THE CENTREPORT AQUEDUCT

Considerable misunderstanding exists relative to the names of streams involved with the Centreport Aqueduct. State Canal maps call the stream Cold Spring Brook but that same stream is now known as North Brook. The stream now called Cold Spring Brook lies in the Town of Mentz and in the 18S0's was known as Herring Brook. The question seems to be whether the canal surveyors mistakenly called it Cold Spring-or the name has been changed. North Brook's main source is a big spring on the Wormuth property near where the County Farm Road joins Route 34 north of Auburn, and we do know that present Cold Spring Brook was originally Herring.

Horses and mules provided the power for moving canal boats until about 1900 when steam power took over. Most of the privately owned boats maintained a stable in the boat where one team ate and rested while the other towed.

Six hours on and six off was the schedule for the horses. The drivers, usually the owners sons, worked longer shifts than the mules. The owners family lived on the boat, some the year around. At least two Weedsport residents of recent years were born on the Canal; Edward Rosa and William Johannes.

The Improved Erie continued in use thru the season of 1917. The next year the Barge Canal, known as the Erie Barge Canal in this area, took over. Weedsport was again fortunate to have a dock. At one time the Mobil Oil Company plant just west of the Route 34 Bridge over the Seneca River, received its supplies by barge but that service was replaced by pipelines and now the station is no longer in use. Unfortunately the value of freight hauled on the Barge Canal is dwindling and the future of the facility is a matter of concern to state officials.