Monday, December 30, 2013

Fifty Two Town Pickup - Lets go to the Movies

The end of the story at the beginning

I finally got around to reviewing some of the photos I took this past summer more to see what could be Waymarked. I am up to July 21 and I came across the photos I took while on a 3 day jaunt across the State of New York for the GLMC Z to A Grand Tour. This was to be one of my big pushes to turn in a respectable amount of the towns that began with Z or ended in A. We started out on one of these trips but had to turn back because MeAsWe’s neck was killing her. I took 2 vacation days from work and headed out solo, which I had not done in along time. As I was reviewing the photos 5 months after the fact, I found the beginning of the blog entry that was also started 5 months ago.

The Story as it happened

This past Sunday I took off for a 1200+ mile trek thru New York. Out to Buffalo passing over the top of the Finger Lakes and back heading east just south of the Finger Lakes. Objective was to capture as many towns that start with Z or end in A for the GLMC Z to A Grand Tour. Got plenty of the A’s but no Z’s. They just aren’t that common. I think the only opportunity was Zoar, NY but I already got Zoar, MA and you can only use a town name once. So come along as I pick up some towns and other interesting sites.

It has been so hot in MA for the last month, it has been hard to want to ride on the bike any place, at least for me. I am sure folks in Mississippi or Louisiana think that would be spring weather, however our blood has been thickened with the winters. Let’s see the Mississippians walk around in T-Shirts when it is in the 40’s

MeAsWe is not coming along this trip because she is not sure she can take the miles and constant mounting and dismounting. This kind of trip is purely RunPicandGo type trip. While scenic, it is also hectic.

The target towns and places have been waypointed. I simply cannot ride to a town a see if there is a sign of the town someplace without researching it. Google is my best friend here and street view is great. How else would I have found Laona United Methodist Church. While I have targets, I will pick up the first sign with the Town. I have learned not to pass them up. Post Offices and Welcome To Signs are not allowed.

First day is just shy of 500 miles, with 20+ targets. That is a full day, especially considering the first 160 miles is just getting to the first place. For most part I end up on the back roads, however the beginning and ending miles do involve interstates. In the beginning one is anxious to get to the first photo op and the end run, you just wanna get home. The in between is seeing New York state off the beaten path.

This is what I picked as my first photo op. A run down abandoned gas station. Nothing special, no Pure Oil 66 chimneys, no sweeping roofs as in the Phillips 88 stations, just plain ole painted cinder blocks. I promise the rest of the report will be visually more stimulating, well for the most part.

Kelts - Waterford NY Vintage Gas


First cluster is Malta, Ballston Spa, Saratoga, and Fonda, NY, oh and Niskayuna. Malta is a run of the mill diner (NY style) along with Saratoga. I have been to Ballston Spa before but never downtown. This place looks like it has a ton of historic places. Niskayuna was home to Steve Katz of Blues Project and Blood, Sweat and Tears fame.

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Ballston Spa Police - Ballston Spa NY

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I really like the lettering on this place. It is Art Decoish or Moderne like. I actually turned around
to go back to take a picture of this place. It is going to be along journey
Heading out to Utica next, the Garmins wanted me on I-90, but I resisted taking NY 5, which roughly follows the Erie Canal. Next town is Scotia, which I picked up the Scotia Theater. The Scotia Cinema opened in January 1929 as the Ritz Theater. “Lilac Time” was the first movie shown starring Gary Cooper and Colleen Moore.

Scotia Cinema

In Amsterdam that begins with an A but doesn't end in an A, so it doesn't count I found this VW looking for roads in all the wrong places.

VW on top of a Smokestack

As I head out to the next town all I could think of is the Chicago 7, motorcycle movies and cowboys.


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I grabbed the Bank of Utica as the A town, but really is very uninteresting, however the name Utica was easily photoed. Right across the street is the Savings Bank of Utica known as the Gold Dome Bank. While a bit gaudy, it really is beautiful. This is a great example of American Beaux Arts which became the style du jour after the Chicago's World Fair in 1893. The bank was built in 1900.

Savings Bank of Utica

Savings Bank of Utica

Savings Bank of Utica


Note a dramatic as the bank, never the less a flashback to the past. The Stanley Theater is also located in Utica. It opened in 1928 and has an affliation with Warner Bros. Pictures thru out its history. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

As I head furthere west I had targeted Verona, NY as an Z to A town. While I had a couple of choices with the name Verona, this old hotel just seemed so kewl. It has no significance other that the NEON lights to me.

Verona Hotel - Verona NY


Not to far from Verona is Oneida NY. I have been here a couple of times, once specifically to pick up the home where there was a utopian society lived and made silverware. This place was just so bright and had some elements of Googie architecture.

Christopher's - Oneida, NY

New York is suppose to be semi known for their diners, but today it is movie theaters. The Kallet was built in 1937 and is a great example of Art Deco, more specifically Art Moderne.

Kallet Theater - Oneida NY

Just outside of Syracuse is Canastota. I picked up a RR bridge for the Z to A town, but had to stop for the old Methodist Church that was built in 1910. It has been subsequently converted to a restaurant / function place called the Greystone Castle.

Canastota Methodist Church - Canastota NY

Keeping with the Movie theme grabbed the Palace Theater in Syracuse. This theater has been owned and operated by the same family since 1922 when it was built.

The Palace Theater - Syracuse NY

Making some tracks I passed over the top of the Finger Lakes and stopped into Canandaigua NY. Grabbed the really neat Town Hall for the Z to A tour and walked up the street for the court house.

Canandaigua Historic District - Canandaigua NY

Canandaigua Historic District - Canandaigua NY

It is getting late in the day and I still have a bunch of miles to go. While I am not running out of sunlight yet, there is not a lot of day left even on July 21. Pulled into Honeoye Falls NY, snapped a quick shot of the Historic District and headed further west.

Masonic Temple Building Honeoye Falls NY

1886 - Village Hall - Honeoye Falls NY

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Passed thru Henrietta NY and made my way to Scottsville and stopped for an artistic shot of this barn. The view I had was much better than what I translated it too thru the camera.

Sundown in Scottsville NY

Only a couple more town to go before I sleep. So far I have not seen any deer.

Town of Caledonia Town Hall

My destination for the night is Batavia, NY. Don't have a clue where I am going to stay so at my last stop of the night, I called MeAsWe to let her know I am still upright and not cohorting around with the antler folks. Cell phone is running on empty, FJR may be getting there too so MeAsWe finds me a place in Bativia and I pull into town just a little while after the sun has gone to bed for the night.

Elba Diner

When I look at the map where Elba is in relation to Scottsville and Batavia, I see that Elba may not have been exactly on the way to Batavia. I elected to get Batavia Z to A capture tomorrow morning.

Today's route

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Friday, December 27, 2013

Putterin around Petersham MA

This summer I headed out to take pictures of Petersham Common Historic District. This is a hobby of mine to find listings on the National Register of Historic Places, go out and grab some pictures, force a little exercise on myself since I have to walk and come home to research what I have found. Not bad for honing the photo skills also. New England is ripe for these locations and it sure beats sittin around doing nothing. Well doin nothin is sometimes good, especially when it is 90+ degrees out. I actually hit quite a few places that day including Wendell, New Salem and Belchertown.

Petersham was first settled in 1733. It was the second battle site for Shaw's Rebellion, an uprising by the citizens of Massachusetts against the State for imposing additional taxes to pay for States debt problems. Sound familiar, some things don't change. The town borders the Quabbin Reservoir. There are no interstates, airports, or mass transit in Petersham, so it remains very much like it was in the late 1700's thru 1900's. The homes, churches and businesses are primarily on Common St. and extending North and South on Main St.

Petersham Historic District
Map of Petersham Common Historic District

This was a hotel at one point and then turned into a girls Catholic School. I spoke with one of the folks from the historical society and apparently the hotel was bought by this guy who was going to turn in into an inn and restaurant specializing in wines. He was recently divorced and bought this with his girlfriend. Subsequently the girlfriend took off and the plans for the restoration flew the coop as well.

Nichewaug Hotel - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Nichewaug Hotel - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA

Government and Commerce Buildings

The Town Hall is a replica of the previous TH called the Bosworth Building. The Bosworth was built in 1850 and burned to the ground in 1957

Petersham Town Hall - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Town Hall

Petersham Town Hall - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Town Hall

Hutchinson General Store opened in 1840 and has been a General Store since it's opening.

Hutchinson Country Store - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Greek Revival building that has served as a general store grange, hat factory and apartments. Built in 1840 it is a classic Greek Revival building.
Has been a general store since its opening in 1840.

Hutchinson Country Store - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA

Petersham Memorial Library - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Petersham Memorial Library - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Historic Library built 1890. Architect was Edmund Wilson.


Not all of the buildings are elaborate

Brick Building - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Brick building built in 1848. Building has served as a barber shop, business office, grange, library,
 meeting hall, post office and public school over its course.

The Churches

I get a kick out of the separate entrances, mens and womens, which was fairly typical for the era. Unitarians believe in "free and responsible search for truth'. The are not Trintarian, which means they believe in God, but not the Trinity. The Congregationalists were a form of Protestants widely established by the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies in Massachusetts. Each church runs their own affairs versus those forms of religion with a highly organized central church. At least that is my interpretation. Actually this period gets really interesting with the Baptist, Methodists, Congregationalists and Unitarians. It just may be why our New England towns have so many churches.

Petersham Unitarian Church - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Petersham Unitarian Church - Petersham MA Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Built in 1910 due to the burning down of the previous church on this site.

Petersham Unitarian Church - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA

Petersham Orthodox Congregational Church - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Petersham Orthodox Congregational Church - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Historic church built in 1829.

Petersham Orthodox Congregational Church - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA

The Houses

The houses of Petersham has quite a few examples of Greek Revival architecture. The fluted columns, ornate entrances, and detail around the windows is really quite stunning. The older homes, the ones built in the late 1700's are not as elaborate, but still are a pleasure to look at.

Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Wadsworth, Col. Welcome House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA.
Historic home built in 1830.

Taylor, Dr. Samuel House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Taylor, Dr. Samuel House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Historic home built in 1842.

I find this house absolutely spectacular

Hapgood, Seth House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Taylor, Dr. Samuel House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Built in 1842

Hapgood, Seth House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA

A couple of the 1700 homes

Peckham, William House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Peckham, William House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Historic home built in 1768

Peckham, Josiah House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Peckham, Josiah House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Historic home built in 1790.

Bigelow, Daniel House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Bigelow, Daniel House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Historic home built in 1780. Stunning Federal home painted a rose color with blue shutters that really makes this home stand out.
Daniel Bigelow was prominent physician from Columbus, Ohio.

A couple more Greek Rival homes

Hamilton, Benjamin F. House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Hamilton, Benjamin F. House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Built 1838

Brooks, Aaron House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Brooks, Aaron House - Petersham Common Historic District - Petersham MA
Built 1842

That completes my tour of Petersham. There are many more homes, but this gives you a taste of what the town is like. It is worthwhile to take a ride and walk around the town, enjoy the park, and the buildings.