PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM RECORDING EARLY 20TH CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ALONG THE ERIE CANAL

Possibly Daniel Sullivan

Published by Vicinity of Ilion, New York, 1910

About this Item

Photograph album documenting improvement projects along the Erie Canal during the construction of the New York State Barge Canal system This album measures approximately 7½ " x 10 ½" and contains over 65 photographs ranging in size from 3½" x 2½" to 5¼" x 3¼". All have been glued to the pages. There are no captions, however some of the photos show company names on the equipment. A slip of paper laid-in to the album identifies one of the subjects in a photo as "Daniel Sullivan / Postmaster, Ilion, N.Y." Some of the images are a little over-exposed. Light wear to the album. In nice shape. About 60 of the photographs show in-progress construction work including workers, boats, cranes, and dredges working in concert to either extend or widen the canal. Several of the photographs show equipment from Pearson & Son, Inc. of New York City. Six additional photographs in the rear of the album show a freight train wreck, perhaps related to the project. "In 1903, the New York State legislature authorized construction of the 'New York State Barge Canal' as the 'improvement of the Erie, the Oswego, the Champlain and Cayuga and Seneca Canals.' In 1905, construction . . . began; it was completed in 1918, a cost of $96.7 million [and] opened to through traffic May 15, 1918." (See Wikipedia) "Ilion Terminal, located on the Erie Canal, is a component of the nationally significant New York State Barge Canal. It is one of several terminals constructed along the Barge Canal to provide points for freight transfer." (From the Library of Congress photography collection). In 1909, that company was awarded contracts totaling over $5.7 million for work on this project and may have received more awards in other years. (See the Annual Report, Superintendent of Public Works on the Canal of the State, 1909.) A terrific first-hand visual record of improvements made to the Erie Canal. Scarce. At the time of listing, no similar items are in the trade. There are no auction records listed at the Rare Book Hub. Although OCLC shows no similar vernacular albums held by institution, there is an official NY State Engineer photograph album of the project at the Buffalo History Museum. Seller Inventory # 009529

Bibliographic Details

Title: PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM RECORDING EARLY 20TH ...

Publisher: Vicinity of Ilion, New York

Publication Date: 1910

Binding: Album

Condition: Very good