Question: The summer of 1951 saw this huge steel skeleton spring from the earth of what had formerly been the Bolger farm. By November the steel would be encapsulated and a roof would be in place. The photographer was facing east. Can you identify the location or the structure?
Last week’s answer: Last week’s photo showed Tina Gross being honored as the 100,000th visitor on the Erie Maid, a floating museum that traveled the Barge Canal during the summer of 1967 in celebration of the sesquicentennial of the construction of the Erie Canal. The photo shows celebrity Tina being congratulated by Meyer Braiterman (left with suspenders and large badge), captain-manager of the vessel; Baldwinsville Mayor Raymond P. McCarthy (between Braiterman and Tina); Tina and Richard Wright (right), secretary-treasurer of the NYS Canal Society. Tina was presented with an honorary membership in the NYS Canal Society and a copy of “Low Bridge! Folklore and the Erie Canal,” written by Lionel Wyld.
The Erie Maid was a 64-foot-long double-decker barge that was designed and built by the NYS Council on the Arts to highlight the history of the Erie Canal. The barge spent two months on the canal traveling from Albany to Buffalo and back at a canal mule pace of 4 mph. It stopped at 30 communities along the way to join in celebrations, festivals, lectures, picnics and concerts. The barge held exhibits, models, historic photographs and prints borrowed from individuals and museums along the waterway. It also featured folk singers and a calliope.
The Maid spent two days tied up in Baldwinsville where more than 1,000 visitors toured the barge on the first day alone. High school students acted as hosts and hostesses. Local activities included tours and demonstrations at Mercer Milling Co., a concert by the West Genesee Central School Band and judging of “historical pictures” by the Beauchamp Historical Club. Several local organizations operated refreshment stands along the canal near the Maid.
Baldwinsville ‘s observance of “Canal Days” even had bicycle contests for youngsters. A half-mile course was set up on Tappan Street and six boys and girls won cash prizes. Michael and Linda Mack each won $5. Two dollar prizes were awarded to Ann Pickard and David Cole. And prizes of one dollar each went to Mark Osborne and Elizabeth Pickard.
Contact Editor Sarah Hall at [email protected] or leave a message at 434-8889 ext. 310 with your guess by 5 p.m. Friday (please leave the information in the message; we are not generally able to return calls regarding History Mystery responses). If you are the first person to correctly identify an element in the photo, your name and guess will appear in next week’s Messenger, along with another History Mystery feature. History Mystery is a joint project of the Museum at the Shacksboro Schoolhouse and the Baldwinsville Public Library.
