For Immediate Release: August 1, 2005
NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES HISTORIC NEW YORK FIREBOAT TO VISIT ERIE CANAL
Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation, today announced that the historic New York City Fireboat John J. Harvey will visit the New York State Canal System on Monday, August 15. While docked at the Waterford Canal Harbor the public is invited to tour the vessel and ride aboard the venerable ship, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“We are excited about the Harvey’s trip because it demonstrates the synergy that can be created by linking people and ideas throughout New York, consistent with the Governor’s vision for an Empire State Greenway linking the Hudson River, the Canal System and the Niagara River,” said Mantello. “The Harvey is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when regions and communities work together to preserve and enhance our historic resources.”
The John J. Harvey will stop at Waterford as part of the annual “Blue Links” tour, which highlights the need for docking and waterfront infrastructure improvements along the Hudson River, like those in Waterford. The vessel will remain at Waterford overnight and depart the morning of Tuesday, August 16, traveling to Troy and then Albany.
Built for the New York City Fire Department in 1931, the 130-foot-long vessel has had a long and distinguished career serving New Yorkers. When launched, she was the largest and most powerful fireboat in the world. After many years of dedicated and exemplary service, the John J. Harvey was retired from active service in 1995. In 1999, she was purchased by a group committed to restoring the Harvey to her former glory, and beginning a new chapter as a museum and teaching vessel.
Following September 11, 2001, the Harvey promptly moored along the seawall in lower Manhattan and put its pumps in service, providing desperately needed fire-fighting water to New York City’s firefighters.
In 2004, the John J. Harvey was awarded $320,000 by Governor George E. Pataki through New York’s Environmental Protection Fund to make major improvements and repairs. After several weeks of extensive work, the Harvey was relaunched in June 2005.
"Waterford has a long history of hosting historic working craft, and of staying close to our roots as a maritime community,” said Waterford Town Supervisor John Lawler. “Never before have we hosted such a renowned vessel with such a rich history. We are all very excited and invite everyone to join us in welcoming one of the nation’s greatest floating landmarks.”
“As the oldest incorporated village in America, Waterford has a rich and well documented fire-fighting history,” said Waterford Village Mayor J. Bert Mahoney. “For years, Button steam engines and hand-pumpers were built only a couple hundred feet from where the Harvey will moor.”
For more information about the John J. Harvey, please contact Thorner Harris of Save Our Ships at (917) 405-7479 or fireboat@nyc.rr.com.
In late May 2005, Governor Pataki unveiled his vision for establishing the Erie Canal Greenway and, ultimately, the Empire State Greenway, connecting the Niagara, Erie and Hudson River Greenways. The Canal Corporation and an interagency task force will conduct an outreach campaign to gather input and ideas, and develop a comprehensive set of recommendations to create the new Erie and Empire State Greenways and examine certain roles and responsibilities currently assigned to the Canal Corporation. The recommendations will be delivered in a report to the Governor by December 2005.
The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.
For more information about tourism attractions along the New York State Canal System, please call 1-800-4CANAL4 or visit www.canals.state.ny.us.
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