The Confluence of the Erie & Champlain Canals

The Confluence of the Erie & Champlain Canals
The Capital District area is rich in the history of the nation and one of the most iconic pieces of history is the Erie Canal. When thinking of canals Waterford, NY comes to mind with the confluence of the Erie and Champlain Canals with the Hudson River. After looking at Champlain Lock C2 I was interested to see where it had historically connected to the Erie Canal and the Hudson River. The video details my visit to the Erie Canal Lock E2 and the old Side-Cut Locks of the Champlain Canal and shows the history and the area.
The first iteration of the Erie Canal was just 4 feet deep and 40 feet wide at the time of its completion in 1825. It navigated virtually 400 miles and contained 83 locks and began on October 26, 1825. A fleet of boats, led by Governor Dewitt Clinton on the ‘Seneca Chief’ sailed from Buffalo to New York City in ten days. The Erie Canal was enlarged twice to fit wider and deeper boats. Some parts were rerouted to make way for more ship traffic in 1918. Portions of the original canal are still operable, though tourism is now the main source of boat traffic along the Erie Canal. [1]
The building of the Erie Canal and ensuing population increase along its route enhanced the elimination of Native Americans in western New York and the Upper Midwest. The Canal traversed the ancestral homelands of several groups, including the Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca. [2]
The originally built Side-Cut Locks in Waterford were built during the canal enlargement era circa 1860 and were the first gateway to the Canal System. With the exception of the wooden doors and mechanisms used to open and close them, they remain the same as in 1860. The initial aim of these locks was to allow boat movement from the Hudson River into the Champlain Canal and back out from the Champlain Canal into the Hudson River. Today the Side-Cut Locks are used as a spillway for excess water to flow out into the Hudson River when Lock 2 on the Erie Barge Canal is being operated. [3]
“Some old time canallers referred to this area as "The Crossroads". A boat entering the top chamber of the lock and turning right it was headed north to Lake Champlain. A left turn would link with the original Erie Canal with the first two miles of its trip toward Lake Erie.”[4]
[1] History.com Editors. Erie Canal, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/landma..., 2023.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Howard C. Ohlhous. Editor Bill Pfingsten, Lock 2 Park, The Historical Marker Database, www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=50971, 2023.
[4] Ibid.
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[@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST]

It was interesting to see a mix between the old and new, the historic and the modern. BTW - Waterford is a really nice little village/city.

[@quaileggsvermont]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST]

Very nice and really a lot to see. Cohos is another little gem (in spots).😎

[@rick4adk]

The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that, conditions permitting, all portions of the New York State Canal system are scheduled to open Friday, May 19, 2023, at 7:00 a.m. for the 199th consecutive season of navigation.

[@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST]

Thanks for watching. Yup, I want to go and visit this year. Maybe another vlog.

[@here_we_go_again2571]

Thank you that was a nice tour. I've never been there. 😊
NYS Canal System changed the name back to Erie canal, Champlain canal, etc. in 2014
The old Erie canal was being widened and deepend and new locks built within 10 years of
it's initial construction. The modernizations continued until the 1970's
Back in 1918, the Erie canal and other canals were renamed the "Barge Canal System" (with
E-1, E-2, C-1 used) after the new routes, locks and channels were built and expanded to handle
steam powered tugboats and barges (constructed 1903/05 -> 1918).
Also at that time, the main canal was changed to go across Oneida lake . But parts of the original/
enlarged Erie canal (that went southwest from Rome to Higginsville, etc.,westward) were upgraded
too; as well as the new channels going east/west.
*These channels* (emanating from around Rome, NY) *are listed as "Pool's Brook" on Google maps.*
Also, the canal was rerouted around the southern and western part of the city of Rochester, westward
(it crossed the Genesee river further upstream than the original canal.

[@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST]

Thanks for watching, commenting, and adding some history. I grew up in Rochester and my Grandmother was born and lived on a canal boat in Rochester. I have a TH-cam presentation coming up soon of the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse.

[@here_we_go_again2571]

@@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST
Thank you for replying.😊
I look forward to watching your new YT
presentation. 😊

[@quaileggsvermont]

A lot nicer down there than up here at Lake Champlain the northern part in Swanton VT.

[@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST]

Thank you so much for your comment and for watching. . .😀

[@quaileggsvermont]

@@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST 👍🏻👍🏻

[@rick4adk]

The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that, conditions permitting, all portions of the New York State Canal system are scheduled to open Friday, May 19, 2023, at 7:00 a.m. for the 199th consecutive season of navigation.

[@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST]

Great info