Posted by: David Giacalone | September 10, 2009

Stockade views from Scotia’s Washington Avenue

Washington Avenue DeadEnd, Schenectady NY - winter09 . .  Washington Ave.? . . Washington Ave. Deadend - Scotia NY- Labor Day, 07Sep09

Schenectady (L) . . Washington Ave. deadend and balustrade . . Scotia (R)

A large percentage of my photographs are taken while standing or squatting at the end of Washington Avenue, Schenectady NY, on or near the abutment that once supported the Burr Bridge.  After a troubled start (described irreverently by me in 2005 at f/k/a), the 997-foot bridge was completed in 1808 and spanned the Mohawk River between Schenectady and Scotia, NY.  It was a covered wooden bridge until 1871, and then an iron bridge, which was condemned in 1926 and removed in 1936. See “Bridging the Mohawk” by John Gara and John Garver of the Union College Geology Department.  [As always, you can click on a photo to see a larger version, or scroll over it for a description.]

former Burr Bridge Abutment - Washington Ave, Stockade, Schenectady NY - 07Sep09 –  Burr Bridge end piers – Burr Bridge end-pier abutment - Scotia, NY - Nov08

Schenectady, NY . . Washington Ave. bridge abutments . . Scotia, NY

The 1871 iron version of the Burr Bridge was also known as the Glenville Bridge or the Washington Avenue Bridge, connecting Schenectady’s Washington Ave. with its namesake in Scotia.  Although the bridge’s piers were finally removed from the Mohawk River in 1946, its end piers (abutments) still exist where the respective Washington Avenues meet the River.

Burr Bridge Demolition - Plaque at Washington Ave. deadend, Scotia . . . . Burr Bridge demolition plaque

. . . . . before the bridge, there were ferries Scotia Ferries Plaque - Washington Ave. deadend, Scotia NY

street signs, Washington Ave. at Schonowee Ave, Scotia NY 07Sep09 Last Monday, on a lazy Labor Day afternoon, I decided to finally spend some time at the Scotia end of the erstwhile Burr Bridge, where Washington Ave. intersects with Schonowee Avenue and ends at the Mohawk River.  It gave me the opportunity to capture some Stockade Views as seen from the “other” Washington Avenue deadend.

Here are my first photos of the northside of the Isle of the Cayugas and the Western Gateway Bridge, taken from the deadend of Washington Avenue, Scotia, NY:

Isle of the Cayugas seen from the Scotia Washington Ave. deadend - 07Sep09

Western Gateway Bridge seen from the end of Washington Ave., Scotia NY - 07Sep09

. . . Here are views from the Scotia Burr Bridge abutment, looking eastward and then westward across the Mohawk River:

…………………. the view from the Washington Ave. deadend, Scotia NY looking eastward 07Sep09

Both Banks and a Boat from the Scotia Washington Ave. deadend - Labor Day 09 . . .  southwest view from the Scotia Burr Bridge abutment - 07Sep09

western view from the Washington Ave deadend, Scotia NY 07Sep09 ………………..

And, some of my favorite features of Riverside Park look pretty good from Scotia’s Washington Avenue deadend (through my PowerShot’s 12x optical lens):

the Stockade Pumphouse seen from Scotia's Washington Avenue abutment - 07Sep09

boat approaching the Stockade Burr Bridge abutment - Labor Day 2009

……………… Governor's Lane entrance to Riverside Park, Schenectady 07Sep09

. . .

Children's Playground & Tennis Courts - Riverside Park, Schenectady 07Sep09

Finally, a few more views of the Washington Ave. deadend in Scotia, with Schenectady’s Riverside Park in the background, across the River:

Washington Ave, Scotia NY, ends at Mohawk River - Labor Day 2009 .. the corner of Washington Ave. and Schonowee Ave, Scotia NY 07Sep09 . . Washington Ave. deadend, Scotia NY - Labor Day 2009

3 Comments

Posted in Stockade Views, visits elsewhere

Posted by: David Giacalone | September 9, 2009

can’t keep this one to myself

. . . . . . . . sunset along the Mohawk River as seen from the backyard of 16 Washington Ave, Schenectady. 08Sep09

Frankly, even I sometimes get bored snapping Stockade sunset photos and posting them at this weblog.  But the sunset we had last night was just too lovely and interesting to keep to myself.  [I even used it in a new masthead above.] The photos in this post were taken September 8, 2009, at the end Washington Avenue or Cucumber Alley in the Stockade. (As always, click on a photo for a larger version)

Sunset from the Washing Avenue deadend, Schenectady Stockade 08Sep09

. . . Sunset seen from the end of Cucumber Alley, Schenectady Stockade - 08Sept09

4 Comments

Posted in Mohawk sunrise or sunsets

Posted by: David Giacalone | September 8, 2009

Labor Day sunset

Labor Day sunset at Riverside Park with Sylvie and Lollipop 07Sep09 What better way is there to (unofficially) end summer than loitering in Riverside Park at sunset with my usual accomplices, Lollipop and Sylvie (seen lurking, ghost-like in the shadows at the head of this paragraph)?  The Park was surprisingly empty, so I’m posting a couple sunset photos for all who missed it.

. . . . . . . . . . . .  Labor Day 09 - sunset view over the Mohawk from Riverside Park

Labor Day 09 - sunset from the western end of Riverside Park, Schenectady

Leave a Comment

Posted in Mohawk sunrise or sunsets

Posted by: David Giacalone | September 3, 2009

a year ago in the Stockade – early September 2008

1st Reform Church chanticleer, Schenectady Stockade, Labor Day, September 1, 2008 chanticleer One year ago this week, the weather was almost as perfect as the sunny, refreshing days and cool, dry nights we’re having as September 2009 unfolds and heads toward the Labor Day weekend.   Last year, I wasn’t yet used to taking my camera with me on my Stockade strolls, but the weather inspired me to both bring my PowerShot and actually snap a photo or two around the neighborhood.   Here are a few of the scenes and items that caught my eye the first week of September 2008. [click on a photo for a larger image; scroll over it for a description]

Labor Day, September 1, 2008, 1st Reform Church steeple, Schenectady Stockade ..  214 Union St., Schenectady, NY - September 1, 2008, Labor Day

– above: the 1st Reform steeple and 214 Union St. (my former home) with newly-painted trim; below:  the cemetery at 1st Presbyterian Church and Lawrence Circle;  Labor Day, Sept. 1, 2008 –

Labor Day 2008 at the 1st Presbyterian Church Cemetery

. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Lawrence Circle, Schenectady Stockade, Labor Day, Sept. 1, 2008

flying goose Weather Vane, above 2 Cucumber Alley, Stockade, Labor Day 2008 . . . 2 Cucumber Alley weathervane, September 1, 2008

And, yes, there were memorable sunsets from Riverside Park that week; this trio of photos were taken September 2, 2008:

sunset seen from Riverside Park, Schenectady, 02Sep08

eastern view of sunset behind the Riverside Park swings - 02Sept08 .. Sunset across the Mohawk at Riverside Park, Schenectady - 02Sept08

. .  The lovely first week of September 2008 was capped off by the annual Outdoor Art Show.  As reported last year at f/k/a, the rainy remnants of tropical storm Hanna caused the 2008 Villagers Outdoor Art Show to be postponed a day.  The rain date, Sunday September 7, 2008, brought perfect late-summer weather and a large, happy crowd to the Stockade.

Lawrence Circle at the end of the Stockade Villagers Outdoor Art Show 2008

– Lawrence Circle at the conclusion of the 2008 Villagers Outdoor Art Show –

..  last year’s top two prize winners ..

I’m not sure if I’ll be snapping many photos over Labor Day Weekend this year, or at the 2009 art show.  I am going to appreciate every day of this perfect weather.  And, hope it will stick around or return for the 58th Annual Stockade Villager’s Outdoor Art Show, Saturday, September 12, 2009, 10 AM to 4 PM (rain date, Sunday Sept. 13, noon to 4 PM) — taking place, as always, at Lawrence’s Circle [Polachek Square] and the contiguous blocks of Front St., Green St. and N. Ferry St.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Stockade Views

Posted by: David Giacalone | August 29, 2009

Aerobathon to benefit FCSS on September 20 [update: Event POSTPONED]

. .   . . Family & Child Service of Schenectady Aerobathon Flier - Sept. 20, 2009 fundraising event . . Flier

Aerobathon Fundraiser for Family & Child Service of Schenectady

Viniar Athletic Center, Union College, September 20, 2009 Postponed to an as-yet-undertermined date. We’re sorry for any inconvenience.

sunset behind 1 Cucumber Alley, Schenectady Stockade, 03June09 .  porch flower planter 16 Washington Av 09June09 . . Miner's Farm Swimming Pond, Duanesburg, NY 27Aug09

Whether you’re spending the last days of summer enjoying a Mohawk sunset with friends, reading a crime thriller on a Stockade porch, or out of town at your favorite lake or swimming hole, I hope you’ll put the FCSS Aerobathon on your post-Labor Day To-Do List.  The fundraiser [has been postponed and] will be held on September 20, 2009, from 1 to 3 PM on an as-yet-undetermined future date, on the Union College campus, Viniar Athletic Center, to help support the many programs offered by Family & Child Service of Schenectady — serving families with disabled children, frail at-home elderly, at-risk youth and many others who need a hand of support.

. . .  The 2-hour family-fun event will feature aerobics with instructor Lynn Neal and  “Zumba” (cool dance moves with hot Latin rhythms) with Deborah Spurgas.   The entry donation is $10 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under.   Go to the  FCSS Aerobathon Event page, or click on the flier above for more information.  You can use this “Aerobathon Registration form” or phone Family & Child Service at 393-1369 to register.

Contact FCSS at their Stockade headquarters, 246 Union St. (across from the Van Dyck) or by phone at (518) 393-1369.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Stockade Views

Posted by: David Giacalone | August 25, 2009

lazy, sultry sunset photo shoot

sunset from my porch - 21Aug09 .. Blame it on the heat and humidity, but I was wilted and lazy last Friday night (August 21, 2009), when I snatched my camera and headed out around sunset time.  So lazy, in fact, that I never got past our front porch (which faces southeast) and only snapped four photos — all from the same spot, peeking around the corner, looking northwest-ward. Here are the two shots I liked the most.  As always, click on the photo for a larger image.

porch sunset in its orange phase - 21Aug09 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . porch sunset as it enters its pink phase - 21Aug09

As you can see, it was rather difficult to color-accessorize for the Friday night sunset.

By the way, in between the orange and pink phases, I was swatting mosquitoes, while reading Tim Kevan’s first novel, BabyBarista and the Art of War (Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 3 Aug 2009), based on his Times Online weblog, BabyBarista (which I discuss here at my f/k/a blawg, and reviewed on September 7, 2009, in the post “BabyBarista serves up a cool, dark brew-haha“ at the Overlawyered.com weblog).  It’s the humorous fictional account of an apprentice London barrister willing to do almost anything to beat out the competition for a slot in chambers.  If you think lawyers are shifty and greedy, and you want to laugh over their foibles, BabyB’s tale is a great way to end or extend the summer season.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Mohawk sunrise or sunsets

Posted by: David Giacalone | August 20, 2009

pastel August sunsets

a peek at sunset from my front porch - 08Aug09 Last week, we enjoyed a number of evenings featuring subtle pastel skies at sunset.   If you prefer pictures to words, you’re in luck: Our humid weather has left me too wilted to draft stirring commentary.   Here are shots taken on August 8, 2009 and August 11, 2009 along the Mohawk near the Schenectady Stockade.

pastel saturday sunset from the Washington Ave. dead end - 08Aug09

. . As always, click on a photo for a larger version. .

. . . . saturday sunset from Riverside Park toward Scotia - 08Aug09

saturday pastel sunset from Riverside Park, Schenectady - 08Aug09 .. saturday sunset from the Stockade Riverside esplanade (with flash) - 08Aug09

. . . and, from August 11, 2009: pastel sunset over Scotia from Riverside Park - 11Aug09

pastel sunset from Washington Ave., Schenectady - 11Aug09

pastel sunset over Scotia, NY, from the Mohawk River - 11Aug09 . . .  pastel sunset, with flash, from 16 Washington Ave. - 11Aug09

pastel impressionist sunset over Scotia from Riverside Park - 11Aug09

. . . . . . . porch view of sunset using a flash - 08Aug09

Bonus:  The pastel sunset from March 11, 2009, the night after the historic ice jam along the Mohawk River:

pastel sunset at Riverside Park - 11Mar09 . . pastel sunset after the ice jam - 11Mar09

Leave a Comment

Posted in Mohawk sunrise or sunsets

Posted by: David Giacalone | August 11, 2009

more fog along the Mohawk

fog behind 16 Washington Ave., Schenectady Stockade - 7 AM, 10Aug2009

– foggy morning behind 16 Washington Ave., August 10, 2009 –

Confession:  I am not a morning person, nor AM photographer.  It’s hard to get my eyes wide open and my body outdoors early in the day.  That’s why you will rarely, if ever, see sunrise shots here at suns along the Mohawk, despite an open eastward view as nice as the western one, down at the river in the Schenectady Stockade.  It is also why I haven’t taken photographic advantage of a summer that has — I’m told by radio announcers, but can’t confirm with my own eyes — produced many foggy mornings.

Yesterday, however, I was semi-awake extra early and again heard talk on the radio of fog in the valleys.  Poking my head outside at about 6:30 AM, I indeed noticed an intriguing layer of fog over the Mohawk River.  After a quick cup of coffee, I stumbled out my front door by 6:50, only to find the fog rapidly thinning.  I was able to catch a bit of it before it disappeared — and before mosquitoes looking for breakfast drove me back indoors.

.. foggy morning Stockade scene at the Washington Ave. dead end - 10Aug09

.. fog lifting over the Isle of the Cayugas, Mohawk River, 7 AM, 10Aug09 ..

looking eastward over the foggy Mohawk River from Washington Ave. - 10Aug09

railroad trestle over the Mohawk River, near the Schenectady Stockade, on a foggy morning - 10Aug09trestle ……… entering Riverside Park from Washington Ave. on a foggy morning along the Mohawk - 10Aug09

That’s all the fog this groggy fogey could manage to corral yesterday morning.  (Click here to see some more Riverside fog photos, taken in the autumn of 2008.)

1 Comment

Posted in river seasons, Stockade Views

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

Categories