The Friends of Schoharie Crossing are sponsoring a talk entitled “The History of the Barge Canal” on Tuesday, May 28 at 6:30pm. It will be presented by Craig Williams, historian at the New York State Museum in Albany at the Enders House, located adjacent to the Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site Visitor Center, at 129 Schoharie Street, Fort Hunter, NY.
Closing in on its 100th anniversary, the modern day Barge Canal is not so modern anymore but back in the nineteen teens it was full of invention and innovation in much the same way the earlier canal had been in 1825. Williams will explain the Barge Canal’s construction, usage throughout the 20th century and its transition into the tourism business.
The lecture will be followed by refreshments and the May meeting of the Friends of Schoharie Crossing. All are welcome to attend- the meeting and lecture are both open to the public.
For more information about this event or how to join the Friends of Schoharie Crossing, call the Visitor Center at (518) 829-7516.
Photos: Above, Standard Oil Company’s Tanker in Lock 7 of the Barge Canal. Below, A 1903 broadside encouraging citizens of Binghamton to “Vote No” on the plans to enlarge the Erie Canal to create the Barge Canal system.(Both photos courtesy the New York State Archives).