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The Centreport Aqueduct
(between Weedsport and Port Byron, N.Y.)

"West of Weedsport are the structural remains of the Centreport Aqueduct. The towpath bridge over this aqueduct was reconstructed to be nearly identical to the one built here in 1854-55. The towpath bridge, then used by mules and horses to pull boats filled with cargo or passengers along the Erie Canal, is today used by bicyclists, walkers and others to cross the confluence of the Cold Spring Brook and North Brook. North Brook was a feeder for the original 1825 Clinton's Ditch Erie Canal.

The trough of the Centreport Aqueduct was sixty feet long by fifty wide, and the flooring was built of huge oak beams, sixteen inches square. Atop this lay bottom planking of four inch thick pine. The entire wooden structure was cradled below the elevated towpath ... by masonry that supported the enormous weight of both trough and water." (From a sign at the site)

A "Table of Aqueducts" in "History of the Canal System of the State of New York" by Noble E. Whitford (1906) indicates that the aqueduct was 75 feet 6 inches long with three spans. Today, the aqueduct is the centerpiece of small park at the side of NY Route 31. Below are pictures of the Centreport Aqueduct taken in early September 2007 -- click on an image below to see the full-size version.


Sign at the Centreport Aqueduct park. Centreport Aqueduct from the old Erie Canal prism
Sign at the Centreport Aqueduct park. The Centreport Aqueduct, from within the old Erie Canal prism, looking west.
 
Centreport Aqueduct - south side from within the prism Centreport Aqueduct - looking west from within the prism Centreport Aqueduct - north side, from within the prism
The Centreport Aqueduct, from within the prism.
Left: south side, looking southwest ; Center: looking west ; Right: north side, looking northwest.
 
Centreport Aqueduct -- looking west from the heelpath Centreport Aqueduct, looking south from the towpath Centreport Aqueduct, north side -- from within the prism
Looking west from the heelpath. Looking south at the heelpath side from the towpath. The north side, looking northwest from within the prism.
 
Centreport Aqueduct - north side, looking south Centreport Aqueduct -- The north side, looking south. Unlike most other aqueducts, which used stone arches, the Centreport Aqueduct used piers to support a wooden towpath bridge. Centreport Aqueduct - north side, looking south
 
Centreport Aqueduct - north side, looking east from the towpath Centreport Aqueduct -- north side, looking southwest from stream level Centreport Aqueduct - north side, looking west from stream level
The north side.
Left: looking east from the towpath ; Center: looking southwest from the stream level ; Right: looking west from the the stream level.
 
Centreport Aqueduct - looking east from the towpath Centreport Aqueduct - looking southeast at the heelpath side supports Centreport Aqueduct - looking south at the heelpath side
Looking east from the towpath. Looking southeast at the heelpath side supports. Looking south at the heelpath side from the towpath.
The piers seen in the three pictures above supported the south side of a wooden box (the trough or trunk) which held the water of the canal. The north side of the trunk was supported by the towpath piers.
 
Centreport Aqueduct - south side, looking southwest from within the prism Centreport Aqueduct - south side, looking west from the heelpath Centreport Aqueduct - south side, looking west from the heelpath
The south side, looking southwest from within the prism. The south side, looking west from the heelpath.
(The heelpath was the side opposite the towpath.)

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Copyright © 2007-2012 by Frank E. Sadowski Jr.
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