First Canal Boat Through Lyons

Submitted by Richard Palmer

The first official boat ever to pass through Lyons on the canal.


Lyons Republican, Friday, Nov. 30, 1821

On Thursday last, the citizens of this place, were gratified
with a view of the elegant Packet-Boat, Myron Holley. She arrived at the
aqueduct on Wednesday evening, having on board a large number of persons from
Palmyra and other places adjacent to the canal. This boat is well
calculated for the accommodation of passengers, and is said to
surpass any one on the whole line of the canal. It is 80 feet in length, and 13 feet in
width. It has two convenient rooms for passengers, and will
accommodate one hundred persons. It draws but 10 inches of water when loaded, and
cost two thousand dollars.

A great number of persons assembled to witness this truly
interesting scene. Between two and three hundred embarked on board, when she
started back for Palmyra, where she safely arrived the same evening. The banks
were literally lined with anxious spectators to behold this elegant specimen of
western enterprise. Owing to the unfavorableness of the weather the lock
and aqueduct were not in a situation to let the boat pass through,
otherwise she would have come down as far as this village. Mr. Seymour
Scovel, the owner of the boat, deserves great credit for his remitted
exertions in finishing and rendering her thus commodious.

This is the first boat of any magnitude, that has navigated the
waters of the Erie Canal, on this section, and we are not a little proud of
having it said, that even the forests of the west, have yielded to the
enterprising industry of man, and that boats of burden are now gently
gliding in the midst thereof. Every one present evinced a degree of
pleasure in witnessing, what they dreamed impracticable five years
ago.

The boat is expected here again next week, should the weather
prove favorable.