The Hidden History Of The Oriskany Battlefield Monument ~ The Haunts And Legends Of New York
Steeped in history and legends, New York is filled with stories of the forgotten, eerie and the weird that influence us everyday. The Oriskany Battlefield Monument commemorates and important victory during the Revolutionary War and has a surprising connection to the Erie Canal in Utica.
Lite 98.7's Eric Meier has teamed up with Folklorist P.W. Creighton to explore the haunts and legends of New York. Through their travels into the dark and often overlooked spaces they will bring these historic sites back to life and make some unexpected discoveries along the way.
In this episode Eric guides the explorers to the Oriskany Battlefield to uncover a hidden history of the site and the monument itself. Constructed on the site nearly 100 years later to commemorate the battle, the Oriskany Battlefield Monument's obelisk has a hidden connection to the Erie Canal in Utica.
The Battle of Oriskany was historically significant for many reasons including it was the first time the Continental Militia stood their ground to fight the British Regulars and the impact that the losses had on the homes of the region. Only one hundred years after the battle, the monument was constructed utilizing the stone from the demolished Utica Weigh-lock building that had once serviced the Erie Canal. The Oriskany obelisk is a 'recycled monument.'
Watch the Complete Haunts and Legends Season 1 via this Youtube Playlist
Watch the complete first season of the Haunts and Legends of New York including our explorations of the Lost Village of Delta near Rome, Utica's Secret Underground Waterways and the Hidden Vault at Bagg Commemorative Park in Utica.