Exploring the Canal

Exploring the Canal. . , DePuy Canal House , The DePuy Canal House (built 1797 and known as the Stone House Tavern) was a central location for canal-related activity in High Falls. Operating as a tavern under the ownership of the DePuy family, after completion of the D&H Canal in 1828, canawlers and others would have gathered to exchange news, broker business deals, and load local products like cement and blue stone on canal barges via the quay next to the building. the building became even more prominent after 1850, when the Canal route was re-directed from the area through Grady Park to its present location and was purchased by the D&H Canal Company for an office. In 1898, the Canal Company sold it to High Fall's last lock tender, George Switzer., In the early 1990's, when the canal was no longer operating in High Falls, the building was transformed into three apartments. In 1969, John Novi opened DePuy Canal House restaurant and turned the space into a successful and innovative farm to table restaurant that was awarded four stars by the New York Times, the only restaurant outside NYC to get this honor., With funding support from the Open Space Institute and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, in 2015 the D&H Canal Historical Society acquired the Canal House with plans to make it the new home for their collections and exhibits. The Mid-Hudson Visitor Center and D&H Canal Museum is an interactive space for locals and tourists to gather to learn more about the Canal, the trails extending from High Falls, and the natural and cultural heritage of the region., Five Locks Walk , The Five Locks Walk is a 0.5 mile multi-use trail that follows the towpath of the Canal from Locks 16 through 20. In 1999, the locks were cleared and partially reconstructed to enhance visitor understanding of the ingenuity and advance technology of the canal's construction. The trail can be accessed to the right of Lock 16 in front of the Canal House on Route 213. Interpretive brochures with a map are available at the trailhead and online at www.canalmuseum.org/Five-Locks-Walk., D&H Canal Historical Society , The D&H Canal Historical Society was founded in 1966 to preserve and interpret the history of the Delaware and Hudson Canal, which operated from 1828 to 1917 to bring coal and other products from Honesdale in the Moosic Mountains of Pennsylvania to the Hudson River via the town of Rondout at present day Kingston. Blue stone, millstones, barrels and barrel parts, gypsum, agricultural products, bricks, glassware, raw hides and finished leather goods, lumber, and plaster were transported to market on the Canal, making their way by river barge to Albany and New York City. As a major driver of America's economy throughout the 19th century, the relevance of the story of the D&H Canal to all Americans cannot be overstated., Our mission is to highlight the importance of the D&H Canal and preserve its stories, landscapes, and artifacts., By providing interpretation of the significance of the Canal, through the Museum, Five Locks Walk, and programming, the Society is able to meet its mission and vision through the following core activities:

. Allow visitors to interact with extant artifacts and structures to give them a tangible sense of historical perspective. , . Provide educational resources for the community by working with school groups, and by offering local residents and visitors tours, hikes, lectures, and books that focus on the Canal's history and impact. , . Promote greater use of publicity accessible hiking paths that provide access to the extensive extant remains of the Canal throughout its length, and to work with other organizations to create a broader trail network.

, Information , www.canalmuseum.org , [email protected] , 845.687.2000 , P.O. Box 23, Highfalls, NY 12440