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Farrand Benedict

An Abandoned Canal Hides Deep In The Adirondack Woods

October 22, 2020 by Mike Prescott 2 Comments

Contemporary-Arial-Photograph-of-the-Canal-photo-Rick-Rosen-2008-540x405 Farrand Benedict, surveyor and professor of mathematics and engineering at the University of Vermont in Burlington, wrote a proposal for a canal across the Adirondacks in 1846.

His plan was to use the Black River Canal with its connection to the Erie Canal at Rome and build a railroad from Boonville, on the Black River Canal, to Old Forge. He was then going to utilize the Fulton Chain of Lakes, Raquette Lake, Long Lake, the Raquette River and the Saranac Lakes with various lock systems, dams, and inclines to the Saranac River for canal boat traffic. [Read more…] about An Abandoned Canal Hides Deep In The Adirondack Woods

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, History, Mohawk Valley Tagged With: Adirondack Park, Biography, Farrand Benedict, Fulton Chain, Lake Champlain, Long Lake, Newcomb, Transportation History, University of Vermont

Dams, Canals, Locks & Inclined Planes: Farrand Benedict In The Adirondacks

October 20, 2020 by Mike Prescott 1 Comment

Farrand Benedict portrait This is a story of a fascinating but rather forgotten individual from the history of the Adirondacks.

Along with his slightly older mentor Ebenezer Emmons, and his younger contemporary Verplanck Colvin, he was among the first to accurately survey much of the Adirondacks. He also proposed a number of early dams, canals, locks and inclined planes and considered using historic waterways and canals to traverse the Adirondacks by water. [Read more…] about Dams, Canals, Locks & Inclined Planes: Farrand Benedict In The Adirondacks

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, History, Mohawk Valley, Recreation, Western NY Tagged With: Adirondack Park, Adirondacks, Farrand Benedict, Lake Champlain, Ogdensburg, Old Forge, paddling, railroads, Township 40, Transportation, Transportation History

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