Thursday Podcast "Two Minutes"
From the Archives of Focus on History from the Daily Gazette
History sites can be found along Route 5
By Bob Cudmore 06-09-2007
An approximately 30-mile stretch of Route 5 in Montgomery County is home to enough historic places to make for a day trip this summer for those who are keen on heritage tourism. Most of the sites date back to the Colonial era.
Starting in Amsterdam, just across the railroad tracks from Route 5 at Russo’s Tavern, an historic site in its own right, is Guy Park Manor.
Sir William Johnson, the area’s most prominent settler of the Colonial era, built the home for his nephew and son-in-law, Colonel Guy Johnson. Guy came to America in 1756 and sought out his uncle, marrying Sir William’s daughter Polly.
Sir William first built them a wooden home called Guy Park that was struck by lightning in 1773. The stone building that still stands was then built on the site. Sir William died in 1774. Guy and Polly didn’t have much time to enjoy their new home, fleeing for Canada in 1775 as anti-British sentiment grew during the buildup to the Revolutionary War. Guy Park Manor is also the location of a riverside park and Mohawk River/Erie Canal Lock 11.
A mile west of Amsterdam in the village of Fort Johnson is the Old Fort itself, built by Sir William in 1749 as his residence. Operated today by the Montgomery County Historical Society, the Old Fort boasts period furnishings and a restored 18th century outhouse, one of the oldest in America. Paintings by Amsterdam area artist Mary Van der Veer are currently on display. Old Fort Johnson is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Traveling west to Fonda, the Montgomery County Department of History and Archives is across the railroad tracks from Route 5 in the historic Old County Courthouse on Park Street.
The department contains numerous historical documents. The facility also attracts amateur and professional genealogists from around the country to search birth records from the Colonial era and later for a large part of Upstate New York.
Just west of Fonda on Route 5 is the Franciscan shrine honoring Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, a 17th century Mohawk Indian who converted to Catholicism. Kateri is being considered for sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church. Up the hill from the shrine is the site of the Mohawk village of Caughnawaga where Kateri lived much of her life.
Reverend Thomas Grassmann, who started the shrine in 1938, put together most of the facility’s Native American collection. The shrine is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
About seven miles west of Fonda on Route 5 is Kanatsiohareke, since 1993 home to a settlement of traditional Mohawk Indians. Their annual summer festival will take place June 30 and July 1.
The Route 5 villages of Palatine Bridge and Nelliston boast several historic homes. Between the two villages is Palatine Church, a Colonial era stone building.
Farther west on Route 5 is Fort Klock, two miles east of St. Johnsville. A 1750 fur trading post, the fortified stone house typifies structures of the colonial era and the American Revolution. Fort Klock is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Another mile west on the highway is the 1747 Nellis Tavern, an ongoing restoration project of the Palatine Settlement Society. Built by Christian Nellis in 1747 as a farmhouse, it is one of the few wooden buildings in the Mohawk Valley to survive the Revolutionary War. A tavern by 1783, the building stayed in private hands until the 1960s. The tavern is open this summer every Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Other than some isolated to widely scattered storms possible
Friday mainly dry weather is expected into Saturday night. Our
next chances for widespread showers is expected late in the
holiday weekend.
Mohawk Valley Labor Day Weekend Weather-Patchy fog this morning before 8. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
Friday A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 3pm, then a slight chance of showers after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Sunday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Labor Day A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
The Historians Podcast – September 2019
This September on The Historians Podcast with Bob Cudmore—more interest in Saratoga County history, the rocket testing era in the town of Malta, Fulton County’s Year of the Glove, the writers who waged the literary Cold War and the campaign to Saratoga in 1777.
Friday, August 30, 2019- Episode 281-Jim Richmond, coordinator of the Saratoga County History Roundtable, discusses the growth of interest in local history in that county.
James Richmond is retired, with a life-long interest in Genealogy and American History. He has published several articles on the New England roots of the Richmond family, as well as articles on local history relating to locations in Saratoga County, New York. Jim also lectures on local history at libraries, historical societies and educational institutions. War on the Middleline is Jim’s first full-length book. He resides in Ballston Spa, New York
War on The Middleline
https://allthingsliberty.com/2016/07/war-on-the-middleline-the-october-1780-british-raid-on-ballston/
The war on the New York frontier did not end with Burgoyne’s surrender at Saratoga in October 1777. Year after year the conflict raged on, taking on the characteristics of a civil war. This conflict was not fought by grand armies facing off in titanic struggles, but rather initiated by British Loyalists garrisoned in western New York and Canada, and their Iroquois allies, sometimes opposed by local American militia units.
Friday, September 6, 2019- Episode 282-Malta N.Y. town historian Paul Perreault details the history of a rocket test site, operated by GE in Malta. Also stories about NASA pioneers Rocco Petrone and Stan Jevitt. Norm Bollen of Fort Plain Museum explains why he is concerned with treasure seekers using metal detectors on museum property.
Friday, September 13. 2019- Episode 283-The role of the glove industry in Fulton County is being explored in the Year of the Glove. Fulton County historian Samantha Hall-Saladino, a Gloversville native, discusses this project.
Friday, September 20, 2019- Episode 284- Duncan White, author of “Cold Warriors: Writers Who Waged the Literary Cold War.”
Friday, September 27, 2019-Episode 285- Eric Schnitzer, national historical park ranger, author of “Campaign to Saratoga-1777: The Turning Point of the Revolutionary War.” (Eric will speak Thursday Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. at Fort Plain Museum.)
Coming this fall: More on Lower Manhattan history with Arthur Piccolo. Also what did Abner Doubleday do for baseball with Ballston Spa historian David Fiske. Send guest suggestions to bobcudmore@yahoo.com
Michael Davi, author of the book “PrivileGEd: Experiences From My Unusual 40-Year Career with One of America’s Most Iconic Companies” which describes his career at General Electric, will speak at Gloversville Public Library on 58 East Fulton Street on Monday, September 9, 2019 at 6 p.m. Davi was a guest on The Historians Podcast and on Talk of the Town on Magic 590.
Jason Subik Mid-Morning Program Monday thru Thursday on WCSS Radio Amsterdam
Watch Live on Facebook at 9 or archived any time of the day https://www.facebook.com/jason.subik
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