News Archive

Author: 
DAlden

The first step in fulfilling the Friends’ New Year’s Resolution to address the problem of invasive plants on the OCA was taken on January 6th. On that Wednesday, Steven Oakes, Historic Site Manager for the OCA, drove his trusty jeep along the trail from the beginning of the Westchester section to the Croton Dam in Cortlandt, taking as passengers a group of Friends volunteers for a reconnaissance mission.

Author: 
Charlotte Fahn

Roads & Bridges, a national magazine bringing industry news to engineers and contractors, has selected the High Bridge as one of its 2015 Top 10 bridges http://www.roadsbridges.com/awards/top-10-bridges. These awards “recognize the top projects in North America.” The editorial staff makes its selections from nominations submitted to Roads & Bridges “based on project challenges, impact to region and scope of work.”

Author: 
STGorman

There's been some curious activity under the OCA lately....

Author: 
STGorman

Not since my wife and I moved to Yonkers in 2008 have we seen a year like this on the OCA. It has been beeeeyutiful!! In summary:

Author: 
TTarnowsky

The 1905 vintage 1000 pound cast iron gate valve actuator from the upper gatehouse of the New Croton Dam has been donated by the NYC DEP to NYS Parks for use as an exhibit at the Keepers House. The hand cranked mechanism that used to control the effluent gates at the dam was picked up from the current Croton gatehouse in Yorktown on Wednesday Dec. 9, to be processed for safe public display by the Peebles Island restoration office of NYS Parks. Once installed, visitors to the Keepers House will be able to get a closeup look.

Author: 
CFahn

A visit to the High Bridge combines well with a visit to two adjacent Bronx sites of architectural, historic, and scenic interest, about a 25-30 minute walk from the Bronx end of the bridge.

Author: 
STGorman

by Shaun T. Gorman Apparently, no one got the message that Sunday was a day of rest.... A long Sunday walk on the autumnal OCA trail in Yonkers yielded a pair of surprises! What's this? A crew repairing the masonry on the famous "lion's gate"?

Author: 
FOCAAdmin

Work is moving along! Exterior paint completed. Landscape terraced for events. Interior doors painted and ready to install. Bike racks installed.

Author: 
STGorman

OCA update-Yonkers division: Road crossing improvements-

Author: 
FOCAAdmin

Happy Birthday Old Croton Aqueduct!! The big celebration took place on Oct 14, 1842, with Croton HighBalls (Croton water with a splash of lemon) served with sandwiches to an enthusiastic audience. A five mile long parade ended at a 50 ft fountain with a chorus of women singers. Imagine something as simple as water causing so much excitement, But it was Croton Water!!

Author: 
FOCAAdmin

After a concerted push at the Dobbs Ferry Festa, the membership rolls of the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct reached our goal of 500 - and then topped it by 10 additional members!

Our 500th member (shown at left) received a gift basket of caps, t-shirts, flowers and prosecco, plus a tuneless – but enthusiastic – serenade.

Thank you all for showing how important the Old Croton Aqueduct is in your lives.

Author: 
FOCAAdmin
Author: 
FOCAAdmin

The Friends had an amazing, exhilarating day at the High Bridge Saturday, participating in the kickoff of festivities for NYC Parks' Season of the High Bridge. We had a nearly endless stream of people stopping at our table, which was well-located just next to the (98-step) stairway down to the bridge (Manhattan side), plus many who joined our walks on the bridge, which we led about every half hour. Mega-thanks to Sara, Lesley, Mavis, Bob, Carl and Tom for their stamina, cheerfulness, and dedication.

Author: 
FOCAAdmin

“One of the best things about moving to Dobbs Ferry 3 years ago was discovering the Old Croton Aqueduct.” That is what Peter Soboroff said as he handed a check for $2,570 to Mavis Cain, FOCA president. The donation, raised through GoFundMe. is designated for the education project in the restored Keeper's House.

Author: 
FOCAAdmin

Public festivities on the bridge launch the Season of the High Bridge. The Friends will be "roving docents" and will lead walking tours. Visit the Friends' table - take the short paved path from Amsterdam Ave. at W. 172nd St. See directions [see directions here] and visit the NYC Parks Dept. website [ link] for more information about the event.

Author: 
FOCAAdmin

At the beginning of June, without fanfare, the long awaited stairway to and from the Quarry Trail to Warburton Avenue opened! Now, anyone on the Aqueduct Trail can walk down Quarry Trail and walk up the stairs to Warburton Avenue. Close by is Antoinette’s Patisserie, a Hasting’s favorite for its own brand of coffee, pastries and gelato. Also across the street from Antoinette’s is a shady park which is open to the public.

Author: 
FOCAAdmin

Oh frabjous day, calloo, callay! The long awaited opening of the Aqueduct High Bridge has happened! I can’t help quoting Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky since I often remind youngsters about Alice in Wonderland who, when she saw a little bottle that said “Drink me”, she did just that–and got very very big. That’s what Croton Water did for the city, it made it very very big.

Author: 
FOCAAdmin

THE FRIENDS OF THE OLD CROTON AQUEDUCT ARE PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS HISTORIC EVENT. After being closed for 45 years, the Old Croton Aqueduct’s High Bridge, now renovated, is open to the public. The bridge is part of New York City’s park system, administered by the city’s Department of Parks & Recreation. It is accessible to all, including visitors using wheelchairs, bikes, and strollers. Following are directions for getting onto the bridge from both the Bronx and Manhattan ends.

Author: 
FOCAAdmin

photo from NYCWater's Flickr account

A new chapter opened in the long history of the New Croton Aqueduct with the May 8 announcement by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection that it is once again providing water to the city. The 33-mile-long New Croton opened in 1890. It is three times larger than the Old Croton and lies further east and deeper underground. Generally providing about 10% of the water supply, it can provide up to about a third when the need arises.

Author: 
FOCAAdmin

A new pedestrian bridge connecting the Shandler Recreation Area and Croton Woods in Van Cortlandt Park will reconnect two large parts of the park that were cut apart by the 1950s construction of the Major Deegan Expressway. The bridge, if not directly on the Old Croton Aqueduct, will be so close to it that in effect it will also reconnect the trail, eliminating the detour to 233rd St. that has bedeviled Aqueduct walkers for decades.

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