The Historic Erie Canal
A tour through the Clinton Ditch Canal, and Enlarged Erie Canal
Erie Canal 7-23-21
Albany Basin
Enlarged Albany Basin 1869(?)
In April 1823 the state legislature authorized the construction by private parties of a pier and basin along Albany's already two-century old waterfront. The great success of the completed portions of the Erie probably brought a recognition that this old waterfront was not going to be able to handle the new demands. Similarly, the new traffic could offer commercial opportunities if handled properly. In early May 1825 the pier and basin were described as being nearly complete. The pier's "extreme length is nearly 4400 feet - its width is 80 feet, and its height averages about 20 feet. - It runs in front of the old docks, at an average distance of about 250 feet, and encloses a basin... capable of holding about 1000 canal boats... At the southern termination of the pier is a sloop lock, 177 feet in length, and 30 feet in width, having a depth of 11, at the lowest stage of water." The construction completely enclosed the eastern termination of the Erie with all traffic having to go through the sloop lock. The basin offered protection to canal craft from storms and aggressive river currents. It facilitated the transfer of goods between canal boats and river vessels.
Historic Mapping Resources
1834 Hutchinson Survey - Albany Basin (NYSA A0848)
1895 Schillner Map of Albany Basin Area (NYSA B0253)
Blue Line Map - Albany Basin circa 1921 (NYSA B1761)
Albany Basin Composite Map
Albany Basin - Showing Enlarged Basin, Little Basin and Clinton Ditch
Birdseye View of Albany Basin Looking West
Lock 1 and Albany Basin
Enlarged Basin Improvements 1866
Erie Canal Big and Small Basin 1869 Survey - Composite of NYSA Structure Book 47-1, 47-2, 47-3, and 47-4 (B0292 Finding Aid)
Plan for Basin Improvements Completed and Contemplated 1866
NYSA Archives Structures Book 15-16 (B0292 Finding Aid)
Plans for Improvement to Enlarged Basin 1866 - NYSA Structures Book 44-26, 44-28, and 44-27 (B0292 Finding Aid)
Ferry Street Bridge
Bridge over both Clinton Ditch and Enlarged Erie Canal. Continuously represented on plans from 1834 through 1921. The 1879 bridge is a Whipple Trapezoid Truss design, and the 1887 bridge is a mechanical lift bridge with an over stair case. Both bridges offer a horse trolly track.
Ferry Street Bridge Location on Hutchinson Survey of 1834
Ferry Street Bridge on Schillner Maps of 1895
Blue Line Ferry Street Bridge Circa 1922
North Ferry Street Selected Structures Reference
Ferry Street - Trapezoidal Whipple Truss - 1879
NYSA Archives Structures Book 10-75 / 10-75 (B0292 Finding Aid)
Ferry Street - Lift Bridge 1887
NYSA Structures Book 9-92, 9-96, and 9-94 (B0292 Finding Aid)
North Ferry Street Lift Bridge - Showing Wooden Staircase
NYSA Archives Structure Book 9-88 (B0292 Finding Aid)
Ferry Street Lift Bridge - Looking East - Note Staircase on North Side
Mapping Resources
Blue Line Map Index - Albany County
A tour of the Enlarged Canal - Schillner Maps
The Albany Basin
The Eastern Terminus of the Erie Canal
The Lumber District
The lumber district info....
Lock 2 Enlarged Canal
More on Lock 2 Erie Canal
Port Schuyler and Side Cut
ThThe Clinton's Ditch sidecut consisted of two separate single-chambered locks that lowered boats down to the Hudson. When the Enlargement program of the late 1830s was undertaken, it undertook to correct some of the deficiencies of the Ditch design that had become apparent under the staggering amount of traffic that used the sidecut. An 1850s report stated that at the junction of the sidecut and the Erie was "probably at all times a greater accumulation of boats than at any other place on the whole canal." One of the problems was the nearness of the West Troy Weighlock, immediately alongside the upper lock. When enlarged, the upper lock was going to be built on the Ditch weighlock site. This work required that the vitally needed Enlarged Erie West Troy first be constructed. Despite much hope, this complication prevented construction before the Stop and Tax Act of 1842. The new single sidecut locks were not finished until 1850. Supplementing this accomplishment was the construction at the same time of the West Troy basin at the entrance of the sidecut into the river. Not only did it provide amply relief from boats clogging the main line, the basin also ameliorated the annoying silting of the river entrance.[1]
Watervliet Side Cut - 23rd Street
More on side cut
Junction Enlarged and Clinton's Ditch (Lock 3)
Description
