Outstanding video! I was raised in Oneida, went to college at MVCC and worked in Oneida, Utica, Remsen and Rome. I am embarrassed to say I never took the time to learn the history of the might Mohawk Valley. Thank you for such an informative presentation!
Hey! I grew up in the Mohawk Valley too. Dutch ancestors settled near Albany around 1630. Haven't lived there in 50 years, but this video brought a lot of good memories back. Good work!
My Dutch ancestors also settled in the Albany area. My namesake Thomas Esmay (was Van Esmay) served as a Lieutenant in the Albany Regiment of the Continental Army under George.Washington.
I’m a Yerdon. My family moved west to Oswego County in the early days. I believe many of my relatives live in the Mohawk Valley still today. Good video. Well done.
Excellently done and I loved your "live pictures". In the late 1700's My family immigrated to one of the valleys branching south of the Mohawk and established a cotton mill. The Valley of the Mohawk and its surrounding areas are in my blood. I wouldn't want to live any other place on earth!
Great job! The Bicentennial of the opening of the Erie Canal is in 2025 and many big events are planned. The canal was designated one of the National Heritage Corridors and has a potential to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Without the canal the USA would never have developed as it did. One suggestion for a graphic update is, the original canal and enlarged canal still utilized mules to pull the canal boats, maybe add a team of two mules for that canal boat graphic which would have been the boat style on the original canal. Once railroads dominated passenger travel, the enlarged Erie only had cargo barges towed by 4/6 mules.
@@LocalNYhistory Mules were used but it was predominantly horses. If you haven't been to the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, check it out. It is the last remaining Weigh lock building still standing.
A great introductory history of the Mohawk. I grew up in Waterford at the terminus of the Mohawk River where it dumps into the Hudson. After spending 30 years living and traveling all over America, I live in the Syracuse area now and one of my favorite drives now is thru the Mohawk Valley to my 'home' of Waterford. One of my favorite parts of the drive is between Canajoharie and Amsterdam where you can see the entire history of travel along the river all at one time. The river/canal is in the center of a narrow channel that is flanked on one side by the railroad and the other side by the Thruway along with a small side road. 200 years of transportation history compressed in a narrow area. Cool.
Excellent job, Josh! Your video really stresses the importance of the Mohawk Valley in the development not only of New York State but the western movement that created the richest and most powerful country in human history. We at the Oneida Carry Research Group appreciate your dedication to our heritage. (And you did Ridge Mills Elementary School proud!)
I live near Baldwinsville and I am very familiar with CNY but I am originally from Brooklyn and raised in the Hudson Valley. I find it interesting but also sad that many people in this area take for granted the vast history of this area and how it helped transform this country. I guess you find that attitude everywhere. Great video btw.
Thank you for all the videos! Something I would like to see is some history of Jefferson County, Henderson, Watertown and the tug hill region. I live near Binghamton now, but my genealogy takes me to that area. thanks again!
I went to Utica College of Syracuse University (now Utica University) in the 1970s. This brings back lots of memories. BTW - heartwarming hearing your Upstate accent in words like "valley." PS - Closed Captions turned "QWERTY" into "Cordy."
On some future edit, you should include Shoemaker Mt. Ski Area along with Woods Valley. At the same time, the aerial view above Little Falls, where every transport mode is apparent at once is quite a unique sight. The Mohawk Valley (along with the Hudson) is truly America's Rhineland.
I grew up in Johnstown. Winters got -30° F for a few days each winter. You can still see a portion of the original and later Erie Canals at Auriesville.
Utica Club Beer is an affordable fine beverage and is often overlooked to this day. I wish they would bring back the "Beer Balls" from 40 years ago. Long Live Schultz and Dooley!!!😁😁😁😁
The Mohawk Valley is basically the only flat east-west route that crosses Appalachia, all the way from the south to the north. Rome exists at a continental divide, one watershed goes down the Hudson to NYC and the Atlantic, the other watershed goes to the Great Lakes, Chicago, Toronto, the interior US, and drains out the St. Lawrence River. It has been a route for a millennia, you had to go through Rome. Was that your RFA yearbook? Great video.
Honestly heartbreaking to see the Mohawk Valley is such disrepair, From the Adirondacks but went to school in the Mohawk Valley. EPA destroyed the way of life there by making it nearly impossible to be profitable and meet the EPA's waste management codes. So manufacturing went to countries who still don't mind dumping their industrial waste into their waterways. When I was a kid I remember the creeks of Gloversville and Amsterdam were a different color everyday due to the dyes they would dump in them from the glove and rug manufacturers. I know we need to save the environment but simply sending the jobs to another country that doesn't worry about the environment doesn't seem like the answer. The US has taken a "not in my back yard" mentality towards industrial waste but have no issues with how other countries pollute as long as we still get our goods at an affordable price.
Consider how many occupy the Mohawk Valley, and have never been to Fort Stanwix, the Herkimer home, The Utica train station, Munson-Williams, Oriskany Battlefield, nor visit the southern Adirondack Park, littered with large rocks in open fields, evidence of glacier. Nor how many live along Wood Creek, and do not know the importance of the water with Oneida Indians.
My mother was from Rome N.Y. and a lot of her family still live in the area, she left when she married my father when he was staion at the Air Force base there and lived the rest of her 98 years in Youngstown Ohio
Very nice piece on local history of the Valley. The only thing missing is the politics that have driven of jobs out of the valley and the state forcing Hugh Long established tax paying companies like Remington Arms to Flee the state putting people out of work and decimateIng communities. But they tout all the New multi national chip companies that they have given billions of tax payer monies to for free and billions in tax freedoms. All that has to be covered by the unemployed or lower wage local working people today. Most of these companies employs foreign nationals and don’t hire locals as the jobs are high tech. So the locals might get a job as a janitor. Last summer on a trip to the village of Lake George we noticed almost no one and I mean no one was speaking English as the politicians have brought a global chip plant to a Local community. Thus upstate is filling up with people whose interest is money and not America or its culture or Constitution. I don’t object to foreigners I object to deceptive politicians.
You're correct; however, long before the Arms moved out, employment opportunities like Snyder's Bicycles (Rollfast), Griffis AFB, General Electric, Kodak and many others were forced to close for a variety of reasons.
@JohnFrazier-n7i imagine if those @#$^ politicians gave the billions of free dollars and tax relief to the long tenured companies and American citizens employed with them. Instead of off shore companies with all their foreign employees who are sending their money back to foreign countries Instead of supporting America. When is the last time you saw a foreigner riding a volunteer ambulance or fire truck or involved in any other nonprofit civic group.
Agreed, while chip fab may have an important future in bringing money back to NY, it does also bring concerns about water use, housing demands, suburban sprawl, electric grid stress, traffic and other negative impacts that politicians love to ignore and our taxes they love to give away. There are no paneceas, and we should at least be honest about it. The Erie Canal was tolled and it was the Salt industry in the Syracuse area that helped pay for it. There were no "free rides" back then like there are today.
I lived in Brooklyn for 35 years. Travelled to Bear Mountain, Delaware County, and Westchester County but not much else. Dreamed that I'd retire to the Mohawk Valley but never got there. Am retired now but, alas, do not have the financial means to find my ideal retirement home in MV. As they say, sometimes dreams don't always come true. Never did for me though I'm glad for those whose wishes were fulfilled.
My wife's family moved to Fairfield in the 70's. They tell a story that a college was supposed to be built in Fairfield originally (Hamilton or Colgate??).
Yes, the Mohawks and the Cayugas were known to be Cannibalistic. Something that they refuse to teach you in school. Even my friends who are members of the Onondaga tribe will admit quietly that some of their Haudenosaunee ancestors weren't exactly "nice people", especially to rival tribes like the Lenape, the Mohicans or the Susquehannocks.
Outstanding video! I was raised in Oneida, went to college at MVCC and worked in Oneida, Utica, Remsen and Rome. I am embarrassed to say I never took the time to learn the history of the might Mohawk Valley. Thank you for such an informative presentation!
You bet!
One of the best historical documentary's I've seen. Well done!
Hey! I grew up in the Mohawk Valley too. Dutch ancestors settled near Albany around 1630. Haven't lived there in 50 years, but this video brought a lot of good memories back. Good work!
My Dutch ancestors also settled in the Albany area. My namesake Thomas Esmay (was Van Esmay) served as a Lieutenant in the Albany Regiment of the Continental Army under George.Washington.
Thank you!
That's awesome
Mine also,the DeGraffs moved to Amsterdam and settled in Cherry Valley until Brant and Butler burned down their farm,
I’m a Yerdon. My family moved west to Oswego County in the early days. I believe many of my relatives live in the Mohawk Valley still today. Good video. Well done.
Thanks for sharing!
Excellently done and I loved your "live pictures". In the late 1700's My family immigrated to one of the valleys branching south of the Mohawk and established a cotton mill. The Valley of the Mohawk and its surrounding areas are in my blood. I wouldn't want to live any other place on earth!
Very cool! And thanks
@@LocalNYhistory Maybe at some point you can do some of the smaller valleys that run south of the Mohawk. Beautiful country!
Great job! The Bicentennial of the opening of the Erie Canal is in 2025 and many big events are planned. The canal was designated one of the National Heritage Corridors and has a potential to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Without the canal the USA would never have developed as it did. One suggestion for a graphic update is, the original canal and enlarged canal still utilized mules to pull the canal boats, maybe add a team of two mules for that canal boat graphic which would have been the boat style on the original canal. Once railroads dominated passenger travel, the enlarged Erie only had cargo barges towed by 4/6 mules.
Yes - unfortunately AI has a very hard time understanding the concept of a mule pulling a boat. Will keep your info in mind though, thanks!
@@LocalNYhistory Mules were used but it was predominantly horses. If you haven't been to the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, check it out. It is the last remaining Weigh lock building still standing.
A great introductory history of the Mohawk. I grew up in Waterford at the terminus of the Mohawk River where it dumps into the Hudson. After spending 30 years living and traveling all over America, I live in the Syracuse area now and one of my favorite drives now is thru the Mohawk Valley to my 'home' of Waterford. One of my favorite parts of the drive is between Canajoharie and Amsterdam where you can see the entire history of travel along the river all at one time. The river/canal is in the center of a narrow channel that is flanked on one side by the railroad and the other side by the Thruway along with a small side road. 200 years of transportation history compressed in a narrow area. Cool.
Well, done video! I grew up in the area, and it was nice to see the older pictures.
Thank you very much!
Excellent job, Josh! Your video really stresses the importance of the Mohawk Valley in the development not only of New York State but the western movement that created the richest and most powerful country in human history. We at the Oneida Carry Research Group appreciate your dedication to our heritage. (And you did Ridge Mills Elementary School proud!)
Thank you! Josh is my brother though :)
One of the best videos on NY history I've seen hello from Buffalo
Hello! And thank you
Thanks! I've lived in the area for 20 years now and this video taught me a lot I did not know.
Great to hear!
I live near Baldwinsville and I am very familiar with CNY but I am originally from Brooklyn and raised in the Hudson Valley. I find it interesting but also sad that many people in this area take for granted the vast history of this area and how it helped transform this country. I guess you find that attitude everywhere. Great video btw.
Well done. I learned a lot and I’ve lived here for decades
Thanks!
Thank you for all the videos! Something I would like to see is some history of Jefferson County, Henderson, Watertown and the tug hill region. I live near Binghamton now, but my genealogy takes me to that area. thanks again!
I went to Utica College of Syracuse University (now Utica University) in the 1970s. This brings back lots of memories. BTW - heartwarming hearing your Upstate accent in words like "valley."
PS - Closed Captions turned "QWERTY" into "Cordy."
haha great! I didn't even realize. Thanks for sharing
Great Video! I grew up with some of your ancestors, in Westernville !
Thank you! Awesome
On some future edit, you should include Shoemaker Mt. Ski Area along with Woods Valley. At the same time, the aerial view above Little Falls, where every transport mode is apparent at once is quite a unique sight. The Mohawk Valley (along with the Hudson) is truly America's Rhineland.
Also Val Bialas ski area in Utica. Last I heard it was one of only a few in the entire country located within the heart of a city.
Absolutely will keep in mind, thanks
I grew up in Johnstown. Winters got -30° F for a few days each winter. You can still see a portion of the original and later Erie Canals at Auriesville.
Very cool!
@@LocalNYhistory Fort Hunter you can see all 3 canals,Sir Bills....!!!!
Utica Club Beer is an affordable fine beverage and is often overlooked to this day. I wish they would bring back the "Beer Balls" from 40 years ago.
Long Live Schultz and Dooley!!!😁😁😁😁
Great video Austin. My wife is from Rome, a certain family from Doxtator St.
Thank you!
The Mohawk Valley is basically the only flat east-west route that crosses Appalachia, all the way from the south to the north. Rome exists at a continental divide, one watershed goes down the Hudson to NYC and the Atlantic, the other watershed goes to the Great Lakes, Chicago, Toronto, the interior US, and drains out the St. Lawrence River. It has been a route for a millennia, you had to go through Rome. Was that your RFA yearbook? Great video.
Excellent, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Keep your videos up!
Aye aye!
Honestly heartbreaking to see the Mohawk Valley is such disrepair, From the Adirondacks but went to school in the Mohawk Valley. EPA destroyed the way of life there by making it nearly impossible to be profitable and meet the EPA's waste management codes. So manufacturing went to countries who still don't mind dumping their industrial waste into their waterways. When I was a kid I remember the creeks of Gloversville and Amsterdam were a different color everyday due to the dyes they would dump in them from the glove and rug manufacturers. I know we need to save the environment but simply sending the jobs to another country that doesn't worry about the environment doesn't seem like the answer. The US has taken a "not in my back yard" mentality towards industrial waste but have no issues with how other countries pollute as long as we still get our goods at an affordable price.
Consider how many occupy the Mohawk Valley, and have never been to Fort Stanwix, the Herkimer home, The Utica train station, Munson-Williams, Oriskany Battlefield, nor visit the southern Adirondack Park, littered with large rocks in open fields, evidence of glacier. Nor how many live along Wood Creek, and do not know the importance of the water with Oneida Indians.
Dad was born in Gloversville; Mom (and I) born in Cohoes. Grandma Litke worked in the glove mills all her life.
That's super cool!
Well done sir.
Thanks much
So interesting.
Thanks
Welcome
My mother was from Rome N.Y. and a lot of her family still live in the area, she left when she married my father when he was staion at the Air Force base there and lived the rest of her 98 years in Youngstown Ohio
Thank you for sharing, I always love hearing related personal stories
Very nice piece on local history of the Valley. The only thing missing is the politics that have driven of jobs out of the valley and the state forcing Hugh Long established tax paying companies like Remington Arms to Flee the state putting people out of work and decimateIng communities.
But they tout all the New multi national chip companies that they have given billions of tax payer monies to for free and billions in tax freedoms. All that has to be covered by the unemployed or lower wage local working people today. Most of these companies employs foreign nationals and don’t hire locals as the jobs are high tech. So the locals might get a job as a janitor.
Last summer on a trip to the village of Lake George we noticed almost no one and I mean no one was speaking English as the politicians have brought a global chip plant to a Local community. Thus upstate is filling up with people whose interest is money and not America or its culture or Constitution. I don’t object to foreigners I object to deceptive politicians.
You're correct; however, long before the Arms moved out, employment opportunities like Snyder's Bicycles (Rollfast), Griffis AFB, General Electric, Kodak and many others were forced to close for a variety of reasons.
@JohnFrazier-n7i imagine if those @#$^ politicians gave the billions of free dollars and tax relief to the long tenured companies and American citizens employed with them. Instead of off shore companies with all their foreign employees who are sending their money back to foreign countries Instead of supporting America. When is the last time you saw a foreigner riding a volunteer ambulance or fire truck or involved in any other nonprofit civic group.
Agreed, while chip fab may have an important future in bringing money back to NY, it does also bring concerns about water use, housing demands, suburban sprawl, electric grid stress, traffic and other negative impacts that politicians love to ignore and our taxes they love to give away.
There are no paneceas, and we should at least be honest about it. The Erie Canal was tolled and it was the Salt industry in the Syracuse area that helped pay for it. There were no "free rides" back then like there are today.
I lived in Brooklyn for 35 years. Travelled to Bear Mountain, Delaware County, and Westchester County but not much else. Dreamed that I'd retire to the Mohawk Valley but never got there. Am retired now but, alas, do not have the financial means to find my ideal retirement home in MV. As they say, sometimes dreams don't always come true. Never did for me though I'm glad for those whose wishes were fulfilled.
Wish you could have maybe you still can?
@@Snowboarder16
Nope. Don't have the financial means - survive on Social Security and don't have a pension.
Mebbe in another lifetime ...
Are you still in Brooklyn?
@@LocalNYhistory
Nope.
Live in a small rent subsidized apartment in St Paul, MN. Can't afford to move back East.
The Little Falls Diamond (quartz crystal) was famous long before the Herkimer Diamond.
My wife's family moved to Fairfield in the 70's. They tell a story that a college was supposed to be built in Fairfield originally (Hamilton or Colgate??).
Peace from Cortez CO.
Peace!
4:10….AI gave that British soldier gorilla strength…
The Mohawk valley is as close to rural England as you can get, some of the most beautiful parts of the world. Hopefully there's an economic comeback.
The battle of Johnstown ! Could we give it back to the Indians along with Gloversville !
Really informative. It seems ironic that we Americans teach our young about "ancient" European history, and neglect to teach our own.
Yes, the Mohawks and the Cayugas were known to be Cannibalistic. Something that they refuse to teach you in school. Even my friends who are members of the Onondaga tribe will admit quietly that some of their Haudenosaunee ancestors weren't exactly "nice people", especially to rival tribes like the Lenape, the Mohicans or the Susquehannocks.
Left out the Palatine Germans
Did not!
@@LocalNYhistory I'm one of them ..