Coventina's History Thread: Clinton's Big Ditch (The Erie Canal)

[Coventina]

Apologies for no history thread the last few days.
Things got a little crazy with going back to school....

At the turn of the 19th century, Americans were eyeing new areas of settlement west of the Appalachians. But westward overland routes were slow and the cost of moving goods along them was high.

The idea of opening the West by building a canal linking the Great Lakes with the eastern seaboard had been floated (haha) since the mid-1700s. It finally became more than wishful thinking in 1817, when construction of the Erie Canal began.

Citing its $7-million price tag, detractors labeled the canal "Clinton's Big Ditch," in reference to its biggest proponent, New York governor Dewitt Clinton. When completed in 1825, however, the Erie Canal was hailed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World." It cut 363 miles through thick forest and swamp to link Lake Erie at Buffalo with the Hudson River at Albany. The Erie Canal fulfilled its promise, becoming a favored pathway for the great migration westward by slashing transportation costs a whopping 95 percent and bringing unprecedented prosperity to the towns along its route.




Lovely area.

[niyad]

1. Thank you.

[LoisB]

2. This is very interesting. Was Irish labor or slave labor used to do the work? I am going to see what I can find.

[wishstar]

10. Many Italian immigrants worked on the Canal and were actually recruited in Italy to come over

and Irish immigrants as well. Slavery had been outlawed in NY before then and much of that area of upstate NY near Canada was part of underground railroad to freedom.

I grew up near a canal town that was interesting mix of Irish and Italian families who descended from Erie Canal workers and attended the Catholic church where my Italian mom took us. It was the only town in our rural area that had a liquor store and bars while other nearby towns were Protestant tee totalers with dry laws prohibiting all alcohol sales.

[JoseBalow]

3. Such an amazing project

You can sail an inland route from New York to New Orleans via the Erie Canal (and the The Illinois and Michigan Canal)

[crosinski]

4. A couple questions spring to mind.

I wonder how deep it is, and I wonder what they did with all the dirt.

I googled this info! “Removed soil was piled on the downhill side to form a walkway known as a towpath.” Originally, it was about four foot deep, and now it ranges from twelve to twenty four feet deep.

[BluesRunTheGame]

5. The E-ri-e was rising, and the gin was gettin' low...

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[debm55]

6. thank you, Coventina,

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Saw It As A Kid

My parents were big on including historic sites into our vacations.
I think we saw part of the canal when we drive up to see Fort Erie & Niagara Falls. I was 11 y/o I think.
Oh, and another excellent history topic, C

[niyad]

9. Happy 23rd DUnniversary!

[AllaN01Bear]

8. went to a erie canal museum where 3 versions of the canal was located.

low bridge , evrybody down, low bridge as we are coming to a town, youll always know your neighbour , youll always know your pal when you are on the erie canal. one of me Ancient ancesters was one of the first polers on the canal. when he died they found that he had sewen his bill of lading to his shirt. omgoodness.

[electric_blue68]

11. Ty. Vauguely remember learning about it. But, Wow, what a project!...

Also said It's how NY State became the "Empire State" w all the population, commerce, etc it brought through.