The Historic Erie Canal
Weatherbest Slip boathouses 2006 - photo courtesy of D. B. Gutowski
A BRIEF HISTORY - THE ERIE CANAL
The Erie Canal was the first great canal in the United States and helped establish financial and commercial growth throughout the area.
It was designed to connect the interior of New York State and eastern markets with the Great Lakes Region and farmers of the heartland.
Teams of mules would tie up to boats and barges. Then walk the towpaths along sides of the canal, pulling the loaded vessels through an original water depth of only 4 feet.
From our states capital, Albany, on the Hudson River, to the mouth of the mighty Niagara River in Tonawanda, this man made canal extends over 350 miles.
To signify the opening of the canal on Oct 26, 1825, a relay system of cannons firing along the banks of the waterway sent the message across the state (taking 1 hour, 21 minutes). The Erie Canal was officially open. For extra points, who can name the first vessel to make the trip from end to end?
Historical Data: Courtesy of the official Canal Fest of the Tonawandas Inc. Web Site, Canal Fest of the Tonawandas is the largest of its kind along the Erie Canal.
The Erie Canal, built across New York State in the 1820s, opened the Midwest to development and helped New York City become a worldwide trading center. This journey through history combines songs, historic information, post cards, panoramic photos, maps and community profiles to create a comprehensive multimedia package about the canal and its national impact.
To view an online tour of the Erie Canal, please visit ePodunk's: The Erie Canal - A journey through history
The aerial view of North Tonawanda and Tonawanda clearly showns the Erie Canal. The process of filling in the old Erie Canal from Tonawanda to Buffalo had begun. The terminus of the newly enlarged New York State Barge Canal at that time became and remains today the Tonawanda Harbor.
Photo/Caption: Courtesy of 1997 100th Centennial Book
For more information on the Erie Canal, please visit The Empire State - New York State: Canal Culture
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Looking north across the Erie Canal with the Tonawanda dam visible on July 19, 1910. The Smith Building, North Tonawanda's skyscraper, is visible at the left and the tower of the Northern Silk Mills stands high above the other structures. Photo: Courtesy of New York State Archives |
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The Tonawanda dam, looking south from North Tonawanda on July 19, 1910. Photo: Courtesy of the New York State Archives |
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The Tonawanda Dam, looking north on October 5, 1914. Visible are the Sheldon Hotel with its open porches, the Sweeney Building, and the Northern Silk Mills factory. Photo: Courtesy of the New York State Archives |
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Looking east up the Erie Canal toward the cantilever bridge on November 22, 1920. Photo: Courtesy of New York State Archives |
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| Three Navy landing barges heading east on the Erie Canal under the then Bascule Bridge in the 1940's. The Richardson Boat Company built many small wooden personnel landing craft for the Navy during World War II. Bison Shipyard on Tonawanda Island produced many Landing Craft Tanks (LCT's) for the war effort also. During World War II, Richardson Boat Company constructed five wooden gasoline-powered tugs, each one 62 feet long, for the government, and delivered them via the Canal. Photo: Courtesy of George Trautman Collection |
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For the 4th of July (Independence Day) in 1910, residents of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda celebrated by pole walking. A pole was stretched across the Barge Canal . Grease had been applied to the pole. The goal was to walk across the greased pole without falling into the Canal. Note the large crowd that gathered to observe. Photo: Courtesy of Wattengel Funeral Home |
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Another photo of July 4, 1910, provides an additional perspective on the role the Canal played in local activities. This view shows the Canal between South Niagara Street and North Niagara Street in Tonawanda. Photo: Courtesy of Wattengel Funeral Home.
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