The famous White Site (1) is on Johnson Creek, about 3.7 miles (as the creek flows) from the Chenango River (2). Surely the residents of that site had traversed the entire stretch of the Johnson Creek. In fact, the "Iroquois Trail" (now County Road 33 + White Store Road) ran between the Chenango River and the Unadilla (= Tianaderha) River. Its western terminus was near this confluence (3).
I have been trying to explore the confluence for several years. However, it was always too wet. Fortunately, this spring has been dry and so, on 3 April 2012, I ventured over and was able to walk around in it.
The confluence is not a single stream emptying into the river. Johnson Creek forms a fan of small streams covering about a quarter mile of riverfront. The entire riverside area is a wetland. Some of the larger washouts indicate that several feet of mud covers whatever is under it. It does not look like any place that I would pitch a tent.
But lo, looking southeasterly a veritable peninsula stretches out perhaps a furlong from the higher spot the barn and house are on. This would be the site for a dig. It is very close to what I think is The Castle (4).
The Johnson Creek has been controlled in the historic past to try to confine it within artificial berms. The futility of this approach is seen in the field adjacent to the creek. Stones have repeatedly been sprawled over the field by the rushing waters. One of these washouts stretches for about 300 feet.
References cited:
1. Whitney, Theodore ; Gibson, Stanford. The White Site, Nbn 2-3 [Bulletin] Chenango Chapter NYSAA 1987 Aug; 22(2): x-21+plates 1-10.
2. USGS Topographic 7.5 minute maps Norwich and Holmesville, 1943.
3. Survey map of the Twenty Townships. 1789.
4. Clark, Hiram C. History of Chenango County ... Norwich, NY: Thompson & Pratt. 1850. Page 8
