The Canal Society of New York State has embarked on a historic canal restoration project that is truly one of a kind in the United States.

The centerpieces of the project are the Erie House, an original 1895 canal tavern and boarding house, and an adjacent old Erie Canal lock and prism. The Erie House catered to the various needs of boatman and local patrons on the North side of the canal just 700 feet east of the 1852 Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 52 (known as the Port Byron Lock) only one of five that locked boats up eastbound.

The site spans nearly the entire spectrum of canal construction history in New York State from Clinton’s Ditch, the original Erie Canal, to the coming of the early 20 th century version , the Erie- Barge Canal, inaugurating through commerce from Lake Erie to the Hudson River in 1918.

Officially named the Port Byron Old Erie Canal Heritage Park, the project is unique in that it will be a historical, recreational, and tourist attraction directly accessible from both the New York State Thruway (I-90) and NY 31.

Located on the south side of the Thruway west of Syracuse, between Exits 40 and 41, just east of the Port Byron travel plaza, the site will feature entrance and exit ramps and parking to accommodate both interstate and NY 31 visitors. It will be the only destination accessible directly from any interstate highway and local road in America and its being a living history site is only icing on the cake.

Erie House in 1901

 

Phase 1 ($7,800,000 projected cost)

Phase 1 of the project provides Thruway parking for some 70 cars and several buses, a Visitor's Center, NY 31 parking lot, trails and interpretation through the lock chambers, and complete restoration and interpretation of the Erie House Tavern complex which also includes a black smith shop and mule barn.

Visitor’s Center

Inside what will be a superbly designed Visitors Center, there will be rest rooms, a gift shop, and introductory exhibits. These exhibits will tell the general story of the site, describe what the visitor can expect to see and learn on the site, and a major one that focuses on other canal sites across New York State and nearby attractions in the Finger Lakes area such as the wine district. There will also be a free viewing area from the Visitor’s Center so that tourists may overlook the site, although a ticket must be purchased to go beyond.

Once an admission ticket is purchased the visitor will follow trails through the abandoned cut-stone, twinned lock chambers (one of which was lengthened in 1886 to permit the lockage of two boats lashed together in tandem).

The lock chamber trails will contain appropriate and substantive interpretative signs and image kiosks telling the history of the lock, the old canal, the boats plied its waters, and general lock operation and technology.

Erie House Today

Rendering of Erie House Resoration

The trails will eventually lead the visitor to the fully restored Erie House (no longer dispensing spirits!) that will contain exhibits portraying typical 19th Century canal-side businesses and the lifestyles of their patrons. The exhibits will also tell the story of immigration -- and of Italian immigrants such as Peter Van Detto, who built, operated, and lived at the Erie House. His daughter Marie lived on the premises until her death in 1994.

Local rumor and folklore suggests that nefarious activities took place in the boarding room portion of the establishment, and in addition the Erie House is haunted (a long-time friend and respected colleague told me he actually witnessed the apparition there one night!).

Significant Erie House Collection

The Society has in its collection the original "Erie House" sign that hung over the entrance, and various and sundry artifacts from the establishment such as beer mugs, beer signs, water pitchers, and its cash register. Interestingly, the register’s nickel key is completely worn away.

Blacksmith Shop & Mule Barn

Immediately east of the Erie House is the old blacksmith shop, originally a separate building and now joined with the mule barn into a single structure. The blacksmith shop, retrofitted by the Van Dettos as a garage for their automobile, will be moved to its original location during the restoration. Both the blacksmith shop and mule barn will be fully restored with interpretation.

Summation

The Canal Society of NYS will break ground on a portion of Phase I this summer. The objective is to stabilize the buildings thereby preserving the resource for the time when the final 1.80 million dollars is raised to fund the Visitor’s Center the only missing link preventing the full construction of Phase I.

Partners with the Canal Society of New York State in the mammoth project are: US Congressmen James Walsh and Sherwood Boehlert, State Senator Michael Nozzolio, US National Park Service, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission, Federal Highway Administration, NYS Department of Transportation, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, NYS Thruway Authority, NYS Canal Corporation, US Army Corp of Engineers, and Cayuga County.

Heritage Park Site Plan

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