An American first and 22 years in the making: Old Erie Canal Heritage Park at Port Byron, NYS

Authentic 19th century Erie Canal structures: abandoned lock, canal-side saloon, blacksmith shop, and mule barn exist at Port Byron. A Visitors Center, uniquely accessible from an interstate highway, is the portal to trails through the lock and restored 1895 buildings. Interpretation is presently minimalistic but plans exist for new elements.

Transcript

1. An American First and 22 Years in the Making: Old Erie Canal Heritage Park at Port Byron, New York Thomas X. Grasso, President Emeritus The Canal Society of New York State (CSNYS) New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) New York State Canal Corporation (NYSCC) New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) NYS Office of Historic Preservation (SHPO) Camp, Dresser & McKee (CDM Syracuse) T.Y.LIN International (Rochester) Crawford & Stearns (Syracuse) Cayuga County Army Corp of Engineers (Auburn Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) NYSEG World Canals Conference 2016 Inverness, Scotland
2. System Length –mi (km) -50,000 (81,000) Number of Interchanges – 14,300 USA Interstate System
3. Auburn WCC 2017
4. Erie Canal Heritage Park at Port Byron • unique project –direct access from Thruway and NY31 • authentic old Erie Canal waterfront- buildings and structures • Erie Canal is a BIG DEAL –America’s most famous canal • Cost in design and construction approximately 13 million US Dollars • CSNYS – made matches – on 3 million in Federal grants (ICTEA & SAFTEALU) – not local or regional government • CSNYS –has committed/spent well over 50% of total reserves • NYS Thruway Authority a Full Partner – January 2012 • 24 million people per year between Exits 40 and 41 –NYSTA Numbers • 7.5 miilion people eastbound alone
5. Clinton's Ditch TTeddy Roosevelt’s Ditch
6. Site Location Map
 1819 Clinton’s Ditch – original Erie Canal 1853 Enlarged Erie Canal 1910 RS&E Interurban RR c. 1900 NY 31 1918 Erie Barge Canal c. 1956 NYS Thruway I-90
7. Visitors Center P P Enlarged Erie Lock 52 1853 Erie House Saloon 1895 Blacksmith Shop Mule Barn 1896 V NY 31 Major Elements & Phases (Mike Riley 2004) 1887
8. V NY 31 Wetland Erie House 24 August 2016
9. Looking west from Lock 52 c.1955
10. Lock 52 Erie House Visitors Center NY 31 Parking Courtesy Bill Hecht March 2014 $3 Million Plus
11. Courtesy Bill Hecht August 2016
12. Courtesy Sam Castner, Sculptor August 2016
13. July 2015
14. October 2015
15. August 2016 $ 3Million Plus
17. New York State Canal Corporation-Lyons Maintenance Shop in action
21. Abandoned Winter of 1917-1918
22. c.1935 –Courtesy Mike Riley
26. Pittsford c.1917
28. Interpretation – Interpretation - Interpretation
29. 1901 (CSNYS) Pietro Van Detto (R) brother Salvatore (L) & Maud the Dog - Santa Croce, Campania c.1870 - †c. 1939
38. June 2016
39. Adelina Van Detto (née) Costa –Marzano, Italy(†1946) Marie (†1993) Theresa (†1988)
41. YOU TOO CAN GET A HANDLE ON IT There is no Excuse In Syracuse 2017