Cohoes in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Erie Canal

Power Canal Park | Cohoes NY

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, May 6, 2011

1. The Erie Canal Marker

Inscription.
The Erie Canal flowed through Cohoes along two distinct paths during the 19th century. The first phase, 1825-1841, is commonly referred to as "Clinton's Ditch" after New York Governor DeWitt Clinton, who was the foremost advocate for construction of the canal. This canal flowed through the site on which you are standing. From 1842 to early 20th century, the enlarged Erie Canal flowed along a route slightly to the west of this site (uphill from where you are standing). The Erie Canal traversed New York, connecting Albany and the Hudson River in the east with Buffalo and the Great Lakes in the west. Cohoes and its industries benefited greatly from the increased ease of shipping raw materials in and finished products out along the canal.

The Enlarged Erie The enlarged Erie Canal, opened in April 1842, was the largest hydraulic project of the 19th century. The enlarged canal was 350 miles long, and was both wider (70 feet) and deeper (7 feet) than the original canal. It had double-chamber locks to permit barge travel in both directions, with 72 lift locks; 10 of these (Locks 9-18) were in Chohes, the greatest concentration

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of locks along the Erie Canal. Many of these limestone locks can still be seen today. Lock 18 (shown above) is a fine example of the double-chambered locks, and can be found north of this site on the western side of North Mohawk Street.

"Clinton's Ditch" - The Original Erie Canal The original canal was 40 feet wide and 4 feet deep, and 363 miles long. The system had 83 single-chamber locks, with 19 of them in Cohoes to surmount the Cohoes Falls. "Clinton's Ditch" was a surprising success but was soon found inadequate for the shipping traffic that developed. In 1836 work was begun on an enlargement of the canal to speed transport. The new and enlarged canal was built several hundred feet west of this site; it was opened for shipping in 1842.

What became of "Clinton's Ditch"? Upon completion of the enlarged Erie Canal, the Canal Corporation abandoned "Clinton's Ditch." The old canal property in Cohoes was transfered to the Cohoes Company, which converted much of it to power canals for the mills, giving the original Erie Canal a second life in Cohoes as a generator of power for industry.
Today You are standing in a former

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, May 6, 2011

2. The Erie Canal Marker

portion of "Clinton's Ditch", one of the last visible remnants of the Original Erie Canal in Cohoes, which later saw use as a power canal. At the southern end of this park are the remnants of Lock 39 of the original Erie Canal. About 500 feet to the north of this site, Locks 37 and 38 of the canal lie under the pump house and adjacent building.

Erected 2004 by City of Cohes.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Erie Canal series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1842.

Location. 42° 46.765′ N, 73° 42.203′ W. Marker is in Cohoes, New York, in Albany County. It can be reached from North Mohawk Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is beside the footpath at the south end of the Power Canal Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cohoes NY 12047, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

in the Capital District,

and in the Albany Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, April 7, 2011

3. The Erie Canal Marker

The Erie Canal Marker is in the south end of the Power Canal Park. The rest of the drained power canal can be seen beyond the marker in the background.

America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Power Canal Park (here, next to this marker); Developing an Industrial Empire (within shouting distance of this marker); The Harmony Mills Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); The Harmony Mills (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Cohoes Mastodont (about 400 feet away); A Company Town (about 400 feet away); Rise of the Harmony Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); Capturing the Power of Water (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cohoes.

Also see . . . Cohoes Company Power Canal System, Level 2, North Mohawk Street, Cohoes, Albany, NY HABS. Library of Congress website entry (Submitted on May 19, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)

The Power Canal; Now & Then image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous

4. The Power Canal; Now & Then

On the left the Erie Canal Marker is mounted in the bed of the former power canal. On the right is the power canal in a photo from the Historic American Building Survey from 1969. The Harmony Mill #3 is the large sructure in the upper right in both photos.

The Power Canal image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, March 16, 2011

5. The Power Canal

This view of the power canal is on display in the Cohoes City Hall building.
Images of the Erie Canal at Cohoes
The Erie Canal website entry
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 7, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 2,465 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 7, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 2. submitted on May 8, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 19, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.