The New York State Barge Canal (Western Division) Collection consists primarily of eight albums of original silver prints relating to the Western Division of the Erie Canal Improvement Project known as the Barge Canal. Altogether they contain a total of 1806 images documenting all aspects of Barge Canal construction work, including sites for speculative projects. Other material in the collection includes additional photographs and six small ledgers.
The New York State Barge Canal (Western Division) Collection is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
The New York State Barge Canal Collection was purchased in November 2010 with funds from the Alma Burner Creek Endowment, the John R. Russell Memorial Fund, and the Friends of the University Libraries.
In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
[Item title, item date], New York State Barge Canal (Western Division) Collection, D.405, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Located between Bushnell's Basin and Pittsford - closer to Bushnell's
Structures in Towns of Gates and Chili; Brooks Avenue construction; Pennsylvania Railroad Co.; stones - character, condition, excavation; guard locks; Scottsville Road; some pictures labeled as Rochester or near Rochester
Buildings in Town of Gates (houses, barns); "Contract No. 6" - mostly empty fields, light construction; Buffalo Road bridge location; Spears Bridge Road construction; Lee Road bridge location; Lyell Road bridge location; excavating for New York Central bridge; temporary road and bridge at Lyell; "grab bucket"; New York Central bridge abutments; spoil banks and rock cuts
Barns, shops, storage, farming, and other buildings - location unknown, owners identified; houses; light industry; culverts; Brockport waste weir; "Contract 61" bridge construction; excavation at "Contract 61"; construction at Brockport
Railroad construction; suspension bridge; views from Main Street bridge; Cartersville waste weir; Thomas Creek; "Contract 63" construction; Bushnell's Basin; views from various bridges - Mitchell's, Wiltsies, Knapp's, Fullam's Basin, Monroe Avenue; Irondequoit trough construction; construction in Cartersville
"Contract 60"; bridges, culverts, drainage ditches; bridge construction; South Genesee Bridge abutments and construction; Martha Street Bridge; Adams Basin; "Bridge No. 102"; other identified bridges; barns, sheds, houses - location unknown, owners identified; washwalls; paving, excavating; South Greece waste weir; Brown's Bridge; excavation and construction at South Greece Bridge
Appropriated lands in Town of Brighton (orchards on East Henrietta Road); clearing said orchards; excavation for water main at North Henrietta Road; temporary bridge on East Henrietta Road; Lock 32 near Rochester; Lock 33 and spillway; construction at Lock 32; bridge erection at "South Area"; Rochester pike line near Clinton Avenue; Clinton Avenue bridge and spillway; cuts from East Henrietta Road, Bells Woods, Westfall Road, Edgewood Avenue; Edgewood Avenue Bridge; South Avenue spoilbank and bridge; East Henrietta Road retaining wall; Park Road crossing
Contract 76: Pictures identified as "not appropriated"; bridge over Mud Mills spillway; railroad crossings; New York Central Railroad bridge; cattle run under railroad bridge; Newark and Marion crossings; Zeiglets Mill Dam; proposed site for Lock 27; Geneva Street crossing; barns and houses; view by Bradley Hill. Contract 77: South Side railroad crossing; North Side railroad crossing; Lock Site No. 3. Contract 21: Bridge across old Genesee Valley Canal in Town of Chili; houses in Chili; houses in Town of Gates; Gates water tower. Contract 6: Houses and barns in Gates
Construction of Lyell Ave in Rochester; Allen Street Bridge construction; Lyell Avenue Bridge construction; New York Central Railroad branch in Auburn; Cartersville railroad bridge and waste weir; Monroe Avenue Bridge in Pittsford; West Shore railroad bridge in Pittsford; Mitchell's Highway Bridge; Irondequoit Creek culvert; Bushnell Basin Bridge; Wiltsies Bridge; various culverts; Main Street Bridge and waste weir in Fairport; Thomas Creek culvert; Knappsville Bridge; Cobb's Bridge; unidentified construction; houses and barns in Town of Perinton; houses and barns in Pittsford; construction in Cartersville; Cobb's Bridge; Parker Street; bridge in Fairport; Fullam's Bridge; bridges and empty fields; Locks 32 and 33; construction near East Henrietta
Copy belonged to George K. Lusk (signed)
Notebook belonging to Dean H. Fitzhugh of Brockport, NY.
Belonged to G.D. Holmes, Assistant Engineer
Includes survey notes
Belonged to J.J. Overn, Spec. Resident Spec. Engineer
Barge Canal Survey consisting of 66 surveys