November 3, 2000: Volume 50, Number 9

Across Campus: The Oversight

Schenectady Mayor Albert P. Jurczynski took a swipe at city fathers who in 1825 largely ignored the opening of the Erie Canal, and corrected the oversight 175 years later by proclaiming Oct. 26 "Erie Canal Anniversary Day."

The mayor read the proclamation at the gala dinner in the College's Old Chapel:

"Whereas in 1825, the Schenectady City Fathers spent their energy lamenting the fading away of their monopoly of the overland freight business from Albany; and

"Whereas the same City Fathers chose to ignore the arrival of the official inaugural barges along the Erie Canal in Schenectady; and

"Whereas the students of Union College took it upon themselves to welcome the governor and his party by holding a dinner and performing a 'salute of musketry' in their honor; and

"Whereas, in the year 2000, the City should correct this oversight of the past by officially recognizing the importance of a project that forever altered the movement of goods, services, and the people to the then-western reaches of our growing country; and

"Whereas, the City of Schenectady had and has an honored place on the 'Waterway to the Future,' now the Erie Canal Corridor;

"Now ... I proclaim (Oct. 26, 2000) "Erie Canal Anniversary Day in the City of Schenectady."

President Roger Hull and the mayor took turns holding a musket. No shots were fired.

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