September 2002

WHEN TUGBOATS ROAMED THE EARTH Annual Tugboat Event Slated for September 6th-8th Waterford, NY

This tiny waterfront community is expected to swell with tugboats and their admirers for three days in early September. Working vessels of all shapes and sizes, some retired and some still plying the waters of the historic Erie Canal, will line the shores here as Waterford celebrates its industrial maritime heritage. The three day salute to tugboats and other working craft will coincide with the 225th anniversary of the battle of Saratoga, and a timely tribute to the heroes of September 11th.

At the time of the War for American Independence, Waterford was already a thriving river port. The traditional head of tidal navigation on the Hudson River, Waterford was the final upriver destination for many sloops laden with goods essential to life in early upstate New York. Waterford's growth as a commercial (and later recreational port) has mirrored the growth of the nation, according to Waterford Town Supervisor John E. Lawler. "There is no more fitting venue for this event," said Lawler recently. "When the original canal was built, many thought Waterford's significance as a port would be diminished. Instead, the state built a sloop lock at Troy (to be replaced later by a federal barge lock), and a set of locks to connect our river port with the Champlain Canal. In fact, our early, unlikely survival as a viable port paved the way for the destination we would ultimately become."

Destination, indeed. This sleepy upstate town comes alive once each year in remarkable fashion while it hosts the annual Tugboat Roundup. Known locally for its turn-of-the-century downtown, friendly atmosphere, quaint shops, and distinctive architecture - there is nonetheless plenty of parking here on any given summer afternoon. Not so during the annual tugboat festival. Crowds of up to 20,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event - to tour the tugs and witness a piece of history. Plenty of off-street parking will be available, though, as the town prepares to accommodate its guests. "We'll have plenty of public safety folks out there, in addition to signage and a bus running from off-site parking to the event. What we've done in the past is to retain the small town feel for our visitors, even if our population doubles for a few days. We want everyone to feel right at home," says Lawler.

Perhaps the ones feeling most at home will be the tugboats themselves. After all, the proximity of this post to the "flight of five" lock system, in addition to canals both past and present, made it a tugboat hotspot, of sorts. Historically, 3 to 4 tugs were stationed in the Waterford area, some for shifting tows through the flight, some for area commerce and short runs. These tugs were called "day" boats, so named because the crews normally worked only during the day. Additionally, the traffic jams often created below the flight meant that tugs with accompanying barges were a common sight during most of the 20th century. Now, one is more likely to spot a yacht, or pleasure trawler, waiting for entrance into the lock system here. Except, however, for one weekend each year.

"For three days, tugs take back the waterfront," according to event organizer and volunteer John Callaghan. "It's not a hostile takeover, though. The pleasure boats will be here as well, eager to tour these old giants and travel back through time." Callaghan, who started the Tugboat Roundup a few years ago, no longer runs the event himself. Instead, Richard M. Hurst, Planning Director for the Town of Waterford, plans and coordinates the festival. "It got to be a bit bigger than we had originally anticipated," says Callaghan, who had hoped originally to attract a couple hundred spectators to the event. Glad to be free of the day to day administrative headaches that accompany the festival, Callaghan points to Hurst as a big reason for the event's success. Hurst, for his part, shrugs off any accolades. "We've got a product here people are interested in," he says. "It's the old adage 'if you build it, they will come.' Same thing with a one of a kind tugboat muster - if you have it, they will come."

And come they have, in droves. Waterford's merchants look forward to the annual event, and the extra business it brings in. Broad Street, the main shopping district, is a short walk from the waterfront. The question is, will visitors at the roundup be able to pull themselves away from the action? "We try to have enough going on during the actual festival (besides the tugs themselves) to keep people busy, but we also want the local businesses to do well. It's tough finding that happy medium, but so far we've been successful," says Supervisor Lawler.

Competing with Broad Street's shops will be an impressive array of events, shows, exhibits, and programs. Perhaps the first must-see of the weekend will be the parade of tugs, as they steam into port from the south. The armada will depart the port of Albany at approximately 3 P.M. on Friday, September 6th, and arrive in Waterford at around 5 P.M. to the strains of canal balladeer George Ward and the popping of pyrotechnics. Opening ceremonies will follow, along with a blessing of the fleet, after which Supervisor Lawler will officially open the event with the firing of a cannon.

Saturday will be filled with fun, music, and history for all. An all day musical lineup will be highlighted by singer and story-teller Mark Rust, who will perform two shows between 3 and 6 P.M. from the Visitor's Center. Other performances will include salty old sea captains, wildlife shows, puppet shows, and other surprises. For history buffs, there will be round table discussions and lectures held at the Visitor's Center and aboard an old covered railroad barge.

Of course, the tugs themselves will be the main attraction. Tours will be available on the tugs from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. on Saturday and 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. on Sunday. Many of these historic vessels have long been thought extinct, like dinosaurs. However, many survive. The tugs on hand will include the Cleveland, the Urger, the Chancellor, the Cheyenne, the Buchannan 5, the 8th Sea, the Ben Elliot, the Mame Faye, the Tender 3, the Buffalo, the K. Whittelsey, and the W.O. Decker. Two covered railroad barges, the Penn #399 and the Lehigh Valley #79, will also be in attendance. Several mini-tugs and private tugs are also expected. Boat rides will be available on both the Tug W.O. Decker, and the stern-wheeler Caldwell Belle. A chicken barbecue and fireworks display will cap off the festivities on Saturday, while an awards ceremony will conclude the festival on Sunday. At the ceremony on Sunday, crew members from the retired NYC fireboat John Harvey are expected to be on hand as Waterford honors their service in the wake of 9/11. This entirely volunteer crew, in the process of restoring the old decommissioned fireboat, responded to the tragedy and provided vital fire-fighting water to lower Manhattan for days.

Meanwhile, last minute preparations for the event are in full swing, according to marketing consultant Denise King. "There are a lot of details to firm up, and it's frustrating as we get closer and closer, but it always seems to come together in the last month." King, who is widely credited for the annually increasing attendance at the event, says her job is relatively easy. "Who wouldn't want to do a story on tugboats? They're so photogenic, and everybody loves them." King says she's proud to be a part of something so historically significant, and more importantly, fun.

With all the details coming together, Waterford is sure to host another sensational event this year. Whether coming by boat, car, or otherwise, visitors to the Tugboat Roundup are sure to take away a deep appreciation for Waterford's industrial maritime heritage. In addition, they're sure to take away some fine upstate New York hospitality. "We're proud of our heritage, and we want people to pass the word when they get back to their own corners of the state, or the country," says Lawler. "Waterford's as nice a place to visit as it is to live, and not just when the tugboats are in town."

But for many, it's the plaintive wail of the tug's whistle, hearkening as if from another time, that is the romantic attraction to this place. For some it's a siren's song, a one-note luring melody from a time gone by. It's as if we're being called back, slowly, to the water. Back to our heritage, back to a simpler time. Back to when tugs, like dinosaurs before them, roamed the earth.

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Where to View the Tug Boat Parade
By Ken Daves

An exciting time of year is just around the corner! One of my favorite activities in early fall is the Waterford Tugboat Roundup. A great part of this annual event is the tug boat parade which kicks the weekend off.

The parade will get organized in the Port of Albany area around 3 PM on Friday, September 6th and underway by 4 PM. The tugs will proceed North to Troy where more craft will join the group before locking through at the Federal Dam and then on to Waterford. I have been told that private non-tug vessels are welcome to join the parade or watch the show along the way.

There are several places along the route to enjoy the parade from shore. Certainly one of the better places is going to be at the foot of the new Hudson River Way footbridge in Albany, near the amphitheater. Another good view should be found at the Corning Preserve Boat Launch and then further north from the park in Green Island, just off I-787.

If you are viewing from the east shore then the Riverfront Park in Rensselear should be a good spot as will be the Troy bulkhead and then the park area adjacent to the Troy Lock.

If you havenÕt seen the parade or attended the festivities in Waterford, I highly suggest it. It is quite a sight to see these tugs and barge teams all together as a group. It brings a sense of nostalgia to the air and a glimpse into the past to a time when commercial traffic of this level was common almost everywhere along the river. Hope to see you there!