RECENT HAPPENINGS IN NEW YORK STATE

LOCKPORT

In early June, we had the opportunity to visit with Tom Callahan in Lockport and see first hand the exciting program he and the city have to restore the waterworks and old mills located on the banks of the old Erie Canal near the famous five locks, including the three spans of the “Up-side-down railroad bridge” built by the King Bridge Company in 1902 and still used by excursion trains and the occasional freight. When completed, this project should provide one of the most important places in the country to view the history of industrial development, including canal and rail transportation, water and electrical power development, and old manufacturing technology. 

                The railroad bridge looking east     The pedestrian walkway to be restored

Tom Callahan, the owner of the Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Ride, is an engineer and historian who has taken on the job of restoring this important site. He has acquired many of the former mill properties adjacent to the waterway and is seeking the funding to complete this ambitious project. The restoration of the pedestrian walkway along side the bridge will be an important part of the effort. Tom can be contacted at hydraulicrace@worldnet.att.net.  Be sure to stop by and see this most interesting area when you are in western New York.

The old Erie Canal locks (left) and the new Barge Canal locks (right)

A.K. Sloan (left) and Tom Callahan (right) June 1, 2005

CANTON, ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY

We have received word from Peter Van de Water, President of the Grasse River Heritage Area Development Corporation, that they have received grants from New York State to begin work on the ambitious project to restore the King bowstring connecting two islands in the Grasse River as part of the Canton Islands Park program.  A contractor has been chosen to restore the bridge and the total project, including land improvements is expected to cost $400,000, much of the funds raised from local citizens and a grant from our family charitable gift fund. Actual work will begin in April 2006.

The King bowstring to be restored (photo by Jim Stewart)

We also learned that there was another King bridge across the Grasse River in Canton. It was a  201 foot Pratt truss built in 1887 and described in a local newspaper of the time as “one of the most substantial as well as ornamental looking structures we have seen. The bridge is a wrought iron high Pratt truss in two equal spans, with one roadway of 20 feet and two sidewalks of six feet with an ornamental lattice railing. The superstructure cost $5,100 and is the best in Northern New York.” There was an old picture postcard of the bridge on eBay purchased by a local collector, Roger Baily, who has sent us the copy shown below.  

For more information on the Canton bridge project contact Linda Casserly at mamacass@northnet.org.