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Presented March 8, 2021.
Take a railroad trip through Schoharie County In Upstate NY
About this Event
Did you ever think what it might have been like to live in the 1800s when the railroad came to town? Perhaps you wondered about all the exciting things that happened to our communities right here in Schoharie County back in those days?
Did you ever think what it might have been like to live in the 1800s when the railroad came to town? Perhaps you wondered about all the exciting things that happened to our communities right here in Schoharie County back in those days?
The Sharon Springs Historical Society, Sharon Springs, NY invites you to join us as Bob Holt, a local historian who grew up in Central Bridge and currently resides in Cobleskill as he takes you on a journey by rail from Esperance to Schoharie Junction where the old line from Middleburgh, Schoharie joined the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad (A&SRR). Travel west from the Junction on the A&SRR (later known as Delaware & Hudson Railroad) through the communities of Central Bridge, Howes Cave, Barnerville, and Cobleskill. You will change trains for the Cherry Valley Line of the D&H to visit Hyndsville, Seward, and Sharon Springs. Unfortunately, there’s no time to go on to Cherry Valley so we will head back to Cobleskill and change trains once again to complete our ride to Richmondville.
You will find out what the railroad meant for industries such as farming, manufacture, tourism, and people moving; including those who traveled to visit family and friends, and shop in Schenectady, Albany, and beyond. Hear which community had the most derailments and some having the potential of widespread destruction.
You will meet interesting folks along the way who helped change the dynamics of their community like Charles Courter an advocate of the arrival of the iron horse and founder of the First National Bank of Cobleskill; George Westinghouse born in Central Bridge and inventor of the train air brake; Most importantly you will meet the Hon. Joseph H. Ramsey, the builder of the A&SRR, the founder of the Howes Cave Association who bought up the lands of Lester Howe, including his world-known cave, by trickery and deceit and then began cement manufacturing located near the cave entrance.