HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It’s a Labyrinth Ethel, not a Maze
By Dave Warner
OK, it’s a catchy headline, but those who are captivated by Labyrinths want to make sure that everyone knows they are not mazes. And here in Little Falls, a group has organized to build their own and add it to the work being done at the new Buttermilk Falls Park.
If you want to know the history of Labyrinths, you must read Rosann Scalise’s article about them, which will be published on Monday, January 6th.
Sharon Collins is one of those involved in the project. She said, “I ran into the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France in 1989. That was my first introduction to a walk of a labyrinth because I was like everyone else. I just
thought a labyrinth was a maze. Most of the time, the cathedral has chairs on top of the labyrinth, so you didn’t even know it was a labyrinth. I didn’t even really know it was a labyrinth, to tell the truth.”
She went back to the location with the kids from school in 1994, learned more about them, and said, “This is wild. This thing has been a meditative device since the Middle Ages, and it’s in a Catholic cathedral, and that’s really weird.”
Collings said, “The whole idea is to put a question in your mind when you start and then walk towards the center. Like life, you are trying to get to the center and get your answers, but like life, you think you’re getting closer, but the way a labyrinth is built - all of a sudden, you’re turned around the other
Arc Herkimer is working to build community
By Donna Thompson
A golf and event center is not likely to be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of an Arc chapter.
Neither are a retail store selling new and gently used goods, a cafe, or a recreation park, but they’re all part of Arc
Herkimer, President
and CEO Kevin Crosley admits these are not traditional projects for a New York State Arc chapter, an agency dedicated to “empowering people with disabilities and enriching lives throughout our community.” There is a chapter in every county
way, leaving the center.”
“If you’ve been quiet and meditative while you’re walking, you get to the center and listen, and perhaps, you’ll receive direction. Some people use it very spiritually, and others, downright religiously,” she stated.
The twists and turns in a labyrinth represent life. “You think you’re going where you want to go,
in the state, offering services and supports to disabled residents, he noted, but Arc Herkimer stands out.
“We’ve done things differently. Most Arcs tend to be pretty conservative,” Crosley said, adding that one way of operating is not better than another.
“That’s just not who we are.”
Crosley has served as head of the operation since 2005 and plans to retire at the end of 2025 after 40 years in the industry, which he said he “fell into it on kind of a fluke.” He has a master’s degree in sports management. “But it (Arc) fit my personal and business value system. It’s been really fulfilling.”
When he arrived from Cortland County, “I didn’t know a soul here,” he said. But he found the board and staff “receptive to an entrepreneurial
and suddenly, life throws a curve at you. But if you stay steady, you get to the center.”
Collins said that she came back home loving labyrinths, and she uses the worldwide labyrinth locator to see if there is one nearby when she travels. “It was disappointing to me that in the Mohawk Valley, there are only two. The closest is a five or seven
spirit.”
Arc Herkimer has come a long way since its founding in 1969 by a group of parents who were concerned about who would look after their disabled children when they were no longer able to do so. Programming started with 20 children and teens participating in a summer camp. The parents also saw a need for training that would prepare these children for employment when they became adults.
Fifty-five years later, Arc Herkimer has grown to an agency with 35 locations that employs some 120 people, both disabled and non-disabled, and supports more than 600 people through seven divisions that offer a variety of services and opportunities.
And “Building Community” is its slogan.
circuit one in a cemetery in Clinton, and the other is kind of mowed into a cornfield up on Firey Hill Road,” she said.
She said she had the idea for one locally when she was working at the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts in 2019. However, like so many things, COVID-19 hit, and the idea died.
Please See ETHEL Page 3
The first new enterprise was the goods store, which Arc Herkimer operated for 10 years in partnership with Goodwill and for the past six years on its own. The past three years have been the most successful, Crosley said, noting that the location at 105 N. Caroline St., Herkimer, near Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, and other businesses, is a good one.
The store, along with other non-traditional projects and grant funding - the agency has a fulltime grant writer - have allowed Arc Herkimer to reduce its reliance on Medicaid funding from 90 percent to 57 percent.
The Arc Herkimer Business Park in the refurbished factory building at 420 E. German St., Herkimer, now houses more than 20 tenants in its 120,000 square feet of space, including various Please See ARC Page 2
Vili Mang (left) and Sharon Collins review the site where the Buttermilk Falls Labyrinth will be located.
An on-site woodworking shed at Arc Herkimer’s Gail W. Brown Center offers James and other agency clients the opportunity to tackle woodworking projects. Photo provided by Arc Herkimer
LITTLE FALLS
Little Falls Garden Apar tment, LLC
759 EMonroe Street Little Falls NY 13365
•Senior Citizen 62 yearsold and over
/Per manentlydisabled 18 yearsold and over
•Gover nment Subsidies Project Based Income -Tenants pays 30% of totalincome
•1Bedroom apt -Living room -Kitchen. All appliances included. -Tub showercombo -Emergencypull chords over bed -inbathroom. -2story elevator. -1pet allowed(dog or cat under 40lbs).
Showing Tuesday, Thursdayand Friday from 10am-2pm Only.
offices, the BOCES adult education program and a manufacturing operation.
“It’s a community asset,” said Crosley. “It was an eyesore.”
And behind the building is the Arc Park, a fully accessible recreation park that features ageappropriate playgrounds, exercise stations, a fitness trail, pavilions and grills, a bandstand, a ball field and basketball court. It’s open to the community and draws people from the local community and beyond, according to Crosley.
In Ilion, tenants at the Arc Herkimer Mall include Mosaic Health and the Ilion Community Church. The Copper Cafe, which serves as an interactive training ground for the people the agency supports, is located there and offers breakfast and lunch to the public on weekdays.
Cornell Cooperative Extension is planning a twice monthly winter farmers’ market at the Ilion location and is looking at using some of the space for a child care
facility, Crosley said.
The business park, mall and the Arc Herkimer Fulfillment Center on Industrial Park Drive in Little Falls are all part of the Herkimer Industries division, which has its main offices on Fourth Avenue in Herkimer. Herkimer Industries turns out a variety of items including uniforms for law enforcement and first responders and personal protective equipment and offers Stop the Bleed Kits.
Then there’s the Mohawk Valley Golf and Event Center on Route 5 in Little Falls, which offers an 18-hole golf course, driving range, restaurant and bar, and an event center. In addition to being open to the public, the site offers employment opportunities for some of the people Arc Herkimer supports.
“They love it out there,” said Crosley.
Plans are also in the works for the new Kucerak Event Center; a groundbreaking ceremony was held in November.
The various properties were donated to Arc Herkimer, said Crosley, adding that it demonstrates confidence that the agency will do something positive with them. He credits Arc Herkimer’s management team and board for all the agency has been able to accomplish.
Crosley said the biggest challenge Arc Herkimer faces is staffing, and that has especially been the case since the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s industrywide,” he said. “There was a change of mentality with the onset of remote work.”
And direct care cannot be provided by people who are working from their homes.
“There’s no silver bullet,” he said, adding that this is not work people get into to get rich.
Still, Arc Herkimer does what it can for its employees.
“One thing I’m most proud of is that every year, we’ve been able to give raises or one-time
Please See ARC Page 5
My Little Falls - We’re changing our name and expanding our coverage
By Dave Warner
Right about Thanksgiving, I start thinking about what I want to do differently for the new year. At first, I look at all of the ‘hanging chads’ and try to clean them up. You know, the leftover projects that you promised to finish but never did?
That could be anything from cleaning the basement to finishing that video you’ve been working on for six months. Then, there are all my ‘to-
do’ notes lying around. I scratch off anything I know I will never get to, then consolidate all the notes.
That’s when the real thinking starts - what do I want to change? What do I need to change? What do I want to accomplish in 2025?
Many people don’t know that it’s The Creative Outpost, our 501(c)3, that handles MyLittleFalls. com (our website), the Mohawk Valley Express
(our print newspaper), Little Falls Presence (our gift shop), Studio 25 (our studio), the My Little Falls streaming Country Music Radio Station, and a host of other entities’ websites and activities, including our intern program, which puts many young people to work learning broadcasting, live streaming, and other media-related skills.
My Little Falls has been the most visible face of the non-profit for more than seven years, but it has grown significantly from the initial idea of replacing the Evening Times that we lost here in the Little Falls/Dolgeville area. More communities along the Valley felt like they weren’t getting the coverage they needed, so between myself and a couple of stringers, we tried to stretch further over the last year or more.
We’ve actually been covering from the Nelliston/Fort Plain area to Frankfort. Most of it has been press releases, obituaries, and other items sent to us. We just haven’t had the staff to cover much. In January, Please See CHANGE Page 7
Photo provided by Arc Herkimer - The Copper Cafe at the Arc Herkimer Mall in Ilion is owned and operated by Arc Herkimer and serves as an interactive training ground for the people the agency supports. The cafe serves breakfast and lunch to the public on weekdays.
Members of Arc Herkimer’s Gentleman’s Group pet goats during an outing to the Beekman Farm in Sharon Springs. Photo provided by Arc Herkimer
Paul, who lives in one of Arc Herkimer’s Individualized Residential Alternatives homes, shops with a staff member for his pet guinea pig. Photo provided by Arc Herkimer
Collins said, “In the years since, labyrinths have become increasingly widely known and appreciated. Lots of churches buy these drop cloths and put them on their floors. As I said, they can be used for anything from mainline religion to basic spirituality to simple meditation. Still, a lot of people in the churches were doing them like when they have celebrations of life for people who have passed away.”
In August 2024, Collins decided to pursue the idea when she ran into Vili Mang in front of the CoOp. “He reached out to Rosann Scalise, who knew about them and had actually built them.”
The idea expanded from that meeting, and they put together a group called ‘Friends of the Labyrinth.’ “We had our first meeting in the library on October 8th.”
They started looking for a location and found and then discarded several locations for various reasons. Then, they attempted to use an area to the south of the boat launch down at the harbor. However, the state returned with a pretty long list of requirements that made the project seem impossible.
On December 10th, Collins received a text from me that said, “Hi, want to talk Labyrinth?”
“The whole thing changed, and now it has a 99% chance of
actually getting done and becoming a much more realistic and naturally perfect place,” she said. They will level an area east of the path leading to Buttermilk Falls. “We’re going to build it so you enter from the east, by the creek, and then walk at least seven circuits to the center. It will be the traditional ancient Greek style labyrinth, built with natural stones that we harvest from the site,” Collins stated.
“Vili has connected with the Little Falls Diamond Company folks in Canal Place, and they have stones we can use in the center to really harness the natural energies. The water around it is going to provide really good natural vibrational energies. Walking on the labyrinth without it being paved, allowing you to connect to the ground, will also provide natural energy,” she said.
The proposed name is the Little Falls Diamond Labyrinth. “It will be surrounded by trees and water, and in the summer, you’ll hear the children laughing at the City Pool during the day. When the pool is not being used, you’ll hear the quiet of a bird singing or the squirrels running around. It’s going to be very serene.”
Collins said, “I envision a half-hour meditation into the center and back out again. When I’ve been in a labyrinth, I see families, people with their dogs, and kids. That’s what I envision for this spot.”
Labyrinth’s - a 4,000-year-old tradition
By Rosann Scalise
A 4,000-year-old tradition still observed today surely says something about its ability to deeply impact human life. That of which I refer, is the labyrinth; a single, circular path embedded on flat ground or floor surfaces, and used as a meditative pathway.
Unlike a maze, that has dead ends and many twists and turns, you cannot get lost in a labyrinth. Its circular design has a singular entrance and exit and one pathway in which to walk to its center and back out again. Its structure offers the opportunity to journey within oneself and reconnect with the earth.
The labyrinth design dates back to 4,500 to 4,000 BCE and has been found on clay
tables, pottery, coins, and stones. The oldest surviving labyrinth rock carving, dating 2,500 BCE, can be found in an underground tomb on the island of Sardinia.
In the United States, it was the Hopi Indians in Arizona who were the first to design and use the labyrinth. Its historical background lends itself as a beautiful symbol of life’s journey, providing creative pilgrimage experiences to anyone who walks its path.
Today, labyrinths can be found all across the U.S. at retreat centers, churches, schools, prisons, health facilities, and hospitals. The increasing number of labyrinths can be attributed to many reasons, though most notably, they offer a quiet, reflective place apart from the daily whirlwind of people’s lives.
Many types of labyrinths exist in the world today with the two most common designs being the seven-path circuit called the Classical or Celtic labyrinth and the eleven-path circuit called the Chartes labyrinth like the one at the Chartes Cathedral in France.
Walking the labyrinth fosters the opportunity for clearing the mind, solving a problem, facing truths about oneself, reflecting, meditating, praying, and healing. A variety of meaningful life experiences may be celebrated at a labyrinth like seasonal calendar events such as summer solstice and spring equinox, holidays, retirements, marriages, baptisms, and even birthdays.
Author and labyrinth maker Robert Ferre Please See LABYRINTH Page 7
Boot Socks Cold Weather Sock. Warm & Cozy! Great for Winter
Robert Pohlig
Photo Submitted - Labyrinth designed by Rosann Scalise.
City of Little Falls
January 7, 2025
Police and Fire Commission Meeting— Bills 8:30 a.m. and Regular Session 9:00 a.m. in the Mayor’s Conference Room in City Hall.
January 7, 2025
Traffic Committee Meeting—Mayor’s
Conference Room in City Hall, 5:30 pm. Petrie Street modification request, Churchill Street, Parking Restrictions, Moreland Street.
January 7, 2025
Common Council Meeting—Auditing of the bills: 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting: 7:00 p.m. in City Hall.
January 14, 2025
Recreation/Harbor— 6 p.m., in the Mayor’s Conference Room in City Hall.
January 15, 2025
Golf Commission Meeting—Regular Meeting: 8:00 a.m. in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.
January 21, 2025
Lunch & Learn - Coopering and Coopers of the Mohawk Valley
The H.A.R.P. Museum’s highly acclaimed Lunch & Learn Cultural Presentation Series continues with a presentation by Bob Allers on the art of coopering and some of the coopers that practiced this skill in the Mohawk Valley.
Before plastic buckets proliferated throughout our hardware stores, skilled craftsmen known as coopers fashioned containers from wood. At this event, you’ll hear from Bob Allers all about what a cooper is, what he does, and the many products he or she makes. Plus you’ll get to
see some of the objects Bob’s made and tools he uses.
For twelve summers Bob worked as a seasonal National Park Service Ranger at Fort Stanwix National Monument where he began learning the trade of coopering. His education in the craft continued through training with the Master Cooper at Genesee Country Village and Museum. For the past several years, he has been honing his skills and presenting demonstrations at many regional historic sites and teaching bucket and cask-making classes at
Hanford Mills Museum.
Bob is a retired earth science teacher who received his BA in geology from Hamilton College, his MAT in geological sciences from Binghamton University, and taught for a total of 34 years at VernonVerona-Sherrill and New Hartford Central Schools.
Please register at this link, https://bit.ly/3D1ZVIh, or call and leave a message at 315-733-4228 Ext 6.
The $20 cash registration fee can be paid online or at the door and will cover the program and lunch,
Board of Public Works Meeting—Bills 5:30 pm and Regular Session 6:00 pm in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.
January 22, 2025
Urban Renewal Board Meeting—Regular Session, 8:15 a.m., in the Mayor’s Conference Room in City Hall.
Little Falls American Legion Post 31
January 29, 2025
Spaghetti Dinner to raise funds for Memorial Flags for local cemeteries. 4 - 7 pm, 100 Main St, Little Falls. $15 includes spaghetti, salad, meatballs, bread, and a brownie. Dine in or take out available. To place an order call 315-823-9862.
meal tax and gratuity included.
You can attend this presentation at the H.A.R.P. Museum located on the second floor of the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley, 623 Columbia St, Utica. All are welcome to attend this program and the museum is wheelchair accessible.
Celebrate Ireland’s St. Brigid’s Feast Day
Join us at The H.A.R.P. Museum at the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. as we celebrate Ireland’s St. Brigid’s feast day by learning to weave the cross named in her honor. Materials from Ireland and instructions included.
Brigid’s cross or Brigit’s
cross is a small cross usually woven from rushes. Typically it has four arms tied at the ends and a woven square in the middle.
Brigid’s crosses are associated with Brigid of Kildare, one of the patron saints of Ireland. The crosses are traditionally made in Ireland on St Brigid’s feast day, 1 February, which was formerly celebrated as a
pagan festival (Imbolc) marking the beginning of spring. Many rituals are associated with the making of the crosses. Traditionally they were set over doorways and windows to protect the home from any kind of harm.
In Christianity, St Brigid and her cross are linked together by a story about her weaving this form of cross at the deathbed of her father, a pagan lord, who upon hearing what
the cross meant, asked to be baptized.
You can attend this presentation at the H.A.R.P. Museum located on the second floor of the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley, 623 Columbia St, Utica. All are welcome to attend this program and the museum is wheelchair accessible. The $10 fee includes materials and instructions for you to weave a cross to take home with you. Children
under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult.
Please register at this link, https://bit.ly/4f0VRFr, or leave a message at 315733-4228 Ext 6.
J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5
SENIOR MEALS FOR JANUARY
We’d like to welcome a new contributor to the Mohawk Valley Express and The Daily Post (formerly My Little Falls).
Emma Canastar is a Freshman at Little Falls High School, where she is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and the Little Falls Drama Club.
She stated, “In my free time, I enjoy drawing,
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payouts or both,” said Crosley. “This year, we did both.”
Another concern is the aging population. That applies to the people Arc Herkimer serves as well as to the general population. One client recently passed away at the age of 93. And while the agency is not technically a healthcare provider, there are nurses on staff to pass medications and help with other needs.
Arc Herkimer has a number of residential care facilities in the county and its Supports and Services Division offers residential and respite services, eligibility assistance, parental education, a self-advocacy group and more while the Career Connections Division offers training and job coaching and links people to employment in
painting, and reading. My plans for the future are to go into the medical field because I truly enjoy helping people.”
“I always plan to use my artistic talents in some way all throughout my life,” she said.
As an intern, Emma will be working on cartoons and illustrations for The Creative Outpost, Inc., and its publications.
the community.
Arc Herkimer’s Transportation Division offers rides to the various programs as well as public group charters.
“It’s been a great run,” said Crosley. “There’s more to do. I’d love to knock off a few more things before I leave.”
To reserve a meal, call the Herkimer County Office for the Aging at least one business day in advance, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 315-867-1204 or 315-867-1634. If you will not be home for meals, call 315867-1204 at least a day in advance. All sites are handicapped accessible.
Jan 01 - Happy New Year!
Jan 02 - Hamburger cabbage casserole, tossed salad, beets, cookie.
Jan 03 - Lemon chicken, au gratin potatoes, spinach, Mandarin oranges.
Jan 06 - Pork chops, stuffing, Brussels sprouts, apple crisp.
Jan 07 - Macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes and zucchini, green beans, frosted birthday cake.
Jan 08 - Chicken and biscuits, mashed potatoes, peas, brownie.
Jan 09 - Cream of broccoli soup, egg salad sandwich, coleslaw, pears.
Jan 10 - Baked ham with plum sauce, scalloped potatoes, peas and carrots, sugar cookie.
Jan 13 - Meatloaf, rice pilaf, Sonoma blend vegetables, Jell-O.
Jan 14 - Coconut pineapple curry, chicken, noodles, broccoli, chef’s choice pie.
Jan 15 - Lasagna, tossed salad, Italian blend vegetables, peanut butter cookie.
Jan 16 - Roast pork with gravy, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, pudding.
Jan 17 - Frittata, sausage, hash browns, fruit cup, muffin.
Jan 20 - Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.
Jan 21 - Pork and mushroom stew, tossed salad, biscuit, three-bean salad, ice cream.
Jan 22 - Chicken stir fry, rice, Japanese blend vegetables, chocolate chip cookie.
Jan 23 - Spaghetti and meatballs, lima beans, garlic roll, peaches.
Jan 24 - Beef bourguignon, noodles, red cabbage, frosted cupcake.
Jan 27 - Baked chicken, oven roasted potatoes, broccoli, brownie.
Jan 28 - Sallisbury steak, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, pineapple tidbits.
Jan 29 - Roast turkey with gravy, stuffing, corn, poke cake with topping.
Jan 30 - Beef stew, biscuit, pudding parfait.
Jan 31 - Pepper pineapple pork, rice, Japanese blend vegetables, oatmeal raisin cookie.
All meals are served with 8 ounces of milk, a slice of bread, and margarine. Desserts have no concentrated sweets. The suggested donation is $3. Mail donations to Herkimer County OFA, 109 Mary St., Suite 2501, Herkimer, NY 13350. Envelopes are available from drivers.
Billy, a participant in Arc Herkimer’s day program, swims in the aquatic tank at the agency’s Gail W. Brown Center in Herkimer. Photo provided by Arc Herkimer
The History of the Little Falls Fire Department - 1941, a Fiery
The history of the Little Falls Fire Department spans over 200 years. In this chapter, we look at the busy year the department had in 1941.
By Scott Kinville
The 1940s had a horrific start for the City of Little Falls and its fire department, as the devastating Gulf Curve wreck started the decade in an unforgettable way. Tragedy would continue to haunt Little Falls the following year.
The Foley Flats
In 1941, the East Main and Hancock Streets area became a hotspot for the Little Falls Fire Department. At 4:00 A.M. on January 20, a fire ripped through the Foley Apartment Building, or Foley Flats, as it was also known. Located at 25 - 33 Hancock Street (Route 5 now runs through where it stood), the Foley Flats was a three-story structure that contained 18 apartments.
Fifty people called it home, including Little
Falls firefighter (and future chief) Abe Swartz - who had an apartment on the eastern end of the first floor.
Although it was called in at 4:00 A.M., the blaze began about two hours earlier as a result of a carelessly discarded cigarette on the western end of the structure.
After smoldering for a couple of hours, the fire broke out of the back of the building, and due to a strong wind, took off like a rocket. The wideopen verandas that ran along each floor on the rear of the building also helped to quickly spread the flames.
The Little Falls Police Department can be credited with saving many lives that morning, as after they discovered the fire, Officers Haugard, Schweiler, Rathbun, and Miller ran in and woke up as many people as they could. The fire department did its part in the rescues, of course, carrying two women down ladders.
Water pressure and delivery were huge problems at this fire. The water main in this area was very small and could not provide the amount of water and pressure needed to fight a fire of this magnitude. What water they did get was prone to freezing due to the temperature being just above zero degrees.
The Dolgeville Fire Department was called for their pumper but it was out of service, so the LFFD turned to the Herkimer Fire Department for theirs.
By the time Herkimer made it to the scene, the fire had made tremendous headway but it was a great help nonetheless. A supply line was from a hydrant near St. Mary’s Church with better pressure, and a hose line was dedicated to protecting a house near the inferno.
Despite the best efforts of the firefighters, the blaze got into the 156 ft. wide open attic. At 5:00 A.M., the western end of the roof caved in. When it was brought under control, the third floor was destroyed, the second floor was badly damaged, and the first floor suffered smoke and water damage. Miraculously, no one was killed or even injured.
One good thing came out of this fire. It was finally proven to the Common Council and Mayor that Little Falls desperately needed a pumping fire engine (Chief Cooney had been asking for one for several years).
In May of 1941, they went out to bid for that
new engine.
The Murray Gas Station
Year in Little Falls
The Grim Reaper was nowhere to be found at the Foley Flats fire, but it would rear its ugly head just a few months later.
On the night of April 12, Murray’s Gas Station, which stood at the northwest corner of East Main and Ward Streets (today’s 800 East Main Street) was rocked by an explosion. The explosion had enough force to knock the structure off of its foundation and to make matters worse, three people were inside.
The owner of the station, William Murray, was in the cellar, while his wife and Harry Jackson were upstairs. Jackson was an employee and helped Mrs. Murray get out of the building safely, but Mr. Murray wasn’t as fortunate. He was in the cellar and the blast knocked him unconscious leaving him trapped.
When they arrived, Little Falls firefighters found the building engulfed in flames and were informed Mr. Murray was in the cellar. At tremendous risk to their own lives, Abe Swartz, Charlie, and Francis Van Slyke, along with civilian Donald Murray entered the cellar through a window and rescued Mr. Murray. He was taken to Little Falls Hospital by car but died two days later of asphyxiation from a swollen larynx.
The investigation revealed the gas tanks had just been filled earlier that evening and there was an overflow of gasoline. The vapors
filled the building, and when Mr. Murray went into the cellar to light a furnace the flame from his lighter ignited the vapors causing the explosion.
The Gulf Curve Wreck, which happened nearby was almost exactly one year to the date of the Murray Gas Station Explosion.
Hall’s Grocery Store
The third big fire of 1941 would be on the south side. As the eyes of the baseball world were on the iconic MVP chase between Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, on September 25 a fire destroyed Hall’s Grocery Store at 23 West Jefferson Street.
At the time of the blaze, Hall’s Grocery Store was an unoccupied threestory building. It was adjacent to Flint Ave. and had many buildings in close proximity - five of which were damaged by the heat of the fire.
The Herkimer Fire Department was called to stand by at the Little Falls Fire Station, as the LFFD had all of its personnel and apparatus battling the inferno. It took a total of eight hose lines to bring the fire under control.
No civilians were hurt, but firefighters Abe Swartz and Clarence Thomas each suffered hand lacerations from broken glass. Swartz, along with Emert Bucklin and callmen Al Graudons and Edward Bliss were temporarily sidelined by smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire was never determined.
Next: The LFFD gets a new engine, is reorganized, and faces another deadly fire.
Many thanks to the Little Falls Historical Society for the use of their Cooney Files in researching this project.
The Hall’s Grocery Store fire on September 25, 1941.
captured the spirit of the labyrinth when he offered these words at a labyrinth dedication in Illinois in May 2004. “Walking the labyrinth is a gift that we give to ourselves. It is time out from our busy lives and hectic schedules. Your time in the labyrinth can be relaxed and quiet and attentive. The labyrinth is well-suited for contemplation and meditation. But there is no requirement that you be serious. In that regard, we can learn from
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though, we’ve taken the leap and hired someone part-time to expand our coverage.
But the name - My Little Falls - doesn’t fit the fact that we’re covering so much territory. So, we’re rebranding our digital product, which will be called The Daily Post. Most people (once we explained where it came from) get it. When you put something online, you’re ‘posting’ it, and at My Little Falls, one of the things that has grown
children, who tend to run the labyrinth exuberantly. I find, however, that they eventually slow down and walk the labyrinth attentively.”
“Walking with others soon brings to mind the realization that we’re all on the same path. It might seem like chaos to someone driving by, seeing people walking every which way. But when you are in the midst of a group walk, you realize that despite
the audience to what it is today is that we try to post something every day. It might be a recipe, classifieds, an obituary, or even local road work.
The name change will be immediate, but you’ll be able to find us the same way you always have in your search.
We’re also going to add premium content to the website, which will go behind a paywall. It won’t be expensive - we’re looking at probably $30
the apparent difference of direction and looks and personal style, everyone is on the same path, together, headed for the same goal. In this way, we find that the labyrinth builds community. We’re all in the same boat, fully engaged in the human experience. It’s so much easier if we work together rather than be in opposition, to choose collaboration and cooperation rather than competition. The labyrinth builds community because it embraces our differences, whatever our
a year for full access. We’re talking some longer documentaries and feature rich articles that will roll out over the year. Most content, will remain free.
In 2024, we hit some serious traffic milestones to our website. Well over one million stories read, and over 400,000 unique visitors. In 2025, we plan to give those people more to read, listen to and watch. Stay tuned… it’s going to be a fun ride.
Shows you might have missed on the Studio 25 Podcast Network in December
Studio 25 creates a lot of monthly content besides the stories you read in the Mohawk Valley Express and on The Daily Post (formerly My Little Falls). It includes audio, video, and even live-streamed events. Where do you find all of this?
On the MyLittleFalls.com website, as each show comes out, we create a small story to bring attention to it. However, the best way to keep up with everything is to Subscribe to the Studio 25 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.
December 2024 was a light month with all of the holidays. Ralph Renzulli was back with two episodes of Through My Eyes, interviewing Joe Mastrocco, a St. Johnsville resident and WWII Veteran who served two years in the Navy at Pearl Harbor, and Vietnam Veteran Bruce Hartness, who served as an infantry soldier in the Army from May 1967 until May 1968.
Tiffany Rutkowski, who does Tiffany Talk, interviewed Zach + Maggie, who were touring with the Gettys this Christmas season during their “An Irish Christmas” tour. They visited our area on December 15th at the Stanley Theatre in partnership with Redeemer Church of Utica.
Of course, we covered a Little Falls Common Council meeting on December 3rd and video taped that, as well as the Christmas celebrations in Little Falls on December 13th and put that online for viewing.
Coming up this month? We’ll be live-streaming several home games of the Herkimer Originals ABA basketball team. Right now those games are scheduled for January 4th Please See SHOWS Page 8
culture, beliefs, lifestyle, race, gender, or age. On the labyrinth…we are all equal. There is no cost and no privilege. It requires no membership, no degrees, no consent to a certain dogma or belief system. It is available to all,” he stated.
If you would like to find where the closest Labyrinth is, you can visit https://labyrinthlocator. org/ LABYRINTH From Page 3
Current Standings
Boys Basketball
Little Falls: 5-2 overall, 3-1 CSC Division I
Herkimer: 4-2 overall, 3-0 CSC Division I
Dolgeville: 3-3 overall, 1-2 CSC Division II
Girls Basketball
Little Falls: 6-0 overall, 3-0 CSC Division I
Herkimer: 5-3 overall, 4-0 CSC Division I
Dolgeville: 1-4 overall, 0-1 CSC Division III
Girls Volleyball:
Little Falls: 3-1 overall, 2-1 CSC Division I
Herkimer: 0-4 overall, 0-3 CSC Division I
Dolgeville: 4-1 overall, 2-1 CSC Division I
January Meets
listed, please email sports@thedailypost.digital. Herkimer Varsity
5s Diner in Fort Plain takes short break to make enhancements
The 5s Diner in Fort Plain will be closed from January 1 - 5, and they state that a lot will be happening while they are closed. Here’s a quick list:
1. Right now, our 6-foot grill sits on a metal stand on a solid wood base. This means we can’t move the grill to clean behind or beneath it. We’re going to pull the grill out, clean the whole area, and replace the base with two refrigerated units. They are called “chef base.” The two units have refrigerated drawers. This will help the cooks. Right now, they have to walk several steps to get to the different refrigerators in the kitchen. With the chef base, all the cold food will be right by the grill.
2. Once we replace the grill base, we’re pushing the cooking line down by about one foot to make room for our new convection oven. The large oven has multiple racks and is much faster at cooking than a normal oven. This will allow us to add new foods to the menu that require oven cooking because we’ll be able to cook them in volume.
3. We’re installing a new back door and fixing some other doors and electrical outlets.
4. We’re adding a motion sensor light to the takeout window. At night, we can’t see when people pull up. Now we’ll see you!
5. We’re doing a big deep clean everywhere and re-organizing, shifting things around. We have a middle storage room we’re going to turn into a large prep area.
6. Painting. The grays will become light yellow and white. Marilyn Monroe is coming down; a country theme will replace her. They are going to take pictures and post them on Facebook as they make progress with these changes.
While they are closed, they will work on planning the 2025 menu offerings. Here are some of the ideas:
1. We’re going to have a specific takeout and delivery menu. This means the full menu will not be available for takeout. I’m making this decision because we’ve had situations where we had large to-go orders,
say a Big Boy breakfast— these meals take up the whole grill, and people sitting in the diner are impacted, waiting longer for their food. To-go and delivery foods will be limited to items that don’t impact the grill. I’ll be working on posting the take-out/delivery menu.
2. I would like to offer breakfast all day, but with the size of our kitchen and one grill, I realize that won’t work. We can’t make hamburgers and pancakes on the same grill at the same time. So starting in January, we will have breakfast hours from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Lunch will start at 11 a.m., and dinner meals will be available around 3 p.m.
3. New menu/specials. The cooks and I have lots of ideas for fun new foods to offer for lunch and dinner. I’ve found a wonderful line of individual desserts. The main menu is staying the same—we’re going to add a lot more variety.
They said, “We’re excited for 2025 and look forward to sharing all the upgrades and changes with you.”
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& 5th, January 18th, and February 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd. You can find out more at herkimerogs.com.
Renzulli is scheduled to interview Paul Daw on Through My Eyes. He has two bronze stars, two purple hearts, and ‘good stories.’
In Ralph’s other show, The Inside View, he has scheduled Little Falls Mayor Deborah Kaufman to talk about her ‘State of the City’ address, covering what has been accomplished in 2024 and what is needed in 2025.
There are a lot of other shows good shows in the works, so Subscribe to the Studio 25 Podcast Network, wherever you get your podcasts - Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and others, to catch every episode.
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