Work finally begins on the roof of this shanty. Park volunteer Alan Bontorno and his friend (now park volunteer) Ivan Perez are hard at work.

You might be wondering why this is newsworthy.

The shanty was originally at the Lock Berlin Lock #54. It might possibly even date to the very nearby “Clinton’s Ditch” lock predecessor, i.e., 1840s?

When that iteration of the canal closed, the local cemetery association purchased the shanty from New York State and moved it to the cemetery for use as a tool shed. The Society “rediscovered” the shanty during its 1991 study tour. A local group (E.R.I.E.) decided that the shanty needed to be saved, though many of us strongly recommended leaving it at the cemetery where it was being well maintained. The group moved the shanty to the town yard where it stayed for many years, eventually ending up in the farm field of one of E.R.I.E.’s last members, (aka Jolly Roger). Roger sold the property and the new owners contacted Erie Canalway. While appreciating the significance, the owners wanted the shanty off the property asap, or they would burn it down.

Canalway contacted CSNY and with a very generous donation by a member (aka Santa Claus), we moved it to the Park in March 2019. Standing by the shanty above are Steve Wunder and Dan Wiles.

Because the wooden foundation was badly deteriorated, we replaced it (at no small expense) in January 2023. The interior of the shanty was relatively intact, but the roof still needed replacement.

It certainly is time to replace the roof.

A hat tip to Friends of the Park for funding the project, to volunteers Alan and Ivan, and to all Park volunteers and funders. Also, thanks to Darrin Rooker for some of these photos.

Please come by the park in Port Byron to see the progress.