Taken Near
Sammonsville
Just Off the FJ&G R.R. Tracks.
The vistas from a couple of hills,
just South of where the tracks cross the Old Trail Road, were breathtaking.
These old pictures don't do them justice, but ya get the idea.
1968
Me with my dogs, two rabbits and pheasants
View from the other hill
After "hunting the tracks" from Fonda we would come to where the FJ&G crossed the Old Trail Road to Sammonsville.
The Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville
Railroad by Randy L. Decker
Old Sammonsville FJ&G
Station
Looking West on the Old
Trail Road Towards Sammonsville
Over the years the FJ&G has helped "sew" the culture and lifestyle of Johnstown, so I thought this would be a fitting final page. After all who hasn't, at one time or another, walked or played on this roadway....Not to mention generations who have hopped the FJ&G to "hunt the tracks."
(Photo: Mark Wilber Collection
Photographer: Mike Yerina)
The Last Run of the FJ&G
November 1984
Here is 103 at The
Sammonsville Crossing (Old Trail Road). The white sheet on the side of 103 is a banner announcing
the last run of the FJ&G made by engineer Mike Yerina.. No more hopping on
for the last few miles into town - then jumping off into a snow bank where the track
passes the end W. Clinton.
Anyway, we would hunt on down to the village and
stop at the old Wemple & Edick's Store. Remember it? Brought ya back another 100
years. I can still hear the creaky sounds of the old oak floor.
They made the greatest home-made liverwurst, cookies, and ice-cream. What a combination! We ate all three while sitting on the front porch of the old store......Listening to the Cayudutta, as it fought over the rocks on its way to the mighty Mohawk. Back then you couldn't tell which smelled "wurst"....The liverwurst, or the Cayudutta!
After downing our liverwurst, ice-cream and cookies, we headed back over the hill to the tracks for the rest of the hunt home. What a life.
That's
Joe Simone and I just North of where the tracks cut the
Old Trail Road.
Some of the best rabbit, squirrel, pheasant, and
partridge hunting around was along this track.
We would go out in the morning for squirrels and rabbits, then, as the day wore on, we would hunt the fields for nesting pheasants. The beautiful patches of woods, with maples, birches, chestnuts, some hemlocks, beech and oaks, skirted by bright red Sumacs, were everywhere.
Pausing by a little creek, that joyfully somersaulted through a woodlot down to the Cayudutta, we would pause to rest and have our thermos of coffee.
The mosaic of leaves and light in these wood lots were beyond the capture of an artists' brush. We would just sit silently gulping our coffee - Taking bigger gulps of the awe we felt for the awesome splendore surrounding us.
The fall foliage was so incredibly beautiful you were never disappointed if you didn't get any game. Though we always did, the hike was still better than the hunt.
Many old paisan's walked these tracks, so this tune is for them. I like it to.
Come back soon as many more pictures will be added. Of course you'll have to send them to me first! <grin>
Since we now live in California this site started with the idea of putting together a family album of our "Memories of Johnstown." Then all we have to do is "Click 'N Go Home." What we're finding is that many people from this area would also like to "Click" 'N Go Home." So, we are continually working to expand this site, but I need your help.
Why not dig out some of those old photographs and share your...
"Memories
of Johnstown."
Scan and email pictures
to: tony@ermie.com or
snail Mail: Tony Ermie, 2231 Memory Lane, Visalia, CA 93277
All pictures will be returned in five days.