Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Cave explorers tackle Black River project

A Western New York group of cave explorers is getting ready for its trek into a Black River cave under the Watertown Veterans Memorial Riverwalk.

Members of the Niagara Frontier Grotto will be in the city Saturday or Sunday to prepare for the exploration later this summer of the cave under the city park.

While they're here, they will start planning to remove a cement seal that was put up in 1996 after two teens who had gotten lost inside were rescued, said Elliott B. Nelson, confidential assistant to the city manager. The cement seal will be removed and a gate will be installed in its place.

Members also plan to "do some scouting" in the cave and take some measurements for the new gate, which will take about three weeks to manufacture and install, member Joseph J. Giunta said. The group hasn't scheduled the day it will be going into the cave yet, he said.

In March, the Niagara Frontier Grotto, a Western New York chapter of the National Speleological Society with 35 members, including Mr. Giunta, contacted the City Council about exploring Watertown's caves. Council members have supported the exploration, contending that the caves could become some sort of tourist attraction.

For safety reasons, the group will send at least three explorers into the caves at a time, in case something were to happen. Members must sign an "assumption of risk" document that will get the city off the hook for liability in case of an accident.

Group members already have talked to Fire Chief Dale C. Herman about what they want to do in the cave and what the fire chief should expect from the exploration, Mr. Giunta said.

For decades, there has been a curiosity about the caves, an intricate underground maze of crevices. According to folklore dating back to the 1820s, the caves contain artifacts, treasures and gold. During the 1920s, ice was stored in them to keep beer cold in the summertime.

Source: Watertown Daily Times


Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Cave explorers tackle Black River project

A Western New York group of cave explorers is getting ready for its trek into a Black River cave under the Watertown Veterans Memorial Riverwalk.

Members of the Niagara Frontier Grotto will be in the city Saturday or Sunday to prepare for the exploration later this summer of the cave under the city park.

While they're here, they will start planning to remove a cement seal that was put up in 1996 after two teens who had gotten lost inside were rescued, said Elliott B. Nelson, confidential assistant to the city manager. The cement seal will be removed and a gate will be installed in its place.

Members also plan to "do some scouting" in the cave and take some measurements for the new gate, which will take about three weeks to manufacture and install, member Joseph J. Giunta said. The group hasn't scheduled the day it will be going into the cave yet, he said.

In March, the Niagara Frontier Grotto, a Western New York chapter of the National Speleological Society with 35 members, including Mr. Giunta, contacted the City Council about exploring Watertown's caves. Council members have supported the exploration, contending that the caves could become some sort of tourist attraction.

For safety reasons, the group will send at least three explorers into the caves at a time, in case something were to happen. Members must sign an "assumption of risk" document that will get the city off the hook for liability in case of an accident.

Group members already have talked to Fire Chief Dale C. Herman about what they want to do in the cave and what the fire chief should expect from the exploration, Mr. Giunta said.

For decades, there has been a curiosity about the caves, an intricate underground maze of crevices. According to folklore dating back to the 1820s, the caves contain artifacts, treasures and gold. During the 1920s, ice was stored in them to keep beer cold in the summertime.

Source: Watertown Daily Times