From the description, we know that this Canal boat is near Schenectady, but judging from the railroad in the background, this might tell us it's where the Canal paralleled the Troy & Schenectady Railroad (Gino DiCarlo Collection)
The upper Mohawk Aqueduct, looking Northward towards Rexford (originally called Alexander's Mills). Note the small highway bridge (now Route # 146) hugging the left side of the aqueduct. This picture was taken from the right of way of the Troy and Schenectady Railroad. Note the switch stand in the right foreground.
The left turn to the entrance of the aqueduct, looking eastward from the village of Craig. Note the stone posts along the left side of the towpath. The long tow lines rubbed against these posts as the boats were being towed around the bend by horses or mules. The stone posts usually had grooves worn in them from the rubbing of many thousands of tow lines.
The village of Craig at the west end of the aqueduct. The bridge over the canal was for highway traffic. In the far distance, crossing the river, is The Schenectady Railway Company trolley bridge leading to Alplaus and on to Ballston and Saratoga. It was the longest trolley bridge in the world. Some of the piers for the trolley bridge are still there. Also note the railroad siding at the lower left of the picture.
The view is westward with the aqueduct crossing the river. The village of Rexford is at the right. There was a set of locks at the north end of the aqueduct (not visible) and a second set after the canal turned east (visible). Just this side of the second set of locks, was the "Change Bridge" where the towpath crossed over the canal (towpaths were always on the river side of canals because there was usually higher land along the other sides). The animals crossing the change bridge had to make a tight spiral underneath the left end of the change bridge to thread the towline through underneath the bridge. Barely visible through the row of trees along the river's edge, is the feeder canal. This feeder passed under the first arch of the aqueduct and brought water from a dam crossing the river just above the aqueduct. This water was used for operating all of the canal and the canal locks all the way to a point below the Cohoes Falls. The feeder joined the main canal between the lower Rexford locks and the change bridge. Again the trolley bridge is visible in the far distance beyond the aqueduct.
A close up of the change bridge just below the Rexford locks, looking eastward. The bridge pier with its tight spiral through and underneath the right end of the bridge, is still there today (but the bridge isn't).
Looking westward with Rexford at the right.
Eastward view of the upper Mohawk Aqueduct. Note the little highway bridge (now Route #146), on its own piers, on the near side of the aqueduct. At the left foreground is a gate at the entrance to the feeder canal. At the right foreground is the edge of the dam which crossed the river at this point and caused the river water to enter the feeder. The stone work at the shore ends of this dam is still visible today. The pond level above this dam is approximately the same as that which exists today.
The Mohawk River dam viewed from the entrance to the Rexford feeder. The village of Craig is at the far end of the dam.
A close-up of the Aqueduct at Rexford (Gino DiCarlo Collection)
Westward view of the Aqueduct. Note that the bridge of the Schenectady Railway had not been built yet, dating this card prior to 1903...(Gino DiCarlo Collection)
See the Canal In The Mohawk Valley
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