Once hailed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” for its marvel of innovative engineering, the original Erie Canal was constructed at a cost of $7 million and the lives of many men.

The Erie Canal was called “the first American school of engineering” with notable “engineers” Benjamin Wright, John B. Jervis and Canvass White.

July 4 will mark the 200th anniversary of its beginning in Rome (1817) with the completion of the first 16-mile section to Utica (1819). Taking two years to complete this short segment almost brought the demise of this world-renowned project as many encouraged abandoning the seemingly impossible task of a man-made waterway across the entire New York state.

It is widely believed George Washington, on a 1780s horseback journey to visit the Revolutionary War battle sites, was one of the first to see the potential of a canal following the swath cut by the Mohawk River through the valley.

Among the reasons for the waterway was the necessity of having a viable transportation method to move troops and supplies to defend the Niagara Frontier against the British in any future encounter (a near-war in 1845). This reason along with the desire to have a means of transporting people and goods into the western frontier for America’s expansion forced the project to continue.

Marches in central New York killed laborers by the hundreds because of “the fever.” Adding to this problem was quicksand in the middle section and floods alternated with droughts. The first section from Rome to Utica was chosen for excavation because it was believed to be the easier portion with a stretch of wood lots, stump lots and open pasture.

Skepticism of the canal was in ample supply. It was even ridiculed by President Thomas Jefferson as “a little short of madness.” It was this attitude that led to the canal nicknames “Clinton’s Folly” and “Clinton’s Ditch.” It was determined that many more laborers were needed.

The following is from a 1967 article by the late Observer-Dispatch columnist H. Paul Draheim:

“. . . talk about plenty of Irish languishing in New York City Jails . . . have some of them pardoned and signed up as laborers. . . . Governor Clinton is of Irish descent. There is such a thing as a governor’s pardon. The Irish caught ‘canal fever’ which inspired them to complete the canal despite incredible obstacles.”

Per a conversation with O-D history columnist Frank Tomaino, I learned about two men and their early influence on Gov. Clinton that eventually led to the canal concept being accepted by him. Absent from most discourse on the Erie Canal is the story of Elkanah Watson and Jesse Hawley

With the commitment and focus of the early pioneers, the Erie Canal was completed in 1825. This led to the “Wedding of the Waters” ceremony held at New York harbor. The first boat - festooned with bunting and occupied with dignitaries - made the 363-mile journey from Lake Erie to the Atlantic Ocean. According to Tomaino, Gov. Clinton had Elkanah Watson accompany him on this maiden voyage of the ceremonial first boat to traverse the entire length of the completed Erie Canal.

Aboard the boat accompanying the dignitaries was a keg of fresh water from Lake Erie that Clinton proceeded to dump into the Atlantic Ocean salt water, completing the wedding ceremony.

The Erie Canal brought commerce and travelers from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes allowing New York City to overtake Philadelphia and Boston as America’s major seaport. Travel time from New York to Buffalo was cut from six weeks to 10 days.

The Erie Canal had far-reaching results beyond the obvious improved transportation. Some included: development of the Northwest Territory, people of New England offsetting the southerners who used the Mississippi River to get to the open frontier causing this vast new territory to side with the north during the Civil War, towns sprang up along its route and existing towns prospered - as did Utica, decrease in time for travel and reduction in cost of transporting goods, providing an opportunity for a wide influx of preachers entering the Mohawk Valley creating the Second Great Awakening and the name “Burned Over District” for the Mohawk Valley.

With the new interest in spiritual endeavors and the people’s concern for the welfare of others as promoted in the Christian religion’s teachings of compassion for one’s fellow human beings, a new era of good will was born. This fostered support for the women’s rights issue and the abolition movement. These results were huge determinants of America’s growth, “physically and personally.”

It is the above events that helped shape early America that gives the Erie Canal its statue.

As was aptly stated in a recent Observer-Dispatch editorial about the Erie Canal’s bicentennial, “Make plans now to take part . . . will prove to be a perfect blend of fun and education.”

Joseph P. Bottini is Oneida County historian.

200th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION PLANNED MAY 19-21

A special weekend - May 19-21 - will celebrate the canal's 200th.

Friday's schedule will include registration, 8 to 9 a.m., and a welcome by Chairperson Dick Williams at 9, followed by presentations by Devin Lander, New York State historian; Christine O’Neil, Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum executive director; Dr. Andrew Wolfe, Erie Canal engineering authority, and others. The Oneida County History Center host the session.

Following the presentations, one would have the option of a Canal Society of NYS tour of inner harbor machine shops or an open house at Fort Schuyler Club with hostess Michelle Truett. The building housing the Fort Schuyler Club was built by Samuel Farwell (engineer of Erie Canal aqueducts and culverts) and occupied at one time by Dr. Moses Bagg renowned Utica history author. Dinner Friday evening will be at 6 p.m. at Aqua Vino on the canal.

Saturday activities include a Utica-Rome bus tour of historic canal sites hosted by the Canal Society.

Sunday offers a boat ride on the canal sailing from the Herkimer Marina.

Details of the weekend festivities may be viewed on the conference website, eriecanal 200.com (http://200.com) and on the Erie Canal Bicentennial Conference Facebook page.

Questions and reservations should to be directed to the Oneida County History Center at (315) 735-3642.

Local K-12 educators are eligible to receive Continuing Teacher and Leader Education credit for Day 1 of the conference through Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES.