May 2003 Meeting Abstract

The original Erie Canal was the largest most successful public works project ever undertaken in the United States at the time of its completion in 1825. Built by New York State alone, without Federal assistance, it was begun on July 4, 1817 and when completed was only 40 feet wide and 4 feet deep. Yet this narrow ribbon of water made New York the Empire State and brought the boom towns to America.

However, construction was not without its problems. Five major geological obstacles had to be overcome and properly engineered. These were, from East to West:

--the post glacial gorge of the Lower Mohawk River and Cohoes Falls

--the Noses and Little Falls of the Mohawk between Fonda and Herkimer

--the Montezuma Marsh

--the preglacial Genesee Valley crossing now the Irondequoit Valley

--the Niagara Escarpment and Deep Cut South of Lockport.

The canal also helped initiate the first geological survey of the State by Amos Eaton (the Father of New York Geology), resulting in a profile and section from Boston to Buffalo along the Erie Canal parallel in 1823, and the first geologic map of New York State as a unit in 1830. Eaton, who founded RPI, also used the canal as a school of science, leading the first field trips (field camps) from Troy across the State and returning by canal boat in 1826 and 1830.

Today the canal is being revitalized for tourism and recreation. In December 2001, Congress designated New York State's canal system a National Heritage Corridor within the National Park Service: the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

The slide show and talk will present a brief history of the canal focusing on the geological obstacles and Amos Eaton, and conclude with the canal's potential renaissance as a world class tourism destination.

Thomas X. Grasso is one of 6 children born to Italian immigrant parents in Lackawanna, New York. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geology from the University of Buffalo and a Masters Degree in Paleontology and Stratigraphy from Cornell University. He served as the chair of the Geosciences Department at Monroe Community College from the time it was formed in 1969 until his retirement in 1999. He has 2 children and 5 grandchildren.

A nationally and internationally recognized canal scholar, Tom is President of the Canal Society of New York State and President of Inland Waterways International, based in the UK. He has authored numerous publications on New State canals, French canals, and New York geology for both the professional and general audience press. He was recommended by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and subsequently appointed a Commissioner to the U. S. National Park Service's Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission in 2002 by Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton.

Please be sure to join the BAPG on Wednesday May 23rd to hear Mr Grasso's interesting and timely presentation on one of New York State's historical and geologic treasures.

Francine Cohen

BAPG Executive Vice-President