CANAL SPLASH EVENT A SUCCESS!

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!!

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

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

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????

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

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

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.