Lewiston in Niagara County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Cradles
British military engineering eases the ascent from the river to the top of the Escarpment.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2012
1. The Cradles Marker
Inscription.
The Cradles. British military engineering eases the ascent from the river to the top of the Escarpment.. Originally, Seneca porters carried goods and boats up the Escarpment for the French and the british. In 1750, Swedish traveler Peter Kalm reported that 200 Seneca were employed in carrying on their backs packs of bear and deer skin and that he saw four men carry a birch bark canoe five fathoms long up the Escarpment. He reported that the Seneca referred to the way that he porters clambered up the escarpment on their hands and knees as Duh'jih'heh'oh meaning "to walk on all fours." The porter were paid 20 pence for each pack they carried or were given blankets, coats, stockings, and other items for their labor., After the British occupied the Niagara region they attempted to improve the movement of goods up the Escarpment first by grading the Gully and then by creating a mechanical device to move materials up from the Lower Landing. Several individuals, including John Montressor, a British lieutenant of the engineers, are credited with building a carrying device for moving goods up and down the Gully between 1762 and 1764. The Cradles, as they were called, were actually carts or sleds drawn by ropes along wooden rails. To manage the slope, the rails were in three stages. The first stage raised the carts from the river up the Gully to the top of the bank, approximately 50 feet, and terminated near this marker. The second stage changed direction ninety degrees to the south and began the ascent up the Escarpment. The third and last stage began half way up the Escarpment, on a natural shelf and terminated at the crest of the ridge. Because a large number of men were needed to operate the winches that pulled the cradles, the second and third stages were abandoned during the Revolutionary War.
Originally, Seneca porters carried goods and boats up the Escarpment for the French and the british. In 1750, Swedish traveler Peter Kalm reported that 200 Seneca were employed in carrying on their backs packs of bear and deer skin and that he saw four men carry a birch bark canoe five fathoms long up the Escarpment. He reported that the Seneca referred to the way that he porters clambered up the escarpment on their hands and knees as Duh'jih'heh'oh meaning "to walk on all fours." The porter were paid 20 pence for each pack they carried or were given blankets, coats, stockings, and other items for their labor.
After the British occupied the Niagara region they attempted to improve the movement of goods up the Escarpment first by grading the Gully and then by creating a mechanical device to move materials up from the Lower Landing. Several individuals, including John Montressor, a British lieutenant of the engineers, are credited with building a carrying device for moving goods up and down the Gully between 1762 and 1764. The Cradles, as they were called, were actually carts or sleds drawn by ropes along wooden rails. To manage the slope, the rails were in three stages. The first stage raised the carts from the river up the Gully to the top of the bank, approximately 50 feet, and terminated near this marker. The second stage
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changed direction ninety degrees to the south and began the ascent up the Escarpment. The third and last stage began half way up the Escarpment, on a natural shelf and terminated at the crest of the ridge. Because a large number of men were needed to operate the winches that pulled the cradles, the second and third stages were abandoned during the Revolutionary War.
Location. 43° 9.997′ N, 79° 2.721′ W. Marker is in Lewiston, New York, in Niagara County. Marker can be reached from South 4th Street south of Tuscarora Street. This historical marker is located on the grounds of the Earl W. Brydges Artpark. To get to this historic marker one must take South 4th Street south all the way to where the road ends, at the entrance to the Earl W. Brydges Artpark. The historic marker is on the grounds of the artpark, on a section of land just south of the first large parking area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lewiston NY 14092, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Lower Landing (within shouting distance of this marker); Lewiston Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Lewiston Mound
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, May 30, 2016
Also see . . . 1. The British Settlement in Niagara. This is a link to information provided by the Niagara Falls Info website. (Submitted on June 27, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)
2. Cradles Placemat - Historic Lewiston, NY. This is a link to information provided by The Historical Association of Lewiston. (Submitted on June 27, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2012
3. The Cradles Marker
Close-up view of the text displayed on the historical marker.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2012
4. The Cradles Marker
Close-up view of the illustration displayed on the historical marker, showing Indians carrying goods up the Niagara Portage.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2012
5. The Cradles Marker
Close-up view of the illustration displayed on the historical marker, showing goods being carried from the Lower Landing to the first Cradle, and then making a ninety degree turn at the base of the second Cradle that worked its way higher up the escarpment.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2012
6. The Cradles Marker
View of the historical marker, looking south along a campus driveway, on the grounds of the Earl W. Brydges Artpark.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2012
7. The Cradles Marker
View of the historical marker looking west along the southern edge of the parking lot, with several outdoor art exhibits seen in the distant background.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, June 11, 2012
8. The Cradles Marker
View of the historical marker on the grounds of the artpark.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 549 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on June 27, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 2. submitted on May 30, 2016, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on June 27, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.