Tuesday September 30
September 30 Tuesday, Baldwinsville, NY
The day turned out to be full of surprises. Headed east along Route 29, in the foothills of the Adirondacks through some very small, ordinary country towns until we arrived in Dolgeville.
Initially it looked to be just a small town, until we saw some magnificent huge stone buildings with a tall chimney, beside a river. Parked Ruakiwi behind the buildings and spotted a chap driving along in a 4 wheel bike. Asked him the story behind the buildings, and it turned out Charlie was the owner, a real character. The buildings were originally owned by a Mr Dolge, after whom the town was named, and ran a felt factory making parts for pianos as well as piano’s using timber from his own forests, and processed in his own mill. A friend, Thomas Edison (!) built the first hydro generator in the basement, a lot of which is still usuable, and Charlie is currently restoring it to supply his power needs and surplus to the grid (6000 hp). The building in recent times manufactured footwear and closed in 2000. Charlie, a property developer from Florida bought the whole estate, including the mansion and poured millions of dollars into restoring part of it with visions of running an artisan gallery. At the moment it houses what is probably the best antique store we have seen, over 4 floors. Charlie is now thinking of developing some of it into apartments…when the economy stabilises!!!
Sorry for the history lecture, but we were utterly fascinated, especially to have such a long chat with the owner and understand his visions. We hope that he is able to see it through to a conclusion, whatever that may be.
He also set us off an a very interesting route to Syracuse, crossing over the Erie canal in Little Falls, and following Route 20 through rolling countryside which at times reminded us very much of NZ. The afternoon became extremely hazy and finally by the time we hit the motorway going into Syracuse it was raining. Decided to head for a campground we had spotted on Cross Lake, just out of Baldwinsville. It was listed as due to close on October 1, but arrived to find that it had already shut. Took a drive around and decided to just park beside the lake and free camp.
The day turned out to be full of surprises. Headed east along Route 29, in the foothills of the Adirondacks through some very small, ordinary country towns until we arrived in Dolgeville.
Initially it looked to be just a small town, until we saw some magnificent huge stone buildings with a tall chimney, beside a river. Parked Ruakiwi behind the buildings and spotted a chap driving along in a 4 wheel bike. Asked him the story behind the buildings, and it turned out Charlie was the owner, a real character. The buildings were originally owned by a Mr Dolge, after whom the town was named, and ran a felt factory making parts for pianos as well as piano’s using timber from his own forests, and processed in his own mill. A friend, Thomas Edison (!) built the first hydro generator in the basement, a lot of which is still usuable, and Charlie is currently restoring it to supply his power needs and surplus to the grid (6000 hp). The building in recent times manufactured footwear and closed in 2000. Charlie, a property developer from Florida bought the whole estate, including the mansion and poured millions of dollars into restoring part of it with visions of running an artisan gallery. At the moment it houses what is probably the best antique store we have seen, over 4 floors. Charlie is now thinking of developing some of it into apartments…when the economy stabilises!!!
Sorry for the history lecture, but we were utterly fascinated, especially to have such a long chat with the owner and understand his visions. We hope that he is able to see it through to a conclusion, whatever that may be.
He also set us off an a very interesting route to Syracuse, crossing over the Erie canal in Little Falls, and following Route 20 through rolling countryside which at times reminded us very much of NZ. The afternoon became extremely hazy and finally by the time we hit the motorway going into Syracuse it was raining. Decided to head for a campground we had spotted on Cross Lake, just out of Baldwinsville. It was listed as due to close on October 1, but arrived to find that it had already shut. Took a drive around and decided to just park beside the lake and free camp.
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