No Way! Fisherman Pulls American History From Upstate NY Creek

An Upstate New York angler pulled an incredible piece of American history out of a creek in the central part of the state over the Father's Day weekend.

After hooking something he thought was going to be a big fish, John Goodenough of Bridgewater, NY, reeled-in a brass and wooden wheel that may have been stuck in the water for a century.

Brown trout caught by John G of Bridgewater, NY

Goodenough told WIBX 950 on Monday morning he had dropped a line in the water in the Sauquoit Creek not far from Route 8 near Chadwicks, NY.

Below is the photo of his amazing catch.

Wheel from an old Paige automobile fished out of Sauquoit Creek in Upstate NY over Father's Day Weekend 2023 - credit: John Goodenough

The hub of the wheel is brass and still has legible markings that say it was manufactured in Utica, NY. Meanwhile, the spokes of the wheel are wooden. It is believed the wheel is from an old Paige Automobile.

(NOTE: A previous version of this story identified the wheel as likely coming from an old Ford Model T. Thank you to a handful of our readers who pointed out the obvious 'Paige' marking seen in the above photo, located in the center of the wheel's hub.)

Paige was a Detroit-based auto company that existed in the early 1900's through much of the 1920's, making what was considered - for that era - luxury automobiles.

Unfortunately, many of the wooden spokes are snapped and rotting from sitting in the water for so long.

Ford Model T - depicting auto wheel look and design from the early 1900's. Getty Images

Goodenough is a frequent caller to the WIBX First News with Keeler in the Morning Show and will often text-in to the show to show off a morning catch.

Just last week he caught this and shared with it us.

Brown trout caught by John G of Bridgewater, NY

Speaking to WIBX 950, Goodnenough said he wasn't far from the village of Clayville, and the home of Henry Clay and the Clay Estate.

"I'd bet a man like that had to have Model T or some kind of vehicle. Remember, Clayville was a booming place back in the day...there was only one main route to get in and around all the towns and villages around there."

Ford Model T - Getty Images

Excited by his catch of American history, he's headed back to see what else he can find.

And, whatever he does pull from the water will be shared with the show and our audience on WIBX 950, he said.

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Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams