Graw Rd Stream Revisited

In my last blog I have described How I have been finding stream pebbles in the Graw Road area of Schodack N.Y. The zip area somewhat in the 12123 region. Further research and discussion with people in the area has informed me of a stream that was activeuntill appx the mid 1960's. It ran through the farms and hills of that area. Graw Rd as a consequence was often in a washed out condition. In he 1920's the then Supt. of Highways Lewis Hudson built a culvert across Graw Rd to channel the stream into the near by wet land. This was done at appx 28 Graw Rd. The stream ran as an all year stream with the Spring the heavest time of water supply. It was a reliable enough source of water that a wooden Barrel was sunk into the ground next to the road and was used to water teams of horses. Farmers used horse or ox power well into the 1940's and even early 1950's. The Town would on a regular basis rent horse teams from local farmers to use in the building of bridges or do road grading on the then numerous dirt roads. This watering area was used by local farmers and road crews atleast into the 1940's. The stream finally dried up in appx 1960's. There was a deep 5 yr drought in the early 60's. Many water sources dried up or were used more extensively. The stream dried up as well as the wet land which has been taken oven by woodland. It never returned. The barrel eventually collapsed or was removed. I believe, however, that on my most recent visit I located the original placement across from 28 Graw Rd.

Ancient Stream Beds in Schodack NY Area

On some of my past digs in the southern Rensselaer County area I have come across a couple of places with what appears to be of the smooth stream bed variety stones. Such is the case recently on Graw Road area. Even though this area has been farmed and developed over the last two and one half centuries and many of the rocks removed for stone walls or disposal. I have unearthed several oval smooth smaller rocks that appear to be the kind one finds along steam beds or rivers. Even from heights there is not a decernable indentation of stream bed activity that I can detect. There was at the end of the last glacier period appx 13,000 to 14,000 yrs ago many streams created and faltered. The slope of the Hudson River Valley would tend to pull streams in an east to west flow from the eastern side of the valley. Perhaps a stream or 2 may have been formed from springs reaching the surface that have ceased to flow. Don't know. I hope in the future to explore this area with time and permission to a fuller extent.

Spring Valley Dairy:South Schodack N.Y.

In a recent blog I wrote about local soda companies in the Schodack/Castleton N.Y. area. From my digs last summer I also uncover a couple of broken milk bottles. The writing in both quart bottles was seriously worn. But with magnification and careful cleaning I could ascertain the words South Schodack and the name Spring and the letters Va. Quite recently I came across a complete bottle. It was from the Spring Valley Dairy of South Schodack New York. There were also telephone numbers - PE2-7420 and PE2-7597. On the other side of the bottle reads Drink Chocolate Milk with a picture of a young lady in period 40's or 50's clothing on a picnic blanket reading a book and having lunch. So some additional research has followed. The Spring Valley Dairy was owned and operated by the Swartz Family. A family still in the Schodack area. There was a time when milk was delivered to ones home by milk men early in the morning. Up untill circa 1965 this was how the majority residence in many towns and cities got their milk. Most homes had a milk box on their porch or steps. Your bill was left weekly and money was left in the box for the milk man. There were atleast 4 companies working in Schodack area. Golden Farms and Peters Dairy were two examples. The telephone numbers are representive of the Pershing exchange. Telephones were much more localized back then and the first 2 letters put you into your local district. The exchange system ended by the late 50's early 60's so I judge the bottles to probably be of 1950's vintage. Perhaps 1940's but from the picture of the young lady I would judge 50's era bottle.