Customer Reviews

Erie Canal Legacy: Architectural Treasures of the Empire State

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The author and the photographer have worked well together in producing a summary of historical facts on beautiful structures along the Erie Canal from west to east. The pictures are magnificent and the text is comprehensible. It is a great reference for Erie Canal's aficionados and architecture enthusiasts. Also included are brief details on the places located alongside the canal.

Erie Canal Legacy ISBN: 0964170663, The Landmark Society of Western New York, byAndy Olenick and Richard O. Reisem is a coffee table book of remarkable beauty and a font of knowledge.
New York State's Grand or Erie Canal extended 363 miles from the Hudson River in the east to Lake Erie in the west requiring a series of locks along the way to accommodate the changes in elevation. It was an architectural gem and marvel of engineering that required development of several unique techniques. The opening of the canal in 1825 is credited with extending the settlement and industrialization of the country beyond the Mississippi and thus nullifying the northward spread of the southern slavery influence that may well have changed the outcome of the Civil War.
Interestingly enough, one can still navigate parts of this canal as part of a more extensive journey. As a pastime, I had completed training, and acquired, USCG Captain's and Master's papers and my wife had graduated from Marine Engineering School. So, we had decided to navigate "The Big Wheel". In April of 1989 we left St. Petersburg, Fl and traveled across the state, up the coast, in and out of the Intracoastal Waterway, through New York State to Lake Erie, Huron, and Michigan, down the Chicago River to the Mississippi, Ohio, Kentucky Lakes, Tennessee, the Tombigbee and across the Gulf back to St Petersburg. The passage through New York State was particularly interesting because of the condition of what remains of the canal for boaters' use. A few notes from my Log may provide material of interest: "Undocked 0855 from Schenectady Y.C. (actually just a name-no club except probably for locals). Docked at canal terminal in Canajoharie 1545. Very difficult - wind blowing us off the dock which have no above water cleats or other for attachment except very widely spaced bollards - finally managed with help from a man on shore." "Usually only one cleat to attach both forward and aft lines when traversing the locks - difficult, at best for any vessel over thirty feet." "Great amount of missing information and misinformation - necessary to remove radar tower repeatedly after damage because of incorrect height furnished for bridges."
The navigable route today goes from Tarrytown to Schenectady, Canajoharie, Rome, across Oneida Lake, Brewerton, Lyons, North Greece, Tonawanda and into Lake Erie, and for one interesting section you are boating on a section of water looking down on the surrounding houses and farmland.
In summary, the Erie Canal still is an interesting ride although a prospective boater must be aware of sometimes primitive conditions and, as mentioned, a goodly amount of erroneous information. With respect to the book, Erie Canal Legacy, Andy Olenik has provided awesome pictures of both the local architecture and gorgeous scenery and Richard O. Reisem has provided most interesting and relevant supportive narrative.