Erie Canal long post

GREAPER

Back in the late 1800s Industry and agriculture in the midwest states of the US was growing fast, but one of the huge problems they had to face was getting the product to the large markets of the well established east.

One of the methods of moving this product was the Erie Canal. It ran from Lake Erie in north west Ohio to New York. The canal stopped being used long ago but remnatnts of it still remain across Ohio and New York.

Here in NW Ohio there are portions of the canal that still exist and many of the lock structures remain.



At providence Metropark near Grand Rapids Ohio the have a restored water powered mill and a restored canal boat. On weekends in the summer the boat travels up and down the canal giving visitors a history lesson and a taste of what it would have been like to travel the canal back then.

The canal boats means of propulsion were a team of mules. The mules would pull on a rope attached to the front of the boat. The mules would walk along the "tow path" with the mule handler.





Back then there was a small stable on the boat and when one mule team got tired they would switch them.

For the tours they just switch the mules after each trip.



The mules are well cared for and loved by their handlers. Even back then these animals were their livelyhood and were generally well cared for.



This particular boat is crewed by its captain...



Boy this boat captain stuff sure makes you thursty



And several young women in period clothes.



If you are ever in the area, check it out. It is a nice look into the past.

Thanks for looking

Brian

gus

Interesting post brian. I had heard of it but never seen the canal & had no idea about the mules.

Thanks (nice shots as well mate)
Gus

Skippy

Great Info.

GREAPER wrote:

Back in the late 1800s Industry and agriculture in the midwest states of the US was growing fast, but one of the huge problems they had to face was getting the product to the large markets of the well established east.
If you are ever in the area, check it out. It is a nice look into the past.
Thanks for looking

Brian

Fantastic report Greaper, and a lovely series of images too, excellent work.
You know the first time I ever saw a Mule I thought it was a horse
For some reason I had it in my head that a Donkey and a Mule were exactly the same thing and small, something you just carry a basket on, and walk beside dunno why.....maybe I saw it on TV at some stage, but gosh those Mules are BIG !! they look in very good condition, I bet they are treated very good by the owners...... the place looks great Greaper thanks for sharing and writting your story...... Skippy (Australia)

gus

Skippy wrote:

Fantastic report Greaper, and a lovely series of images too, excellent work.
You know the first time I ever saw a Mule I thought it was a horse
For some reason I had it in my head that a Donkey and a Mule were exactly the same thing and small, something you just carry a basket on, and walk beside dunno why.....maybe I saw it on TV at some stage, but gosh those Mules are BIG !! they look in very good condition, I bet they are treated very good by the owners...... the place looks great Greaper thanks for sharing and writting your story...... Skippy (Australia)

Its funny skip...we had over 40 horses on our farm when i was a kid & we travelled to a lot of equestrian events rodeos etc & to this day i have never ever seen a mule..

PossumCorner

Humungus wrote:

Its funny skip...we had over 40 horses on our farm when i was a kid & we travelled to a lot of equestrian events rodeos etc & to this day i have never ever seen a mule..

Mules are terrific animals, and really clever. The mule trip down the Grand Canyon is a magic experience: and they are in charge, the people are just passengers no matter how good a rider they think they might be on a horse. Did I take my camera though: no - I was so sure I'd be doing a freefall out of sheer terror I left the Nikon in the car and bought a $10 plastic-lens disposable for the ride. Regretted it, as the mule was just so confident and knew what it was about, you could just drop the reins and use both hands on the camera. But those cowboy saddles! What an ordeal, never to be repeated, give me a nice English saddle or a Poley any day.

Back to subject: Greaper I love these, and the first shot of the mill, so good!!
The mules are a bonus with their smart clean harness, show quality.

ginger_55

Greaper, Thanks,

Nice interesting post with some wonderful photos.

I especially like the last photo, just myself, they are all good.

ginger

Phil U.

Very cool. Great shots and a bit of a history lesson to go with them.

Higgmeister

Hi Brian,
Nice shots and a cool story that I really enjoyed. I've yet to spend time in the east and see all these sites. All these photos just makes me want to pack up and do some travelling.

My favorite kind of building is the old water powered mills. I can never get enough of them. Did you get any shots of the wheel side as I'd love to see them.

Thanks for sharing this series,
Chris

GREAPER

There is no wheel side in this mill. The construction is different from what you normally see. The canal runs under the mill and the wheel is inside the building. I wish it had a wheel on the outside as I think that looks cool as well, but it doesn't.

ian408

Only read about the canal and it's importance to trade in the day.

These are nice pictures that convey a sense of what it might have been like
back then.

Thanks Brian!

Ian