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| Arkell Museum at Canajoharie posted Do you ever wonder what happened to the Erie Canal in Canajoharie? Its directly under Erie Boulevard. In fact, the Erie Canal in Canajoharie drifted right by the Beech-Nut plant. As the plant expanded the company filled in the Erie Canal to make room for more buildings. This picture shows the day after they filled in the canal. Also visible is the new construction that would eventually span the canal area. As we watch the deconstruction of the Beech-Nut plant it is interesting to consider what the Beech-Nut plant deconstructed when it expanded outward in the 1910s and 1920s. Jamie Pierce: Why was the canal not originally placed in the river? T.j. Carr: Does the pole line on the right, follow a highway or a railroad? Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site: Jamie, essentially it comes down to engineering and technology. There wasn’t the technology at the time to “tame” the natural Mohawk River. There were rifts, rapids, falls, and wide shallows. Creating an artificial “river” or canal was not only easier but allowed for the control of waters. Remember to, that when the original Erie Canal was constructed, there were no formally trained engineers involved. During the enlargement, they also recognized the ability to control a human created waterway was still the best option. Move into the early 20th century and the technology caught up. Steam powered dredging and concrete could help tame the mighty Mohawk River. Moveable dams could impound the water to create navigable pools. The Mohawk of today is drastically different than it was 200 years ago. |
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| Dennis DeBruler commented on Carr's comment It appears it followed the canal because West Shore Railroad was south of Main Street near the plant. I wonder if the power company bought the right-of-way of the towpath. Note how the canal joins the river a little further east of town where the river gets real close to the bluff. 1902 Canajoharie Quad @ 62,500 |
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| Dennis DeBruler commented on the comment by Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site I noticed that Canajoharie has Lock and Dam #14, which is an example of the technology needed to turn a river into a waterway. https://maps.app.goo.gl/v2xxwnHMtyV6FaCu6 |
Arkell Museum at Canajoharie posted two images with the comment:
Beech-Nut Plant 2 (now Richardsons Brands) was built in 1919 during a flurry of construction projects undertaken by the company in Canajoharie, NY.In the artist rendering of Plant 2 the sign on the roof reads Beech-Nut Ginger Ale. It looked like, at the time, Beech-Nut planned to move into the beverage making business. However, bottling efforts were short lived - production only occurred from 1919 until 1923. The reason Beech-Nut did not pursue making beverages further is unknown at this time.The second picture shows Plant 2 construction, specifically the south side of the building. We wish to point out the prodigious amount of wood used for the complicated looking scaffolding! This photo was taken June 4, 1919.
David Leibig: I know people who used to work there and refused to give their children jar baby food.
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The jar has changed since I used to feed babies in the 1980s. Come to think of it, I think that old shape was being used in 1950 as well.
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| Google search results |
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| Ron Jay commented on the above post |
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| Street View, Aug 2007 |
By 2014, they had taken down the sign. And nobody parks there.
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| Street View, Sep 2014 |
Between 2018 and 2021 the shorter buildings were removed.
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| Street View, Sep 2021 |
As of 2023, the taller buildings and the smokestacks were still standing.
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| Street View, Jul 2023 |
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