Morningside Cultural Trails
Vol. 2015 Issue 3, 10-1-15
Fall Updates
Gingko trees along the road in Oakwood Cemetery. Do you know how to harvest their nuts (be careful!)?
New to the trail? Use this Scavenger Hunt to help familiarize yourself with the route while having fun.
Morningside Cultural Trail Scavenger Hunt
1. On the western bank of Meadowbrook Pond there is a bench. What does the inscription on it read?
2. What is the official name of Meadowbrook Pond according to Onondaga County? (Hint: There is a sign)
3. What number is on the little free library at Barry Park?
4. How many steps are on the old stone stairway up Morningside Hill?
5. What saying is carved into the “Loving Tree” across from the new mausoleum in Oakwood Cemetery?(hint : that is the long building on the divided parkway in the center of the cemetery. The “Loving Tree” is the extremely large European beech tree across the road from the mausoleum)
6. What is the inscription on the bronze plaque in front of the Civil War Cemetery and when was it placed there?
7. Who was “Moon”? (On a tombstone near ESF)
8. There is one Egyptian style mausoleum in Oakwood Cemetery. What names are on it? (Hint: it can be seen as you climb the broken road on the trail next to ESF. Just as you are to take a left look ahead for Egyptian architecture
9. What is the inscription on Mayor Lee Alexander’s gravestone? (hint: As you reach the top after climbing the long hill from the old Chapel, you take a right and go a short ways. Alexander’s tomb is at the end of that leg; just as you turn left
10. How many slats of wood are in the bench by the Haggerty Lion?
11. Between the trail and Comstock Avenue there is a large anvil-shaped gravestone. To whom is it dedicated and who put it there?
12. What is the official name for the mosque across Comstock from Oakwood?
13. What are on top of the gravestones in temple Beth El’s cemetery next to the new (1912) crematorium? Do you know why?
Get the answers by emailing luludoodah@aol.com or morningsidetrails@gmail.com
Ghost trail:
We have some special would be “paranormal experts” working on the ghost stories. Do you know of any? Experiences something spooky? Have you heard about the ghostly Black Lab; or the fire victim that disrupted a paranormal experts presentation at ESF? Contact us at morningsidetrails@gmail.com
The Students are Back!
Oakwood has been big with SU students for… well at least the fifty plus years since I used to walk with my girl friend there.
L to R: A Maxwell student who gets his exercise by raking leaves; two ESF ladies seeking bugs; a group of VPA students entranced by the beauty of the old entrance.
What to do along the trail?…so one day I sat down with some family members and brainstormed the things we’d actually done along the trail..You can do them too..
With the Morningside Cultural Trail you can:
Science and Nature
-View the different stages of technological growth in CNY.
-Go geo-caching!
-identify rare trees!
-Become a bird watcher
-pick wildflowers!
-grow a garden!
-Surprise a deer.
-collect autumn leaves!
-find a strange fungus!
-Study invasive species
-use the binoculars you've always wanted to...
-Pick up walnuts and make a pie.
Recreation and Fitness
-walk a mile or seven!
-go for a bike ride!
-use a stopwatch to time your run up Morningside Hill or how long it takes for the setting of the sun!
-fly a kite as you overlook the City of Syracuse!
-roll down a hill with your friends and family!
-sit and talk with friends in the nicest place you'll find!
-stretch on a beautiful hilltop!
-roller blade
-Walk up the Morningside Stairway…then come down…see how fast or many times you can do it…or just enjoy the secluded beauty.
-Practice Yoga exercises while overlooking the county under the twisted pines.
-see some of the most beautiful views in CNY!
-Kiss your main squeeze!
-meditate!
History and Culture
-find the graves of the abolitionist leaders from the 19th century.
-study historical landmarks reaching across thousands of years!
-meet the founders of Syracuse including the original Ham White.
-Show your children the touching ritual practiced by our Jewish community members of leaving a stone on a grave at every visit.
-discover the archaeological remnants of the famed "toboggan slide."
-view the unusual architecture of our community's beautiful Mosque and the Islamic graveyard at the entrance to Oakwood.
-find Ed Smith and his three wives!
-see the original home of the Haudenosaunee!
-visit the Civil War monument
-find out who Maggie loves (according to the Water Tower drive)!
-Visit OHA and research the different parts of the trail!
-Get entranced by the beauty of the Oakwood Chapel!
-and get passionate about its condition!
-be amazed at the diversity of our community as seen from the hilltops, in the cemeteries and while walking through our neighborhoods!
-discover the remnants of the old toboggan run
-Research to find out if an accident involving a Mayor’s wife really was the reason it was closed.
Arts and Literacy
-sing "Danny Boy" to the Irish canal workers buried at Oakwood!
-read a book in a secluded glen!
-paint a beautiful landscape while looking at it!
-write a poem while sitting in the shade of ancient mausoleums!
-Memorize a poem while walking your dog!
-make up a trivia contest of local sights
--Design a sculpture from found items from nature!
-Enjoy the year round beauty of the Morningside gardens!
-create a new dance step as you boogie around the Water Towers!
-Start that novel!
-play an instrument in the midst of a natural setting!
Community
-Imagine what CNY looked like a hundred years ago… a thousand...a million!
-Imagine CNY will look like in a hundred years… a thousand… a million!
-Invent a project for the trail
-add ideas for other ways to use the trail.
-help us make your family and our community's dreams come true by developing a resource that speaks to all of our needs
Have an idea? Want to help?
Send it to Paul Harvey at morningsidetrails@gmail.com or call 247-4420