Circa 1910 - Photograph album documenting improvement projects on the Erie Canal during the construction of the New York State Barge Canal system

Photographs show in-progress construction work including workers, boats, cranes, and dredges >

Vicinity of Ilion, New York, circa 1910.

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 laid-in slip paper identifies one of the photo subjects 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, Pearson & Son, Inc. 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 first-hand visual record of improvements made to the Erie Canal in the early 20th century.

Scarce. At the time of listing, no similar items are for sale in the trade. There are no auction records listed at the Rare Book Hub. Although OCLC shows no similar vernacular albums held by institutions, there is an official NY State Engineer photograph album of the project at the Buffalo History Museum.