News

Raquette River Information Center Opens - Sunday Rock Recognized

Opening ceremonies at Center in South Colton, Saturday, July 31, 9:00 a.m.

On Saturday July 31, organizers of the Raquette River Blueway Corridor (RRBC) launched Raquette River Awareness Week with the landmark opening of a Raquette River Information Center in South Colton. The Center, the fulfillment of a several-years old dream of the RRBC, was made possible thanks to residents Ed and Arlene Wright who have leased their building at 3932 State Highway 56 (across the highway from the post office and the former South of the Rock Inn) to the town for the purpose.

Master of Ceremonies Ruth McWilliams first enlisted Chris Murphy and Jim Plumley to help display special Colton … A Natural Beauty T-shirts featuring one of the town’s waterfalls on the Raquette. Then Bill Swafford and Laurie Thornton spoke about the importance of Raquette-generated tourism to the Town of Colton.

Representatives of several of the cooperating partners of the RRBC explained their interest in the venture, namely: Jim Murphy (village of Potsdam); Dan Parker (Brookfield Power); John Barron (Laurentian Chapter, Adirondack Mountain Club); Ellen Nesbitt (St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce); and Varick Chittenden (Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (TAUNY)).

Colton Town Supervisor Larry Petzwald then joined Ed and Arlene Wright in a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the Center. The crowd of a couple of dozen people then went inside for a tour led by Mary Jane Watson of the photographs, historic items, and various types of information available at the Center. Adirondack singer/songwriter and Laurentian Chapter member Jamie Savage then performed his new song of tribute to the Raquette, Mountain Blood.

That concluded the opening ceremony. Shortly afterward Varick Chittenden held a special ceremony at nearby Sunday Rock to add the Rock to TAUNY’s Register of Very Special Places (RVSP).

The Raquette River Information Center is staffed by volunteers, and is currently open from 10 AM to 2 PM daily.