North Country Trail Association Central New York Chapter

Thanks to Matt Urtz, Madison County Historian, guide
and
Nancy McCain and Judy Gianforte, hike organizers

CNYNCTA offers a heartfelt "Thanks!" to the folks listed above for an informative and enjoyable guided tour of some of the remains of old mill sites along Chittenango Creek in Cazenovia. The Cazenovia Preservation Foundation (CPF) maintains the trails along the hike route. Maps of CPF trails are available at the Cazenovia Chamber of Commerce.

The canal along Carpenters' Pond, South of the village. The date on the shed is 1862. This site is a former mill pond. The Creek is thought to have been as much as 13 feet deeper than the current level in the mid-1800's. This accounts for the devastation of a flood in 1865, which wiped out numerous industries along the Creek. Currently a recreational gem, the path along the Creek was once an industrial area, producing wood, glass and iron objects. Numerous advances in the production of these goods were made by Cazenovia inventors.

Items produced at local mills were shipped, in many cases, via rail. This restored rail car sits next to an original Cazenovia Railway station. Rail relics can still be seen along the trail headed North from the old rail station.

 Creek water was drawn up by pipes, such as the one to the left, to provide steam for the engines. This stand pipe, minus its original acommpanying tank, sits next to the trail.

This picturesque ruin of a woodworking shop shows that a sense of style was not missing from the industrial landscape. This mill is on private property and should be viewed from the trail only.