As the sign says, “John Wolcott Pine Bush Hiker’s Underpass”

It was really neat to see the unvailing of the John Wolcott Pine Bush Hiker’s Underpass sign yesterday in the Pine Bush, on a beautiful early autumn day, soon to be passed by 3.8 million cars and trucks each years. Most won’t give it much thought, just another meaningless name along the highway like Ruth’s Auto or Stewart’s or Goodwill but at least some people will Google the name and learn about how it just got started with one phone call and an ask. It will appear on maps on highway trivia websites, inevitably retelling the story.

I used to visit with John Wolcott a lot in his later years, 📹 for a while we did a lot of video and audio recordings of him telling his stories, sometimes blending truth and fiction – the wild haired red-head of Sheridan Hollow had long faded to gray and had in many ways forgotten many of details – but it was still fascinated. He was interested in preserving the history and discoveries he found, I mostly was interested in stories of more contemporary history – the battles over saving Fort Orange and dozens of historic buildings in Albany – and the Albany Pine Bush. For him, Dutch History was particularly relevant – for me it was the stories about Erastus Corning and Thomas Whale and Jerry Jennings. 🏫  So many of the details have been lost to time, the house fire, and failing memory. Time marches on, with so much lost but many things gained – like the preserved and restored Pine Bush – and a Hiker’s Underpass who story previously unknown to many. ⌛

It was good to be there at the sign unvailing. 🌲Over a 100 people were there to celebrate the announcement, including State Senator Fahy and representives from County Executive and Assembly offices. Maybe I should have taken off the full afternoon as there was a hike down to the now officially named underpass though I’ve hiked and ridden my mountain bike under it many a time before. I can go back there any time again. 🚶 With the sign to be installed on the highway in the coming weeks, I will want to get back and take a picture and hike the underpass again. Eventually, I’m sure Pine Bush Commission maps will reflect this detail as will the many websites about highway signs and roadside trivia. John was a map guy before free and open source GIS software, I’m sure he would have loved all these details and trivia if he was still alive.

It’s kind of great to see a civilian honored in such a way 🛣️ as it’s so rare to see anything named after somebody who is not a military soldier, politician, cop or government worker. Especially on a major highway like this on a large 4’x12′ sign.