That was very interesting! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The Champlain Canal, connecting the city of Troy to Lake Champlain, was completed in 1823. By 1825, the Erie Canal was completed and "canal mania" swept the nation. The Champlain canal ran along present Route 4 and connected the adjoining farm roads by bridges. Small enterprises flourished with the advent of the canal. Lumber, coal, agricultural products, marble, granite and sand were some of the main cargoes carried by canal boats to the distant markets in New York City and beyond. The blacksmiths at Bemis Heights and Wilbur's Basin were kept busy shoeing mules, used to pull the boats along the canal. Wilbur's basin, named after the Wilbur family and located at the confluence of the Kroma Kill and the Hudson River, was important as a turn-around for canal boats and as a place to load and unload goods at its docks. A thriving community of mills operated and flourished on the banks of this stream, including a sawmill, gristmill, plaster mill, and salt mill (from the will of Daniel Smith). The products from the mills were shipped down the stream by flat-bottomed barges to the canal via the turning basin and then sent to market. The Wilburs were one of the first families to establish a store in the area. Wilbur's Basin was a busy shopping destination as it had line barns, a blacksmith shop, grocery, and at one time a post office. Mules were housed overnight in line barns. The Great Storm of October 4, 1869 wrecked havoc on these resources. "At Wilbur's Basin a 7-foot canal break occurred and the mill dam gave way destroying Dr. Smith's gristmill, sawmill, and plaster mill (Asa Fitch's journal)." Behind the dam was a large pond that was used to supply ample power. In the winter skating was a popular pastime on the pond. This pond was often referred to as a "lake of unrivalled beauty." An ancillary role of the canal was its use in the transportation of slaves along the Underground Railroad. The local Quakers had a large role in protecting and guiding these slaves to the north. The Wilburs and many other families in the vicinity of the park were Quakers. The canal also presented many dangers, especially to the children who were taught to shun the towpath, the rough drivers, and the mules who had reputations as kickers. By 1915, the original Champlain Canal was abandoned and the new Champlain Barge Canal opened. In 1976 the Champlain Canal was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Regards, Chuck......"Our Seasoned Friends Have More Ingredients" ----- Original Message ----- From: "David & Mary Sederlin" <sede@msn.com> To: <nysarato@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 9:28 PM Subject: Re: [NYSARATO] What was "Wilbur's Basin" called in 1777? > Leslie,,, > > Found some information on Wilbur's basin while looking for Fones > Information, You might like to check this out.. > > http://www.nature.nps.gov/water/management_plans/sara_final_screen.pdf > > > > > > > > Mary aka mom > > > From: "Leslie B. Potter" <lbpotter@comcast.net> > Reply-To: nysarato@rootsweb.com > To: <NYSARATO-L@rootsweb.com> > Subject: [NYSARATO] What was "Wilbur's Basin" called in 1777? > Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:47:18 -0500 > > Dear List, > > Last night I was reading the Asa Fitch Papers. In Volume 2 at page 82, > Fitch states: > > On October 17, 1777 - Burgoyne surrendered, 5752 men > Tories escorted to Lake George > from > "Schuylerville" (i.e., Saratoga in 1777) > > Royal Army marched to "Wilber's > basin" and crossed the Hudson. > > Wilbur's Basin was named fro Fones Wilbur (1762-1831). In 1777, Fones > Wilbur would have been 15 years of age and living with his parents in > Dutchess County, NY. Fones Wilbur's parents, Jonathan Wilbur (1724-1804) > and Sarah Fones Wilbur (1734-1818), did not move their family to the east > side of the Saratoga Patent until 1786. So the Wilburs were not even > living > in the Saratoga Tax Distict during the Rev. War. > > What was "Wilbur's Basin" called in 1777? > > Wilbur's Basin is located in Great Lott 16 of the Second Grand Division of > the Saratoga Patent. There may have been a ferry operated by one of > Abraham > Ten Broeck's sub-tenants in the Vly Lott during the 1770's. The Vly Lott > is > located in Great Lott 15. > > Thank you for your help, > > Leslie > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NYSARATO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > _________________________________________________________________ >>From predictions to trailers, check out the MSN Entertainment Guide to the > Academy Awards® > http://movies.msn.com/movies/oscars2007/?icid=ncoscartagline1 > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NYSARATO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message