Nestled in Upstate New York along the banks of the Mohawk River are the
many communities of the Mohawk Valley. These villages, towns and cities
have unique histories but are inextricably tied together by the
waterways that run through them. The mills, railroads and the Erie Canal
sustained early growth; the Painted Rocks beautified the landscape; and
tales from the local Mohawk Nation still enrich the folklore. Many
remarkable individuals have called the Mohawk Valley home, including
psychedelic philosopher Benjamin Paul Blood, Queen Libby, the Daiquiris
and actor Kirk Douglas. For over a decade, local native Bob Cudmore has
documented the interesting, important and unusual stories from the
region's past, and he has compiled the best of them here.