HISTORY CORNER

Drowned Villages Part 2

Two of the largest man-made lakes in New York State are the Ashokan Reservoir (surface area approx. 13 square miles) and Great Sacandaga Lake (surface area almost 48 square miles).  The Ashokan was created in the early 1900s as part of the expanding water supply system for New York City.  Some communities were submerged when the reservoir was filled, including Olive City, Brown’s Station, and Ashton; others (West Hurley, Shokan, and Boiceville) were relocated.  Great Sacandaga Lake was created in the 1920s primarily to help control flooding of communities downstream of the Sacandaga River, which flowed into the Hudson thus threatening Glens Falls and Albany.  All or parts of 10 communities were flooded by the lake (which was originally called Sacandaga Reservoir), among them Fish House, Osborne Bridge, Munsonville, and Vly. 

However, in spite of the disruption caused by the creation of these lakes, benefits for commerce and recreation were brought to the surrounding areas.  The 11.5 mile Ashokan Rail Trail runs along the north shore of that reservoir from West Hurley to Boiceville, and the Ashokan Reservoir Trail follows the south shore from Olivebridge for 2.7 miles.  At Great Sacandaga Lake, in addition to boating, swimming, fishing, lakeside camping and hiking, the Northville-Lake Placid Trail is available. It starts at Waterfront Park in Northville and runs 138 miles to Lake Placid.                         

By George Fogg

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Beginnings                                                             

“A meeting will be held at the Utica Public Library
Friday evening at eight o’clock for
the purpose of organizing a
Tramp and Trail Club, having
as its object the formation
of hiking parties for exercise
and nature study. The development
of new trails in the Adirondacks also is to be suggested as a
club feature.”
Utica Daily Press, April 1921

From this meeting an outdoor club was born that would continue until the current day.
This webpage will document some of the Tramp and Trail Club’s interesting history.
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Each quarter, a small article can be found in our Hike Schedule.
Additional articles are posted here:

Drowned Villages Part 2
Drowned Villages in CNY
Sap House Breakfast and Hikes
Old Time Tramp Celebrations
Utica’s Union Station
A Tale of Two Annual Summer Events
The Civilian Conservation Corps
Tramp and Trail Club at Oriskany
Lost In The Woods
Remembering Frank Guilfoil
Local Rails to Trails
75th Anniversary Trip
Tramps Go to The Olympics
Tramp and Trail Club April 30, 1921 Hike Write Up
Skiing? Not Always
Trail Maintenance Over the Years
Tramp and Trailering with the Higgersons in the 50s and 60s
The Formation of the Tramp and Trail Club
First Weekend Trip Feb 10 to 12, 1923
The Birth of the Corn Roast
The Beginnings of the Interesting Evenings
Annual Report of the Secretary of the Tramp and Trail Club of Utica January 1922
Winter History Corner
Paper Plate Poem
The First Hike
Early Hikes
Women’s Hiking Attire in the 1920’s
Club Donations
Camping in the Early Years
History Book 2003-2015 is Published
First Ski and Snowshoe & Winter Carnivals
Early Members
What Happened to Jack Dorn?
Erie Canal – Then and Now
Bicycling in Ireland – 1986
The Scrap Books and Picture Books
Skis or Snowshoes-Which are Preferred?