New Forest & Old Forest Cemetery Statues

Worth a hike into the 2 cemeteries off of Oneida Street in Utica to see some wonderful statues and mausoleums.

City Of Utica Winter Images

The Adirondacks, One Of New Yorks Best Kept Secrets

One of our areas best assets is our proximity to the Adirondack Mountains...it is truly one of the most beautiful places in the US if not the world...

A Beautiful Mohawk Valley View

I've enjoyed the view here for many years in every season, and I thought I would share these 2 photos with you of the view from Val Bialas in Utica, NY., because they are photos that encompass much of the character and heritage of the Mohawk Valley. You can see much more this time of the year because the foliage blocks much of the view in the summer months until the foliage drops. The churches, the brewery, schools, psych ctr, farms and homes that can be seen from these 2 photos, are an incredible snapshot of our area.

How many landmarks can you identify?

Whitesboro Middle School Haunted?

Took these photos recently as I have been interested in learning more about some of the more unusual attractions in the Mohawk Valley with the Whitesboro Middle School being one. One story goes that Whitesboro Middle School-
Clock tower is haunted by a decapitated football player. Who can be seen wearing his jersey while holding his head. Anyone has a different version...let me know?

Utica Autumn Beauty

The scenery is certainly one of the finer points of living in the "Valley" heres ome photos I took a few months ago...hope you enjoy!

Almost Winter...

Well it's almost winter here, and the birds are hungrily attacking the feeders and the grasses and milkweed trying to send off their seedlings to survive and find a place to survive the hard frosts and snow, until spring warms the grounds again...

Late Autumn in The Mohawk Valley

1st photo looking south on Rt 12 from Deerfield

2nd view -just off Seneca Tpk in New Hartford

Winters Coming...

Trenton Falls

Every year for a few weekends they open Trenton Falls to the public...it was a spectacular day for a walk and me and my son took advantage of this rare opportunity to see a wonderful local natural attraction

Utica In The Fall

autumn, all ablaze with bright colors, contrasted with the somber hues of November...better that we remember it so!"
Pat Huther-October 2010

Autumn in the Mohawk Valley

Hopefully the color will improve a little with the cooler-damper weather...anyway it's still spectacular in the Mohawk Valley so get out there and enjoy as the season (leaf watching season) is too short!

The Segovia Connection

Our family is hosting an exchange student from Segovia, Spain. So, last Friday I decided to take the whole visiting group on a "historic" tour of the Mohawk Valley.
We went first to the Oriskany Battlefield site where we met with Allan Foote who gave an outstanding presentation on the battle while fending off hordes of mosquitos.
Next we toured Ft. Stanwix where the group and enjoyed the museum, the fort and it's reenactors. Finally, we went to the Shako-wi Cultural Center on the Oneida Indian Reservation where Kandice Watson gave us a history aand tour of the museum, the reservation and the casino. All of which gave the group from Spain an interesting historical and cultural perspective of the Mohawk Valley. The groups favorite part of the day was the the visit to the Indian nation, disappointed that they could not peek into the casino or the "Lava" nightclub.

Ed's Meat Market

I parked my car in front of the bank and walked past the fire department building and then the Alexander Hamilton Inn. As I walk by one of the little boutique stores, a little old lady came out of the shop just ahead, and the bells jangled as she shut the door behind her.

Grandpa was standing behind the counter wearing his white apron and white paper hat, chatting with an elderly lady customer when we opened the door to his butcher shop. The door had bells tingled as we walked in, and then had a loud jangle as the door slammed shut. The pungent aroma of ground meat and spices was in the air. Grandpa was making sausages or hot dogs today, which meant we could be enjoying them when we visited for dinner tonite. Grandpa always brought home whatever was freshly made that day, or whatever did not sell. I hoped that it would be the hot dogs.
Grandpa looked over at us and smiled. Dad walked over to one of the chairs and sat down. I looked in the meat case and looked at the different meats Grandpa had displayed in the case. There were some sausage links and some assorted beef and chicken meat on display. Also there were customer orders wrapped in white paper which had names of customers on them. The elderly lady finished paying Grandpa for the order. Grandpa took the ladies money and placed the money in the old wooden cash register and Grandpa said to the lady; "thank-you and say hello to Jim for me".
Grandpa said; "hello Donnie, hello Pat", and asked us if we would like to walk with him to the bank and then maybe we could go and get some fresh apple cider at the cider mill. Grandpa took his white apron and paper hat off, grabbed his deposit bag and walked around the meat case and to the door. He put up a handwritted sign that said; I will be back in 15 minutes -ED We walked out together and I heard the bells jangle as the door slammed shut and Grandpa turned the key in the lock.
I looked up at the steeple of the church across the street and the village green when someone in front of the fire department said; "Hi Ed, what looks good today? Got any nice roasts?" Grandpa said; "Not today,got some nice pork chops though".

I stroll along and look up at the church which is now the Kirkland Art Center, just like I had done many years ago walking with Grandpa and Dad. I was glad that not a lot had changed here in the Village of Clinton. The businesses are different now, and many buildings are different colors including the church. Unlike much of the Mohawk Valley area, Clinton has retained much of the character and charm it has had for the last hundred years. As I walk past the fire department and the building where Ed's Meat Market used to be, I hear Grandpa's gentle voice. Grandpa says; "I'm saving some hot dogs for us tonite!".

Reflections In Downtown Utica

I was walking back to my car after a less than satisfying lunch at an oriental restaurant. The taste of cheap Bancha tea still in my taste buds. When the dark reflection in the dark store window a few doors down caught me by surprise. The reflection looked like a stranger. Someone else, not me. Someone who was much older than me. I looked once, then twice, and even a third time, ultimately confirming the "older" man was not someone hiding behind me it was me. I glanced back at the dark abyss one last time, and then headed towards my car parked just past the gold-domed bank.

I looked around as I started up my car. I looked around and thought that this was an older and different Utica than the one I remembered seeing for the first time in
1972. Much has changed. No more vibrancy or bustling activity as shoppers came and went from the Boston Store, Woolworths or Neisners. I drive past the "busy corner" where the buildings which housed Ball's and Mellos and several other thriving businesses, was torn down and replaced with an empty park and a curious liberty bell replica. A fading sunrise is painted and peeling on the adjoining brick building.
Next door the architecturally and historically important entrance to downtown Utica; the Devereaux Bldg was torn down and replaced with another small park.







Uticans decided that it was important to give up their past and to look ahead to a bright "new" future. The past was the past. Heritage and history had become a chapter in the history books for our children to learn about in school, and for old people to reminisce about as they sit around the senior centers or historical society meetings. Utica and it's suburbs are pockmarked with attempts to hide and disguise the past. Old was ugly, so we tore down the old city hall designed by famous architect Francis Upjohn and build a "beautiful new" Sheraton. Main Street and Utica was hacked into quarters and left isolated and devoid of character as a massive bridge was built on Genesee Street. Baggs Tavern and the Children's Museum sit in the shadow of this attempt to cover up and to start anew because of the "old" was bad, new is good syndrome. Beautiful old churches deteriorate and decay. Old Main sits vacant, and the buildings and neighborhoods around her are weathered by neglect... more to come

Saranac - Matt Brewing Company - Time flies..when you're enjoying your favorite beer!

After running 25 Boilermakers I still have to say this is my favorite part even at
9:30 AM!!! Cheers! click below...

Saranac - Matt Brewing Company - Time flies..when you're enjoying your favorite beer!

Utica on A Hot Summer Evening

Went to the sidewalk artshow at Munson WIlliams last night and it was a great evening
to walk around and take some images of downtown since there were very people and not much traffic...