The Canalway Trail

The Holley Loop The unusually deep ravine formed by the east branch of the Sandy Creek presented a difficult engineering problem for the builders of the original Erie Canal in the early 1820s. Engineers decided to diverge from the canal's general east-west route to minimize the amount of construction required by creating a sharp loop more than 2,000 feet to the south, which allowed the waterway to cross over a relatively narrow section of the creek. Even so, the embankment was the tallest on the entire canal system, rising 76 feet above the bottom of the valley. The sharp curve required boaters to slow down, which made this a promising location for canal-oriented businesses. The Village of Holley grew at this bend in the canal. In 1854-61, state officials decided that the original loop needed to be straightened out in order to create a shorter, more easily navigable waterway, "to remedy the mistake made in the original location of the canal at this point." A new section of the canal was built that cut off this loop, traversing a very high and long embankment. Because state law did not allow canal sections to be abandoned in villages or cities, the old loop was still used for several decades to serve local businesses. Canal traffic no longer stopped in the village, however, and eventually the loop was drained and eliminated. Traces of the original canal can still be seen east of the Public Square. Controversial Concrete In the early 20th century, when the state approved millions of dollars to enlarge the Erie Canal, concrete was still a controversial building material. Stonecutters and masons lined up in opposition to the use of concrete for canal construction. Some argued that concrete could never withstand the harsh winter weather of upstate New York. Before deciding, the state sent an engineer to examine concrete structures already complete. He consulted experts familiar with concrete. Accountants tallied the cost and reported that stone structures would cost 16 million additional dollars. The state chose concrete. The trough that tops the embankment over Sandy Creek at Holley was one of the most striking demonstrations of concrete construction on the entire Erie Barge Canal System. Masive amounts of concrete were used to construct the Medina Aqueduct in 1913. Locks on the present day Erie Barge Canal, such as lock 17 in Little Falls, were built with concrete rather than stone. The Canalway Trail: Holley Welcome to the Canalway Trail System, offering hundreds of miles of scenic trails and numerous parks for walking, bicycling, cross-country skiing and other recreational activities. The Canalway Trail parallels the New York State Canal System, comprised of four historic waterways: the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. The Canal System spans 524 miles across New York State, linking the Hudson River with Lake Champlain, Lake Ontarion, the Finger Lakes, the Niagara River and Lake Erie. Cooperative initiaives between the New York State Canal Corporation, volunteers, local governments, and federal agencies have created this great network of trails for public use. When completed, the Canalway Trail will span over 500 miles connecting numerous cities, towns and villages along the Canal System, making it one of the most extensive trail networks in the country. Enjoying the Canalway Trail: Safety Tips The Canalway Trail is intended to accomodate a variety of users. It is important to extend courtesy to all trail users and respect their rights. In order to avoid conflicts, trial protocal dictates that bicyclists should yield right-of-way to all trail users and walkers should yield to equestrians. In addition, please observe the following tips for safe trail use: · Stay to the right except when passing. · Pass slower traffic on the left; yield to oncoming traffic when passing. · Give a clear warning signal before passing. · Keep pets on a short leash. · As a courtesy to trail neighbors, refrain from loitering near homes. · Do not litter. Carry out what you carry in. · When stopped, move over to let others pass.

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First Norwegian Immigrants Landed in Holley, 1825
1823 Canal Bed
Holley Railway Depot
In Memory of All Those Servicemen
In Honor of All Veterans
State Street
Eastern Orleans Memorial Post 202, a War Memorial
V.F.W. Post 202 Memorial, a War Memorial
Herbert Taylor
Hillside Cemetery

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