Near Fort Hunter in Montgomery County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Last Improvements
Schoharie Crossing
| | State Historic Site | |
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, July 24, 2024
1. The Last Improvements Marker
Prior to the 1880s, barges traveled along the Erie Canal as single boats drawn by two horses or mules. Westbound barges moved quickly for they were either empty or carried light cargo. Canal traffic headed east, however, was often congested by slow-moving, 250-ton grain barges.
To improve the traffic flow, a second lock chamber was added to the eastbound side of the locks in the 1880s. With the additional chamber, two barges, tied end-to-end and drawn by three draft animals, could now pass through the lock at the same time. Because of the increased use of "triple teams" harnessed side-by-side, the canal's towpath had to be widened from 14 to 18 feet to allow teams to pass one another while pulling "double headers."
[Captions:]
A "triple team" near Fultonville, New York.
Construction of new lock chamber at Lock 28-Yankee Hill Lock in the 1880s.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 42° 56.732′ N, 74° 16.425′ W. Marker is near Fort Hunter, New York, in Montgomery County. It is on Canalway Trail- Erie Canal Trail.
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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 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: Two Problems Solved (here, next to this marker); Enlarged Canal & Lock (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lock 20 (about 400 feet away); William Harper (approx. Ό mile away); Queen Anne Parsonage (approx. Ό mile away); The Aqueduct/History of Lock 28 and 29/The Visitors Center (approx. 0.4 miles away); Gesundheit! (approx. 0.6 miles away); East Guard Lock (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Hunter.
Also see . . .
1. Schoharie Crossing (Wikipedia).
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, July 24, 2024
2. The Last Improvements Marker
2. erie Canal (Wikipedia). (Submitted on July 30, 2024, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.)
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, July 24, 2024
3. The Last Improvements Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 30, 2024, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 115 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 30, 2024, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.
