“Moving Frontiers: Early Transportation in the Mohawk Valley”

 

SCHEDULE

 

Saturday, October 17:
Symposium at Fulton-Montgomery Community College

Talks on Transportation:

8:00 – 9:00 Registration & Bookstore open

9:00 – 9:30 Welcome & introductions

9:30 – 10:30 Keynote: F. Daniel Larkin, Ph.D., Provost, SUNY Oneonta: “Transportation, Technology and the Shaping of New York State: The Role of the Mohawk Valley Corridor”

Weaving A Transportation Network:

11:00-11:30 David Cornelius, NAtivED Native Education Services: “The Native American Trail Systems of the Western Frontier in Colonial Days”

11:30-12:00 Phil Lord, Retired archeologist, New York State Museum: "New York's First Canal Age: The National Waterway - 1790 to 1820"

 12:00-12:30 G. William Beardslee, Independent scholar: “Making Connections: The Plank Road Craze 1845-1855”

 12:30-1:30 LUNCH - box lunches available for fee ($)

 Transportation and Business

 1:30-2:00 Ron Burch, New York State Museum: “Serving the Traveler: Turnpike and Canal Lodging in the Mid-Mohawk Valley”

2:00-2:30 Tricia Shaw, Schoharie Crossing SHS: “The Fort Hunter Canal Store: A Community on Land Serves the Community Afloat”

2:30-3:00 Paul Schneider, independent scholar: “Getting Our Goods to the Market: The Eddy Brothers Ink Business”

Changing the Cultural Landscape

3:30-4:00 Elizabeth Covart, Hudson Valley Community College: “Paving Albany: The Impact of Yankee Migration on a Dutch Community”

 4:00-4:30 Kate Weller, Schenectady County Historical Society: “From Church to Shrine: The Evolution of the Mohawk Valley’s Palatine Churches”

 4:30-5:00 Peter Betz, Fulton County Historian: “Radical Changes: The Impact of Bicycling on Community, Society and the Mohawk Valley Culture”

 5:00-6:00 RECEPTION – Bookstore open until 5:30 pm

 6:30-10:00 A Night at the Museum - Arkell Museum, Canajoharie ($)

Note: ($) indicates activities available with special ticket
purchase in advance. Registration here.

 Sunday, October 18:
throughout the Mohawk Valley
 

Transported Talks: Presentations in the Field

Special presentations and exhibits will be offered at participating sites throughout the Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor.

Arkell Museum, Canajoharie: “Trunks & Travel: A 19th Century Journey” (Speakers in the Humanities Program) 1:00 pm
 Exhibit: “Moving Frontiers: Early Transportation in the Mohawk Valley” 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Crailo State Historic Site, Rensselaer: 17th Century Fur Trade Exhibits, talks & demonstrations of brain tanning, wampum making, Native American & Dutch trade goods with Arthur Kermss, Jennifer Lee & Kevin Fuerst; 12:00-4:00 pm

Fort Klock, St. Johnsville: Tour the 1750 Palatine German homestead and fur trading post, blacksmith shop 11:00-5:00 pm

Fort Plain Museum, Ft Plain: Exhibit: Carriages & carrage-making in Montgomery County, 12:00-5:00 pm; Garet Livermore talk: "Carriages in the Mohawk Valley" talk at noon.

Fulton County Museum, Gloversville: Paul Larner: “The Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville Railroad” 2:00-3:00 pm

Herkimer Home State Historic Site, Little Falls: Alan Sterling & Brian Heffron: “The Portage at Little Falls” 1:00 - 4:00 pm; tours of the homestead hourly.

Mabee Farm Historic Site, Rotterdam Junction: Tours of the historic buildings, exhibits on 300 years of the Mabee family & "Supplying the Army: The French and Indian War" 11 am - 4 pm. David Manthey, "Life on the Mohawk: Running Bateaux for a Living" 12:00-1:00 pm

Nellis Tavern, St. Johnsville 
Visit a typical 18th and 19th Century Turnpike Tavern. Exhibit includes a bicycle like the one George Nellis rode across the US in 1887 as reviewed in "An American Cycling Odyssey, 1887" by Kevin J. Hayes. Both men are descendants of Christian Nellis, builder of the Nellis Tavern. Open 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Old Stone Fort Museum, Schoharie: Exhibits include tolls, bridges, Middleburgh & Schoharie Railroad, early roads & Schoharie's first automobile. 12:00- 5:00 pm

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, Ft. Hunter:
open 11 am- 4 pm "Erie Canal Birthday Bash"

11:30- Wedding of the Waters Reenactment
12:15- Walking tour to Schoharie Aqueduct
1:00- Lecture: Ruins of Schenectady & Montgomery Counties
2:00- Music Program: Rich Bala and Songs of the Erie Canal
3:00- Caravan Tour to Yankee Hill and Putman’s Canal Store
All day: Birthday cake to celebrate the Erie Canal’s 184th birthday, free raffles, craft table for kids, Gift Shop sales
Wemp’s Canal Store Ledger books on display
Exhibits: “Canals around the World”, “Little Short of Madness”
 

Experts available for questions all day

Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site, Albany: 11:00-5:00 pm, Tours hourly: 1763 home of Philip Schuyler, Western Inland Lock Company founder, Rev War general, Dutch heritage

Van Alstyne House, Canajoharie: Tour one of the oldest houses in Canajoharie 2:00-4:00 pm

Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center: The Old Path Master himself gives a Guided Tour of Lock 4 on the Original Champlain Canal at 2:15 PM and again at 3:15; exhibit “Making Waterford Our Home: The Italians” 2:00-4:00 pm

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