I believe the portage was called The Carrying Place or the Indian -- De-O-Wain-Sta. At one time, maybe still, the Rome Free Academy's Annual was called De-O-Wain-Sta. See also http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Rome,_New_York GMF "To preserve [the] independence [of the people,] we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude." Thomas Jefferson ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Dick Hillenbrand <nygenes@gmail.com> To: nymadiso@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [NYMADISO] Peter Smith's Eyes Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:52:55 -0400 Keep in mind that before the Erie Canal days, Oneida Lake was pretty much part of "the" super highway of New York Province and then State, for anyone going East-West. Canoes or bateaux could use the Mohawk River to about Fort Stanwix (Rome), then a short portage up to Wood Creek and then into Oneida Lake near Sylvan Beach, then on through the Seneca River to Three Rivers area and then north to Lake Ontario at Oswego from where they could go to all points north and west.