Katharine Gates's blog

We are saddened by the news of the death of our member, friend, and benefactor, William Lee Frost, on September seventh.

Bill, an early Aqueduct fan, started collecting Aqueduct material long before there was FOCA, or even the Croton Aqueduct Committee. In later years, he donated the bulk of his collection to the Croton-on-Hudson Historical Society -- with one exception: A piece of the original old wooden pipe of the Manhattan Water Company, founded by Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1799. This he donated to FOCA.

Westchester Trails Association, a long-established hiking club in the county, has organized a series of monthly hikes on the Old Croton Aqueduct called “OCA and More," starting in November. The hikes will each be 7-8 miles long, and will incorporate the four sections listed in the book Walkable Westchester, beginning at Lamartine Ave. in Yonkers and continuing to the Croton Dam.

Charlotte Fahn took these photos of the ongoing work at the ramp at Cedar & Main in Dobbs Ferry. This critical improvement to the Trail is thanks to generous donations from people like YOU. Thank you!

Friends member Diane Alden points to a specimen of the mushroom Ganoderma tsugae, thoughtfully left on an Aqueduct gatepost by a previous, anonymous walker. This was on the Friends' first guided walk from Ossining's Gerlach Park to the New Croton Dam and back, on June 18, led by Charlotte Fahn. Diane joined the group for a fascinating segment during which she identified and told about several kinds of mushrooms on the trail that otherwise would likely have gone completely unnoticed. (Photo by C. Fahn)

In a ceremony on July 9 at Ossining’s Gerlach Park, Dustin Hofer (left) of Briarcliff Boy Scout Troop 18 was awarded his Eagle Scout badge, the highest rank in scouting, for planning and carrying out construction of a stairway connecting the park with the Old Croton Aqueduct (see Friends newsletter no. 37, Winter 2011, for a full description). The stairway creates convenient access to the north end of the Aqueduct and to Croton Gorge County Park and the New Croton Dam, since Gerlach Park has plenty of parking as well as restroom facilities. The walk is about two and a half miles to the dam.

The Yonkers Green Policy Task Force awarded Aquefest Producer, Eileen Charles a Greenie Award at the their 3rd Annual Greenie Award Night at the Beczak Environmental Center on June 1st. The “Greenies” are a mock Oscar green tie/green carpet event honoring those who live or work in Yonkers and who make an effort to preserve the environment.

Members of The Friends gathered last week at Mavis' house to watch a DVD from the BBC series Filthy Cities. The BBC produced a series of 3 films called "Filthy Cities", covering the great cities of the world before the arrival of clean water and other ways of keeping clean and odor-free!

The BBC crew came to the Aqueduct in October of 2010 and filmed inside the tunnel. The production team sent us the DVD of the film on NYC - so we all gathered at Mavis' house to watch and and applaud our own Aqueduct.

One of the many schools that had a field trip to the Aqueduct was the International School at 318 Eugenio Mariade Hostos in NYC. This group was specializing in environmental studies, led by Biologist, artist, education consultant, Nim Lee (check her website for her amazing talents.)

These 13 year old kids were so attentive and responsive, asking intelligent questions and making notes. Carl Grimm and Mavis Cain loved talking to them, taking them into the Aqueduct tunnel and encouraging their interest in engineering, water technology and history.

All walks and tours will be led by a member of the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct. Walks are free to all and (unless specifically noted) do not require prior registration. Check contact information for updates on schedule, weather, etc.

May 14, Saturday -- Ossining Weir Tour - click for directions and map

You'll remember the grant the Friends received to do this important piece of trail work. The first step of the work has been made with Steven Oakes, former site manager descending into the dark and murky depths of the tunnel in the area where the work will be done. The integrity of the brick work has to be ascertained.