Canajoharie to Little Falls, NY

Yesterday we toured Canajoharie, NY.  We went to the art gallery, which is in the library.  Both the library (1924) and the art gallery (1927) were funded by Bartlett Arkell, the owner of Beech-Nut Foods.  Beech-Nut Foods was right across the street, on the Erie Canal for many years.  We learned a lot about the Arkell family and the company before we saw the art.

I admire business owners who care about their towns and fund organizations that improve everyone's life. That sort of generosity and civic spirit seems to be missing sometimes today.  It was fun to see all the products made by Beech-Nut and the way they were marketed. There was a miniature circus in the Beech-Nut pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair.  There were unusual perks: In the early years all women had free manicures and piano music was played while they worked. We have noticed the closed factories and depressed small towns along the Mohawk River.  One good person's industry and generosity really makes a difference in a small town.

This looks more natural than the Tombigbee Waterway because the canal is 190 years old, and trees have taken over.

We left the Mohawk River today and moved into the actual Erie Canal.  It looks like a river, 

but the Mohawk is actually to the right side.  We traveled just 20 miles and four locks today to reach Little Falls, NY.  This is a busy small town with restaurants and shopping and a municipal dock.  

We walked around town and had lunch.  We found the grocery store and a theatre with first run shows.  We will go to the movies tomorrow!  The afternoon show is just $6.00.  

 You can see the old pathway on each side of the canal. 
There still seems to be a space for the mules to pull a boat.

 Lock #17 just before Little Falls is the tallest lock on the Erie, raising boats 40 feet.

Boaters grab ropes only on the port side; the other side looks damaged.  

The gate of the lock lifts to let the boat enter the lock, a bit of a creepy, guillotine look.

 This is the view from our boat at Little Falls Harbor.  There are modern 

showers, bathrooms, lending library, and TV room inside this 100 year old building.

We are expecting rain today and more rain and wind on Sunday, so we will stay two nights here.  There are four looper boats on the other end of the dock.  We haven't seen other loopers for two days, so this is fun.  With the rain, I don't know how much we can visit.  Still we can meet some new folks and exchange plans and news.