Have you ever pondered about the “Parade Grounds” area in Letchworth State Park?  What’s with the name and what is the history of the area?  Perhaps you’ve hiked & spent time there.  Well, read on for some answers.

The last program in the weekly Mount Morris Winter Discovery Series 2017 (MMWDS) serial of programs will be presented as follows:

“March 25th   The ROLE OF CAMP PORTAGE AND THE ERIE RAILROAD IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
Learn about the creation of Camp Portage (a Civil War Training Camp in Letchworth State Park) and the use of the Erie Railroad to transport Union Soldiers to the front lines! Presenter – MAX SZEMPLENSKI, Railroad Historian”

Of note, Camp Portage and the nearby Erie RR (both of yesteryear) are in today what we know as Letchworth State Park, in the area and surrounds known today as the “Parade Grounds”.   – – Some salience specifically of current events is: Sprinwater Trails hikers have on a number of occasions hiked in this area on some weekly scheduled Sunday hikes, and the 140+ year old Erie RR bridge which spans high above the Genesee River within Letchworth State Park currently has a replacement being built which will decommission the aging bridge.

The bridge, aka viaduct, has been subject of much attention as of late both in media postings and in program presentations put on for benefit of those in the community who have interest in the bridge and history.  One such program was sponsored by Penfield Trails Committee (PTC) on Saturday, February 11th, 2017 as part of PTCs annual Hikers Jamboree program.  Following the PTC sponsored program which was presented at Penfield Town Hall Auditorium, there where hikes in Penfield.  Both Springwater Trails and Genesee Valley Hiking Club participated in leading such hikes.

– Excerpts of a Springwater Trails website previously posted article on topic of the MMWDS 2017 are:

Springwater Trails hikers and others may be interested in a number of program presentations (lectures) in the Mount Morris Winter Discovery Series 2017.  In March, of particular salience in present day current events, as pertain to the Erie Railroad high bridge (Portage viaduct) spanning the Genesee River and constructon of a replacement bridge for this 140+ year old current trestle bridge, are the March 18th & 25th programs, among other programs of potential interest.

The annually recurrent Mount Morris Winter Discovery Series is offered January through March, on varying theme and topics. Each year holds about one dozen new program presentations.

The Mount Morris Winter Discovery Series 2017, is titled: “Life in America: Winter Discovery Series 2017”.  Facilities provided by The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mount Morris Dam and Recreation Area, located at the northern end (east side of the Genesee River) of Letchworth State Park.  All lectures are free of charge and will be held in the Visitor Center on Saturdays at 1pm.  The Visitor Center, aka the William B. Hoyt II Visitor Center, which opened in 1999, is an enclosed heated venue with indoor restrooms and is located adjacent the east side of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Mount Morris Flood Control Dam (which was constructed 1948-1952).  Often light refreshments are served at programs of the Winter Discovery Series.   [Please note, do not confuse this A.C.E. Visitor Center with the Letchworth State Park – Humphrey Nature Center which is located in Letchworth State Park on the west side of the Genesee River and further south of the A.C.E. Mt Morris flood control dam.]

Mount Morris Dam and Recreation Area Visitor Center is located at 6103 Visitor Center Road in Mount Morris, NY 14510. For more information call (585) 658-4790.

There are numerous exhibits and educational experiences in the Visitor Center, a brief opportunity may exist to view and experience some immediately prior to or after the Winter Discovery Series program.  Albeit, the Visitor Center is generally not otherwise open in the winter season.

This event has been postponed again.  We are still trying to line up the equipment listed below.  Please stay tuned.

During our April 2 hike down Marrowback Rd, the many tires in the gullies below the road became a topic of conversation and concern. In addition to being an eye-sore, discarded tires are a convenient breeding site for mosquitos and can be a fire hazard.

Since that hike, we have talked with two major landowners and to the Town of Springwater about working to remove these tires and move them to a more appropriate place.

Our first day to work on this project will be May 23 at 10:00.  Please come as we develop methods for pulling the tires up to the road and transporting them to the Town highway barn for disposal.

What to bring:

1. Good work gloves.
2. Good hiking boots. If desired, traction devices to help climbing up to the road.
3. Rope to loop around tires.
4. Clothes that can get dirty while working around heavy, wet tires.

In addition to helping with your energy and your muscles, you may want to lend your farm equipment. We need the following equipment:

1. Power winches to pull the tires up the bank. If you have a vehicle with a power winch, we think that would be a great help in this project.
2. Trailers to transport the tires.
3. Trucks to pull the trailers. We will try to move the tires to the town Highway barn so the town Highway department can schedule disposal.
4. Ropes to help handling the tires and the winches.

If you can volunteer any of this equipment, please leave a comment in the Tire Forum or contact John at vp@springwatertrails.org.

One final comment. A $2.50 fee has been collected since 2003 on every tire sold in New York State. In addition, any Tire Service company is required to accept, on a one-for-one basis old tires for recycling when new tires are sold. As a result, you have already paid for the disposal of your old tires and you should be returning them when you purchase new tires. Please remember, you do not need to dump your old tires into our forests.

The railroad may have existed between 1899 – 1947, but much is still left today including some stations, a
Historical Society, and a museum with restored railroad cars. Join John Muchler of the Shawmut Historical Society to discuss the history of the
railroad and how the museum in Angelica obtained the original rolling stock.

See the full American Innovation: Winter Discovery Series schedule.

Join Allegany County Historian Craig Braack in commemorating two hundred years of the Erie Canal and learning about all of the
incredible engineering, political, and cultural history.

See the full American Innovation: Winter Discovery Series schedule.

Learn the story of the Genesee Valley’s historic transportation corridor as it transitions from a 19th century
canal, to a railroad and then, a Greenway before becoming New York’s newest and longest State Park in 2011. Joan Schumaker, Local Historian.

See the full American Innovation: Winter Discovery Series schedule.

It is time again for the Springwater Trails, Inc. annual meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to elect officers for 2018, to inform our members about the activities of the group in 2017 and the handle any new business concerning the organization and the year ahead.

The schedule for the day will be: Hike the Springwater Center property at 2:00, Social setup at 4:00, Annual meeting at 4:45, Traveling in Europe at 5:15.

Following the business portion of the meeting, our own Vice President, John Larysz will share his pictures and experiences traveling in Europe. There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask important questions such as the camera that he uses, how to rent a car that Americans can drive in Europe, or how to pronounce his name. You may have seen some of his pictures on Facebook, so this will be a great opportunity to hear commentary about the best of the best.

The Social and Annual Meeting is open to everyone interested in Springwater, trails and hiking. Your comments and advice are welcome during the meeting.  Voting for officers and other business brought up at the meeting is limited to members of Springwater Trails, Inc. Honorary memberships are awarded to hikers who have completed 20 group activities during the previous calendar year or to 5 maintenance events, to members of the executive board who have served for a full year term, and to landowners who allow the Springwater Trail on their property. Membership forms are also available on line and at the meeting and memberships for 2018 can be purchased at the meeting or before for half price ($10 for an individual, $15 for a family).

If you are able to join us for the social after the hike, please bring a dish to pass and a non-alcoholic beverage or consider making a cash donation.  There is a complete kitchen to store and reheat the dishes as needed.  

Please bring slippers as shoes will  need to be removed at the door.

There are five elected officers: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and VP of hiking. We will be accepting nominations for all five offices during the annual meeting, and all members will be allowed to vote for one nominee for each office. The duties of each officer are described in Article IV of the By-Laws of the Springwater Trails, Inc.

Annual Meeting Agenda

Welcome to members and friends
The year 2017 in review
President’s report
VP of Hiking report
Treasurer’s report
Nominations from the floor for Officers
Election of Officers
Plans for 2018

Traveling in Europe 
pictures and commentary from John Larysz

Adjournment

Learn some wildlife photography basics with John. Join in to discuss cameras, lenses, tripods, photo blinds,
and camouflage. John Adamski will instruct the audience on how, when, and where to find wildlife to photograph.

See the full American Innovation: Winter Discovery Series schedule.

It is time again for the Springwater Trails, Inc. annual meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to elect officers for 2019, to inform our members about the activities of the group in 2018 and to handle any new business concerning the organization and the year ahead.

The schedule for the day will be: Hike the Springwater Center property at 2:00, Social setup at 4:00, Annual meeting at 4:45, Gardening with Native Wildflowers  at 5:15.

Following the business portion of the meeting, Ellen Folts of Amanda’s Garden and one of the founding members of the Springwater Parks and Trails committee will present a talk about Gardening with Native Wildflowers. This will be an opportunity to see the beauty of our local plants and how they fit into your garden. 

The Social and Annual Meeting is open to everyone interested in Springwater, trails and hiking. Your comments and advice are welcome during the meeting.  Voting for officers and other business brought up at the meeting is limited to members of Springwater Trails, Inc. Honorary memberships are awarded to hikers who have completed 20 group activities during the previous calendar year or to 5 maintenance events, to members of the executive board who have served for a full year term, and to landowners who allow the Springwater Trail on their property. Membership forms are also available on line and at the meeting and memberships for 2019 can be purchased this month for half price ($10 for an individual, $15 for a family).

If you are able to join us for the social after the hike, please bring a dish to pass and a non-alcoholic beverage or consider making a cash donation.  There is a complete kitchen to store and reheat the dishes as needed.  

Please bring slippers as shoes will  need to be removed at the door.

There are five elected officers:

President
Vice President
VP of hiking.
Secretary
Treasurer

We will be accepting nominations for all five offices during the annual meeting, and all members will be allowed to vote for one nominee for each office. The duties of each officer are described in Article IV of the By-Laws of the Springwater Trails, Inc.

Annual Meeting Agenda

Welcome to members and friends
The year 2018 in review
VP of Hiking report
Treasurer’s report
Nominations from the floor for Officers
Election of Officers

Gardening with Native Wildflowers
Ellen Folts – Amanda’s Garden

Adjournment

Spring is here!, and it is time to get outside.  The Finger Lakes Land Trust is sponsoring a volunteer opportunity at Wesley Hill. This is an opportunity for Springwater Trails to say thank you to one of our popular hike locations.

Wesley Hill is one of FLLT’s most iconic nature preserves, and on Monday, May 20^th, it will be turning 20 years old!  If you have never visited our westernmost preserve, this is your chance!  Wesley Hill is full of beautiful vistas, gorges, and old growth trees. 

Please join me on Saturday the 18^th to help refresh the hiking trails and clear a short reroute, as well as conduct habitat management.  At the end of the day, we will raise a glass of something bubbly to a magnificent place that is protected forever.  Tools, work gloves, and refreshments (including N/A options), will be provided.  We will meet at 11:00am at the WESLEY RD. parking area.  Directions can be found here.

Original email from:
Jason Gorman, Nature Preserve Manager
Finger Lakes Land Trust
202 E. Court Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607.275.9487
www.fllt.org