Valatie Falls, Columbia County

[Matt]

thanks to Steve for this tip...

The falls is located in Columbia County, NY in the village of Valatie - which is on the east side of the Hudson River between Albany and Hudson - and also N.E. of Stuyvesant falls along route 9.
Right in Valatie, where route 203 zig-zags through town (and over the river) there is a man-made damn with falls below it.

There were children swimming in the pool(s) below the falls while I was there.

[Matt]

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/14031824[/vimeo]

[hobkyl]

Nothing there Matt....

[George]

Today's useless knowledge: The Village gets it's name from the Dutch word "valatje", meaning "little falls". The correct pronunciation rhymes with "inertia"

[Jeduthan]

I took this on a bike ride through Columbia County today. Almost too much water from all the rain over the past week. During the ride I stopped here, plus a waterfalls on private property, Stottville Falls, Stockport Falls, Chittenden's (Rossman) Falls, and Stuyvesant Falls. Valatie Falls has two parts, each topped with a dam, and viewable from the Route 203 bridge. There's a small park on the north side of the bridge where you can park and walk the 100 feet to the falls. You can also clamber under the bridge for a different view of the northern falls.

[Jeduthan]

The second part of the falls. I think the building was a mill, perhaps now a residence, but I don't know for sure. The falls extends beyond the picture - this is the most I could get from the bridge. Underneath the building sits a large wheel (or sheave) with a belt on it. The center of the wheel looks shiny, which can only mean the wheel is used even today - otherwise the entire surface of the wheel would be dark with rust.

[Jeduthan]

I was in the area again today, and though I try a different perspective.

[Matt]

Great pics.
I wonder, if a residence, if they can hear, and are annoyed by the sound of the wheel shaft moving.. and if it's something they can turn off.