Dispatches featured this very whimsical aerial shot of part of the NYS Canals a few weeks back. But in the days before drones, many aerial shots were taken from balloons and a variety of airplanes at differing altitudes.

What follows below is a set of aerial shots over an area west of the village of Lyons NY, over Lock 28A. I’m hoping an astute reader can look at these photos and use details to identify the date this airplane flew over the area. Some of you might be able to more accurately estimate the altitude of the canalaeronaut as well. My guesses are late 1940s-to-mid 50s [based on the cars] and 1000′ to 1200′ and looking NW. Paralleling the canal the major road is NY 31, with Newark several miles off to the left.

Below, we’re looking south toward an empty dry dock. That’s Gansz Road coming from lower right corner; toward the center of the photo, Gansz makes a T into Old Lyons Road, and Newark is off to the right.

This is looking the opposite directions toward Gansz, and beyond the wooded hill, that’s Layton Street. Note the access road from Dry Dock Road directly to 31.

The photographer is banking to the left in this shot, closer to Lyons village. That’s Ganargua [Mud] Creek flowing into the canal. Miller’s Marina is now between the canal and Ganargua. Also, the aqueduct was still in place. That’s Layton Street winding from the right side toward center top.

Might there be more aerials in the CSNY archives? I’d love to know.

There might be some balloon-borne bird’s eye sources. Others to check would include the following–Vintage Aerials and Aerial Surveys–can be found here. NYS Archives Digital Collections by Fairchild cover areas other than the interesting ones shown here. More on Sherman Fairchild and his inventions here.

Cornell University Digital Collections also has aerials. Maps 13 and 24 in that collection cover some of the same territory from 1938, although their shots are from a much higher altitude.

We’re approaching winter, and if you’re looking for a project, discovering the canal in aerial photos in the public domain might be a fascinating one.