Historical Association of Lewiston - September Program

The Historical Assoc. of Lewiston is pleased to present our Sept. 2024 program: “The Meaning and Significance of the Erie Canal after 200 years”.  This presentation will be at 7:00 PM Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah Fellowship Hall, 915 Oneida St., Lewiston, NY.  This presentation will be by Dr. John Montague of the Buffalo Maritime Center.

Last May 23rd John did a presentation for HAL of the future plans of the just launched replica of DeWitt Clinton’s canal boat Seneca Chief - the boat that opened the Erie Canal in 1825.  Through the summer the boat has been engaged in sea trials traveling as far as Rochester in preparation for next year’s voyage to New York City for the Canal’s Bicentennial Commemorations.

Parallel to the researching, designing and building the Boat with community volunteers at Buffalo Canalside over the last four years, the Buffalo Maritime Center has also authored and produced a book entitled THE ERIE CANAL, vol 1, Perspectives at 200 published by Western New York Heritage Press which just appeared this summer.  The authors of the book, including the speaker, have attempted to take a fresh look, and a broader look, at the meaning and the impact of the Canal.  The Canal, while a triumph of Euro-American “progress,” had some darker sides which have rarely been considered, such as the displacement of the native populations, ecological and social disruptions, religious perspectives and other factors all of which make the Canal’s story a far richer and more interesting narrative than traditionally presented.

John will discuss the themes of the book and also give an update on the Seneca Chief’s summer sea trials and preparations for 2025.  The second volume of this book will appear next year. The Speaker will have copies of the book available at the talk.

John Montague arrived in Buffalo in 1984 to set up SUNY College at Buffalo’s Design History Program.  With two colleagues in the Design Department, he founded the BSC Center for Watercraft Studies in 1993, an initiative which not only developed academic programs but also engaged in extensive community outreach.  At the time of his retirement in 2006 he helped to form the current Buffalo Maritime Center (501c3) which focuses on the collection, research, preservation, restoration and replication of historic watercraft of the Niagara Frontier.  Using boatbuilding as a vehicle, the Center engages in community outreach programs and STEM training for young people.

This community event is free and open to all but donations are greatly appreciated to help support our museum, refreshments will be served.  Come on out and join us and enjoy learning more Erie Canal history and Seneca Chief’s future.