It's been a couple of weeks since my last post and I thought that it was appropriate to begin July's feature on the eve of our nation's Birthday.  The 236th birthday of America is a perfect time to recollect stories of the past and to think about how our little Mohawk Valley and the surrounding area was instrumental in shaping the events of the past.

Recently I have had a few opportunities to learn some new things about our locale and just how rich we are in history.  Sure, everyone knows that Herkimer is home to the Historic Four Corners, featuring the Herkimer County Historical Society on the Northeast corner, the Herkimer Reformed Church (which will be celebrating its 300th continuous year of Christian worship on the same corner in just a few years) on the Northwest corner, the Herkimer County Courthouse on the Southeast corner-all decked out in red, white and blue year round-and the Old Jail on the Southwest corner.

And you can't have gone to school in Herkimer without learning about the town's namesake, General Nicholas Herkimer, who fought in the French and Indian War, as well as the American Revolution.  And I would gather that nearly everyone in the area has seen this painting, depicting Herkimer's fatal injury at the Battle of Oriskany:

                                                           photo of painting Wikipedia
                                                           original painting by F.C. Yohn

On our family's several trips to Williamsburg, VA and Jamestown, VA, we have taken tours of the battlefields and it always amazes us to see all the signposts that are labeled with General Nicholas Herkimer's name on them.  To see that people who live several states away, not to mention the thousands of visitors to these two historical sites, see his name and realize his involvement in the war that earned our freedom, truly is something to make you stop and think.

However, did you know that Weller Library in Mohawk holds secret underground holding rooms that were used as a stopping point for the Underground Railroad?  That little tidbit came to me via my daughter's boyfriend's mother, Kirstie Smith, who used to be friends with a girl who lived in the back of the library.

Were you aware how involved the men and boys of this area were in the Civil War?  Nancy Stowell, Frank J. Basloe Library's Children's Librarian, and I had opportunity to talk about how people don't truly realize how many served in that war-we often think of the Revolutionary War as our area's only involvement in history.  Nancy, who also serves on the Board of Trustees for the St. Johnsville Library, told me that their library is busy cataloging oodles of artifacts, pictures, and documents for a museum about the ones who served in the Civil War.

And how many times a month, week or day to you travel Route 5 from Herkimer to Ilion or Frankfort, Route 5S from Little Falls to Ilion, or cross the South Washington Street, Mohawk St., Ilion or Frankfort bridges without fully appreciating the rich history of the man made waterway that runs parallel to these highways and underneath the bridges?  Local Author Dorothy Stacy has thought about the Erie Canal quite often.  As a matter of fact, she has written not one, not two, but five books on the subject.

The series, called the Erie Canal Cousins, depicts life along the Erie Canal in the mid-1800's.  Geared toward middle readers, the series is seen through the eyes of a young girl, Rose Stewart.  I look forward to introducing you to Mrs. Stacy, her books, and a little bit of history this month.

Until next time . . . please have a safe and happy Fourth of July, and while you are celebrating, please take the time to reflect upon the rich history that surrounds our area, and to give thanks to God for all the men and women  who have served this country to protect each and every one of us.