The area covered here is roughly from Route 146 Carman Road north to the Rotterdam/Schenectady line.

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This site is for the benefit of those who still fondly remember those days and their children who may have heard many a story of those times.

Currently this is ONLY a beginning and ALL contributions are welcome as long as they fit the general theme of the site.

Please e-mail any comments, photos, captions, corrections
or questions to:

ccolleague@cox.net

John Green
GCHS class of 1971
Town resident from
1957-1984

Vicki Meade
GCHS class of 1971

 

Al Leininger

Albany Beverage Center
just above Route 20 on Carman Road.

 

 

 

 

3403 Carman Road.

The original Fort Hunter Fire department.

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www.myfambly.com

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Available exclusively
from www.jgreenbooks.com
via Lulu Press

“Up ahead at the sign post...”

They say you can never go back and maybe you shouldn’t. Thirty two years after he left his hometown, Jonathan Moran returns to visit his dying father and spends a long afternoon driving down “memory lane” only to find a portal to the past and maybe a date with destiny.

This is a story of a town the way it was and never will be again. And a tavern like thousands of others across America that shaped many a memory and many a life.

EXCLUSIVELY AT LULU PRESS

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He pulled his 2011 Chevy Cruz rental car into the large and very empty dirt lot on the corner of US route 20 and state route 146 and killed the ignition. Opening the door, he slid out and lit a cigarette. As he slowly walked toward the center of the lot, his snakeskin boots kicked up dust and his Stetson hat shielded his eyes from the late afternoon sun.  Passing cars and the few pedestrians hurrying along their way paid no attention to him despite his attire that was way out of place.

Jonathan stopped and waited. He was wondering if he would presently smell stale beer, pizza, smoke and urine. Would he hear the rippling humming noise of the crowd or “My Sweet Lord,”  “Get Back” and “Honky Tonk Woman” beating out of the jukebox? Would a familiar voice say, “Hey Jon… what you doing tonight?” Nothing mystic or Stephen King like happened but he stood waiting nonetheless.

This was his next to last stop. He had time.

96 pages

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This novel passes through Guilderland and Schenectady on its way to its climactic and mysterious ending.

***

Following the premature death of his wife, Earl Garnett, a professional writer, decides to drive across America. Along the way, he discovers the country, as he never imagined it. Soon, cryptic writings appear on his laptop, often coinciding with roadside memorials that lead him into the darker sides of the road. Ultimately, he must decide whether or not to follow the prompting of these haunting passages and accept the consequences.

***

 

 

 

 

Fort Hunter

On a recent trip back east I took as many photos as I could of places that still exist from "back in the day." Some have changed slightly and some I have no history on. If anyone has information for this page, please send an e-mail to me with additions and/or corrections.

St. Madeline Sophie church and school.

Leininger's Cider Mill on Carman Road & Old State Rd. was the place to get fresh cider in the fall. By the cup or by the gallon! You could even bring your own container. It was on Old State road just off Carman road.

This is the original Cider Mill the Leininger Family opened.  Carman Road is on the left, and it is going up towards the hill just before Sunset lane. It would have been about 1943.  The woman in the light dress, in the center is Edith Leininger (my grandmother), and the last man on the left holding the Glass jug is Fred Warner, her brother. The actual history is that there was a cider mill on the property when they bought it. Eli Van Wagenen had owned and ran it.  A lot of people came by and asked about the cider, so my grandfather decided at that time open one.

- submitted by Brian Leininger

The back of Leininger's. Across Carmen Road is the Stutz Farm.
Now an apartment complex and fast becoming Lynnwood Estates.

The Carman Drive-In Theater. The show starts in... 5 minutes! And be sure to remove the speaker from your window before you leave! "Don't let this happen to your car." Now a housing devlopment.

Mike's Diner - still there! And still serving great food. Especially hot dogs with meat sauce and onions.. in 2011 and 2017! The author told the waitresses when he came in, "I've driven three thousand miles for one of you famous dogs. Come to think of it, make it two!" Eyebrows raised high until he explained his purpose. Breakfast a week later, but this time with his wife with him, they had agreat breakfast too!

Below: Greulich's Market as it was originally and just before closing in 2015.

 

 

 

 

What was at one time the home of the Harper family on Carman road.

Still there - along with Andrews Trailer court on route 20 (see Guilderland page) the oldest and ONLY trailer courts left in town.

Sadly, all that remains of Nedco Pharmacy on Carman Rd. and Lydius Streets.

This is from a Fort Hunter Fire company event, on their back property. The firetruck is from 1927, or 29.  They used to give kids rides on the truck during events.  They still have the truck, but it is not working currently.

Top: Fire wrecks the Fort Hunter Fire Department. Under that is as the department looks today.

This was from a parade going down Carman Road, Fort Hunter elementary in the background, circa 1970 or 71.

Fort Hunter Elementary School class photos. Above 1962-1963.
Below from 1967-1970

The teacher in this one is Miss Houston. '66 -'67

This house on Morningside drive has not changed since the 1960's. Was built by Stan and Florence Gogol. Above in 2017 - below in 2011.

This house is now a part of Dr. Tetreault’s practice.  It has been added on to and is between the Medical Center and Mike’s Diner

Typical Bungalow on Carman road - 3476 Carman road. Note the generous front porch but back in the day - no satellite dish!

 

We need more photos, captions and stories for Fort Hunter area!