In 1836, Thomas S. Woodcock made the trip from Schenectady to Buffalo and recorded his experience aboard a packet boat:
"These boats are about 70 feet long, and with the exception of the kitchen and bar, are occupied as a cabin. The forward part being the ladies' cabin is separated by a curtain, but at meal times this obstruction is removed, and the table is set the whole length of the boat. The table is supplied with every thing that is necessary and of the best quality with many of the luxuries of life.
“On finding we had so many passengers, I was at a loss to know how we should be accommodated with berths, as I saw no convenience for anything of the kind, but the Yankees, ever awake to contrivances, have managed to stow more in so small a space than I thought them capable of doing.
“The way they proceed is as follows — the Settees that go the whole length of the boat on each side unfold and form a cot bed. The space between this bed and the ceiling is so divided as to make room for two more. The upper berths are merely frames with sacking bottoms, one side of which has two projecting pins, which fit into sockets in the side of the boat. The other side has two cords attached one to each corner. These are suspended from hooks in the ceiling. The bedding is then placed upon them, the space between the berths being barely sufficient for a man to crawl in, and presenting the appearance of so many shelves. Much apprehension is always entertained by passengers when first seeing them, lest the cords should break. Such fears are however groundless.
“The berths are allotted according to the way bill, the first on the list having his first choice, and in changing boats the old passengers have the preference. The first night I tried an upper berth, but the air was so foul that I found myself sick when I awoke. Afterwards I chose an under berth and found no ill effects from the air.
“These boats have three horses, go at a quicker rate, and have the preference in going through the locks, carry no freight, are built extremely light, and have quite genteel men for their Captains, and use silver plate. The distance between Schenectady and Utica is 80 miles, the passage is $3.50, (about $69 today) which includes board. There are other boats called Line Boats that carry at a cheaper rate, being found for 2⁄3 of the price mentioned. They are larger boats, carry freight, have only two horses, and consequently do not go as quickly and moreover have not so select a company. Some boats go as low as 1 cent per mile.”
Doug Farley is director of the Erie Canal Discovery Center. Contact him at 434-7433. The Erie Canal Discovery Center is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Canal Discovery w/ Doug Farley
CANAL DISCOVERY: Thomas Woodcock’s canal travels
- Canal Discovery w/ Doug Farley
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CANAL DISCOVERY: Charles Dickens’ NY travelogue
The British had a great deal of interest in America and its early Yankee culture, and that interest certainly extended to stories about the Erie Canal.
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CANAL DISCOVERY: Canal a route for mass migration
In the 19th century, the Erie Canal carried hundreds of thousands of European immigrants into the heartland of America.
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CANAL DISCOVERY: Canal line boat a rare specimen
The era of heavy commerce on the original Erie Canal began before 1825 and continued onward through the 20th century and the Barge Canal conversion.
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CANAL DISCOVERY: Facelift for Buffalo’s Inner Harbor
The Erie Canal Harbor in Buffalo received a “facelift” and is celebrating its new rebirth.
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CANAL DISCOVERY: Fighting along the Erie Canal
Some of the most interesting stories of the Erie Canal tell of the hand-to-hand combat that took place along the canal.
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CANAL DISCOVERY: Story of ‘Fat Man in a Berth’
“I awoke in the night with a dreadful feeling of suffocation. Cold perspiration stood on my forehead, and I could hardly draw my breath; there was a weight-like lead on my stomach and chest."
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Child labor on the canal
Life on the Erie Canal represented a way of life, all its own. Its unique culture included its own vocabulary, its own laws, its own dangers and its own beauty. In the view of some, it was a hard, demanding life, and no doubt it was for many of the 50,000 or more folks whose livelihoods depended on it during the canal’s peak years
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CANAL DISCOVERY: Railroads along the canal — part one
Very different, yet still very similar, the Erie Canal and the American railroads carved their own path through history.
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CANAL DISCOVERY: Garrity, Cook — Part 2
We have learned much about life on the Erie Canal from one of its best friends, Richard Garrity of the Tonawandas.
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CANAL DISCOVERY: Garrity, cook — part two
We have learned much about life on the Erie Canal from one of its best friends, Richard Garrity of the Tonawandas. His remembrances of growing up on the canal help us to picture the scene in our minds eye. The following narrative about cooking on the canal is graciously attributed to Garrity and is continued from last week’s edition of Discovery.
- More Canal Discovery w/ Doug Farley Headlines
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