The Erie Canal Junction Lock: A Piece of History Explored

The Junction Lock hasn't been used in nearly 100 years. It stands, long-forgotten, as a reminder of a by-gone era. It's tucked away off the Erie Canal, just west of Long Pond Road in Greece, NY; and can be accessed from the Erie Canal Path. You wouldn't even know it was there unless you were looking for it.

Brief History of the Erie Canal:

Growing up in close proximity to the Erie Canal meant that it was a focal point in our schools and communities. Realizing that not everyone had that benefit, here's a very brief overview of the canal's history:

The Erie Canal was considered an engineering marvel in its day. Ironically, by the time it was completed in 1825, the Erie Canal was nearly obsolete. Work began to enlarge the canal, in hopes of keeping it as a viable transportation option. The aptly named Enlarged Erie Canal was completed in 1862. Once again, the canal was unable to stay competitive, so an even larger Barge Canal was dug. The Barge Canal was completed in 1918.

This helps to explain why a lot of Upstate and Western New York natives tend to use the terms Erie Canal and Barge Canal interchangeably.

Clinton's Ditch:

The canal is a popular subject in New York State's elementary Social Studies classes. Along with the "I got a mule and her name is Sal" song, the term "Clinton's Ditch" is taught.

The one-time Governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton, was responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal. He faced vocal opposition who dubbed the canal "nothing but a ditch". Hence the term "Clinton's Ditch" was coined. You may sometimes hear the Erie Canal still jokingly referred to as Clinton's Ditch.

The Need for Locks:

As I mentioned previously, the canal was enlarged twice. The Enlarged Erie Canal was three feet higher than the original canal. Locks are used to raise or lower a boat (accordingly) to adjust to differences in water height.

In some places (Lockport, NY; for example) there are a series of locks. A series of locks is required when there is a great difference in water heights. On the west side of Rochester the difference was only three feet, so there was only one lock.

How Locks Work:

Locks effectively act as "stairs" for waterways. As an example, here's how a boat would go "up" a lock: A boat goes into a lock and the gates are closed behind the boat. The gates in front of the boat are then opened slightly to slowly allow water in. The water level in the lock rises until the boat is level with the canal. The front gates are then opened all the way and the boat continues its voyage.

The Junction Lock's Place in History:

The Junction Lock that I mentioned in the first paragraph was used briefly, only from 1918- 1920. Today, the gates are gone, but the cement walls are still there.

Long abandoned, much ignored; the Junction Lock is symbolic of New York history. On one hand, it stands as a proud historical monument to engineering and transportation advances. On the other hand, it's a decaying reminder of the decline of America's first boomtown, and a solemn tribute to the immigrant laborers.

The Junction Lock is dry now, with trees growing where the canal had once been. The ties for the barges are still there, along with the grooves where the gates had once been. To stand at the top of the lock, or on what was once the bed of the Enlarged Erie Canal, truly gives one a of sense of history. If these walls could talk, I wonder what stories they would tell.

Pictorial Tour:

To view the attached pictorial tour, please click on the picture next to the title, then click on the numbers at the lower left.

Sources:
Expansion of America: The Erie Canal by Linda Thompson, 2005
Building America; The Canals by Raymond Bial, 2002
Erie Canal: Gateway to the West by Nicholas Nirgiotis, 1993
http://www.eriecanal.org/
Kay Whittenhauer