Near Randall in Montgomery County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Road Maps on the Water

The Erie Canal

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, June 11, 2024

1. Road Maps on the Water Marker

Inscription.
The 19th century on the Canal was easy to navigate. On an artificial waterway, the boater simply had to keep within the canal's banks on the water. You traveled either west or east.

In the 20th century, the Barge Canal returned to the natural waterways such as the Mohawk and Seneca Rivers, and Oneida Lake. Channels were cut through these rivers and lakes to provide accurate depth and width.

Buoys such as these marked those channels. The navigation buoys carried lamps that had to be refueled and cleaned daily, as for much of the 20th century the canal operated day and night. They were color coded and numbered, keyed to charts that let boaters know their exact location.

[Photo Caption:] Canal buoy with kerosene lamp - seen here likely before 1960 when the last lanterns were replaced with electric bulbs. Red buoy 324 still exists, about two miles west of here- just west of Lasher Creek

Erected by Pathway Through History, I ❤️ NY.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1960.

Location. 42° 54.992′ N, 74° 26.734′ W.

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Marker is near Randall, New York, in Montgomery County. It can be reached from New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) when traveling west. Marker is at the Mohawk Valley Welcome Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fultonville NY 12072, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York

and in the Mohawk Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bollards (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mohawk Valley (within shouting distance of this marker); Transportation is King / Modernization (within shouting distance of this marker); The Erie Canal (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Mohawk Valley (within shouting distance

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, June 11, 2024

2. Road Maps on the Water Marker

of this marker); Giving Sal a Rest (within shouting distance of this marker); The Second Locking (within shouting distance of this marker); Then and Now (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Randall.

Also see . . . New York State Canal System (Wikipedia). (Submitted on July 1, 2024, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.)

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, June 11, 2024

3. Road Maps on the Water Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2024, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 145 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 1, 2024, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.