SUPPORT HISTORIC PRESERVATION

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

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