A6: EXPLORING THE SURFICIAL GEOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY OF ALFRED NY
David J. Barclay
Geology Department, SUNY Cortland, Cortland NY 13045
david.barclay@cortland.edu
Otto H. Muller
Geology Department, Alfred University, Alfred NY 14802
fmuller@alfred.edu
Richard A. Young
Department of Geological Sciences (Emeritus), SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, NY 14454
young@geneseo.edu
Introduction
Alfred is located in west-central New York within the Allegheny Plateau. This area is fairly close to the outer limit of glaciation, with moraines of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) only 43 km to the southwest (Figure 1). Nonetheless, the landscape of the Alfred area has been significantly affected by geomorphic processes associated with the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) during the Quaternary (2.58 Ma to the present). These processes include localized erosion by meltwater overflowing from proglacial lakes, subglacial erosion by glacial ice, and deposition of sediment and landforms from glacial ice, meltwater streams, and in proglacial lakes. Additional landscape modification has occurred during other intervals of the Quaternary when the LIS was north of the Alfred area or entirely absent from North America.
In this field trip we will visit some of the Quaternary landforms and sedimentary deposits of the Alfred area. Although there has been a lot of research done in surrounding areas, the surficial geology and hydrology at Alfred has only seen limited reconnaissance-level work to date. Therefore, this field trip will emphasize the general picture of Quaternary landscape evolution of the glaciated Allegheny Plateau and consider how some sediments and landforms near Alfred fit within this regional context.

A6: EXPLORING THE SURFICIAL GEOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY OF ALFRED NY

STOP 1. The Alfred Clay
Background: During the 1880’s, it was discovered that the clay in the vicinity of Alfred, NY could be used to make quality terra cotta products. In 1889 the Celadon Terra Cotta Company was organized by a small group of Alfred entrepreneurs to manufacture bricks and roofing tile. The company prospered and was partially responsible for locating the New York School of Clayworking (now the New York State College of Ceramics) in Alfred. In 1906, the company was sold to the Ludowici Company of Ohio, which became the Ludowici-Celadon Company. By that time the original tile works had expanded until it covered more than an acre of ground, occupying the space where presently are located Alfred University’s McLane Center and its parking lot.
The plant was completely destroyed by fire on the morning of August 26, 1909, except for the small office building which stood separately along North Main Street (and now sits at the intersection by the traffic light). While the tile factory was not rebuilt after the fire, many of its products can still be seen in town on various roof tops and on the exterior of the “Terra Cotta” building.
Observations you can make: The clays are made obvious by the water glistening on its surface. This is water which trickled down from the soil above, but hit the impermeable clay and moved along it to the stream bed. Here erosion has exposed this contact at the surface. So we see a spring at the top of the clay layer, effusing its ground water to make the clay glisten.
Dig out a bit of the clay with your finger, and note that you can roll it, mold it, make it into little sculptures. This is what artists call a "Workable Clay" and it is this property which made it valuable.
Look down the stream valley, and you will see large rocks and concrete structures, riprap, which were put in place during the reconstruction after the flood from Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Nature has disturbed many of them. This flood, which isolated Alfred for a week, caused the water to rise here to the level of the front porches of the houses across Main Street.
Other observations: In doing the foundation work for the building across the street, this clay layer was exposed. After some manipulation they put a layer of sand down on top of it, as shown below:

Terra Cotta House
To your left, after you turn, is the Terra Cotta building referred to in the description for Stop 1. It served as a catalog for the company,

Terra Cotta decorations above second floor
The building on the east side of Main Street, Green Hall, has Terra Cotta tiles on the wall above second floor

Octagon House on left, terraces on right

Possible site of mill dam
Downstream from this dam are large chunks of primitive concrete which may have been part of a dam. If so, this large flat region would have been produced by the silting up of the mill pond behind the dam, and is thus anthropogenic. The terraces are visible on the right, and are at a considerably higher elevation.

STOP 2. Clear view of terraces to the right (west)
When the leaves are on the trees it is sometimes difficult to see the terraces which we've passed, but here there is always a clear view. The profile of the terrace is obvious, and it is dipping gently back down the valley to our north.

Watershed boundary Upper Canacadea Creek and Middle Dyke Creek
The Upper Canacadea Creek watershed is behind us, and water flowing into it, towards the north, ends up in the Chesapeake Bay. Middle Dyke Creek watershed is ahead of us, and water flowing into it, towards the south, ends up in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

AU's Bromeley-Daggett Equestrian Center
Shortly after turning right (west) onto Lake Road you will pass AU's Bromeley-Daggett Equestrian Center located at the Maris Cuneo Equine Park. An early director was surprised to find that many of the horse trails here, near the top of the hill, were very poorly drained.

AU's Foster Lake
Foster Lake is a beautiful 25-acre man-made lake located two miles Southwest of Alfred, New York. The lake was created by Eddy Foster in 1950 and was owned by the Foster family until 2003.
Dammed at both ends, the outlets both drain into the Vandermark creek, staying within the Vandermark Valley watershed.

STOP 3. Till in roadside ditches
These ditches were excavated during August of 2017. Observe the angular clasts, lack of sorting, and abundant clay. Most of the clasts are sedimentary, probably derived from local bedrock.

Watershed Boundary Upper Canacadea Creek and Vandermark Creek
The Upper Canacadea Creek watershed is behind us, and water flowing into it, towards the north, ends up in the Chesapeake Bay. Vandermark Creek watershed is ahead of us, and water flowing into it, towards the southwest, ends up in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Make a sharp right on Vandermark Road. Proceed to the NE on this road, gaining about 60 feet in elevation as you cover 1.28 miles of road.

STOP 4. Five Corners

STOP 4a.Bridge

STOP 5.Waterfall

1.28 miles from 5 Corners Elevation is 1820
From 5 Corners we have come down about 184 feet in 1.28 miles. This is about three times as much elevation change as we saw over an equivalent distance in the Vandermark valley.

Bridge with tributary and Clay deposit

STOP 6. Almond Aggregates Quarry

STOP 7. Culverts and Bridge

STOP 7. Breached Dam

STOP 8. Lunch

STOP 9. Overview of Hornell valley

Bald Hill, to our right (west) is an Umlaufberg

Levees built after flood of 1935

More levees and Bridge over Purdy Creek

Turn to the right (west) and enter outlet valley

Notice the canyon, and severely underfit stream to the N

STOP 10. Watershed Boundary

Marsh Creek enters Cryder Creek

Watershed Boundary

STOP 11. Tip Top

Alfred Atlas pit

Alfred Station pit

Rock quarry at top of hill