Katharine Gates's blog

The High Bridge design process is underway!

This is a major turning point in the long campaign, in which the Friends have played an active role, to restore and reopen this most renowned feature of the Old Croton Aqueduct. The NYC Parks Department is asking for input from the public.

Click HERE to download a PDF of comments submitted by the Friends.

Questions or comments? Contact C. Fahn at czfahn@yahoo.com or 914-478-3961.

Parks and Trails New York has announced the 2010 Greenway and Community trail awards. The Volunteer Service Award goes to two members of the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct, Elisa Zazzera of Hastings and Joe Kozlowski of Yonkers for engaging local community groups in the cleanup and promotion of the Old Croton Aqueduct in Yonkers.

All walks will be led by a member of Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct

April 3 – Ossining Weir tour. See video to learn about the Old Croton Aqueduct, then descend into the original brick pre-Civil War water tunnel. Meet at 10:00 AM at the Ossining Community Center at 95 Broadway adjacent to the aqueduct, just west of Highland Ave./Rt. 9. Information: 914-762-4082

The event, hosted by the Friends to honor Assemblyman Mike Spano and Groundwork Hudson Valley for their support of the Aqueduct, took place on October 21, a beautiful autumn day, at the juncture of the trail and Lamartine Avenue.

Since Mike Spano had an important meeting in Albany, our good friend, former State Senator Nick Spano, stood in for his brother, pulling off the paper cover of one of the signs with appropriate panache.

The Emerging New York Architects Committee, AIA NY Chapter, announces its fourth biennial international ideas competition incorporating the historic High Bridge, the oldest standing bridge in NYC. ENYA challenges entrants to create a public facility that fosters the development of experimental, innovative art forms.

REGISTRATION BEGINS: September 10, 2009
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: November 20, 2009
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 15, 2010

The weather was gorgeous, the trail was alive with musicians, dancers, storytellers and artists. We recruited new members and celebrated with Friends!

Thanks for making it all happen!

These are some of the highlights (photos by Deniz Tuzun and Hazel Kalderon):

by Cornelia Cotton

Ed Rondthaler, typographer, inventor, historian, author, civic activist, advocate of phonetic spelling, and raconteur, died at age 104 on August 19.

A member of Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct since its beginning, he twice gave illustrated talks - in 1999 and 2000 - at our annual meetings. With inimitable charm he shared his love and knowledge of the Croton River, which he and his wife Dot explored on foot and by canoe from the sources of its three tributaries to its estuary.

We've added an article from our current Newsletter HERE. From time to time we'll add more articles from past issues.

Also: Don't miss the Bronx Historical Society's "Walking with Poe" tour -- including the High Bridge -- October 4th 2009 on our calendar.

There's good news on the restoration of the historic Keeper's House. This year the Friends undertook the work to restore the porch as a first step. Board member Carl Grimm was our lead architect and supervisor and now the porch has a beautiful roof, new gutters, columns that have been faithfully restored and a new porch floor.

Work on the Keeper's House continues as we shore up the porch and porch roof.

Here are some photos of the Keeper's House in its current state: