Category: Croghan

All Roads lead to Oswegatchie

1/24/2019

By Bill Waite, Oswegatchie Program Director

In the Northeastern corner of Lewis County, deep in the forests of Croghan, there exists the Oswegatchie Educational Center overlooking the scenic Long Pond. Surrounded by Adirondack ponds and streams, Oswegatchie has functioned as a summer camp for 74 years and as a year round educational / retreat center since 1996. On average, 6,000 people will visit Oswegatchie. Many are first time visitors to Oswegatchie, but many are making an annual pilgrimage to visit.

While they are here, the adults typically have places they visit while at camp. The local meat markets do well as steaks and bologna are purchased for dinners and snacks. Ice Cream and chocolates are often favorites. Even local silversmiths benefit as exquisite gifts are picked up for special someone. In the larger scheme of things, guests frequently need to stop for the biggies. Fuel and groceries top the list as far as big ticket items expenses. Hardware stores and garages also benefit when repairs are needed.

The best part of all this is a chance to show off what Lewis County has to offer. The tremendous forests and water ways make for scenic viewing, as does the farmland and windmills. The teenagers that pass through the area may not always be paying attention, but the adults soak in every minute. There is always a certain amount of intrigue when driving the familiar routes. You would be surprised by the amount of nostalgia resurfacing as people recall events like weddings at Saint Stephen’s Catholic Church or hunting trips with their dads in Harrisville.

I partly joke, but I often quote “All Roads Lead to Oswegatchie”. Whether you enter the county on Route 3 or Route 12, from Barnes Corners way or down near Constableville. 95% of the Oswegatchie guests drive on average 35 miles through the county before arriving to Long Pond. Whether you are selling real estate or maple syrup, there are guests on their way to Oswegatchie year round that want to stop and buy a piece of Lewis County.

To learn more about the Oswegatchie Educational Center, visit us online at www.oswegatchie.org to find links about everything we do. If you want to visit, the best time is the last Sunday in April for our Annual AdironDuck Race. All duck race info is available www.adironduckrace.com .

Learn More about Lewis County New York

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Oswegatchie on The record : 1945 - 1955

11/21/2017

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In the history of literature, the "journal entry style of writing" flourished with Bram Stoker's Dracula and Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. The following is not that interesting...

What we do have here is a compilation of records and correspondence from masters of parliamentary procedure and proper recorded minutes. The thorough use of the written record here is a testament to the early days of Oswegatchie's Founders. As a sidenote, this the work of veterans of both WW1 and WW2. The testament to these men for doing what they did abroad and at home is a heavy legacy to consider.

In the PDF below, you will find roses among the thorns, names important to the early days of OSwegatchie, and the changing of the guard as different people come and go, or need to change their focus from a summer camp to the rest of their lives. Additionally, you will find local names, businesses, and local spots referenced.

The following PDF can be downloaded and placed on your digital reader or computer. Be warned, it is 155 MB in size.

Excelsior,
Bill Waite
Program Director

oswegatchie_founders_documents.pdf
File Size:	160215 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Oswegatchie History DVD

3/14/2017

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In 1996, Oswegatchie put together a history video. It covered the years from 1880 to 1996. It tracked the history of the property from its origins as a logging camp, to being a resort, sitting dormant for 16 years, and its eventual use as a summer camp.

The longer you have been a part of Oswegatchie, the better this video gets. The more of the history you discover, the better able you are to see our growth.

Oswegatchie now has the ability to copy this movie on to DVD and send to you at no cost. We are doing this this "in-house" to keep the cost of duplicating low. All we ask is that you you complete the attached form and give us a few days to get it in the mail to you.

Remember, this video was made in 1996. Its was done just before the digital revolution. It was originally meant to be watched on a VHS cassette using a VCR. In the modern age of HD, It will look a bit rough. Regardless, we are lucky to have this archive at our finger tips.

We hope to do an update soon. We will share the next chapter with you when ready.

Thank You in Advance,
Bill Waite
Program Director

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New York Mesonet in Croghan

11/8/2016

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Once again, its amazing where a phone call will take you…

In spring of 2015, a call was made on behalf of the Oswegatchie Educational Center to the newly formed New York State Mesonet. They were looking into the placement of 125 new weather stations across the state. After a few phone calls, site visits, and some regulatory review, Oswegatchie was picked as 1 of 4 stations to be placed in Lewis County and 1 of 13 to be placed inside the Adirondack Park. If one travels to the south end of Long Pond, you can find a state of the art weather station.

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, New York State made the effort to increase its scientific base regarding weather detection and data collection. A total of 125 weather stations will be placed throughout New York collecting everything from wind direction, snow depth, and soil temps. Data from every station is available online for any citizen to peruse, including a weather camera. In light of the drought that has troubled so much of New York in 2016, its clear that hydrology information will also be valued information.

From the NYS Mesonet Website…

“The New York State Mesonet, when completed, will consist of 125 stations across the state. Each station will house a suite of automated sensors, sampling data every 3 to 30 seconds. Data are then packaged into 5 minute averages, and then transmitted in real-time to a central facility located at the University at Albany (UA). At UA, data from all sites are quality-controlled, and then processed into files which are then disseminated to customers for use in forecasting and decision-making.”

The Oswegatchie staff is excited to have this resource located on property. In addition to having real time data regarding the local environment, we have higher quality prediction abilities which will help keep our patrons safer. The additonal ability to do education on weather and the environment is excellent.

Click here to learn more about the New York Mesonet.

Learn about the highly respected Oklahoma Mesonet! (https://www.mesonet.org/)

Downloadable Educational materials available online.

Oswegatchie’s weather can be found at … http://www.nysmesonet.org/mesonow#?stid=CROG