Canastota

Canastota is a village located inside the Town of Lenox in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 4,084 at the 2010 census.

Canastota is well known as an “onion growing” town that at one point was a large portion of income in the village.

The village was incorporated in 1835, but was reorganized in 1870. Located along the banks of the Erie Canal, which was completed through the Mohawk River valley by 1825, Canastota was a vibrant trading and commerce town during the mid-nineteenth century for a wide agricultural area. When the canal was superseded by construction of railroads, and later the New York Thruway, some canal towns were cut off from the main lines of commerce.

Canastota is home of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Having produced two world champions in Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus, Canastota was a natural choice as a site for the museum and outdoor stage. The museum is located a short distance from the New York State Thruway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canastota,_New_York
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Canastota

Canal Street in Canastota

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The Old Erie Canal has long been bypassed by the Barge Canal which runs into Oneida Lake about 10 miles to the north, but it still is a prominent feature in Canastota.

Main Street Canastota

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Some handsome Main Streets still exist in New York though rarely are they more then a block or more before replaced with parking lots and suburban style buildings.

Taken on Sunday November 5, 2023 at Canastota.

Canastota Castle 🏰

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One of these days I'll have to find out more about this unique building. Is it a church? A home built by an exotic individual or a rich man? 

Taken on Sunday November 5, 2023 at Canastota.

Black Dirt Country North of Canastota

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Canastota also is home to some back country and was at one time famous for onion growing but a lot of the black dirt country up here either was used up or converted to other crops.