Woodstock Peace & Love

Picture of me from the Woodstock Museum standing by American Peace Sign Flag

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Woodstock Bus

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“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ― Albert Einstein

Purpose of Life...

Some random photos from my trip to the Adirondacks

Natural Stone Bridge & Caves in Pottersville, NY

Mist on the lake after an eerie storm

Parasailers on Lake George.  I did this a few years ago and it was quite the experience.  Closest you'll ever get to flying.

Sparrow hanging out at the lake

Tiger Lillies at Bolton Landing, New York

Skene Manor in Whitehall, NY

In 1867, New York State Supreme Court Judge Joseph H. Potter (1821-1902) purchased, from Melancton Wheeler, the property on which Skene Manor stands. This land had previously been owned by Philip Skene, founder of Whitehall (formerly Skenesborough). Judge Potter built a Victorian Gothic-style mansion, which he called "Mountain Terrace," on the property. The mansion was designed by Philadelphia architect, Isaac H. Hobbs, and constructed by local contractor, A. C. Hopson. Construction took place from 1872 to 1874 at a cost of approximately $25,000. The building was constructed of gray sandstone quarried from Skene Mountain by stone cutters from Italy. (click on name above photo for more information on the Skene Manor Website)

Leavy Family & Local History Fort Edward

I just don't know where to start.  Since being here, I've found myself again.  The humidity is nothing like Florida.  It's been raining since we got here May 21st, and the temperatures have dropped to the 30's and 40's but it doesn't matter.  I would take that over the heat any day.  Having Fibromyalgia as one of my health issues, the heat always makes me flare up and that's why half the time I'm in so much pain.  I know it adds to my migraines as well.  Today it finally warmed up, 64 degrees with no rain.  By Thursday it will be 88.  

I've seen so much history and covered a lot of ground.  Today we finally had to get some rest as I especially could feel the activity catching up with me.  

A true Leavy, my mom

Thursday, March 23rd we visited our family plots for the Leavy's & Godsil's.  A lot of the Leavy's are buried in Fort Edward.  In the early 1900's, the Leavy's owned land on the Hudson Falls/Fort Edward line.  The town was actually named Leavy Hollow after my family which my Great-Great Grandfather Edward Leavy (1858-1933) was the mayor of.  A few of my relatives all lived on this street together but one day the homes all burned to the ground.  We're under the impression there are still some home foundations in the area but I didn't want to trespass on private land.  When the homes burned down, Leavy Hollow was then incorporated with Hudson Falls even though right on the Fort Edward line. I'm going to work on finding out as much information as this as I can as there is nothing on the internet about it.  Maybe on another trip I can look at newspaper archives to see what I can find.  However, we visited the Union Cemetery in Fort Edward where most my Leavy family is buried.  I had not been to this cemetery before so I was really excited to learn more family history. 

Getting to visit Leavy Hollow Ln, originally Leavy Hollow, NY after my family

View looking down the mountain from Leavy Hollow

Leavy family plot at Union Cemetery in Fort Edward.  Resting place of my great-great grandparents as well as great-great aunts & uncles 8 of which lived, 3 were deceased as orphans.  My 3rd cousin Ed Leavy who passed recently is not buried here but was my last connection with this family history.  

Little did I know I would learn a bit of American history as well while visiting Union Cemetery. When first entering the cemetery we came upon the final resting place of Jane McCrea, Sara McNeil, & Duncan Campbell.

Jane McCrea, a simple woman who was trying to reach Ticonderoga from Saratoga Springs to get to her fiance during the American Revolutionary War was kidnapped in Fort Edward by Native Americans.   She was staying at a friend's home Sara McNeil, when the morning of July 27, 1777, Native Americans, an advance party from Burgoyne's army led by Wyandot known as Le Loup or Wyandot Panther, descended on the village of Fort Edward.  It is said they first murdered some settlers and then killed Lieutenant Tobias Van Vechten when walking into an ambush. From here, the history varies.  There are reports that they came upon the home of Sarah McNeil where both Sara & Jane were separated. Sara was of English decent and brought to a British camp. Some historians say that they dragged Jane McCrea from the home and scalped her claiming she was a loyalist as her father was Colonel John McCrea of the Albany County militia. There are also other reports that Jane & Sarah where ambushed while riding horses in the forest.  Jane was only 17 years old at the time of her death.  There are reports that either her fiance or Sarah McNeil saw native america's carrying her scalp around at Fort Ticonderoga after it was taken over and this was confirmation of her death.  Her body has been moved 3 times.  The 2nd time it was placed at Union Cemetery.  In 2003, they exhumed her body only to discover that she had been buried with Sarah McNeil who had died of natural causes.  They studied both bodies, hoping to learn some history from the gruesome death. Jane's skull was missing due to looting in the 19th century.  After discovering both bodies buried together, they finally gave each a finally resting place of their own beside each other.

Final resting place of Jane McCrea, after 3 exhumations. 

Sarah McNeil

                                                        

Site of the home Jane McCrea was said to be scalped & murdered

Major Duncan Campbell from Scotland is also buried next to Jane & Sara.  Folk lore states that he was contact by a ghost while in Scotland and warned of his death in the American Revolutionary war.  Years later after receiving such a warning, Duncan Campbell was at Fort Ticonderoga, then referred to as the Carillon by the french where he succumbed to his wounds as predicted by the ghost in which he envisioned.

Major Duncan Campbell of Scotland

After visiting Union Cemetery, we traveled onto The Anvil Inn in Fort Edward.  Built in the 1840's, it was originally used as a Blacksmith shop.  Originally owned by Burke, in 1890 Sam D. Turner took over the ownership and continued  using the building as a blacksmith.  The room which we ate in was actually used to store wagons, carriages, and sleighs at that time.  Turner's son in law later made the location the first filling station in Fort Edward and could store up to 55 gallon drums and a hand crank pump. In 1973, a local family purchased the building and converted it into The Anvil Inn.  The restaurant opened in 1975, dining room in 1976.  It was purchased again in 1986 and has been opened by the same proprietor since.  The Anvil Inn is said to be haunted.  There is said to be a gentleman who haunts the building. I spoke with the waitress who said when all is quiet at the restaurant the man will show himself as a shadow figure in the corner of your vision.  She's felt her hair be pulled at times as well as items being moved when there is no one else to move them.  The ghost is said to be Sam D. Turner whose name still appears on the outside of the building.  My 3rd cousin Ed whom I mentioned earlier on visited it when it was Sam D. Turner's Blacksmith shop. 

Main entrance, which originally contained 4 forges, 3 along the south wall, and one where my mother is entering the dining room

Dining room with Mom

Remaining wheel from blacksmith days

Outside of The Anvil Inn, notice S.D. Turner blacksmith name

I have much more history to add..... My Great Grandfather & Great Grandmother Leavy are buried in St. Mary's Cemetery with my mother's paternal side of the family as well in the same cemetery.  I also have a great-great uncle who was a priest whom is placed there as well. I'll go into further detail with this in another blog.  It's getting late....

LG Day 2 Morning Sunrise

Since I was awake, I stayed up and waited for the sunrise at 5:23. Absolutely breathtaking over the mountains. This southern gal loves the mountains and lack of concrete jungle. 

My footsteps in the sand.

After the rain .

Day 1 Lake George FIN

Was a beautiful day today.  Scattered storms but we were fortunate to only have some sprinkles on our head.  We visited Bloody Pond off Lake George, first time for both of us.  Campfire stories say that the there were so many soldiers killed at the pond during the French-Indian War that the water was stained red.  Originally named Rocky Brook, it was then renamed Bloody Pond.  The pond is so still, you can see that in the third picture. 

After Bloody Pond, we stopped at the memorial for Ephraim Williams, Jr. He was a colonel who fought in the French-Indian war and was shot in the head during the beginning of battle.  His family was well known in Massachusetts   Fellow soldiers protected his body then buried it near Bloody Morning Scout to prevent his body from being desecrated.  They carved his initials along with the year of his death in the stone buried by his body.  In the will of Mr. Williams, he left a large estate which funded a free school for soldiers on his land.  It was also advised that with these terms, the town be named after him, now known as Williamstown, MA. Later on, the school was turned into Williams College. During the 20th century, his body was moved to Williams College where a monument was erected in his honor.  A replica of the monument has been placed on the stone which he was buried near at Blood Morning Scout.  It was so beautiful at this site.  Very green.

Next, we ate at Mr. B's Subs which has been in business for 45 years.  Mom isn't sure, but she thinks the building was a pancake house when she was a kid before it became that but not sure.  Kiddo memories.  Afterwards we checked out the local Dollar Tree (exciting stuff I know) but hey, I got a bottle of laundry detergent to break open and explode all over me and the paper goods we picked up for the hotel room.  Good times.  The following is a picture I took this evening of the fog on the lake and storm clouds surrounding the mountains.  It's hard to believe the lake is 30 miles long, with these clouds it is hard to grasp the distance.

Morning Day 1 Lake George

Beautiful morning, overcast, clouds on the lake and covering the mountains.  Took a nice stroll, only abut 5 of us and a few city workers around.  Met a pleasant woman from NJ whom was here for the first time with a bus tour.  I've included some photos of where we always stay.  The 3rd picture is from street level looking down towards the pool, lake, our building.  It gives perspective at how below street level we are. Feel free to check out my video blog from this morning from some of the village showing how quiet it is. Of course, I have to point out a certain shop in town always visited. http://youtu.be/5tJnUng2EVA Let Day 1 begin.

Home Sweet Lake

Ever felt so home somewhere other than your own hometown? Everytime I'm here, that's how I feel. I literally dropped my purse & burst into tears earlier I was so happy when we go to the resort. Even my 1st visit with my grandparents in 7th grade I felt like I'd been here before & it felt right. Now, to wear some Rays gear around & stir up some stankees. I really appreciate my life & those important in it. I'm not living in the past, just realize how much has changed since last visit here.

Almost to train station

In the words of a brilliant man, "My Coccyx Hurts".. -Geoff Peterson.

Road Tunes

I like "Little Talks" on "My Head Is an Animal" by Of Monsters and Men.

Trip Tracker

See where I am
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Doctor Who Kitty

Okay so everything is packed except this darn laptop.  It's a new one, windows 8.  Luckily I've done some support on these with friends that I'm able to maneuver pretty well now.  Just have to get used to laptop.  However, I was making sure I had all episodes of the 10th Doctor Who series on the laptop when an episode began playing on it's own.  I must have hit the mouse or something.  But my cat Figment was absolutely mesmerized by the theme song for Doctor Who.  He always seems to be calm when I watch it but the way he responded to the video through the laptop with the music and graphics he was hypnotized or something.  I'm obsessed, I want my own TARDIS.

All the animals are acting pretty upset with the luggage and all the movement going on.  I will miss the babies so much.

Hopefully next entry will come from the train tomorrow. toodles.

First blogger post.  Currently running out of steam while finishing packing for my trip to Lake George, NY.  First time in 5 years since health matters developed.  I look forward to sharing stories and images from my heaven on earth.