Dispatches from the Samuel Center

Mysteries at E-9

I’m quite certain this is lock E-9, although I don’t remember the sloping rock wall on the Mohawk River side of the lock chamber. Above the lock and beyond the two Feeney barges diagonal to the entrance, there’s a tug and barge unit waiting and lashed to what are sunken concrete barges during the navigation…

will van dorp
1–2 minutes
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I’m quite certain this is lock E-9, although I don’t remember the sloping rock wall on the Mohawk River side of the lock chamber.

Above the lock and beyond the two Feeney barges diagonal to the entrance, there’s a tug and barge unit waiting and lashed to what are sunken concrete barges during the navigation season. See them here. Was there ever a walkway from dry land to those sunken barges?

Have you noticed the inexplicable yet? Why are those barges–the forward one is Bernie Jr.–diagonal? And where is the tugboat that pushes or tows them through the canal? And on this list of Feeney-built barges, where is Bernie Jr.? I’m certain that’s an omission on the records because that was a Feeney family name: Thomas J. and Bernard A. did take over the shipyard in 1959 and later in the early 1980s, Thomas J.’s son Thomas R. bought out Bernard A. family. A Kingston judge was named Bernard A. Jr., and there was also a Bernard III.

Finaly, there is this image, which reminds me of an equally enigmatic image posted on Dispatches here back in July 2024.

Child and mother perhaps . . . but why was the boy covering his ears?

Anyone know more, add insight to any of these unknowns?

Have an intriguing canal photos of your own to share?

2 responses to “Mysteries at E-9”

  1. will van dorp Avatar
    will van dorp

    from a reader: “I do not believe this is Lock E-9. My reason is: in the photo of the two Feeney barges diagonal to the entrance, the lock is de-watered, which tells us we are looking EAST as locks along the Mohawk River descend from west-to-east, and ascend east-to-west, which would mean the lock in the image is on the south bank of the Mohawk River, and Lock E-9 is on the north bank of the Mohawk River. Locks E-8 through Lock E-15 on the Mohawk River have an accompanying bridge-dam structure (from which this image has likely been captured), and corresponding high gate-motor houses which would protect equipment when the Mohawk River was in flood. Locks E-8, E-10, E-13 and E-15 are on the south bank of the Mohawk River and a potential location for this image, and the other locks are on the north bank of the Mohawk. Lock E-10, on the south bank, does have a sloping rock-rivetted reinforcement on the riverside of the lock chamber. In the distance a petroleum barge and tug, an integrated tow, awaits lockage, as the Feeney barges await being recoupled to their consort, which will next descend the lock. This image also shows men operating the capstan in the more southern gate-motor house, which very likely just extracted the Feeney barges from the dewatered lock. That Feeney consort must have been a loud one, making the youngster shown in the other images cover his ears.”

    Reply
    1. will van dorp Avatar
      will van dorp

      Your reasoning is impeccable. Thanks for the analysis of the photo and the correction. The title will be “Mysteries at Lock E-10”

      Reply

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