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Interpreting the Evidence

Letter from the Citizens of the Town of Germanflatts to the Erie Canal Board, 1829

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About this Activity

  • Documents in this Activity:
  • Historical Eras:

    Expansion and Reform (1801 - 1861)

  • Thinking Skill:

    Historical Analysis & Interpretation

  • Grade Level:

    Middle School
    High School
    College University

  • Topics:

    Community
    Environment
    Erie Canal
    Transportation

  • Primary Source Types:

    Written Document

  • Regions:

    Central New York
    New York State

  • Creator:

    NYS Archives Partnership Trust Education Team

  1. Load Letter from the Citizens of the Town of Germanflatts to the Erie Canal Board, 1829 in Main Image Viewer

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Document Description
This letter of appeal was written by the citizens of the town of Germanflatts in Herkimer County and sent to the Canal Board, 1829.
This letter of appeal was written by the citizens of the town of Germanflatts in Herkimer County and sent to the Canal Board.

A feeder canal was overflowing its banks and flooding an important road in the community. The residents of Germanflatts had an idea for solving this problem: they wanted New York State to change the location of the feeder canal.

feeder - a short canal that brings water from reservoirs, lakes, and streams to a larger canal. Without feeder canals, some sections of the Erie Canal would be dry.
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