Oswego Canal Lock 7

The Oswego river is still running too high to open the New York State Barge Canal.

Historic Postcard: Junction of Erie and Oswego Canals, Syracuse, N.Y. and Modern Remnants

Facing west near the corner of Erie Blvd. and Warren St. The Oswego Canal diverged north along the present first two blocks of N. Warren St.

Also note the addition of a brick face to the back of the Syracuse Savings Bank, replacing the adjoining wall lost when the building next door was torn down.

Onondaga Lake Parkway and the Train Bridge

The parkway runs between the north side of Syracuse and the village of Liverpool with Onondaga Lake to the west for the entire distance. It is always, in all weather and at all times of the day and night, an interesting and beautiful drive. I take it every chance I have.

The road was built on the route of the Oswego Canal that ran from downtown Syracuse to Oswego long ago. The canal passed beneath the train bridge. Keeping that bridge over a highway without redesign created a serious hazard for over-height vehicles. It has been the cause of several truck and bus fatalities, and many more serious and costly oversized vehicle collisions.

Today it is extensively marked from both directions by flashing lights and giant signage. Obviously no over-height vehicles are allowed, yet driver reliance on GPS, and/or failure to read the signs of danger ahead still have allowed crashes to occur. 

On Sunday mornings during the summer, the parkway is closed to all traffic and opened to bikers, boarders, bladers, skaters, baby strollers, walkers and runners. 

I took this photo from the first of three airplanes we are taking today to get to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Psyched would be putting it mildly!

Historic Oswego Canal: Mud Lock in Longbranch Park

Syracuse Savings Bank Building

The Syracuse Savings Bank Building was built in 1875. Two canals, the Erie and the Oswego, met near a corner of the building.

Appropriately, another name for High Victorian Gothic style is Venetian Gothic although Syracuse does not resemble Venice except perhaps at that moment in history, at that corner.

I get much of my information about historical Syracuse architecture from Evamaria Hardin's Syracuse Landmarks, first edition 1993, for which I am very grateful.