Annual Meeting
Dozens of trail enthusiasts from Cuba to Rochester joined together on Sunday, November 11th for an annual hike, potluck dinner, and program as part of the annual meeting of the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG).
The Genesee Valley Greenway follows the path of the former Genesee Valley Canal (1840-1878) and Pennsylvania Railroad, Rochester Branch (1882-1963), passing through five counties (Monroe, Livingston, Wyoming, Allegany, and Cattaraugus), seventeen townships, and several villages. Presently, about 52 of its 90 miles are officially open year-round for hiking, biking, birding, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling.
Ron Abraham of Rockville, NY, a trail adopter andFOGVG member since 1999, led a two and one-half hour hike along generally gentle terrain that included sections of the Genesee Valley Greenway Trail. The weather couldnt have been better sunny, with temperatures in the low fifties.
Participants spent time at Lock 90 of the Genesee Valley Canal (1840-1878), which has much of its stonework still intact. The group hiked around a section of Rockville Lake, which was built to supply water to the Genesee Valley Canal, and observed the final stages of a project there to install a new culvert and bridge that will open an additional section of trail. The hikers also stopped in the hamlet of Rockville (called Caseville during the canal era), and visited the sites of two bridge projects near Route 305 that, when completed in 2008, will enable the opening of an additional four miles of trail.
The hikers returned to the Belfast United Methodist Church where they were joined by other FOGVG members to enjoy a most delicious potluck dinner. Old friends had time to visit, and new friendships were established. Dinner was followed by a brief FOGVG meeting chaired by President Ned Holmes.
At 6:00 p.m. the group enjoyed a lively, informative slide presentation by Allegany County Historian Craig Braack. He could have titled his talk The Why & How of Early Canals and Railroads. Using drawings, charts, and historic photos, Mr. Braack instructed his audience on why and how early canals and railroads were built, and noted some interesting information on their operation. His goal was to provide Greenway trail users with an understanding of the historic importance of the transportation corridor they are using, and leave them with discussion topics or answers to questions for use when meeting a fellow Greenway user.