History, Natural History & the Arts
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) has announced that construction has begun on a $1.7 million project to stabilize the historic Erie Canal Aqueduct at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site in Montgomery County.
The aqueduct, which was built in 1841, is within the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor. [Read more…] about Erie Canal Aqueduct Stabilization Project Begins
John Isaac De Graff (October 2, 1783 – July 26, 1848) was a U.S. Representative from New York. Born in Schenectady, De Graff attended the common schools and Union College and engaged in mercantile pursuits and the practice of law in that city.
He served in the War of 1812 and was elected as a Jacksonian Democrat to the Twentieth Congress (March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1829). [Read more…] about John Isaac DeGraff: Schenectady’s First Elected Mayor
Squire Whipple was born in Hartwick, Massachusetts on September 16th, 1804. His parents were James and Electa Whipple. Born and raised on a farm, he attended a small country school for three or four months a year. He moved to New York in 1817.
By the age of seventeen, he passed the required examination for common school teaching and taught part time to finance his education. In 1822-1828 he attended Hartwick College in Otsego County; Fairfield Academy in Herkimer County; and graduated from Union College, Schenectady in 1830. He spent the next few years working as a surveyor for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and married Anna Case. [Read more…] about Albany’s Squire Whipple: Father of the Iron Truss Bridge
The Erie Canalway Heritage Corridor has announced the winners of the 17th Annual Erie Canalway Photo Contest.
Judges selected winning photos in four contest categories, along with 12 honorable mentions. Winners hail from across the Canalway Corridor. [Read more…] about Erie Canalway Photo Contest Winners Announced
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) and New York State Canal Corporation recently unveiled the latest installation of the State’s iconic lighting program, celebrating Erie Canal Lock E17 in Little Falls, in Herkimer County, NY. [Read more…] about Erie Canal Lighting Unveiled in Little Falls
Effective Thursday, September 15th, 2022, all locks and lift bridges on the NYS Canal System will operate daily between 7 am and 5 pm. The system is scheduled to close to navigation at 5 pm on Wednesday, October 12th, 2022. [Read more…] about NYS Canal System Announces Fall Hours of Operation
Students from SUNY ESF Center for Cultural Landscape Preservation are working on a Cultural Landscape Inventory along the Erie Canal this summer. [Read more…] about Erie Canal Cultural Landscape Inventory Underway
Upstate New York’s largest urban centers are pursuing economic development strategies that include a major focus on their canal heritage. [Read more…] about Upstate Cities Turn To Canal Heritage For Economic Development
In June, the Hudson River Valley Greenway fielded a call from Alan Jay, who just completed paddling the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Waterford with his brother-in-law Michael.
The next day Jay would start his solo adventure paddling the Hudson River toward New York City – he needed a Hudson River Water Trail Guide. [Read more…] about Kayaker Alan Jay Paddles From Buffalo to Manhattan in 31 Days
At the turn of the nineteenth to twentieth century, Vischer Ferry, a hamlet of Clifton Park in Saratoga County on the Mohawk River, was the destination of many picnickers and tourists.
People came from Schenectady, Albany, Troy, Cohoes and even New York City to spend a day, a week, a month or the complete summer in the healthful climate and beautiful surroundings of Vischer Ferry. As quiet 120 years ago as it is today, the village was an ideal spot to escape from the noise and turmoil of the city. [Read more…] about Vischer Ferry As A Summer Resort