Red Mill Creek Waterfall, Rensselaer
Summer 1996. Taken to this site by Steve Janenka, a Rensselaer architect who grew up down the street from the waterfall and played on the mound.
LOCATION: Hidden on a dead-end in a dense residential neighborhood in south Rensselaer, but difficult to find, since the site is tucked away in a maze of numerous narrow, dead-end streets.
DIRECTIONS: Take Third Street east off Broadway or Washington Street in central Rensselaer. Cross up and over the railroad tracks, then take the first left onto Adams Street after bridge ends. Adams Street makes a left hand turn, ends at East Avenue. Take a left, go under the Third Street bridge. Turn right onto Second Avenue. Then, before crossing Red Mill Creek, turn left into private driveway. Mound is clearly visible on the left.
To reach the waterfall, stay on Second Avenue, cross over creek, then keep to right to end of street. Waterfall is visible tucked into hillside beyond end of street. A short trail climbs up the slope beyond the end of the street to the top of the waterfall.
DIMENSIONS: 40 feet high. A small mound tucked along the north wall of the valley below the waterfall.
FEATURES: The south side of this mound is badly eroded, likely aggravated by children playing on the steep slope. Difficult visually to confirm if this is a man-made structure, but its position along the creek below the waterfall, projecting out from valley wall suggest an unnatural feature.
VEGETATION: NA
HISTORY: In early colonial Rensselaer, this waterfall on Red Mill Creek provided water power for local industries. Today, a small dam above the waterfall still provides power for a turbine.
In pre-colonial times, this would have been a very highly prized site. The waterfall, easy access from the Hudson, proximity to Olcott Hill would have made this a favored site for ceremonies and spiritual purposes, not to mention simple recreation and inspiration.
DOWSING: NA
CERTAINTY: ¶¶
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Victory Hill, Schenectady
May 1998: Discovered after planting a Champion tree in Vale Park.
LOCATION: In the center of Schenectady near the city and county offices. At the northwest entrance to Vale Park between State Street (NY 5) and Eastern Parkway.
DIRECTIONS: Take NY 5 State Street west from Albany into Schenectady. Just before the park near City Hall, turn left onto Nott Terrace; Victory Hill will be on the right. Turn right onto Lottridge Avenue.
DIMENSIONS: ???
FEATURES: Local high point (70 feet). Victory Street climbs up over its crest, covered with closely spaced brick houses, likely from the 1800's.
VEGETATION: NA
HISTORY: "Victory Hill" got its name at the end of the War of 1812, when a cannon was hauled to its summit and fired to announce the United States' victory in the war. The cannon misfired and exploded, killing the cannoneer.
DOWSING: NA
CERTAINTY: ¶¶¶
NOTES: This mound is at the entrance to Vale Park, which lies north side Victory Hill. This deep glen is a quiet, secluded, natural area, largely forgotten in urban Schenectady.
Next to Vale Park is Vale Park Cemetery, Schenectady's largest, likely oldest. Obviously a Masonic cemetery. Steinmetz is buried there with Masonic emblems on his gravestone. St. Agnus, the Catholic Cemetery, is on flatlands nearby, separated by a chain link fence.
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Prospect Hill Cemetery, Guilderland
July 1998: Discovered on a whim when returning from Schoharie Valley. Visited twice since, but no careful surveys conducted yet.
LOCATION: North side of US 20 just inside Town of Guilderland eastern boundary with Albany, just past New Karner Road (NY 155).
DIRECTIONS: From Albany, go west on Western Avenue US 20, past New Karner Road (NY 155) and Stuyvesant Plaza. After 1/4 mile, US 20 bends slightly left. Cemetery entrance is another 1/4 mile on right, but a very sharp turn is required. Instead, continue on US 20 to first left (Winding Brook Drive), turn around and return to cemetery entrance from west. Turn left into cemetery, climb steeply through trees to crest.
DIMENSIONS: 100 feet high. Site consists of a shallow bowl or basin surrounded by steep slopes, except open on west.
FEATURES: Cemetery driveway climbs steeply to crest of a very high (over 90 feet) and very large mound, which may yet prove to be a natural feature. However, this 20+ acre site seems to be extensively shaped and sculpted by man, but how and when is very difficult to determine.
Main feature of this site isn't a mound, but a hollow vale. Reminds me in a general way of Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn, New York.
From US 20, the mound rises sharply and steeply immediately beside the roadway. But the sense of a mound is obscured by the thick cover of medium size trees, hiding the topography.
VEGETATION: Extensive, thick growths of thyme over wide areas. Also many patches of yarrow and pearly everlasting. Sandy soil seems poor in nutrients, yielding a sparse grassy ground cover.
HISTORY: Very old and large cemetery, with a few tombstones dated late 1790s. Numerous older tombstones have Masonic markings; likely this was originally a dedicated Masonic cemetery.
DOWSING: NA
CERTAINTY: ¶¶¶
NOTES: This cemetery is south of the Pine Bush State Unique Area, home of the endangered Karner Blue butterfly.
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