The Empire State Trail at Port Byron

The Empire State Trail at Port Byron. . , Erie House , The 1890s Erie House saloon was built by Italian immigrant brothers near Lock 52 for canalers, drydock workers, and the many Italians farming the rich mucklands. In this 1901 view, the brothers, Peter and Salvatore Van Detto, stand proudly on the porch of the saloon. Above their heads is a memorial for President McKinley, a visual symbol of their affection for their new country. This stands in contrast to the 1886 riot when Italian laborers sought work at Lock 52, only to be rejected as immigrants. A local historian later praised the Italians for having "contributed much to the culture and prosperity of this community.” Today, the Erie House is part of the Port Byron Erie Canal Heritage Park, located one mile west of here along State Route 31., Kern Store , The now-gone Kern Store on the south edge of nearby Lock 52 was a popular place for both canal travelers and the local community. This photograph, taken about 1910, shows neighborhood teenagers with a store employee. Believed to be in the group is Ben White, who later became the mayor of Port Byron and the first African-American mayor in New York State. Born in Canada, he immigrated to the United States in 1906 and became a citizen in 1918 while serving in the U.S. military during World War I.