New Year's Day

It was a good day to get out and chase some history. I spent some time with Robert Frost—his epitaph reading, “I had a lover’s quarrel with the world,” a sentiment as timeless as The Road Not Taken, where the less-traveled path made all the difference.

Robert Frost (1874–1963) was one of America’s most celebrated poets, revered for his realistic depictions of rural life and his ability to use New England settings to delve into profound social and philosophical themes. A four-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Frost crafted iconic works such as The Road Not Taken, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, and Mending Wall. His poetry, distinguished by its conversational tone, masterful use of meter, and deep reflections on nature and human struggles, remains a cornerstone of American literature. Frost is often celebrated for offering insights into life’s complexities that are both profound and accessible.

Walking through the Old Bennington Cemetery, it’s hard not to be moved by the history etched into its weathered stones, especially the patriots who rest here—heroes whose sacrifices shaped the course of the American Revolution.

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
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www.johnbulmermedia.com
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The West Albany Yard: The Birthplace of the Legendary No. 999.

The West Albany Rail Yard, tucked between the interstate and warehouses just west of downtown, hums to life at 5 AM as the first light paints the tops of Albany’s buildings. The smooth, frictionless whir of the highway’s few early travelers blends with the low idle of trains and the sounds of the surrounding neighborhood, creating a white noise layered with a million small sounds. Once a major hub for New York City’s railroad maintenance, the yard now sees shipments of corn syrup, paper, and lumber and is the starting point for the Troy and Rensselaer locals—smaller trains feeding industries across the Hudson. 

Yet, at this hour, you would never guess this yard birthed a legend. Here, in 1893, the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad No. 999 was built at the West Albany Shops, where it would soon claim the world speed record as the first locomotive to surpass 100 miles per hour on the Empire State Express. This Albany-built 4-4-0 “American” type, with its towering 86-inch wheels and sleek black-and-white finish, symbolized the New York Central Railroad’s ambitions and secured Albany’s place in railroad history. 

By dawn, the Corning Tower’s aircraft beacon pulses in the distance, marking time in steady three-second intervals as bakers in culinary whites emerge to begin the day’s bread in the vast bakeries at the yard’s southern boundary. If you’ve ever spent a morning near the yard, you know the fragrance—a wonderful warmth that hangs in the cold air, especially on a cold morning.

© 2024 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
www.bulmerphotography.com
www.johnbulmermedia.com
www.noreasterfilms.com
All Rights Reserved

Rensselaer County's Ancient Solar Marker | October 2024 Update

Rensselaer County's Ancient Solar Marker
By John Bulmer, John Bulmer Photography

Read the original story here.

Did you know that hidden in the hills of Rensselaer County lies an ancient stone chair with a fascinating history?

One of the advantages of social media is its ability to unearth information that has either faded from public consciousness or never found its way onto the internet in a substantial manner. Concealed in the hills of Rensselaer County is a large granite chair, possibly serving as a calendar observatory. This site is discreetly tucked away in a natural bowl, making it easily overlooked by hikers or hunters. Its design thoughtfully integrates the natural topography, utilizing hills and valleys to enhance visibility and create a secluded space for observation. These structures exemplify the ingenuity of ancient civilizations in comprehending and harnessing celestial patterns for timekeeping, calendar calculations, and potentially religious or cultural practices. Remarkably, the chair is said to be quite comfortable.

While the specific creators of the stone chair and its exact purpose remain unknown, its proximity to villages and settlements suggests a practical intent. Stone chairs used for observatories in ancient times were typically crafted from durable materials like granite and strategically positioned for celestial observation. These chairs often featured alignments or markings aiding in tracking astronomical events such as solstices, equinoxes, or specific star positions.

In New England, there are many similar ancient markers. Various cultures, including indigenous peoples of the region, created solar and lunar markers to measure time and mark seasonal changes. These structures ranged from stone circles to standing stones or even cairns, designed to align with the sun during the solstices and equinoxes. These markers were crucial to agricultural societies, which relied on celestial events to determine the best times for planting and harvesting. Sites such as America's Stonehenge in New Hampshire and the Calendar II chamber in Vermont stand as reminders of how widespread this practice was throughout the region.

The site consists of one separate throne attached to a bench that could seat 4 to 5 people.

The presence of solar markers in New England suggests that ancient cultures in this area had a sophisticated understanding of astronomy and the movement of celestial bodies. Some of these structures, like the stone chair in Rensselaer County, may have been used to monitor the position of the sun on key dates of the year, such as the solstice or equinox. These alignments served not only as practical tools but may have had religious or cultural significance, marking important rituals or seasonal transitions.

Today, I had the privilege of hiking to the ancient solar marker, guided by long-time residents, now friends, who had reached out to me after reading my first story on social media. The site contains not just a throne-like seat but also a long bench where others may have sat to observe the sky. The view from the granite bench spans 315º northeast, sweeping across the hills. I was told that, before the trees grew tall, the view extended through a dip in the landscape all the way to the horizon. Over time, the forest has reclaimed much of the surrounding land, hiding ancient glyphs beneath moss and foliage. The glyphs, which may have held symbolic or practical significance, are now lost to the seasonal rhythms of nature.

Sitting on the bench, I couldn’t help but reflect on its stunning simplicity. Without knowing exactly how long it has been here, the stone likely looks just as it did when its builders gathered around the nearby fire ring, gazing out over what may have been settlements below. In the photos within this series, I’ve included a diagram with silhouettes to show the scale and configuration of the site. These silhouettes represent long-time residents, now friends, who accompanied me. By including them, I hope to provide a sense of perspective and a deeper understanding of the remarkable craftsmanship involved in this ancient structure.

There is something profoundly humbling in the knowledge that hidden within our forests lie such artifacts, a testament to the ingenuity of indigenous peoples who mapped the stars and tracked time using the landscape around them. However, out of respect for the site’s history, and the fact that it is located on private land, I cannot disclose its location. To protect the sanctity of the site, I’ve removed all location metadata from the images, ensuring that its exact whereabouts remain undisclosed. These remnants of the past deserve our reverence and protection, as they represent a delicate connection between ancient and modern lives. They remind us that history is not always buried far beneath the ground—it often lives quietly within the forests, waiting for those with the curiosity and care to seek it out.

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