Journey on a Packet Boat on the Erie Canal
By Onofrio ("Norm") Schillaci
By Onofrio ("Norm") Schillaci
The Erie Canal has had a fascinating history. At the time of its construction in
1817, it was jokingly referred to as Clinton’s Ditch, after New York’s
Governor at that time, DeWitt Clinton.
There were significant challenges that had to be addressed in the design of the
canal:
When it was completed, the canal consisted of 83 locks to address the risingland and was routed through downtown Rochester using an aqueduct carrying it
over Genesee River.
Over the years, the canal went through a number of changes that included re-
routing away from downtown Rochester into the suburbs and through the
Genesee River. It was widened, had its name changed to “New York State
Barge Canal” and more recently was renamed the Erie Canal.
Rochester was a boon town as the Erie Canal provided mass transport of goods
across the Northeast and, more importantly, to New York City and the world.
The Erie Canal contributed to New York City’s growth as major port.
At its height, the Erie Canal was filled with barges carrying goods. Today, it
remains a recreational area and has brought new growth to the villages and
towns along its route.
The pace of travel is very leisurely. You don’t expect to get very far each leg
of the trip because the ships weigh about 9 tons and travel at a maximum speed
of 5 miles per hour. It takes about 20 minutes to go up or down the lock and
another 10 minutes to get thru a lift bridge.
We started the adventure in Macedon, New York, and headed west with our
first night docked in Fairport. On the second day, we continued west on the
canal and the second night docked in Brockport. We headed back east on the
third day with another night at Fairport and continued east on the fourth day
with our last night docked in Newark.
Along the canal, the villages have a lot to offer in local history and museums,
park-like areas at each lock, and plenty of shopping and good food.
The trip was a nice, slow journey with plenty of time to relax, enjoy the weather,
and think about how life was 150 years ago.
1817, it was jokingly referred to as Clinton’s Ditch, after New York’s
Governor at that time, DeWitt Clinton.
There were significant challenges that had to be addressed in the design of the
canal:
 | The land rises around 600 feet between Albany and Buffalo. | |
| The distance between Albany and Buffalo was over 350 miles. | |
| The canal needed to cross non-navigable rivers such as the Genesee. |
When it was completed, the canal consisted of 83 locks to address the rising
over Genesee River.
Over the years, the canal went through a number of changes that included re-
routing away from downtown Rochester into the suburbs and through the
Genesee River. It was widened, had its name changed to “New York State
Barge Canal” and more recently was renamed the Erie Canal.
Rochester was a boon town as the Erie Canal provided mass transport of goods
across the Northeast and, more importantly, to New York City and the world.
The Erie Canal contributed to New York City’s growth as major port.
At its height, the Erie Canal was filled with barges carrying goods. Today, it
remains a recreational area and has brought new growth to the villages and
towns along its route.
| The Portville Historical and Preservation Society |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| 17 Maple Avenue Portville, NY 14770 www.portvillehistory.org |
Portville, New York
Last summer, I had the pleasure of renting a packet boat, reminiscent of the
excursions, Mid-Lakes Navigation, provides all the information you need to
have an enjoyable time. See their website at:
http://www.midlakesnav.com/lockmaster/index.html for information.
excursions, Mid-Lakes Navigation, provides all the information you need to
have an enjoyable time. See their website at:
http://www.midlakesnav.com/lockmaster/index.html for information.
In the map shown above, the canal is divided into three sections: Western
Section (157 miles), Middle Section (36 miles), and the Eastern Section (210
miles). For more detailed information on the Erie Canal, visit this fantastic
website with lots of history and maps to study:
http://www.eriecanal.org/index.html
Section (157 miles), Middle Section (36 miles), and the Eastern Section (210
miles). For more detailed information on the Erie Canal, visit this fantastic
website with lots of history and maps to study:
http://www.eriecanal.org/index.html
The pace of travel is very leisurely. You don’t expect to get very far each leg
of the trip because the ships weigh about 9 tons and travel at a maximum speed
of 5 miles per hour. It takes about 20 minutes to go up or down the lock and
another 10 minutes to get thru a lift bridge.
We started the adventure in Macedon, New York, and headed west with our
first night docked in Fairport. On the second day, we continued west on the
canal and the second night docked in Brockport. We headed back east on the
third day with another night at Fairport and continued east on the fourth day
with our last night docked in Newark.
Along the canal, the villages have a lot to offer in local history and museums,
park-like areas at each lock, and plenty of shopping and good food.
The trip was a nice, slow journey with plenty of time to relax, enjoy the weather,
and think about how life was 150 years ago.
This page was last updated on 5-20-11