Fort William Henry, a British fort at the southern end of Lake
George, was constructed in 1755 during the French and Indian Wars. Before the revolution and when most of America was under the control of the British, the French and Indian War pitted the colonists against French in the Americas. The local Indians helped on both side.
In August of 1757 British General Montcalm and 8000 French Troops aided by Huron Indians and Canadian Volunteers attacked the fort. The fort's walls were breached, its guns were overused, and the many casualties, caused General Monro to surrender on August 9. Today it is remembered as a massacre. There still remains much speculation as to how many people were killed (including women, children, and slaves who
were not part of military records). The massacre was later dramatized in James Fenimore Cooper's book, The Last of the Mohicans, and its numerous film adaptations. Imagine if you lived in that area and what the terror must have been like. When I hear people claim that we live in disastrous time I suggest they recall their local history.
Not many people were living in Western New York at that time but Fort Oswego, not to be confused with Fort Ontario, was constructed in 1727 at the mouth of the Oswego River on the southeast shore to protect the area. Only a stone monument remains.
During the week of August 10, 1756, a force of regulars and Canadian militia under General Montcalm captured and occupied the British fortifications at Fort Oswego. There were not many people living in the area but it must have been frightening for those who did.
During the French and Indian War and again during the Revolution
many areas of New York were under siege. Within the fort besides the soldier there were women and children. That is not to mention the many Indian raids.
The Battle of Fort Niagara was a siege late in the French and Indian War. The British siege of Fort Niagara in July 1759 was part of a campaign to remove French control of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley regions, making
possible a western invasion of the French province of Canada in conjunction with General James Wolfe's invasion to the east. The French had about one hundred Iroquois allies at the Fort who deserted when the British arrived. British Captain Pouchot directed a vigorous defense. British General Prideaux was killed when a shell fragment from one of his own guns hit him, and command of the British forces fell to Sir William Johnson. The French capitulated on 26 July.
I can’t imagine living in such times. Not counting 9/11 and President Kennedy assassination I think 1968 was the scariest time. It seemed that it was one thing after another: Martin Luther King assassination followed by riots in most major cities, Robert Kennedy assassinated, North Korea captured the US Pueblo, Tet Offensive and ongoing protest to the Vietnam War, and the debacle at the Democratic Convention. The year of 1968 is considered one of the most violent years in American History but the country survived.
“May you live in interesting times” is purported to be a Chinese curse. Hopefully, not too interesting. We will survive the current situation and so will the country. “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
U.S. Route 20 runs from Boston, Massachusetts to Newport, Oregon. It is 3,365 miles
long. In New York, US 20 extends 372.32 miles from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line in the Berkshire Mountains. US 20 is the longest surface road in New York. It is more historically significant than Route 66.
U.S. Route 66 was one of the original highways in the U.S. Highway System. The highway, which became one of the most famous roads in the United States, originally ran from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California covering a total of 2,448.
Why is it more popular that Route 20. Publicity. It was made famous culture by the hit song "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" and the Route 66 television series, which aired on CBS from 1960 to 1964. Route 20 needs someone to write a song about it and/or develop a TV series.
I think it would be wonderful to drive the length of it, exploring all the small towns along the way. That is not going to happen but it is easy to explore Route 20, which is also a Scenic Byway, one area at a time.
One way to experience Route 20 might be by selecting one county and use it as a base for exploring the area. Schoharie County is a great place to visit. Drive the historic Route 20 Byway between Sharon Springs and Esperance and/or explore Schoharie County’s less-traveled roads enjoying the tranquility and beauty of the countryside taking a few side trips. The county is dotted with classic Main Street towns featuring unique shops with locally made goods, art galleries, restaurants, and restored turn of the century accommodations. Step back to an earlier time in Carlisle, Cobleskill, Esperance, Middleburgh, Sharon Springs, and the historic village of Schoharie. In Sharon Springs don’t miss the Beekman 1802 Mercantile made famous in the “Fabulous Beekman Boys” of reality TV fame. Too bad they didn’t use the show to promote Route 20 and write a hit song “The Fabulous Beekman Boys of Route 20!”
Schoharie County is dubbed the “County of Caves.” For six million years Mother Nature carved out amazing underground caverns. The most famous is Howe Caverns where visitors descent 156 feet below the Earth’s surface to journey through the expansive main cavern marveling at the stalactites and stalagmites and then take a boat ride on the underground River Styx. If you haven’t been to Howe Caverns in a while then you will be amazed at all the adventurous things to do besides explore the cave. There is a zip line, ropes course, rock wall, H2OGO Balls, a motel, and more. Nearby is another underground wonder, the Secret Caverns, complete with a waterfall.
Before the first European settlers arrived in 1712 the area was home to the Iroquois. The Iroquois Museum, near Howe Caverns, is housed in a building that recalls the traditional longhouse offering an insight into Iroquois culture by promoting Iroquois art and artists. There is a nature trail plus a variety of festivals, events, and learning activities for all age groups.
The Old Stone Fort Museum Complex in Schoharie includes several buildings: a 1700s home, a 1780 Dutch barn, a one-room school house, plus a 1772 stone church that was fortified and attacked by the British forces in 1780. Take note of parishioners’ names that the builders chiseled into the stones. The Treasure Hunt of the Fort’s eclectic museum collection is fun for all ages. Try to find a shield from the Philippines, a button with a photograph on it, and a glass tombstone. A variety of historical events are reenacted throughout the year.
I have to admit it. I am suffering from a serious case of lacka-travel-itis. I have lots of time but no country will let Americans visit. Strange world, so I looked for someplace in New York State. We have many wonderful places but there are not many places I haven’t explored. I had been through Lake George many times but never stayed there, so Lake George became my getaway place.
As a member of the IHG Rewards Club (which is free to join) I get points for staying at any of their many hotels. If fact, they are now offer extra points. I booked four nights at the Holiday Inn Resort in Lake George. It wasn’t directly on the lake but had a nice view of the lake plus an indoor and outdoor pool. I turned out to be perfect.
Many things were closed, of course, but there were still things to
do. We took a cruise on the The Minne-Ha-Ha which is one of the last stream paddle wheel ships in America. The Lake George Steamboat Company has been steaming about the lake since 1817. They offer one- and two-hour cruises. Each of their three ships is unique. It was a good way to get an overview of the lake. We went by some of houses that line “Millionaire’s Row.”
Whenever I travel I check with Atlas Obscura to see if there is something different to check out. One of the spots in Lake George is definitely unique. The Mystery Spot defies the laws of acoustics. Face the lake and shout or sing and your echo will come back to you. Only you will hear it and only on this precise spot. There haven’t been any definitive answers as to why it
happens so maybe the Native American legend is the answer. They say an ancient god appeared long ago on this spot and his wisdom still echoes around the lake. I like old legends and always hope there is a nugget of truth in it somewhere. There is no sign for the Mystery Spot but it is easy to find. It is behind the Lake George Visitor Center. Look for a cement circle with a swath of blue paint with two intersecting metal lines and stand where they meet and sing.
Every region has a foodie favorite. In Warren County it is what the locals call “dirty john’s hot dogs” at New Way lunch. It has been around since 1919. The “World Famous” hot dog is a custom make pork and beef hot dog served on a steamed bun with mustard, onion, and New Way’s homemade meat sauce. It has been featured on TV and in magazines. Not a fan of hot dogs but liked the steamed bun.
It was a curvy but pretty Adirondack drive to Nettle Meadow Farm where they raise the goats and make cheese. It is also an animal sanctuary. All the ingredients are natural. The goats and sheep are cared for by Amish families in the area. But there are some friendly rescued goats on site. They have a small cheese store on site with an amazing variety of cheeses. On the way back we had to stop and get some locally produced wine. What is cheese without wine? Nearby there was a place that sold artisan vinegar and oil… wine, bread, cheese and special oil and vinegar.
Lake George has a lot of things to do. Check their website to see what is opened.
A bridge crosses the Hudson River in the village of Glens Falls. Under the bridge there is a cave that gave inspiration to James Fenimore Cooper when he was writing “The Last of the Mohicans.” Cooper’s Cave is the fictional site in the book and movie set during the French and Indian War. In the book Col. Duncan Heyward of Virginia is transporting two girls to their father, Col Munro, who was a commander at Fort William Henry in Lake George. If you
haven’t read the book, not to worry, in 1992 it was made into an action packed movie depicting life in New York State in the late 1700s and it will make you realize how good we have it today. The cave actually has two parts. There is a handicap accessible view platform with several story boards.
While the story of the two girls is fictional the fort where their father was a commander, Fort William Henry, is not. A reconstructed Fort William Henry is located at the southern end of Lake George. It was constructed in 1755 during the French and Indian War. It was successfully attacked by General Montcalm. The fort was destroyed. The siege of Fort William Henry by the French under Montcalm is accurately portrayed in the book and the movie including the participation by the Iroquois nation.
The Mohicans, not to be confused with the present-day Iroquois, were an Algonquian-speaking Native American group who lived in the upper Hudson River area and in the Catskills. Also the Mohicans should not be confused with the Mohegans who once lived in what is now Connecticut and were related to the Pequot. In the late 1600s after a war with the Mohawk of the Iroquois Confederacy the Mohicans were forced to move to what is Stockbridge, Massachusetts. They sold their land. Some merged with other tribes and one group moved to Wisconsin where, today, they have a reservation.
James Fenimore Cooper served in the military and one assignment brought him to Oswego. He served under Lieutenant Woolsey and oversaw the building of the brig USS Oneida. The vessel was intended for service on Lake Ontario in case of a war with Great Britain. During his leisure time he would explore the forests of New York State and the shore of Lake Ontario as far as the Thousand Islands. He incorporated his knowledge in “The Pathfinder.” In fact, it is thought that his characters along the Oswego River were based on fact.
Fort Ontario was a frontier outpost at the mouth of the Oswego River, not to be confused with Fort Ontario. Fort Oswego no longer stands but there is a stone with a plaque at the end of West 1st where the fort once stood. Cooper portrays the area as an “Eden” with a perfect climate, limitless games, and kind of frontier democracy where people are judged on merit not their wealth.
In Oswego he lived in a home on West Second Street and the word “Pathfinder” is now used by a bank and the dining hall at the Oswego college. Cooper’s books referred to as the “Leatherstocking Tales” brought the American frontier alive for people around the world.
Originally a Chautauqua was an institution that provided popular adult education courses and entertainment in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today in New York State Chautauqua is a lake, a county, a concept, and an all-season destination. The word “Chautauqua” comes from the Iroquois language meaning “bag tied together.” An Arial view of Chautauqua Lake makes the meaning visually clear. The lake is pinched in the middle – like a bag tied together. Another interpretation of the Iroquois word is “jumping fish” and if one thinks of “jumping fish” as ideas that were spawned or jumped out of the Chautauqua area then that translation works, too. The famed
Chautauqua Institute began in the southeast corner of New York State in 1874 as an adult education movement that featured lectures, plays, and musical performances founded on the belief that everyone “has a right to be all that he can be - to know all that he can know.” Chautauquas flourished in many places until the early 20th Century when some died out, but NYS’s Chautauqua Institute has continued to flourish. Visitors still seek out the Institute’s summer programs and sublime location as a place of renewal and learning but Chautauqua County is a destination for all seasons, including those looking for a place to relax, play, learn, and laugh.
With a dramatic lakeside setting and the beauty of its National
Historic Landmark architecture the Chautauqua Institute and its summer programs that feature arts, entertainment and learning form the most widely known aspect of Chautauqua County. While the Chautauqua Institute is not operational except during the summer all is not dormant within the confines of the Institute. The picturesque Victorian village is perfect for a Currier & Ives sleigh ride through the snow-covered Institute grounds and the unique Spencer Hotel, located within the Institute, receives guests year round. The Spencer Hotel, which has been welcoming guests for 100 years may look Victorian from the outside but rooms are a literary trip –literally! Each room is 
designed and dedicated to a specific author. The Arabian Nights room has a border of elephants parading around the wall of the bathroom. In the Jules Verne room the bed skirt resembles the gondola of a hot air balloon complete with “sand bags.”
Snow lovers can get their fill at Peek’n Peak, a quaint European-style ski village. Enjoy the dozens of slopes and trails during the day or under the lights at night. Plus, there are all sorts of fun in the snow activities including snow shoeing, snow boarding, snow mobiling, and tubing. With an indoor swimming pool, indoor children’s play zone, and an arcade it is a great getaway for families. When the snow disappears the sport enthusiasts turn in their winter toys, dust off their clubs and head to the two golf courses.
Jamestown, the area’s largest city, was the home of America’s favorite redhead comedienne, Lucille Ball. The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center’s mission is to “to preserve and celebrate the legacy of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and enrich the world through the healing powers of love and laughter.” The Lucy-Desi Museum features displays of costumes, awards, photographs, and other memorabilia including personal stories from Lucy’s
childhood pals. The Desilu Playhouse is devoted to the "I Love Lucy" TV series with recreated sets of the Ricardo's New York City apartment. A profusion of Lucy memorabilia can be purchased at the gift shop including Lucy chocolates and Vitameatavegamin bottles filled with heart-shaped candy.
Sometimes we miss great things to do that are nearby. Check out the Utica area and be amazed at the variety of things to see and do.
1. Munson-Williams-Proctor Art Institute: There are
three components on the site: a museum, a Victorian Italianate mansion, and the Pratt Institute (an adjunct of the Pratt Institute’s main Brooklyn campus). The museum has a large collection of internationally recognized works including Thomas Cole’s Voyage of Life plus exhibits of decorative arts, watches, and stoneware. The Fountain Elms Mansion displays more art and furniture from the Victorian era including unique items such as a courting candle.
2. F. X. Matt Brewing Company: The Brewing Company is one of the oldest family-owned breweries in the United States. Take their tour which starts in a beautiful, lavish room decorated with advertising memorabilia including Schultz and Dooley steins that were so successful in advertising Utica Club in the 1960s. Check out the stained glass window above the door, the desk that was owned by P. T. Barnum, a 5.5-gallon stein designed by FX Matt II, and the three-disk symphonium (an early version of an English concertina) appraised at one million dollars. The tour of the beer-making process ends with beer tasting in the historic bar.
3. The Root Farm: The farm is named for Dr. Alice Root, who
had a passion for equine-assisted therapy. It has grown to include a horticulture center with a hydroponic garden and adventure center for the able-bodied and those with limited mobility. The equine center offers private lessons. Their all-weather, all-terrain, and all-purpose Action Track wheelchairs allow wheelchair-bound people to go just about anywhere including hiking in an upright position.
4. Utica Zoo: For over 100 years the zoo has been a place to commune with the animals. The zoo may be small but it offers many unique activities including animal encounters. Go inside the Lions Den, interact with the California Sea Lions, get up close and personal with the Nigerian Dwarf Goats, and hand feed the Red Pandas and Najla the Bactrian Camel. Educational and fun programs are offered year round. Check out the world’s largest watering can near the entrance. When needed it actually waters the plants.
5. The Stanley: The Stanley reckons back to the day when
movie theaters were called “palaces.” It was built in 1928 by the same architect who built the Landmark in Syracuse. It is where Broadway comes to Utica but they also host a variety of other concerts and shows. Above the grand staircase (similar to the one on the Titanic) is a magnificent 6,500-pound chandelier that was constructed in Utica by the Meyda Tiffany Company. Tours are available by appointment.
6. Locavores paradise: Not many places have a food named
after them. Utica Greens is a traditional Southern Italian dish of saut̩ed seasoned greens that first appeared on the scene in the 1980s at Chesterfield Restaurant. There are many variations Рall tasty. Many of the local restaurants are part of the farm-to-market concept including Tailor and the Cook Restaurant. Ocean Blue receives fresh oysters and other seafood daily. The Local Restaurant is housed in the repurposed library Рthe books are still there.
7. Unique: Meyda Tiffany offers tours of their workshop where they create one-of-a-kind light fixtures. Join a friendly painting class at Art & Vine, and in the fall watch cider pressed at the Clinton Cider Mill. Looking for an old magazine, book, or poster stop at Berry Hill Book Shop with over 80,000 items organized by subject in nearby Deansboro.
George, was constructed in 1755 during the French and Indian Wars. Before the revolution and when most of America was under the control of the British, the French and Indian War pitted the colonists against French in the Americas. The local Indians helped on both side. 
In August of 1757 British General Montcalm and 8000 French Troops aided by Huron Indians and Canadian Volunteers attacked the fort. The fort's walls were breached, its guns were overused, and the many casualties, caused General Monro to surrender on August 9. Today it is remembered as a massacre. There still remains much speculation as to how many people were killed (including women, children, and slaves who 
were not part of military records). The massacre was later dramatized in James Fenimore Cooper's book, The Last of the Mohicans, and its numerous film adaptations. Imagine if you lived in that area and what the terror must have been like. When I hear people claim that we live in disastrous time I suggest they recall their local history. 
During the week of August 10, 1756, a force of regulars and Canadian militia under General Montcalm captured and occupied the British fortifications at Fort Oswego. There were not many people living in the area but it must have been frightening for those who did.
possible a western invasion of the French province of Canada in conjunction with General James Wolfe's invasion to the east. The French had about one hundred Iroquois allies at the Fort who deserted when the British arrived. British Captain Pouchot directed a vigorous defense. British General Prideaux was killed when a shell fragment from one of his own guns hit him, and command of the British forces fell to Sir William Johnson. The French capitulated on 26 July. 
I can’t imagine living in such times. Not counting 9/11 and President Kennedy assassination I think 1968 was the scariest time. It seemed that it was one thing after another: Martin Luther King assassination followed by riots in most major cities, Robert Kennedy assassinated, North Korea captured the US Pueblo, Tet Offensive and ongoing protest to the Vietnam War, and the debacle at the Democratic Convention. The year of 1968 is considered one of the most violent years in American History but the country survived. 
