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Images of the Erie Canal between Rochester and Syracuse


(click on the image below to see the full-size version)


 

Images of the Erie Canal in the Pittsford and Bushnell's Basin area

View of the new concrete trough upon the Irondequoit Embankment near Bushnell's 
          Basin View of the Irondequoit Creek crossing, showing site of 1912 canal break
"Barge Canal Contract No. 63. View of the completed concrete trough upon the Irondequoit creek embankment." -- from: Annual Report of the State Engineer and Surveyor of the State of New York for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1911 (Albany : Argus Co., printers, 1912) -- facing p. 20. "Barge Canal Contract no. 63. Concrete trough at the Irondequoit creek crossing, as repaired for use after the serious break of 1912, a temporary wooden trough being employed" -- from: Annual Report of the State Engineer and Surveyor of the State of New York for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1913 (Albany : J.B. Lyon Co., printers, 1914) -- facing p. 292.
Channel in concrete trough, across Irondequoit valley  
"Channel in concrete trough, across Irondequoit valley" -- from: History of the Barge Canal of New York State / by Noble E. Whitford; supplement to the Annual report of the State Engineer and Surveyor for the year ended June 30, 1921 (Albany : J.B. Lyon Co., printers, 1922) -- opposite p. 336.  
 
View of the Grand Embankment over the Irondequoit Creek valley View of the Grand Embankment over the Irondequoit Creek valley
Views of the Grand Embankment over the Irondequoit Creek valley between Pittsford and Bushnell's Basin in 2003-2004.
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For photographs of the remains of Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 62 at Pittsford
see Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 62 in the Traces section of this web site.


 

Historical Images of the Erie Canal in Palmyra

Scene on the Erie Canal, Palmyra, N.Y. Mud (Ganargua) Creek Aqueduct, Palmyra, N.Y.
"Scene on the Erie Canal, Palmyra, N.Y." (217888, The Valentine Souvenir Co., New York) -- Postcard ; not postmarked; approximately 1918. "Mud (Ganargua) Creek, Palmyra, N.Y." [Aqueduct] (Wayne Co. Planning Office) -- 1971.
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For photographs of the remains of the Enlarged Erie Canal in Macedon and Palmyra,
including Lock No. 60, the Mud Creek Aqueduct and the Aldrich Change Bridge,
see the Macedon / Palmyra page in the Traces section of this web site.


 

Images of the Erie Canal in Newark

Middle Lock, Erie Canal, Newark, N.Y. Lower Lock, Erie Canal, Newark, N.Y.
"Middle Lock," [Lock 58] Erie Canal, Newark, N.Y. (approximately 1905? ; from Rochester Images of the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County) "Middle Lock [Lock 58] on Erie Canal, Newark, N.Y." ( United Art Publishing Co., New York City) -- Postcard ; not postmarked ; 1908?
Lower Lock, Erie Canal, Newark, N.Y. Middle Lock, Erie Canal, Newark, N.Y.
"Lower Lock [Lock 57], Erie Canal, Newark, N.Y." (62154, H.B. Rogers, Newark, N.Y.) -- Postcard ; postmarked Jan. 3, 1909. "Middle Lock [Lock 58], Erie Canal, Newark, N.Y." (C2156 -- H. B. Rogers, Newark, N.Y.) -- Postcard ; postmarked May 30, 1910.
Barge Canal Lock 28-B, Newark, N.Y. Barge Canal and bridge at Newark, N.Y.
"Barge Canal Contract no. 76. Completed lock No. 28-B at Newark." -- from: Annual Report of the State Engineer and Surveyor of the State of New York for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1913 (Albany : J.B. Lyon Co., printers, 1914) -- facing p. 284. "Barge Canal Contracts nos. 76 and 89. Completed canal, dockwall and approaches to dock at Newark. Also East avenue bridge, a heavy type of bridge" -- from: Annual Report of the State Engineer and Surveyor of the State of New York for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1914 (Albany : J.B. Lyon Co., printers, 1915) -- facing p. 286.
Canal Lock, Erie Canal, Newark, N.Y. Barge Canal Lock no. 28, Newark, N.Y.
"Canal Lock [No. 28-B], Erie Canal, Newark, N.Y." (218087, The Valentine-Souvenir Co., New York) -- Postcard ; postmarked Feb. 23, 1915. "Barge Canal Lock [No. 28-B], Newark, N.Y." (A-59376 -- C.T. American Art) -- Postcard ; not postmarked ; 1930s?.
Barge Canal Lock no. 28, Newark, N.Y.  
"Barge Canal Lock No. 28, Newark, N.Y." (517, Wm. Jubb Co., Syracuse, N.Y.) -- Postcard ; postmarked Aug. 22, 1955.  
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For photographs of the remains of Enlarged Erie Canal Lock Nos. 58 and 59 at Newark
see Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 59 and Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 58
in the Traces section of this web site.


 

Images of the Erie Canal in Lyons

Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 56, Lyons, N.Y. Lock No. 55, Lyons, N.Y.
Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 56 (also called the Poor House, or Poorhouse, Lock), west of Lyons, N.Y. -- from a photograph taken ca.1880-1887. The lock was named after the Poor House, which was located about a quarter mile west of Lock 56. Note that, in this photograph, the lock has not yet been lengthened (compare to recent photographs). It was lengthened between the 1887 and 1888 seasons. (Courtesy of Allyn Hess Perry) "Lock No. 55, Lyons, N.Y." -- Postcard ; not postmarked ; approximately 1904.
 
Erie Canal and Lock, Lyons, N.Y. Erie Canal and Clyde River, Lyons, N.Y.
"The Old and The New -- Where the Rochester and Eastern Rapid Railway tracks cross the Erie Canal" (No. 1199 -- Rochester News Company, Rochester, N.Y.) -- Postcard ; not postmarked ; approximately 1905. "View West from Stand Pipe, showing Erie Canal and Clyde River, Lyons, N.Y." (4189 -- The Rotograph Co., N.Y. City) -- Postcard ; UNDB ; postmarked Dec. 11, 1905.
 
Erie Canal and Lock, Lyons, N.Y. Lock 55 Erie Canal, Lyons, N.Y.
"Erie Canal and Lock [No. 55], Lyons, N.Y." (4192, The Rotograph Co., N.Y. City) -- Postcard ; not postmarked ; approximately 1905. "Lock 55 Erie Canal, Lyons, N.Y." (5754, Rochester News Co., Rochester, N.Y.) -- Postcard ; UNDB ; not postmarked ; approximately 1906.
 
Lock No. 55, Lyons, N.Y. Erie Canal & Lock 55, Lyons, N.Y.
"Erie Canal and Clyde River, Lyons, N.Y." (5757 -- Rochester News Co., Rochester, N.Y.) -- Postcard ; postmarked Aug. 4, 1906. "Erie Canal & Lock 55, Lyons, N.Y." -- Postcard ; not postmarked ; approximately 1906.
 
Lock on Erie Canal, Lyons, N.Y. Bridge at Aqueduct, Lyons, N.Y.
"Lock [No. 55] on Erie Canal, Lyons, N.Y." (United Art Publishing Co., New York City) -- Postcard ; not postmarked; approximately 1908. "Bridge at Aqueduct, Lyons, N.Y." / photo by J. F. Rooker (No. 40 -- W. E. Bourne, Lyons, N.Y.) -- Postcard ; not postmarked ; approximately 1909?
 
Horses towing a canal boat through Lyons, N.Y. Erie Canal and Clyde River, Lyons, N.Y.
"Along Erie Canal, Lyons, N.Y." / Photo by J. F. Rooker (No. 32 -- W. E. Bourne, Lyons, N.Y.) -- Postcard ; postmarked Dec. 20 - 10 [1910]. "Erie Canal and Clyde River, Lyons, N.Y." (No. C 4525 -- Rochester News Co., Rochester, N.Y.) -- Postcard ; postmarked Oct. 13, 1911.
 
Construction of a coffer dam in Lyons, N.Y. Erie Canal and Clyde River, Lyons, N.Y.
Lyons -- Construction of the coffer dam for retaining wall west from Geneva St. -- Photograph ; 9-9-1912. "Barge Canal and Lock No. 27, Lyons, N.Y." (E-8077 -- Wm. Jubb Co., Syracuse, N.Y.) -- Postcard ; not postmarked ; approximately 1920?
 
New Lock 27 and old Lock 55, Lyons, N.Y. Barge Canal Lock 27, Lyons, N.Y.
"Barge Canal Contract no. 48. View at Lyons, showing numerous structures ... At the left, the old canal with a lock and two bridges is seen" -- from: Annual Report of the State Engineer and Surveyor of the State of New York for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1914 (Albany : J.B. Lyon Co., printers, 1915) -- facing p. 18. The old versus the new: new Lock 27 in the canalized Clyde River in the center, with old Lock 55 in the rear, looking east. "Barge Canal, Contracts Nos. 48 and 94. Lock No. 27 at Lyons." -- from Annual Report of the State Engineer and Surveyor of the State of New York for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1915 (Albany : J. B. Lyon Co, printers, 1916) -- facing p. 262. The reverse view of the picture to the left, looking west.
 
Canal structures at Lyons Example of many canal structures in close proximity, at Lyons
"Canal structures at Lyons" -- from: Annual report of the State Engineer and Surveyor for the year ended June 30, 1919 / State of New York (Albany : J.B. Lyon Co., printers, 1920) -- facing p. 176. "Example of many canal structures in close proximity, at Lyons -- from: History of the Barge Canal of New York State / by Noble E. Whitford; supplement to the Annual report of the State Engineer and Surveyor for the year ended June 30, 1921 (Albany : J.B. Lyon Co., printers, 1922) -- opposite p. 392.
 
Erie Canal Lock 28A and Dry Dock at Lyons, NY The Lyons Aqueduct after abandonment
"Erie Canal Lock 28A & Dry Dock at Lyons, NY" (L-21636-E -- Wolcott, N.Y. : Don Hunt Aerials, 1990?) The Lyons Aqueduct after abandonment -- 1940s or 1950s.
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For photographs of the remains of Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 56 west of Lyons, see Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 56 in the Traces section of this web site. For photographs of the remains of the Lyons Aqueduct, see The Lyons Aqueduct in the same section.


 

Historical Images of the Erie Canal in the Clyde area

Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 53 at Clyde  
"Clyde Lock" [Lock No. 53] -- RPPC ; not postmarked ; approximately 1900?.  
Lock No. 26 and dam in Clyde River The Erie Canal in Clyde
"Barge Canal, Contract No. 47. Lock No. 26 and dam in Clyde river, near Clyde" -- from: Annual report of the State Engineer and Surveyor of the State of New York for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1912 (Albany : J.B. Lyon Co., printers, 1913) -- facing p. 228. "Canal, Clyde, N.Y." (128008 -- Tichnor Quality Views) -- Postcard ; not postmarked ; approximately 1915-1920?
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For photographs of the remains of Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 53 west of Clyde,
see Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 53 in the Traces section of this web site.


 

Historical Images of the Seneca River Aqueduct
Called the "Richmond" or Montezuma Aqueduct

View of the Seneca River Aqueduct
View of the Seneca River Aqueduct near Montezuma
(detail from "Elevation of Seneca River Aqueduct (Cayuga Marshes)" -- 1859)
Elevation of Seneca River Aqueduct
"Elevation of Seneca River Aqueduct (Cayuga Marshes) projected by, and built under the direction of Van R. Richmond C.E. ; Enlargement of the Erie Canal ; accomp. State Engrs. Rept. 1859 (Lith. of C. Van Benthuysen, Albany, N.Y.) -- with General plan of aqueduct as adopted 1854, Cross section of old and new canal adjoining aqueduct, and engraving by J.C. Laass." -- original size: 46 x 17 in.

'Regarding the Seneca River aqueduct, "Mr. Richmond explained that before designing the aqueduct plan, records had been kept so that they knew approximately the maximum flow of water that would have to be provided for. ... Mr. Richmond said that in making his calculations he found that 25 spans or openings, 22 feet wide and 11 feet deep under the trunk of the aqueduct, would pass the biggest floods recorded previous to that time without backing up the water to any appreciable extent, but to be on the safe side and provide for greater floods, he added six more spans, making the number 31 instead of but 25, as at first proposed.
        At the highest stages of the water since the aqueduct was built, careful measurements resulted in finding that the surface of the river was not quite 1 1/4 inches higher on the upstream side of the aqueduct than it was on the downstream side. ...' -- From: History of the canal system of the State of New York ... / by Noble E. Whitford. (Albany : Brandow Printing Co., 1906) v. 1, p. 801.

Aqueduct over the Seneca River Aqueduct over the Seneca River, Montezuma, N.Y.
"Aqueduct over the Seneca River - Called the 'Richmond' or Montezuma Aqueduct" -- from: History of the Canal System of the State of New York ... / by Noble E. Whitford (Albany : Brandow Publishing Co., 1906) -- vol. 1, opposite p. 802. "Aqueduct, Montezuma, N.Y." -- Postcard ; RPPC ; postmarked 1909.
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For photographs of the remains of the Seneca River Aqueduct, see The Seneca River Aqueduct page in the Traces section of this web site.

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Historical Images of the Erie Canal in the Port Byron area

Old Aqueduct over Owasco Outlet in Port Byron  
"Old Aqueduct which carried Erie Canal over Owasco Outlet in Port Byron" -- photograph ; approximately 1905?  
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For photographs of the remains of the Port Byron aqueducts, see Port Byron Aqueducts, Port Byron, N.Y., and for photographs of the remains of Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 52 in Port Byron, see Enlarged Erie Canal Lock No. 52 , both in the Traces section of this web site.


 

Historical Images of the Erie Canal in the Weedsport area

Barge Canal Locks, Baldwinsville  
"Canal Bridge at Brutus St., Weedsport, N.Y." (08 34535 -- William Jobb, Syracuse, N.Y.) -- Postcard ; not postmarked ; approximately 1908?  

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For photographs of the remains of the Centreport Aqueduct (between Weedsport and Port Byron, N.Y.),
see The Centreport Aqueduct page in the Traces section of this web site.

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Historical Images of the Erie Canal in the Baldwinsville area

Barge Canal Locks, Baldwinsville  
"Barge Canal Locks, Baldwinsville" -- RPPC ; not postmarked ; approximately 1920-1930?  

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