The Erie Canal, a historic waterway in New York, played a major role in connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, transforming the state's economy in the 19th century. Watervliet, NY, situated near Albany and along the canal's eastern terminus, benefitted significantly from the canal's trade and industry boom.
The Canal...
The Erie Canal, a historic waterway in New York, played a major role in connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, transforming the state's economy in the 19th century. Watervliet, NY, situated near Albany and along the canal's eastern terminus, benefitted significantly from the canal's trade and industry boom.
Industrial Growth
Watervliet, like many towns along the canal, experienced rapid industrialization. The town’s proximity to the canal facilitated the movement of goods and raw materials, fostering the development of local factories and businesses
Transportation HUB
The canal’s terminus near Albany and Watervliet turned the area into a critical transportation hub, linking canal boats with railroads and expanding trade routes even further.
Economic Impact
The canal drastically reduced shipping costs, making it affordable to transport agricultural and manufactured goods between the Midwest and the eastern markets. This boost in commerce contributed to Watervliet’s economic growth
Population &
Demographics
The economic opportunities created by the canal drew a diverse population to Watervliet, including immigrants who contributed to the labor force and helped build the canal infrastructure.
Discover The Canal's Legacy
The original Erie Canal, a man-made waterway, was constructed to connect Albany, New York, to Buffalo, New York, cutting through the City of Watervliet. Completed in 1825, it was a vital trade route, as the Mohawk Vallley provided the only natural passage through the Appalachian Mountain Range, which stretched from Canada to Georgia. Before the Canal's completion, the Application Mountains had restricted trade between the eastern and western United States.
At the time, present-day Watervliet consisted of three villages: Washington (later Port Schuyler), Gibsonville and West Troy. The city's strategic location at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers made it a key hub for commerce and immigration. Watervliet became one of the main starting and ending points for canal operations.
The 23rd Street entrance to he Erie Canal from the Hudson River was the second busiest in terms of cargo volume, surpassed only by New York Harbor. The entrance, known as a "the sidecut," gained notoriety as the Barbary Coast of the East" due to its lively and sometimes unruly activity. Watervliet featured two sidecuts connecting the canal to the Hudson River. One was near the south gate of the Watervliet Arsenal. The other was at 23rd Street, which included two locks to raise or lower boats between the canal and the river. By October 1823, the canal was operational enough for boats to travel between West Troy and Rochester. The original weigh lock (a station used to weigh boats and calculate tolls based on cargo and distance) was located on the south side of 23rd Street, just west of Broadway. West Troy's weigh lock was one of only seven along the Erie Canal and among the first three built. This weighlock was moved to the East Side of RTE 32 between 26th and 27th Streets in 1853 when the Canal was enlarged. West Troy had a dry dock built in 1840 to repair and modify canal boats below the waterline. It was located near the city garage on the north wall of the Arsenal between 1st and 2nd Avenues. The Erie Canal through Watervliet featured 16 bridges: Road Bridges: 5th, 7th,8th, two in the Arsenal, 13th,16th, 23rd, 25th, and the 23rd Street exchange bridge, as well as a lift bridge at 19th Street. Footbridges: 6th, 9th, and 15th Streets. Railroad Bridge: Located in the Arsenal. By 1923, railroads had significantly reduced the Canal's role in transporting goods. Consequently, the section of the Erie Canal between Albanhy and the Mohawk River was closed by the state. On January 8, 1924, the commissioners of the land office sold the Erie Canal lands through Watervliet back in the city for $39,874.93.