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Weston, born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1839, started America’s fascination with long distance walking in 1861 when he trudged from Boston to Washington to fulfill a bet that he would accomplish the feat in ten days if Abraham Lincoln won the Presidential election.
Walking through the Mohawk Valley
When marathon walker Edward Payson Weston strode into Amsterdam in 1910, the New York Times reported that Weston received “the merriest reception which has been accorded him at any place during his walk across the continent.”
Weston, born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1839, started America’s fascination with long distance walking in 1861 when he trudged from Boston to Washington to fulfill a bet that he would accomplish the feat in ten days if Abraham Lincoln won the Presidential election.
Weston’s walk took ten hours longer than ten days but he became famous for the effort, giving people a diversion in a very dark time.
After the Civil War ended, Weston walked from Portland, Maine to Chicago, Illinois, in 1867 to win a prize of $10,000. Gamblers took to betting on competitive walkers.
Weston the pedestrian, as he famously called himself, was in Amsterdam in October 1894 as part of a walk around New York State.
He passed through Amsterdam again on his walk from Portland, Maine, to Chicago in 1907 at age 68. When he started out, Weston was doing 50 miles a day.
Weston went through Amsterdam on March 19, 1909 on his 4,000 mile walk from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, a journey that took 104 days.
On his way back he went through Amsterdam on the night of April 26, 1910, receiving the tumultuous welcome that was reported by the New York Times.
The Amsterdam Recorder had sent a reporter west of Tribes Hill to walk with Weston on the approach to Amsterdam, Hundreds were cheering the pedestrian along the road through Tribes Hill and the village of Akin, later renamed Fort Johnson,
Weston frequently doffed his hat to acknowledge women well-wishers and spectators waving American flags.
The Recorder wrote, “The younger ones cared not where they dodged and occasionally one of them would get directly in the pathway of the walker or else bump against him in the rear.”
When the crowds got too close Weston would shout, “Please keep 10 feet away/”
The Amsterdam police chief escorted Weston from the city line on Guy Park Avenue, where the first fireworks were heard. Weston and his entourage turned down Caroline Street then headed east on Division Street.
When Weston turned right on Market Street, a flying wedge of high school boys made it possible for him to continue moving forward through the huge crowd,
“It was then that enthusiasm let loose,” the Recorder wrote, “And the sirens of the automobiles
coupled with the red firesticks and Roman candles made a din that Market Street has never before seen.”
Fireworks ignited the awning on John Larrabee’s hardware store but the blaze was quickly extinguished “with the aid of water thrown from the upper windows.”
Weston went inside the Barnes Hotel on Market Street and was “whisked to his room” where he met with Stephen Sanford, Amsterdam’s most prominent mill owner/
After Sanford left, Weston rested. He came down about two a.m. saying he was “feeling bully.” He had breakfast and then resumed his marathon trek, heading for Schenectady, Troy and ultimately New York City. There he expected to give up walking for a while “and go on the lecture platform” with his topic being "The Vicissitudes of a Pedestrian."
The last reference to Weston being in Amsterdam came in 1922 when the then 82-year old walker came through town September 23 on his way to New York City.
Weston was hit by a New York City taxicab in 1927. Badly injured, he stopped walking. He died in 1929 and was buried in New York City.
Artillery in the 18th century was organized by the weight of its shot, but shot was more than just the size of the cannonball.
Tomorrow, Bob Cudmores conversation with Curator Matthew Keagle
Friday, June 2, 2023-Episode 477- Curator Matthew Keagle discusses Fort Ticonderoga historic site this season. Visitors will experience 1760 at the fort and see how British soldiers and American provincials ensure military dominance on Lake Champlain and deep into the heart of French Canada.
Saturday June 3, 2023-Michael Mauro DeBonis discusses his New York History Blog article on Canastota, N.Y., boxing champion Carmen Basilio
Sunday, June 4, 2023-Aldelmo Camacho at 100 years old
One of the first Latino immigrants to Amsterdam recently celebrated his 100th birthday.
City Mayor Michael Cinquanti said in a Facebook post that Aldelmo Camacho’s family including grandson Rob Camacho held the celebration at the Century Club.
Friends of North Chuctanunda Creek Incorporated will celebrate National Trails Day at their first public meeting this Saturday June 3, 9:30 am at the Clock Tower Building, 37 Prospect Street in Amsterdam.
CHUCTUNUNDA CREEK TRAIL -POWERHOUSE SECTION
Maps will show completed trails and future construction. There will be refreshments.
An elevator to the top floor of the Clock Building will enable attendees to enjoy the view from the historic structure that once was part of Bigelow Sanford Carpet and later toymaker Coleco.
Outdoors on June 3, John Naple will lead an optional mile-long walk along the North Chuctanunda Creek. The walk will go through the former Sanford Mill Complex from Locust Avenue to Church Street, stop at the creek overlook in back of Kelloggs and Miller’s former linseed oil plant, and go down Church Street to opposite City Hall.
The North Chuctanunda Creek provided water power to many of Amsterdam’s 19th century mills.
Sign-up for the Cudmore email "Blast" this Saturday
Mohawk Valley Weather, Thursday, June 1, 2023
59 degrees in The City of Amsterdam at 6:33AM
Sunny and hot, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming east around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 60. West wind around 5 mph.
Friday
Isolated showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Increasing clouds, with a high near 87. West wind 5 to 8 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Mohawk Valley News Headlines, Thursday, June 1, 2023
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