This weekend’s events along the Canal as the bi-centennial continues
On Friday June 9 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Riverlink Park there will be food, music, a water ski show, free kayaking and fireworks!
On Saturday June 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Yankee Hill Lock in historic Fort Hunter there will be food, music, pony rides & giveaways.
For all the details on the two days of events go to: http://nycanals200.com/
We’re excited to announce the 2017 Riverlink Summer Concert Series schedule!
Enjoy Amsterdam’s waterfront this summer….on the water with Down by the River Kayaks, at one of the great Southside restaurants, on the MVGO or at River’s Edge at Riverlink.
Join us for great music at a great venue! FREE music at Riverlink Park every Saturday from June 24th to August 26th. Featuring:
Saturday June 24th 7pm
Saturday, July 1st 7pm
Tuesday July 4th 8pm
“An Erie Canal Bicentennial Celebration” with Albany Symphony Orchestra
Saturday July 8th 7pm
Saturday July 15th 7pm
Saturday July 22nd 7pm
Saturday July 29th 7pm
Saturday August 5th 8pm
Saturday August 12th 7pm
August 19th 7pm
August 26th 7pm
See the full details here: http://riverlinkconcerts.com/calendar/
Lockport will host a special visit by The Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief, on Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11 in the Lockport Locks. Tours of the replica wooden boat, constructed by volunteers at Buffalo Maritime Center, will be available at no charge to the public on both days from 11 AM – 4 PM.
The Lockport itinerary for the Seneca Chief coincides with the popular Lockport Community Farmers Market on Saturday and with the annual LKPT Food Fest on Sunday. The appearance of the craft has been coordinated by the Lockport Locks Heritage District and Lockport Main Street, Inc.
“We are pleased that Buffalo Maritime Center has selected Lockport as a port of call this year as a lead-up to its cross-state journey in 2025 as part of the Erie Canal Bicentennial,” explained David Kinyon, Chairman of the Lockport Locks Heritage District. “Lockport has benefitted from the tremendous craftsmanship of Buffalo Maritime Center volunteers, who constructed the Erie Traveler, which our volunteers lock through the restored Erie Canal Flight of Five every Saturday during the summer.”
“Offering free tours on Sunday in the Lockport Locks provides visitors to the LKPT Food Fest on Main Street another reason to enjoy all that we have to offer in Lockport’s historic downtown,” remarked Grace Platt, Program Manager for Lockport Main Street. LKPT Food Fest will provide offerings from over 20 food vendors from 11 AM – 4 PM.
The Seneca Chief was launched May 7 from the Longshed Building at Canalside in Buffalo after four years of construction by Buffalo Maritime Center’s largely volunteer workforce. The 73-foot long, 44-ton vessel will undertake a cross-state voyage in September, 2025 as part of the festivities for the Erie Canal Bicentennial and the World Canals Conference, the latter taking place in Buffalo during the week of September 21.
For more information: David Kinyon (716-638-1119 or [email protected])
Newsday had recently published an article that stated the Erie Canal’s Future uncertain. Fact or fake news?
I am here to tell you the Erie Canal System is alive and well. 2017 starts an 8-year celebration of the bicentennial of the building of the Canal. The Erie Canal was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Governor Cuomo has just placed the NYS Canal Corporation, the state agency responsible for the maintenance and operation of the Canal System under the control of the New York Power Authority. The power authority generates their revenue through electrical power generation and power transmission. There are currently three hydroelectric plants on the Erie with another 27 that could once again begin to contribute electric to the grid. The NYS Canal System uses no tax payer dollars for its operation. That’s correct. The operation of the Erie Canal without doubt the greatest recreational resource in NYS requires no tax payer resources. To further dispel any further rumors, the NYS Canal System is protected under article 15 in the NYS constitution. No one’s filling in the ditch!!
Whether you’re a boater, a biker or a fan of road trips The Erie Canal Corridor has it all. There are 524 miles of navigable water ways. The Canalway trail spans from Buffalo to Albany and is the home of the 8-day bicycle trip across the state that is held each July sponsored by Parks and Trails NY. Did you know that if you started a boat trip in Waterford, where the Erie meets the Hudson that the first two miles will lift you over 160’. that is the largest rise of any navigable waterway in the world. Did you know that the 55 locks on the current canal system are all using the same technology that they did 100 years ago.
A trip to the NYS Canal system allows for a trip through history from the opening of the original canal back in 1825 to the communities of today
Organizations such as Canal NY, a nonprofit comprised of businesses and community organizations from throughout the canal corridor who are dedicated to the promotion of the Canal. They have just launched a new web site called www.discovertheeriecanal.com “the tourism site of the Erie Canal” Which will allow for visitors to the canal system to learn about and plan a trip to the region.
A Drive Through Wayne County NY
New York’s Great Lake and Canal Getaway
Day 1 – Palmyra, Macedon
Visit some of the amazing Palmyra Museum’s
Alling Coverlet Museum, Largest collection of hand-woven coverlets in America
Erie Canal Depot, Experience an old passenger and commercial depot
William Phelps General Store Museum ,A 19th century original general store with original items
And home.
Grandin Building. Historic site of publication of Book of Mormon, Restored building includes
Authentic 1830’s bookstore, bindery and print shop.
Have lunch at Muddy Waters Cafe at the Palmyra Marina
Check in to Palmyra Inn, Liberty House Bed & Breakfast or Canal Town Bed & Breakfast.
Stroll through the Village of Palmyra and visit some of the great antique and specialty shops.
Try some wine at J D Wine Cellars located in Macedon
Dinner at Flaherty’s in Macedon which offers first hand Old Irish charm and hospitality
Return to your overnight accommodations
Day 2 – Palmyra – Newark
Take a walk on Palmyra Wetland Nature Trail, Located on Maple Avenue, ¼ mile north of the
“four church” corner in the center of the Village of Palmyra. This one mike hike is rich in both
Natural and historical interest with easy access to Aqueduct Park, Aldrich Change Bridge and
Lock 29. Wetlands were formed in the excavations of the original Erie Canal.
Follow the Erie Canal to Newark
Take a tour of the Hoffman Clock Museum, which houses the largest collection of New York
State Clocks in the country.
Have lunch at the Corner Tavern
Check into the Vintage Gardens Bed & Breakfast or the Quality Inn located in Newark or the
Peppermint Cottage Bed & Breakfast in Lyons.
Follow Mural Mania’s mural trail along the Erie Canal into Lyons
Don’t miss visiting the Wayne County Old Jail Museum Built in 1856, the former Wayne County
Jail and Sheriff’s residence was housed here and used until 1961. Tour the 24 cell blocks still
Attached and learn the stories of the inmates.
Have dinner in Lyons at Bone Appetit BBQ or Growler’s Pub & Grill.
Return to your overnight accommodations.
Day 3 – Clyde – Savannah
Drive east to Clyde and have lunch at The Brick Oven of Clyde
Follow Route 31 into Savannah
Visit the Montezuma Audubon Center, located on its 198 acre are five types of habitat, two
Restored freshwater marshes, two-miles and trails, and an all-access observation platform.
Contact Christine Worth, Director of Tourism. [email protected] Wayne County Tourism 9 Pearl St. Suite 3 Lyons NY 14489
www.waynecountytourism.com (800) 527-6510
Your opinions matter! Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is conducting an online survey to gather opinions regarding travel and activity destinations in the Corridor, including the NYS Canal System and Canalway Trail. They especially want to hear from people like you who appreciate the experiences that the Erie Canalway and its surrounding communities have to offer.
Please take part in the survey, which will take about 10 minutes to complete. Thank you!
Take the Survey!
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3661565/CanalCorp
p.s. Your answers will be aggregated and will not be linked to you personally, nor will you be asked to buy anything.
A classic movie that first appeared on the big screen in 1946 is now about to celebrate it’s 71st year and Seneca Falls, considered to have been the community that the Frank Capra directed movie is based on celebrates the classic film once again on December 7th 8th, 9th and 10th. with a weekend full of events located throughout the town.
An Old Time Radio Theatre Broadcast performed by the Seneca Community Players at the “Bedford Falls Bijou Theatre” kicks off the celebration on Thursday night Dec. 7th. and the weekend closes with the Ringing of the Bells by the churches of Seneca Falls in honor of those who made a difference in our lives. Remember every time a bell rings an angel gets their wings!!
The weekend is packed with events on each day including It’s A Wonderful Life participation movie on Friday night where there will be opportunities for Singing, Dancing, and Laughing. Before the movie take in the Mrs. Martinis Pasta Dinner & Movie Trivia from 5:30-7:30
On Saturday Join in on the Taste of Bedford Falls, wonderful food & drinks from many of the fine establishments from “Bedford Falls” from 5pm-7pm and then walk over to the Party in Pottersville being held each night of the event in a heated tent, with Beer, Wine, Soda, Cider, DJ, Dancing with two bars and light snacks available.
On Sunday take the “Bedford Falls” express a 90-minute train ride from Academy Square across Cayuga Lake to the Cayuga train station and back to Seneca Falls. These are just a few of the long list of events happening in Seneca Falls during the weekend. A full schedule of events can be found at www.therealbedfordfalls.com
While visiting Seneca Falls don’t miss the opportunity to visit the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum located at 32 Fall St. As you travel around Seneca Falls, think about how Frank Capra used his visit to Seneca Falls as a backdrop to Bedford Falls. Whether it’s the steel truss bridge,
or the Partridge Building, Mr Partridge was the name of the high school principle in the Film. Seneca Falls had a very prominent family of bankers and merchants named Partridge. Visit the museum to learn about all the similarities between the movie and the town of Seneca Falls.
Seneca Falls located in the heart of the finger lakes surrounded by wineries and breweries, as well as being a prime location on the Cayuga / Seneca Canal is also the birthplace of the Women’s rights movement being the home of the Women’s Rights National Historical Park
The Erie Canal, the eighth wonder of the world is currently celebrating the bi-centennial of its creation. It is one of the greatest tourist destinations in the world and it might be the most underutilized recreational resource within New York State. Organizations such as Canal NY actively work to promote the system as well as the businesses within the Erie Canal Corridor.
Erie Canal Floating homes is a program designed to
1)Promote increased use of the Canal
2)Enhance economic impact throughout the communities within the Erie Canal Corridor.
It’s all about the water right, and getting out on the water is the number one way to experience the canal.
People utilize the canal in three ways.
The biggest challenge to boating the canal is time, the time necessary to experience the Canal.
The idea of encouraging the use of floating homes along the Canal system to allow for more tourists to travel to and experience the Canal is exciting.
There are basically two different types of docking opportunities available to transient boaters, the first are from the communities along the Canal System that offer boaters the opportunities to spend the night, visit the community and avail themselves of the resources within these communities. The second docking opportunity comes from the marinas that are in close proximity to the communities, this dynamic sometimes puts these two entities in direct competition with each other and in some communities has forced the elimination of the amenities normally available to the boater
What if these marinas had the ability to fill their slips, maybe even utilize areas of these facilities that have proved difficult in the past, such as those areas that have access issues or low water depth.
What about marinas located in areas where transient boaters typically have passed them by? What about areas of the Canal that have been totally ignored by companies investing in similar businesses. Are there portions of the Canal that the State would like to see economic impact improvements within? Are there locations which once housed marinas that could be re-opened. These marinas could be much simpler to construct. They wouldn’t need fueling infrastructure, they wouldn’t even need to be constructed with travel lifts, the floating homes could be easily lifted out of the water after the season by the use of a crane hired for a day to lift out all the boats and place them on shore, same process could be done in the spring. Boats could be built with lift points built in place to simplify the process.
These boats could also be placed in areas that have been identified as flood plains and other areas where construction has proved to be challenging!
Sanitation for these boats could be built using a site wide pump out system connected to either a municipal sewer system or onsite treatment plant. The technology even exists to install a system that incinerates all liquid and solid waste and the results are a small amount of sterile ash that can be removed once a week or so for those areas that are truly remote.
These boats could be purchased by individuals for docking in existing marinas or waterfront campgrounds, or by the marinas themselves to be placed in rental fleets
The Canal systems could easily accommodate 100 boats or more throughout the 524 miles of waterway. Each of these boats could generate thousands of dollars annually to a marina from docking and storage revenues. Organizations which wanted to own and operate rental units could be placed in systems such as Airbnb or VRBO. Boats placed in marinas could generate additional revenue such as pontoon or fishing boat rentals, or create opportunities for marinas to update their facilities like adding a workout room or maybe even a pool.
Another version of a floating community is located in Clinton Ohio at a marina just off of Lake Erie, these floating homes are set up a little different and allow each owner the ability to park a boat adjacent to their floating homes as part of their monthly slip fees.
Floating Homes originated on the west coast in cities like Seattle, and a company call eco-sea cottages has created a product that can be delivered to any city or town in the country and will even locate a slip for your boat should you wish to purchase from them. They too offer outboard engine and steering packages which would allow you to move a boat in limited situations. For more info visit their web site www.eco-seacottages.com
The Oswego begins its current journey north at mile marker 160 at the point that is known best as Three Rivers. The current canal was opened in 1917 to correspond with the modern-day route and heads north to Lake Ontario. The Canal is 24’ miles long and has 7 locks. Most travelers on the Canal today are heading for points north in Canada or headed to the Great Lakes, but slow down a bit and take some time to visit the communities along the Oswego. At mile 2 stop at the village of Phoenix. You will more than likely be visited by one of the members of the bridge house brats, a volunteer youth group that will help you enjoy your stay by delivering meals, ice, and supplies. Continue to Fulton, Minetto, and finally Oswego home of Harbor fest, one of the largest celebrations held along the entire canal towards the end of July each year.
Construction started in 1817 and was completed in 1822. The Canal starts in Waterford at the junction of the Mohawk & Hudson rivers and allows for passage to Lake Champlain and on to Canada through the Richelieu Canal.
Today its path travels a little more than 60 miles to the southern junction with Lake Champlain. This Canal could best be described as a path through history. Before our countries independence this waterway played an important role in our countries formation. The British, French and Americans all traveled north and south through this stretch of the region. Forts were constructed such as Ticonderoga and Edward. The battle of Saratoga, George Washington etc. it’s all here on the Champlain
Before the construction of the Canal, the most widely used route from New York City to Canada was up the Hudson River to Fort Edward then by portage to Lake George, another portage to Lake Champlain and on to Canada. The completion of the Champlain Canal offered an all water route from New York to Canada and beyond.
No matter how you plan to visit the Champlain, whether by boat, car or bike, discover the communities that make up this part of the NYS Canal System, check out the all the historical sites associated with not just with the Canal, but also those that define the history of the nation.
