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June 2017
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boatingonthehudson.com
F
ive years ago, Historic Lock 19, located adjacent to
the present-day Mohawk River/Erie Canal in Vischer
Ferry, was in tough shape. Lost behind a canopy of
trees, vines, roots and refuse, the ravages of time were
evident. Vegetation growing up through the structure
threatened to dislodge hand-laid stone blocks, first
constructed during the enlargement of the Canal in
1842. This venerable part of Industrial Revolution
history was in grave danger.
Enter the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County
(CSSC), with volunteer help fromTurner Construction, GE
Measuring
An
“Historic”
Project’s
Success
and Momentive Performance Materials, as well
as Curtis Lumber, the Shenendehowa Central
School District, the Town of Clifton Park, area
small business owners and concerned citizens.
In a spirited community service project, this
teamnot only renovated and stabilized the Lock
but erected a bridge across one of its chambers,
allowing public access to the main structure for
the first time since this portion of the canal was
closed and drained in 1915.
Hundreds of hours of volunteer time were
invested plus a considerable amount of
donated materials totaling about $150,000
in in-kind services. No public money was
used for this project. Upon its completion,
the project crew was recognized with a GOBY
Award for volunteerism by the Stakeholders
Regional Volunteer Center, and the Historic
Lock 19 Project became the template for the
highly successful Saratoga County Community
Development Program led by the CSSC, which
has resulted in other successful projects such
as Ballston Spa’s Brookside Museum 1800 Long
Room Renovation and Oral History Project (2014-’15), the completion
of the XO Tower second floor in Mechanicville (2016), installation of
benches along the trail in Round Lake (2016) and the establishment of
four Community Business Alliances in Waterford, Charlton, Round Lake
and Schuylerville (2013-’16).
The benefit of these privately-funded and volunteer-driven
community efforts was highlighted this Spring when a large section of
trail adjacent to Historic Lock 19 was completed by the Town of Clifton
Park along the former canal towpath (people can literally walk in the
path of “Sal the Mule”). The twin towns of Clifton Park and Halfmoon
took advantage of a $2.1 million grant to upgrade 4.4 miles of trail
where all three versions of the Erie Canal (1825, 1842, and 1915) can be
viewed together. Without the work
of the volunteers at Historic Lock
19, the new trail would be a very
nice improvement that meandered
past some old stone relics. Because
of the Lock project, the Town of
Clifton Park can boast one of the
best historic canal sites in the State
with easy access from the nearby
nature preserve and, by dinghy, from
the Mohawk River. This is a bona
fide tourist attraction, accessible
to boaters and other visitors, and a
fitting way to help people “Discover
Clifton Park” 175 years after the
construction of Historic Lock 19!
For more information visit the
Chamber of Southern Saratoga
County
website
at
www.
southernsaratoga.org , or call (518)
371-3763.
In 2012 Historic Lock 19 was nearly lost amid years of
overgrowth that nearly consumed the structure.