The Road Less Travelled-A Series
Volume 10-Biking Near Gilbertsville, NY on NY State Route 51
Welcome back. Another week another bike ride. My knee is improving although I am still being cautious. This week I was in search of a paved, fairly level road with a wide shoulder to ride on. NY State Route 51 near Gilbertsville, NY and some surrounding back roads were the answer. A great 12-mile ride on a hot late June day.
This ride was different for me. I normally seek out roads in NY State forests that are quiet. However, most are not paved and can be quite challenging. I felt like riding on pavement for a change. It does make a difference!
In this area, it’s hard to find level roads, paved or unpaved. Far and few between. Although most have some level areas. The hills are a good challenge also. But sometimes level is nice.
Just 10 miles from my house, I parked at the Copes Corner Park, a nice small campground along the Butternut Creek in Otsego County. Right off of Highway 51. From there I pedaled on 51 towards Gilbertsville, about 3 miles to town. The shoulder on this stretch of road is the widest I have ever seen. Almost as wide as a regular lane, you definitely could drive a car on it without crossing over the white line.
It was about 85 degrees and humid, however, a strong Southerly breeze made the conditions fantastic. At times, it felt like the breeze was pushing me along. A great feeling, although I knew on the way back the wind would be working against me.
As I rolled into the village of Gilbertsville, I enjoyed the many historic houses and farms that still remain, most being in excellent condition. This town has a different feel compared to others in the area. It is home to about 400 residents and is steeped in history. It was founded by a prosperous Englishman in 1786, and the many English settlers that followed is the reason this village has a feel of an English village.
Gilbertsville has the unique distinction as the only village to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For many years, there was an ongoing battle as the Army Corps of Engineers had proposed a dam on the Butternut Creek that would have created a 3-mile long lake, submerging the village itself. The arduous work involved in declaring the village a national historic landmark ultimately saved the town.
I soon rode by the “major” landmark in town, the Major’s Inn. This historic inn was built on the site of the original 1822 Gilbert homestead, it took over 20 years to build, from 1896 to 1917. It is currently owned by the Major’s Inn Foundation and is still used to this day for weddings and other cultural events.
Next I rode by the historic Gilbert block, 3 buildings built in the late 1800s. I quickly came upon a beautiful Civil War monument and canon. Next up was the Gilbertsville Expressive Movement, a spacious sculpture park that was once the school grounds, that now offers workshops, internships, and residencies. Some of the old school buildings have been transformed for this purpose. The many metal sculptures, some of which are on loan, are impressive.
My final stop on my bike tour was the Gilbertsville Horse Show. This is a summer-long event, this day being the first competition. I stopped for a few minutes to admire the beautiful horses. It is held at Mill Street Stables, a 32-acre facility started in 2013 featuring an indoor arena.
But there is much more to the horse-related history here. Dating back to the 1970s, Gilbertsville was well known for polo, ironically held near where Mill Street Stables is now located. The polo matches held at Village Farms Polo Fields routinely drew crowds of 600 to 700 people during the 70s and 80s.
If you are ever in the area, I encourage you to visit this historic village.
