We are still in New York enjoying the scenery and how totally different it is from our Gulf coast landscape.
Letchworth State Park
We are now at Letchworth State Park in New York. Letchworth is often called the Grand Canyon of the East. The Genesee River has created a beautiful gorge that runs the length of the park. It has three magnificent waterfalls
Letchworth State Park
We are now at Letchworth State Park in New York. Letchworth is often called the Grand Canyon of the East. The Genesee River has created a beautiful gorge that runs the length of the park. It has three magnificent waterfalls
The CCC Strikes Again

It seems as though there are few national or state parks where the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps.) did not work. Find an older state park in Texas, and chances are it was developed by the CCC. The CCC developed over 800 parks, and almost every place we have traveled we have seen their handiwork. New York is no different. The CCC developed almost all of Letchworth with over 3,000 men there between 1933 and 1941. In fact they were so instrumental in this park that there is a statue honoring the CCC workers.
CCC workers were single men between 18 and 25. They received clothing, room and board, and $30 a month of which $25 was sent home. Their work term was for from six months to two years. It was the most popular of the New Deal programs.
CCC workers were single men between 18 and 25. They received clothing, room and board, and $30 a month of which $25 was sent home. Their work term was for from six months to two years. It was the most popular of the New Deal programs.
Rochester
Speaking of waterfalls, Rochester has a spectacular 100ft waterfall known as High Falls right in the heart of town. Also on the Genesee River, this great looking falls was an industrial center in the 19th century as it provided power for a lot of manufacturing. Early on it was via a mill race (Brown’s Race) and water power. Later as electricity became practical, the race was abandoned by mills and factories, but was was put to use generating electricity. Today, the race is still providing power, one of three hydro-electric plants in Rochester. It is located on the flats below the high bank.
Speaking of waterfalls, Rochester has a spectacular 100ft waterfall known as High Falls right in the heart of town. Also on the Genesee River, this great looking falls was an industrial center in the 19th century as it provided power for a lot of manufacturing. Early on it was via a mill race (Brown’s Race) and water power. Later as electricity became practical, the race was abandoned by mills and factories, but was was put to use generating electricity. Today, the race is still providing power, one of three hydro-electric plants in Rochester. It is located on the flats below the high bank.
We also visited the Eastman Museum at the home of George Eastman (Eastman Kodak). Mr. Eastman brought photography to the masses and built an empire. We all had a Kodak when we were young. And who can forget the “Kodak Moments?” Unfortunately even though Kodak conceived the digital camera, the company never figured out how to capture much market share.Today the company is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Jell-O
When we travel about the country we sometimes visit some places and see some things that are not found in your everyday guidebook (we’re a bit weird). A couple of years ago it was the Spam Museum. Last year there were the Windmill Museum and the giant Paul Bunyan sign for the Vietnamese restaurant, This year we have already seen Santa Claus in June, but we wanted more.
When we travel about the country we sometimes visit some places and see some things that are not found in your everyday guidebook (we’re a bit weird). A couple of years ago it was the Spam Museum. Last year there were the Windmill Museum and the giant Paul Bunyan sign for the Vietnamese restaurant, This year we have already seen Santa Claus in June, but we wanted more.
And now we have visited the Jell-O Museum. That’s right. A museum for Jell-O, in the small town of LeRoy in western New York. You just don’t get this stuff on package tours. Honestly there is not much to the museum, but just the idea that it exists is great.
You Can’t Make This Stuff Up Department
While driving away from the Jell-O Museum (where else?), we passed this unique Baptist Church in a geodesic dome. We’ve all seen these geodesic oddities at one time or another — there seems to be one used as a cottage in every older vacation village; they are marginal roadside custard stands; or they are just abandoned. But I’ll bet you never saw one big enough to be a church. Well, there is always a first time.
You Can’t Make This Stuff Up Department
While driving away from the Jell-O Museum (where else?), we passed this unique Baptist Church in a geodesic dome. We’ve all seen these geodesic oddities at one time or another — there seems to be one used as a cottage in every older vacation village; they are marginal roadside custard stands; or they are just abandoned. But I’ll bet you never saw one big enough to be a church. Well, there is always a first time.