Here’s a tip o’ the tam to all those who can trace their ancestry to the Irish labor force who built the Erie Canal. There were certainly other immigrant groups including Germans and and Brits who contributed to the project – the only water level route through the Appalachian Mountains. But Irish workers were the largest, most significant group working for 37 to 50 cents a day (and maybe a ration of whiskey).

These hard working individuals learned construction techniques along side the early engineers. Before the age of steam engines principal tools were the pick and shovel. These people found efficient methods and fashioned new tools many of which still play a role today like the wheel barrow and stump puller.

“Not only did the Irish lend their unique hard work ethic to the canal, they also put their stamp on it in many other ways, including “canal songs” that they wrote, fashioned after popular Irish tunes, with new words to fit the environment. And of course, they settled in towns all along the canal route, seen in the architecture of buildings, reminiscent of Ireland.” – Maryann Tracy.

A special salute to all our volunteers with even a bit of Irish still working to tell the spirited stories and pass along our heritage along the Mohawk Towpath Byway.

As of 7:00 PM on February 22, 2018 the ice jam is building just upstream from the I-87 Northway Bridges …Thaddeus Kosciuszko Bridge over the Mohawk River.  Water is over the Clutes Dry Dock Parking lot and this eastern entrance to the Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve.  The water is over the trails not too far from the Main Whipple Bridge Entrance to the Vischer Ferry Preserve.  Use caution when traveling the Byway along Riverview Road between Boyack Road west to the Hamlet of Vischer Ferry.  Don’t drive through any standing or flowing waters.

I will post and up date in the morning.

Stephanie Bandosik telling the oral histories of the Mohawk Valley.  Photo by Richard Yacco.

The name “Mohawk” comes from Algonquin-speaking neighbors (then enemies) of the Kenien’ke:ha who called them a pejorative term loosely translated to “bear people” which the Dutch misheard as Mohawk. Known for their fierceness, The Peacemaker decided to approach the Mohawk with his ideas first. In those days one did not walk into a neighboring village. You stayed at a distance and built a smokey fire. The village would send out a runner to investigate. The visitor would only enter the village after being invited. The Peacemaker, according to Mohawk history, was tested by surviving a trip or a plunge over the Cohoes Falls.

We have a Family Moonlight Ski scheduled for Thursday, January 25 at 7 PM at the main entrance to the Vischer Ferry Preserve.  Unfortunately we also have a half inch of rain predicted between now and Wednesday and not much snow following the storm as temperatures fall.  We will make a decision during the day on Wednesday whether to postpone until the next magical Thursday before the full moon.

Even though we have sufficient snow the Family Moonlight Ski scheduled for December 28 in the Vischer Ferry Preserve in cancelled due to the polar conditions.  Please go skiing during the day when it is warmer, but make sure if you go alone that you let someone know where you are and when to expect you back.

Remember the old Norse saying, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.”

You are cordially invited to the

Friends of the Mohawk Towpath Byway

ANNUAL HOLIDAY 

JINGLE AND MINGLE

Re-Scheduled to JANUARY 9, 2018 due to weather!

DOOR PRIZES, DESSERTS, RAFFLES

Historic Grooms Tavern

Corner of Sugar Hill Rd and Grooms Road

Our guest speaker will be Frank Berlin, retired educator and naturalist and member of the Clifton Park Open Space Committee. He will talk about beaver control, watering the canal, where the eagles came from, where our Byway visitors come from and other factoids of interest.  Need more information?