Troy

Drove out to Troy this afternoon after work to visit a couple of local natural landmarks. The first is Mount Ida Cemetery, located in South Troy near Pawling Avenue. At the back of the cemetery, there are informal footpaths leading down to Belden Pond and the Poesten Kill.

The Poesten Kill dam.

Pawling Avenue stone arch bridge.

The Poesten Kill, where nature meets an industrial setting.

Reflections on Belden Pond, just above the dam.

Dammed water.

It is hard to believe that this peaceful, serene pond is located right in the middle of Troy, but it is easy to have a sense of remoteness here.

The cemetery was established in 1832 and the pond was formed in 1850 when the Poesten Kill was dammed to provide power for a bleachery.  Here is an old tomb-like doorway on a hillside.

Belden Pond is teeming with wildlife.  A couple of geese soaking in the spring warmth.

Headed over to the historically significant Oakwood Cemetery on the north side of Troy after leaving Mt Ida.  This cemetery, sitting on a hill over Lansinburgh, is truly a treasure.  Established in 1849, it is one of the oldest and largest rural cemeteries in the country.

The Gardner Earl Chapel and Crematorium, a remarkable Romanesque structure, is the cemetery's most significant structure and was designed in 1888

A thirty foot waterfall that is formed at the top of a gully and formed on Goulds Creek, where it is impounded next to the Crematorium.

A large plot on the cemetery grounds with a field of American flags.

An eerie sky loomed over the cemetery as I made my way.

Robert Ross Memorial.

From the overlook area is a clear view out over Lansinburgh.

A view directly down the escarpment at 107th street going towards the Hudson River.

A view to the north towards the Albany skyline.

Delaware Railroad tracks over the Mohawk.

Knickerbocker Park and its playing fields.

Long Lake, an artificially formed body of water formed from the impoundment of Goulds Creek, still has a thin layer of ice.

Goulds Creek falls as it descends from Long Lake into a steep ravine.

Goulds Creek cascading down through the ravine towards an area known as Devil's Kitchen.

A closer look at the streets of Lansinburgh.

Ominous skies.

Clearing skies to the south beyond Albany's skyline.

This cemetery contains nearly 60,000 gravesites with many of the most illustrious residents from this area, but the most well known is Sam Wilson.  He is more commonly known as Uncle Sam.

Uncle Sam's final resting place.

An eerie look up a hill beyond the headstones.

Perhaps a cemetery seems an odd place for a walk, but this is a truly special place with much to offer.