navigation.

While the barges have declined, this network of inland waterways is fast becoming a popular tourism destination each year that can be tapped into for pleasure from the canal waterfront, as well as visitors by land, who follow the historic trade route that made New York the “Empire State.” Montezuma can become a vital part of the canal corridor once again with our important historic sites that uniquely span the entire NYS Canal era. My dream is for the town to create a new era in history that can revitalize Montezuma into a vibrant, rebirthed community, a place we are proud to offer enjoyment for generations to come and to foster the preservation of our historic legacy.

The Next Step....

2010-02-19T14:12:00.000-08:00

The Montezuma Historical Society has scheduled a Cleaning Party on Saturday, March 20 and 27. Mr. Babson will be joining us at the Montezuma Town Hall to give us direction on the next phase of this project. We'll be bringing our toothbrushes (never to be used again for tooth cleaning purposes) and dish pans ready to scrub clean the artifacts uncovered at last Fall's dig.

The glass and ceramics will be cleaned with water; the metal will be dry brushed. The artifacts will be placed in cardboard trays to dry for a week. We will then return on March 27th to place them in archival acid free, zip-loc bags of various sizes and classes (ceramics, glass, iron nails, other iron, other metals) by provences.

We look forward to working with Mr. Babson again, and I'm sure we'll learn much more about what was found last Fall.

Photos of Closing Out the Dig on September 26, 2009

2009-10-18T17:00:00.000-07:00

We completed our work at the Four Canals site in Montezuma on September 26th. Here are photos of the work that was done on that day. Click on any picture for a larger view.

Choose your weapons, diggers -- we're ready to begin!

David Babson and Paul Baker uncover black plastic protecting Unit #3. This unit contained the wheel found from our August dig.

Uncovering the wheel still intact in Unit #3

Terry Warner works on detailed sketch and measurements of the wheel found in Unit #3

Mike Riley, Canal Historian discusses the history of the site with Paul Baker and Ed Laraway.

Maureen O'Hora sifts as Pete Kappesser dumps another shovel full of soil from level 3 in Unit #2

Margaret Sullivan resumes work in Unit #2 while friend, Pete looks on.

Margaret saying, "I can't believe Cheryl talked me into this AGAIN!"

Nancy Bates, our photograher in Unit #2.

Don Watkins resumes the surveying work.

Mr. Toad was not happy we uncovered his napping ground.

David Babson excavates mule/horse shoe found in the sidewall of Unit #1.

Bunny Baker and Bob Melvin cover Unit #1 to close it out.

Josh Lindstrom sifts through soil from Unit #3 while Bob Melvin and Barbara Black look on.

David Babson checks the soil type from level three of Unit #2.

Mike Riley and Ed Laraway cover up Unit #3 to close it out.

A 2009 Penny was placed in each unit before closing.

Our September 26, 2009 Crew

GREAT JOB EVERYONE!

Left to Right: David Babson, Ed Laraway, Bunny Baker, Stan Longyear, Cheryl Longyear, Mike Riley, Pete Kappesser, Paul Baker, Bob Melvin; Front: Margaret Sullivan, Nancy Bates, Don Watkins, Terry Warner

Ed Laraway and Don Watkins carry out the excavated wheel.

Stan Longyear leads the crew out on the towpath trail at the end of the dig.

WISHING GONDOLA JOE A SAFE & HAPPY VOYAGE!

2009-09-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

I would like to give attention here to another worthy Erie Canal project. Joe Deverell, a Weedsport native, has begun a 150 mile trip traveling the Erie Canal on a Venetian Gondola from Buffalo to Baldwinsville. I've never met Joe, but I knew his mother, Val who worked at the Weedsport Library. Val died in 2004 of Lou Gehrig's disease, and the trip is a tribute to her memory, and to help raise money for a treatment and cure of this devastating disease. Learn more about his trip and follow Joe on his journey at his website: Gondola Joe.

DIG SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED!

2009-09-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

It's done! We completed the dig today. It was a beautiful day on the site -- perfect weather to close out the three units. The highlight of the day was successfully excavating the wheel uncovered in Test Unit #3. We had another great turnout of volunteers to complete this part of the project. In a couple of months we will schedule a time to clean and archive the artifact collection for later exhibit. A report will be done and a surveyed map will be overlaid on a historic map of the site. I'll update the blog with more pictues from today soon. In the meantime, here's an article by Sara Gantz who was on site today from our local newspaper, The Citizen.

http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2009/09/26/latest_news/10latestnews.txt

There are so many people to thank who made this project successful. This whole idea started as the result of a grant the Montezuma Historical Society received through the Upstate History Alliance to hire a consultant to help with an Interpretative Plan. We met with Linda Norris, an interpretative consultant who suggested we consider doing an archaeology dig. Linda recently highlighted the Montezuma dig along with two other groups to demonstrate what made volunteerism work with these projects. Check out Linda's September 22 entry on her blog at the

Uncataloged Museum.

WE'RE READY TO GO!

2009-09-26T04:29:00.000-07:00

Attention Volunteers:

If you are checking in here this morning , the sun is shining and we're ready to go. See you at the sight at 10 AM!

9/12/09 DIG CANCELLED

2009-09-12T05:46:00.000-07:00

Due to weather conditions not looking favorable today and some volunteers unable to be available, we've decided to reschedule the dig for SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH AT 10 AM.

LATEST UPDATE FOR RESUMING DIG WORK ON 9/12/09

2009-09-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

Plans are to resume our work tomorrow morning, September 12th, 10 AM at the Historic Four Canals' site.

Weather conditions may not be favorable again this weekend. Mr. Babson and I will make a decision by 8:30 AM if we feel it's best to cancel. I will post another update here tomorrow by 9:00 AM, and also do my best to contact by phone those who I know might be coming should we decide to cancel.

Artifacts Found

2009-09-05T15:37:00.000-07:00

Some lively competition began to develop early on between the test unit sites. Everyone wanted their site to find something exciting and unexpected. Site #3 quickly came to a halt as they began to uncover a small spoke wheel. Detailed drawings and measurements were made and recorded. Click on the top two photos for a larger, more detailed view of the wheel.

Taking Cover From the Rain

2009-09-05T15:30:00.001-07:00

Never fear…if you wait long enough in CNY, the rain will come, and come it did. We quickly covered up the sites with black plastic and headed over the bridge and back to a tent on the other side of the ditch to wait out the storm. We did this on Saturday and repeated it again on Sunday.

Mike Riley, Stan Longyear and Bob Melvin listen to David Babson tell intriguing stories of his 35 years of experience as an archaeologist while we snacked and waited for the rain to end.

Terry Warner and Andy Varga assist Anita Messina in covering Unit #3

Sifting for Artifacts - 8/29-30, 2009

2009-09-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

Bob Melvin, Port Byron, Dru Lis, N. Tonawanda and Chris Gradzien, Weedsport worked together on test unit #1. From the screens we were able to find the smaller artifacts such as china, glass, brick, and nails.

The soil from the units were sifted with screen units built by Dan Randolph of Montezuma. Here he gets to try one out to put it to the ultimate test on Unit #3.

Documenting the Test Units

2009-09-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

M. Holmes, Auburn makes notes on Test Unit #1 with her

granddaughter, Gabrielle Babilot, Weedsport

My Man, Stan, Loves to Play in the Dirt

2009-09-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

Although he'd much rather be playing in the dirt on a JD,

he is really enjoying himself here.

The Digging Begins

2009-09-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

Here’s where everyone digs in and the real work begins.

Test Unit #2 - Stan Longyear, Montezuma and Margaret Sullivan, Auburn

Test Unit #1 - Gabrielle Babilot of Weedsport

Test Unit #3 - Anita Messina, Terry Warner, Port Byron and

Andy Varga, Niagara Falls

Test Unit #1 - Matt Gradzien, Weedsport

Finding Soil Color and Type for each level

2009-09-05T14:54:00.000-07:00

Staking out the test units on 8/29/09

2009-09-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

Receiving Instructions Before We Begin on 8/29/09

2009-09-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

Our special thanks for the success of this project goes to Mr. David Babson, Archaeologist from Syracuse. He designed and conducted the project very precisely with over 35 years of expertise. His professional direction will add to a better understanding of this site during the Erie Canal era in New York State while assuring there was minimal disturbance to the archaeological resource base.

Mr. David Babson, Archaeologist

Surveying the Site - 8/29/09

2009-09-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

Before we could begin the area was surveyed. Services were donated by Watkins Land Surveying of Auburn. Here Joni Lincoln and Terry Warner assist surveyor, Steve Defendorf, to get started. Archaeologist, David Babson prepares to start the day with plenty of repellent to ward of those pesky mosquitoes. We all were starting to get a taste of what it must have been like to work in these elements in the canal era.

Joni Lincoln, Town of Conquest Historian

Steve Defendorf, Surveyer from Watkins Land Surveying, Auburn, NY

David Babson, Archaeologist, Syracuse, NY

Terry Warner, Port Byron and David Babson, Syracuse

Preparing to Start the Dig on 8/29/09

2009-09-05T13:44:00.001-07:00

We were off to a late start on Saturday, August 29th. Threatening skies and weather forecasts for thunder showers couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of those who showed up for the dig. The site had been prepared prior to the dig by the Cayuga County Sheriff's Inmate Work program with the supervision of my husband, Stan Longyear and Deputies Bruce Watkins, Todd Fisher, and Larry Westover.

Tools for the project had to be transported by lawn tractor and then carried across the Clinton's Ditch via a bridge that Stan and Bob Melvin built with pallets and lumber donated from Secor Lumber Company, Savannah. Bob Alnutt lent his newly painted golf cart (Case Orange, of course) for transportation to and from the site.

Mike Riley, Canal Historian came with maps and photos that showed how the site would have looked when the first Erie Canal opened in 1820. Bill Breen, our own resident amateur archaeologist gave us a hand to help transport the tools to the site. Bill has unearthed Indian artifacts and has an extensive collection of arrow heads from the Montezuma area.

Joni Lincoln and Mike Riley

Terry Warner ascends the site crossing the bridge over

Clinton's Ditch near Lock 62

Early Map of the Four Canals Site

L to R: Seated: Sharon Alnutt; Mike Riley, Stan Longyear, Bob Alnutt

Left to Right: Ken Vanwie, Stan Longyear, Bill Breen, Mike Riley

Left to Right: Dan Randolph, David Babson, Stan Longyear

THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!

2009-08-30T17:28:00.000-07:00

What an amazing group of volunteers we had for our August 29 and 30 dig. You took volunteerism to a whole new level. We survived the weekend with heavy rain, mud, mosquitoes and lots of hard work. But wait; there's more....they even said they would come back again in two weeks to close out the three plots we worked on all weekend.

Under the expert guidance and direction of David Babson, we now are expert novices at plotting, digging, sifting, and documenting artifacts found on the Four Canals Historic site in Montezuma. As soon as available we will post details, photos and video of this amazing weekend.

Thank you, thank you, volunteers. YOU ARE THE GREATEST!!! In spite of the challenging weather conditions, I'm thrilled with the teamwork and all that was accomplished.

Noon Update

2009-08-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

We're moving forward with the dig. Volunteers are at the site now. The site has been surveyed. Plans are to work until 5PM today and then resume on Sunday at 10AM. Call 315-406-6575 for more information.

UPDATE -- LATEST NEWS ON THE DIG TODAY!

2009-08-29T04:56:00.000-07:00

MOTHER NATURE IS HAVING HER WAY WITH US THIS MORNING.

We've decided to wait until 11 AM today to make a decision about whether to start the dig at Noon today! Check back after 11 AM for our decision.

Volunteers Needed

2009-08-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

Plans are firming up for the Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30th Erie Canal site dig in Montezuma. The site was cleared last week by the Cayuga County Sheriff's Inmate work program. Thanks to the volunteers and donators who have help with preparations and provided all the necessary tools and supplies. Volunteers Margaret Sullivan and Nancy Bates will be filming and photographing to document the event.

We plan on getting started at 10 AM at the site on Saturday. Several volunteers are needed to help dig, sift and record the artifacts. Participants should dress accordingly for the elements in a wooded area. If you plan on participating with the dig, please bring a masonry shovel (flat-ended).

There's a walking trail into the site and it will be necessary to cross a small walking bridge and climb steps that crosses Clinton's Ditch to the digging site. The site is located off a trail starting on Chapman Road in the Town of Montezuma. Directions to the site are as follows:

Coming from Routes 38 or 31 in Port Byron, take Route 31 West to Montezuma. Take your first left on High Street past the intersection of Routes 31 and 90, Turn at the first right to Chapman Road past the Montezuma Town Highway Barn to the parking area on the right to enter the walking trail into the site.

Coming from South on Route 90 to Montezuma take left past post office onto Main Street; turn right onto High Street; take first left onto Chapman Road past the Montezuma Town Highway Barn to the parking area on the right to enter the walking trail into the site.

Coming from the East on Route 31 to Montezuma, turn right just past the Seneca River Bridge; turn at the first right to Chapman Road past the Montezuma Town Highway Barn to the parking area on the right to enter the walking trail into the site.

If you need further directions, please call (315) 406-6575 or (315) 406-6572.

The dig will be lead by David Babson, Archaeologist. Canal Historian Mike Riley will be there to share the history of the Erie Canal era and how the site was used by the lock tenders and lighteners for the original ditch.

Hope to see you there!

Summary of the 2009 Program of Investigations

2009-07-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

Side Wall of Larger Stone Foundation, Lightening Operations Area, 22 June 2009

The following is a summary of the 2009 program of investigations. It will be limited to exploring deposits associated with the larger of the two stone building foundations, at present understood to be a house or stable associated with the 1825 to 1850 lightening operation as discussed in the previous post. These excavations will be conducted under the direct, on-site supervision of a professional archaeologist, David W. Babson, now a PhD candidate in archaeology, in the Department of Anthropology at Syracuse University. Excavations will be conducted by means of no more than three 1X1-meter test units, judgmentally placed to explore the front, rear and side yards of the larger stone foundation, with “front,” “rear,” etc. defined by the orientation of this foundation to the 1825 canal prism; “front” is the side of the building that faced the canal. The number of 1X1-meter test units excavated will depend upon the number of participating volunteers we have for the event, with a two-person crew to be assigned to each test unit.

Excavations will be conducted by natural stratigraphic levels, defined by soil color and texture under the supervision of Mr. Babson. All material excavated will be sifted through ¼-inch mesh wire screen. Excavation will be concluded in each test unit when the base of the 19^th-century occupation is reached, defined as being 5.0 cm. of soil without 19^th-century artifacts. Archaeological features occurring in the test unit will be identified and documented, but not excavated. Test units will be recorded by soil profiles and planviews, done as drawings and digital photographs. All artifacts encountered during the excavation will be collected, including (but not necessarily limited to) ceramics, glass, iron and other metals, worked stone, brick, mortar, wood, coal, coal slag and clinker.

The site will be mapped, to scale, with test unit locations drawn in relation to the stone foundation, the canal ditch, ground surface contours and other surface features. This map will become part of the permanent record of this site.

Artifacts will be cleaned and identified by volunteers from the Montezuma Historical Society (MHS), under the supervision of Mr. Babson. All ceramics and glass will be washed in plain water with toothbrushes, and all metal will be dry-brushed. Artifacts will be identified and described in a detailed catalog, organized by recovery provenience. All artifacts recovered will be placed into archival (acid-free) curation materials (plastic bags and cardboard tags), and permanently curated by the MHS. While artifacts will not be physically marked, all provenience information pertaining to each artifact collection will be attached to that collection, and maintained in perpetuity. Photographs of artifacts will be used in reports, lectures, on this blog created and individual artifacts will be displayed in the MHS museum.

A project report will be prepared by the archaeologist, within one year of the excavations. Copies of the project report will be kept on file by the MHS. All artifacts, photographs, field notes, maps and drawings will be curated in perpetuity. Copies of the report will be made available to the public, upon request and in return for payment of copying costs and postage or other distribution costs. Copies of other project documents (maps, drawings, photos, field notes) will be made available to qualified researchers upon application to MHS, again in return for payment of copying costs and postage or other distribution costs.

Discover the Excitement of Erie Canal History and Archaeology

2009-07-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

Who worked on the Erie Canal? Where did they live? What do we know about them?

Plans are underway for unearthing some of these questions. Tucked away in the woods near the Seneca River, hidden from immediate view are the remains of the original Erie Canal within the small town of Montezuma in the heart of Upstate New York. At a site, which is one of the last locks remaining from the Clinton Ditch era, we will uncover objects left behind from this bygone era in archaeological test plots. We will learn from a canal historian about the remains of Lock 62, and the how men worked there 24 hours a day to raise and lower boats traveling across the Seneca River.

This was one of the most difficult natural water crossings on the Erie Canal using what is known as slack water navigation. The river was shallow and the land surrounding it was relatively flat marshland. A dam was built in the river that backed up a certain depth of water. The state also had to employ a team of workers here called lighteners to unload part of the cargo, place it on another boat, pull it across the river and then reload the first boat.

The Montezuma Historical Society is sponsoring this dig to be held during the annual Community Days Event. We look forward to sharing our adventures on this blog.