Comments on: People of the Standing Stone: The Skenandoah Boulder in Oneida http://newyorktraveler.net/people-of-the-standing-stone-the-skenandoah-boulder-in-oneida/ Just another WordPress site Mon, 14 May 2012 00:13:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Ron Vidal http://newyorktraveler.net/people-of-the-standing-stone-the-skenandoah-boulder-in-oneida/#comment-504 Ron Vidal Sun, 25 Mar 2012 20:44:12 +0000 http://newyorktraveler.net/?p=440#comment-504 Native Americans cosidered stones as living objects. It is fitting that it would be sacred to the Oneida peoples and their future generations. Where I grew up in the Berkshires there is a hudge stone called Balance Rock. Thru the years its faced has been carved, with names, numbers and all sorts of inscreptions some hardly readable. I have a "feeling" that this Boulder was significiant in the life of the Native Peoples that lived there before us. It is kind of spiritual. R. Vidal Windsor Locks, CT Native Americans cosidered stones as living objects. It is fitting that it would be sacred to the Oneida peoples and their
future generations. Where I grew up in the Berkshires there is a hudge stone called Balance Rock. Thru the years its faced has been carved, with names, numbers and all sorts of inscreptions some hardly readable. I have a “feeling” that this Boulder was significiant in the life of the Native Peoples that lived there before us. It is kind of spiritual.

R. Vidal Windsor Locks, CT

]]> By: Cathy Mason http://newyorktraveler.net/people-of-the-standing-stone-the-skenandoah-boulder-in-oneida/#comment-503 Cathy Mason Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:23:45 +0000 http://newyorktraveler.net/?p=440#comment-503 Dear Mrs. Mecomber, This is a fascinating subject. You asked who Schoolcraft was. Possibly after all this time you've subsequently learned the answer: he was Henry Rowe Schoocraft, a geologist and Indian agent who worked with and studied Native Americans during the 19th century. Dear Mrs. Mecomber,

This is a fascinating subject. You asked who Schoolcraft was. Possibly after all this time you’ve subsequently learned the answer: he was Henry Rowe Schoocraft, a geologist and Indian agent who worked with and studied Native Americans during the 19th century.

]]> By: Bruce Nichols http://newyorktraveler.net/people-of-the-standing-stone-the-skenandoah-boulder-in-oneida/#comment-502 Bruce Nichols Sun, 07 Nov 2010 02:33:07 +0000 http://newyorktraveler.net/?p=440#comment-502 Dear Mrs. Mecomber, I was pleased to find your piece drawing attention to the "Skenandoah Boulder." While you are entirely correct that Kirkland and Skenanadoah are both buried at Hamilton College, your piece makes it sound as if that Skenandoah was carried on the shoulders of his fellow Indians up College Hill at his death in 1816. This was not the case; at the time Kirkland was buried behind his house, a property now known as the Harding Farm, on Rt. 233. Skenandoah was first interred there, and the two were moved, I believe sometime in the 1840s, to the College cemetery. I offer this in no critical spirit; it is nice to see someone interested in the topic! Bruce Nichols Dear Mrs. Mecomber,

I was pleased to find your piece drawing attention to the “Skenandoah Boulder.” While you are entirely correct that Kirkland and Skenanadoah are both buried at Hamilton College, your piece makes it sound as if that Skenandoah was carried on the shoulders of his fellow Indians up College Hill at his death in 1816. This was not the case; at the time Kirkland was buried behind his house, a property now known as the Harding Farm, on Rt. 233. Skenandoah was first interred there, and the two were moved, I believe sometime in the 1840s, to the College cemetery. I offer this in no critical spirit; it is nice to see someone interested in the topic!

Bruce Nichols

]]> By: Melanie Zimmer http://newyorktraveler.net/people-of-the-standing-stone-the-skenandoah-boulder-in-oneida/#comment-501 Melanie Zimmer Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:37:02 +0000 http://newyorktraveler.net/?p=440#comment-501 The Shenandoah boulder is just a historical marker. It is not the Sacred Stone of the Oneidas which was removed to Oneida territory. Schoolcraft published some erroneous material. The stone is not all that large. The lithograph in Schoolcraft's book bears no resemblance to the stone, but it merely an artist's interpretation of what the stone might look like. Also, regarding one of the comments that "we" whoever that might be, placed the stone in the cemetery, apparently it was placed there by the Oneidas for safekeeping as they did not wish it to be on private property which could be sold at the time, however the marker was placed there by the cemetery and also contained some unfactual material which I presume is the reason the Oneidas did not take the base or marker. The cemetery offered it to them. I see Tony Wonderley's book is recommended in the comments and it should be good. Dr. Wonderley served as the Oneida Nation Historian for many years. You may also read about the stone and see a photo of it in my book, Central New York and The Finger Lakes: Myths, Legends, and Lore published by The History Press. The Shenandoah boulder is just a historical marker. It is not the Sacred Stone of the Oneidas which was removed to Oneida territory. Schoolcraft published some erroneous material. The stone is not all that large. The lithograph in Schoolcraft’s book bears no resemblance to the stone, but it merely an artist’s interpretation of what the stone might look like.
Also, regarding one of the comments that “we” whoever that might be, placed the stone in the cemetery, apparently it was placed there by the Oneidas for safekeeping as they did not wish it to be on private property which could be sold at the time, however the marker was placed there by the cemetery and also contained some unfactual material which I presume is the reason the Oneidas did not take the base or marker. The cemetery offered it to them.
I see Tony Wonderley’s book is recommended in the comments and it should be good. Dr. Wonderley served as the Oneida Nation Historian for many years. You may also read about the stone and see a photo of it in my book, Central New York and The Finger Lakes: Myths, Legends, and Lore published by The History Press.

]]> By: Steve Darman http://newyorktraveler.net/people-of-the-standing-stone-the-skenandoah-boulder-in-oneida/#comment-500 Steve Darman Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:15:47 +0000 http://newyorktraveler.net/?p=440#comment-500 Living nearby on Oneida Street in 1974, I found that the Sacred Stone of the Oneida Nation was in Forest Hill cemetary. To me, it was a tragic symbol of what white men did to ravish the Oneida culture. What were we thinking? If a very special stone that doesn't belong to us looks like a gravestone- we should take it and then put it with other gravestones? I called a close friend who was married to a Cherokee Indian who was active in the American Indian Movement (William Myer) who contacted the Oneida Nation leaders- and the stone was returned to it's home shortly afterward. I understand that today, whites are not allowed to even view the stone. Living nearby on Oneida Street in 1974, I found that the Sacred Stone of the Oneida Nation was in Forest Hill cemetary. To me, it was a tragic symbol of what white men did to ravish the Oneida culture. What were we thinking? If a very special stone that doesn’t belong to us looks like a gravestone- we should take it and then put it with other gravestones?

I called a close friend who was married to a Cherokee Indian who was active in the American Indian Movement (William Myer) who contacted the Oneida Nation leaders- and the stone was returned to it’s home shortly afterward. I understand that today, whites are not allowed to even view the stone.

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