The tugboat DeWitt Clinton arrives at the Brockport Welcome Center to officially open the Erie Canal with all its dignitaries on board and is greeted by The Golden Eagle String Band.The official 189th opening ceremony for the Erie Canal and the NYS Canal System took place as part of the Low Bridge, High Water festival in Brockport Saturday, May 4. The festival was a five-day event from Wednesday, May 1 to Sunday, May 5.
The events on Saturday, the highlight of the festival, started in Spencerport with the Village-to-Village Spring Challenge hosted by Rochester Community Inclusive Rowing. Spencerport Mayor Joyce Lobene was there to cheer on the scullers as they launched their boats into the recently filled Erie Canal. Brian Stratton, Director for the NYS Canal Corporation, along with other canal and local dignitaries were also there in Spencerport to board the tugboat DeWitt Clinton and follow the race to its finish in Brockport.
The DeWitt Clinton was named after DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828), often referred to as the “Father of the Erie Canal.”
Village of Spencerport Mayor Joyce Lobene (on the left) greets and cheers on the scullers as they launch their boats at the start of the regatta in Spencerport.The Challenge is a timed boat race for Men’s and Women’s Singles along with Doubles racing for the fastest time in their event. Entries came from New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada. The oldest entrant in the race was Richard Kendall (age 83) of the College Boat Club from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He finished first in his event. The race started at 10:30 a.m. in Spencerport and finished at 11:58 a.m. in Brockport.
The DeWitt Clinton, as it arrived at the Brockport Welcome Center in Harvester Park to officially open the Erie Canal with all its dignitaries on board, was greeted by canal music played by William Hullfish and The Golden Eagle String Band, all the race spectators, and people there for the official 189th opening ceremony of the Erie Canal and the NYS Canal System.
Ribbon CuttingMargay Blackman, Brockport Village Trustee and Low Bridge, High Water Committee Chair, led the opening ceremony. In his comments, Brian Stratton, Director for the NYS Canal Corporation, said, “the canals are a focus of recreation and tourism and generate nearly $380 million annually for the upstate New York economy.” Bill Andrews, Village Trustee & Village Historian Emeritus, also commented about the canal. The dignitaries then went on to cut the ribbon that officially opened the Erie Canal for the 189th time.
After the ribbon cutting, Brockport Mayor Maria Connie Castañeda presented awards to the 4th grade 2013 poster contest winners from the Fred Hill School, Brockport: 1st place, Morgan Monnier, 2nd place, Gisela Allen, and 3rd place, Mia Monnier. The opening ceremony ended with awards presented to Village-to-Village Regatta winners by John Bernfield from the rowing group.
Richard Kendall, who is 83, of the College Boat Club from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania crosses the finish line of the Village-to-Village Sculling Regatta in Brockport. He finished first in his event.Saturday’s events ended with The Barge Charge 5K Fun Run that started at Corbett Park and ran along the canal. All proceeds from the race benefit The Wounded Warrior Project and Brockport Food Shelf. And finally, “A Taste of Brockport” was held to highlight local food and music. The festival wrapped up on Sunday, May 5.
Women’s Masters 2x and Men’s Masters 1x scullers pass under the Washington Street bridge in Adams Basin on their way to the finish in Brockport
