Fort Hunter

Palatines in the Mohawk Valley: 300 Years of History

January 18, 2022 by Ginny Rogers 3 Comments

The earliest European settlers in the Mohawk Valley came from what is now southwestern Germany. Under near constant threat of destruction, whether from multiple wars, invasions, or the plague, in the near hundred years leading up to the 18th century, the southwest German population experienced extreme hardship.

In some cases, entire towns and villages were wiped out. Commercial crops in the vineyards either failed or were destroyed. Invading French armies added to the hardship by burdening residents with housing and supporting soldiers, albeit with scant family resources, forcing many German homeowners to flee. [Read more…] about Palatines in the Mohawk Valley: 300 Years of History

Crossing Schoharie Creek: Erie Canal Stories from David Brooks (Podcast)

October 29, 2021 by Bob Cudmore Leave a Comment

This week on The Historians Podcast, David Brooks of Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site in Fort Hunter, NY, explains how Erie Canal boats were able to cross the fast-flowing Schoharie Creek. [Read more…] about Crossing Schoharie Creek: Erie Canal Stories from David Brooks (Podcast)

Schoharie Crossing Offers Online Programs

August 3, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site will continue to offer online programs throughout the summer even as the Visitor Center is now open by appointment.

The Erie Canal historic site will provide programs through Webex as well as other online platforms and social media. [Read more…] about Schoharie Crossing Offers Online Programs

A Visit To Schoharie Crossing (Liz Covart Podacst)

July 24, 2019 by Liz Covart Leave a Comment

A “little short of madness.” That is how Thomas Jefferson responded when two delegates from New York approached him with the idea to build the Erie Canal in January 1809.

Jefferson’s comment did not discourage New Yorkers. On January 4, 1817, New York State began building a 363-mile long canal to link the Hudson River and Atlantic Ocean with the Great Lakes and the Midwest. [Read more…] about A Visit To Schoharie Crossing (Liz Covart Podacst)

Steps Taken to Preserve Schoharie Aqueduct

June 4, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Opened in 1841 to carry canal boats over the Schoharie Creek, Schoharie Aqueduct was one of the major aqueducts of the enlarged Erie Canal. This impressive structure is a centerpiece of the Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site in Fort Hunter. But years of deterioration threaten the stability of the aqueduct and only six of its original 14 stone arches remain. [Read more…] about Steps Taken to Preserve Schoharie Aqueduct

Schoharie Crossing Historic Site Opening May 1st

April 29, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site Visitor Center in Fort Hunter, NY, is set to re-open for the 2019 season on Wednesday, May 1st at 10 am.

Visitors can witness the engineering marvel of the Erie Canal and check out the “Pathway to Empire” exhibit as well as artifacts from the colonial Fort Hunter and the Lower Castle Mohawk Village. Schoharie Crossing is a good place to witness Erie Canal history and enjoy a day walking the towpath trails, kayaking the creek, cycling the Canalway trail, or just enjoying a picnic and time with family and friends. [Read more…] about Schoharie Crossing Historic Site Opening May 1st

Barge Canal Hydrology Presentation at Schoharie Crossing

April 18, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The Friends of Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site is set to welcome NYS Canal Corporation Section Supervisor David Lamphere on Tuesday, April 23rd.

Lamphere will cover how Canal Corp regulates water levels by use of moveable dams, as well as other topics of hydrology and pertaining to operations of the over 100 year old Barge Canal. [Read more…] about Barge Canal Hydrology Presentation at Schoharie Crossing

Erie Canal History Talk At Schoharie Crossing

August 20, 2015 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Frank Taormina, retired social studies teacher and lecturer at Union College will be giving a talk on the history of the Erie Canal. The contemporary Erie Canal has been much in the news lately. The Erie Canal played a significant role in the history of New York and the nation and helped make the “Empire State”.

The original Erie Canal ran about 363 miles from Albany to Buffalo (the Hudson River to Lake Erie) creating a water route from New York City and the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal helped the City of New York eclipse Philadelphia as North America’s largest city and port. [Read more…] about Erie Canal History Talk At Schoharie Crossing

Marquis de Lafayette’s Visit To Fort Hunter

July 28, 2015 by Bob Cudmore Leave a Comment

If you visit Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site in Fort Hunter, you will be following in the footsteps of Marquis de Lafayette, who visited by canal boat in 1825.

A French aristocrat, Lafayette fought with George Washington’s army during the American Revolution. At some point while in America the Frenchman visited Johnstown and was entertained by the families of Jacob and Thomas Sammons, who leased the former Johnson Hall for four years after the Loyalist Johnson family fled to Canada. Lafayette played a key role in the British defeat at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781. [Read more…] about Marquis de Lafayette’s Visit To Fort Hunter

Unseen Hand: An 1869 Fort Hunter Diary

February 3, 2015 by David Brooks 4 Comments

In 1988, a small leather-bound diary was bequeathed to Schoharie Crossing State Historic site by Clarke Blair, who received it from Gertrude Ruck – a descendent of Michael Brown. Brown was one of the brothers that owned and operated the Brown Cash Store located at Lock 30 in Fort Hunter, NY from the mid-19th to early 20th century.

The diarist is unknown – nonetheless, it is obviously a personal journal of a Fort Hunter resident, and references to notable local families, places and events of 1869 fill its yellowed pages. [Read more…] about Unseen Hand: An 1869 Fort Hunter Diary