The Schoharie Aqueduct

The Schoharie Aqueduct. Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site. The stone structure extending about halfway across Schoharie Creek in front of you is what remains of the Schoharie Aqueduct. Built between 1839 and 1841 as part of the enlarged Erie Canal, the Schoharie Aqueduct was perhaps the single greatest improvement made during the canal's enlargement phase. The fourteen-arch, 624-foot-long aqueduct carried the enlarged Erie over the sometimes-treacherous Schoharie Creek., Because the original 1820s Erie Canal entered the creek itself, whenever the Schoharie was flooding, traffic on the canal was often halted for days, causing backups, reduced profits, and spoiled produce in some cases. After the aqueduct went into operation, canal traffic no longer had to be interrupted., The aqueduct was removed from service ca. 1915-1916 and the Barge Canal, located in the Mohawk River, fully opened by 1918. A series of arches at the east end were removed to prevent ice jams. Other arches have since collapsed., [ Photo Captions ] , Mules towing a barce east acrose schonare Aqueduct. ca. 1890, The Schoharie Aqueduct was built by contractor Otis Eddy for $180,000. The aqueduct made the Erie Canal more efficient. Not only did it reduce repair costs by eliminating a lift lock and guard lock, but it also reduced travel time for canal boats.