CRUISING THROUGH CANASTOTA, Madison County, New York

I had the chance to visit my home town of Canastota last month. It is a small village—around 4,000 people—and it was a pleasant and safe place to grow up.   Canastota is located in Central New York and has quite a history. 

The Erie Canal runs right through downtown, and we all know how important the canal was back in its heyday.  Today there is the wonderful Canastota Canal Town Museum (http://www.canastota-canal.com) filled with memorabilia about the canal and Canastota.

Erie Canal
Canastota, New York

Canastota Canal Town Museum
Canastota, New York

Each year that I visit, I see that the village has been adding more historic items of interest to its streets. See the new murals below (http://canastota-canal.com/Events.html).

When I was young, my friends and I studied at the library. There were many hours poring over encyclopedias—no Internet back then.  Little did I know that I was studying in one of Andrew Carnegie’s libraries.

And then there was the imposing Methodist Church that I attended at one time. It was also the location of my Girl Scout classes. Now, it is no longer a church, but has been converted into Greystone Castle, a banquet facility (http://www.thegreystonecastle.com/history.html).

Greystone Castle
Canastota, New York

If you want to enjoy a fabulous Italian meal in a cozy restaurant, check out Casatina’s on Main Street (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g47407-d857250-Reviews-Casatinas-Canastota_New_York.html).

Put Canastota on your list of quaint towns to visit. 

The following books about Canastota are worth a look:

Canastota and Chittenango (NY) (Images of America) (Arcadia Publishing) by Lionel D. Wyld (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0738563927/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1381842131&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70)

The Italian Farmers of Canastota by Joseph T. D'Amico (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1451547420/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1381842131&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70)

Title Town, USA: Boxing in Upstate New York by Mark Allen Baker (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1596297697/ref=mp_s_a_1_121?qid=1381843095&sr=8-121&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70)