Innovation in History: The Erie Canal & Buffalo's Connection
As American Poet Philip Freneau wrote in the poem:
Pittsford on the Erie Canal, 1837
The Great Western Canal
Ye patrons of this bold design
Who Erie to Atlantic join,
To you be every honour paid --
No time shall see your fame decayed;
Through gloomy groves you traced the plan,
The rude abodes of savage man.
Ye Prompters of a work so vast
That may for years, for centuries last;
Where Nature toiled to bar the way
You mark'd her steps, but changed her way.
Ye patrons of this bold design
Who Erie to Atlantic join,
To you be every honour paid --
No time shall see your fame decayed;
Through gloomy groves you traced the plan,
The rude abodes of savage man.
Ye Prompters of a work so vast
That may for years, for centuries last;
Where Nature toiled to bar the way
You mark'd her steps, but changed her way.
1825 Map of New York State
The Erie Canal Creates "The Empire State"
The Erie Canal became a continual force in New York politics, added words to the language, stimulated folk tales and songs, provided employment to thousands during and after its construction.
The Erie Canal enlarged cities and villages, lead to new ones where there had been merely forest before, and laid down the skeletal outline of New York's urban development and its transportation network.
Source Eric Brunger PhD. The Ditch That Made Buffalo the QueenCity of the Lakes
The Erie Canal enlarged cities and villages, lead to new ones where there had been merely forest before, and laid down the skeletal outline of New York's urban development and its transportation network.
Source Eric Brunger PhD. The Ditch That Made Buffalo the QueenCity of the Lakes
Cities and Regions Developed after the Erie Canal Opens
Let’s take a journey down the prestigious waters of the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal open and enlarged regions farther west to settlement. The canal was the first transportation system between the Eastern Seaboard (New York City) and Western New York (Great Lakes) also at the same time shaping the United States making is easier to travel west these are the first few regions created by the canal and the history of the Canal construction around those regions.
Champlain Canal: Pathway to Lake Champlain
First we stop at The Champlain Canal, it constructed cities like Whitehall, Fort Ann, Fort Edward, Saratoga Springs, and Mechanicsvlle containing locks E2-E6. It is a 60-mile canal that connects the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River in New York. The canal was proposed in 1812 and construction was authorized in 1817. By 1818, twelve miles were completed and in 1819 the canal was opened from Fort Edward to Lake Champlain. The canal was officially opened on September 10, 1823. It was an immediate financial success and carried substantial commercial traffic until the 1970s. This canal today is an official piece of the Erie Canal.
The Erie Canal: Connecting Albany to Buffalo
Moving on to the Albany-Troy section of the Erie Canal was enlarged between 1836 and 1841 building cities like Albany, Troy, Amsterdam and Fonda. The double lock was put into service on April 20, 1842, built largely of "Amsterdam Stone", the lock was in service until about 1916. According to the HAER report, from August 1969, "the portion of the lock owned by the City of Cohoes is being filled in because of alleged danger to children." The privately owned portion "will be preserved in its present state."
The Utica section of the Erie Canal contains Locks E7 to E16. This section caontains the communities of Rome, Utica and Little Falls.
Slowly drifting down to the Rochester section of the Erie Canal stretches from Lock E 33 to CS 4. This section contains canal towns like Spencerport, Fairport, Pittsford and the City of Rochester.
The Niagara section of the Erie Canal contains the Lockport Locks, E 34/35. This is the biggest elevation difference on the Erie Canal. This section contains the communities of Brockport, Albion, Medina, Lockport, The Tonawandas and eventually leading to Niagara River and the City of Buffalo.
The Seneca-Cayuga: The Finger Lakes Region
The Seneca-Cayuga Canal connects the Finger Lakes Region to The Erie Canal system. The Finger Lakes of Seneca & Cayuga are linked by the CS Locks 1-4. This section contains the communities of Auburn, Seneca Falls, Geneva & Newark.
The Oswego Canal: Pathway to Lake Ontario
The Oswego Canal is a Canal in the NYS Canal System. It was opened in 1828. It is 23.7 Miles long. It connects the Erie Canal at Three Rivers (near Liverpool) to Lake Ontario at Oswego. The Canal has a depth of 14 ft., with seven locks spanning the 118 ft. change in elevation. The modern canal essentially follows the Oswego River, canalized with locks and dams.
Champlain Canal: Pathway to Lake Champlain
First we stop at The Champlain Canal, it constructed cities like Whitehall, Fort Ann, Fort Edward, Saratoga Springs, and Mechanicsvlle containing locks E2-E6. It is a 60-mile canal that connects the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River in New York. The canal was proposed in 1812 and construction was authorized in 1817. By 1818, twelve miles were completed and in 1819 the canal was opened from Fort Edward to Lake Champlain. The canal was officially opened on September 10, 1823. It was an immediate financial success and carried substantial commercial traffic until the 1970s. This canal today is an official piece of the Erie Canal.
The Erie Canal: Connecting Albany to Buffalo
Moving on to the Albany-Troy section of the Erie Canal was enlarged between 1836 and 1841 building cities like Albany, Troy, Amsterdam and Fonda. The double lock was put into service on April 20, 1842, built largely of "Amsterdam Stone", the lock was in service until about 1916. According to the HAER report, from August 1969, "the portion of the lock owned by the City of Cohoes is being filled in because of alleged danger to children." The privately owned portion "will be preserved in its present state."
The Utica section of the Erie Canal contains Locks E7 to E16. This section caontains the communities of Rome, Utica and Little Falls.
Slowly drifting down to the Rochester section of the Erie Canal stretches from Lock E 33 to CS 4. This section contains canal towns like Spencerport, Fairport, Pittsford and the City of Rochester.
The Niagara section of the Erie Canal contains the Lockport Locks, E 34/35. This is the biggest elevation difference on the Erie Canal. This section contains the communities of Brockport, Albion, Medina, Lockport, The Tonawandas and eventually leading to Niagara River and the City of Buffalo.
The Seneca-Cayuga: The Finger Lakes Region
The Seneca-Cayuga Canal connects the Finger Lakes Region to The Erie Canal system. The Finger Lakes of Seneca & Cayuga are linked by the CS Locks 1-4. This section contains the communities of Auburn, Seneca Falls, Geneva & Newark.
The Oswego Canal: Pathway to Lake Ontario
The Oswego Canal is a Canal in the NYS Canal System. It was opened in 1828. It is 23.7 Miles long. It connects the Erie Canal at Three Rivers (near Liverpool) to Lake Ontario at Oswego. The Canal has a depth of 14 ft., with seven locks spanning the 118 ft. change in elevation. The modern canal essentially follows the Oswego River, canalized with locks and dams.