Communities Celebrate Canal Legislation

Eagle Hotel in Norwich where a celebration and dinner were held after news was received that the New York State Legislature had passed a bill creating the Chenango Canal.

[Note: Every year between 1826 and 1832 a bill was introduced to the New York State Legislature to build the Chenango Canal. Each year it was defeated. Finally, the Bill was passed on February 23, 1833. The following article was published in the Anti Masonic Telegraph in Norwich on Wednesday, February 27, 1833].

                           CANAL CELEBRATION.

    Our village, on Saturday afternoon last, presented a lively scene of activity and bustle. As even approached, the people from the surrounding country  came flocking in, every countenance sparkling with pleasure. At about four o’clock, the stage arrived, bearing a “star spangled banner,” on which was painted the words “Chenango Canal.”

    Soon after, the discharge of cannon announced the final passage of the bill, and a hearty shout from the multitudes assembled, expressed the feelings with which the information as received.

    In the evening, the court house, jail, clerk’s office, bank, all the public houses, mechanic’s shops, and many private residences, were brilliantly illuminated. Bonfires were also lighted up at each end of the town, and the old  “war dog” stationed on the public square, kept up a continuous roar, which made the village tremble, and carried the joyful tidings in the surrounding country.

    Without concert, there appears a sort of rivalry between the north and south parts of the village, to render the celebration worthy of the occasion. Over the balustrades of the Post Office buildings, at the south, there were suspended a row of glass lamps, which showed to great advantage, while on the front of Gen. DeForest’s Eagle Tavern, at the north, there appears as if by enchantment, a beautiful transparency, representing the “CHENANGO CANAL,” (which words were painted in large capitals over the picture,) with a Packet Boat, drawn to the life, moving over the waters, on the side of which were inscribed the words “Norwich Packet.”

    The last was represented as being drawn by three horses under the guidance of a rider mounted upon the first; and from the windows of the boat, the smiling countenances of the passengers appeared as if catching a glimpse of our beautiful village as they passed along, while a lady and gentleman were promenading the deck, apparently viewing the more distant scenery which fills the background. In the fore part of the packet a person appeared as if giving directions to the drive, while aft the helmsman guided its course. On each end of the transparency was painted the word “Canal.”

   Thus far all was well enough and in entire accordance with our own and the public sentiment. But we beg leave to enter our decided protest against the attempts which were made by sone misguided political zealots of the Jackson men, in the village, to give the celebration a party coloring, and assume all the merit and rejoicing to themselves. The subscription paper to raise funds, had heir party watchword at the head; the general committee of ten was exclusively Jackson, and pains seemed to be taken to drive off every anti-mason from the general festivity.

    A pole was raised on the green, crowned with hickory sprigs, and the large Jackson flag raised to the top, while, at about half the distance up, labeled in much smaller letters “Chenango Canal” - thus plainly intimidating that the canal itself, was a matter of secondary consideration to the idolatry of their chieftain. In addition to this several loads of some twenty-odd choice spirits rode out two miles to meet and escort Senator Hubbard into the village, ascribing to him by their language and conduct, superhuman power and influence in the passage of the bill.

    Their object of appropriating to themselves exclusive praise and applause, was signally unsuccessful. Our friends were in no whit behind him in their manifesting of joy, and we shall not be contradicted when we say, that for taste, beauty and brilliancy of illumination, they went ahead of their opponents; and we hope it may prove a lesson to certain men, how they again undertake to set up their own selfish views, against the sound sense of the public, and to convert the current of the general joy and good feeling, into party finesse and squabbling.

    About 9 o’clock, a large party sat down to an excellent supper prepared by General De Forest, after which some dozens of Champagne were drank, and in due time the company separated, highly satisfied with the celebration, and with their good cheer.

    Note. - Since the above was in type, we have learned (and we regret the circumstance,) that Mr. Hubbard, on consequence of the fatigue of traveling, not having perfectly recovered from his recent indisposition, was unable to enjoy the good things prepared by his friends for his reception; and that he was obliged to retire to his residence almost immediately after his arrival.

 [From P. 222 Annals of Oxford  by Henry Judson Galpin  1906.]

                              Chenango Canal Ball

    On the 7th of March, 1833, a ball was held in Oxford to celebrate the passage of the canal bill. The assembly room on the third floor of the hotel now known as the Hotchkiss House, the only public hall the village then had. The hour appointed for the festivities to begin was at five in the afternoon, whether this was on account of the smallness of the room and that all might have a chance

                                   “To brisk notes in cadence beating,

                                  Glance their many twinkling feet,”

in honor of the great undertaking, or that the beaux and belles retired in good season the writer knows not. The invitation reads as follows:

It is said more than 500 invitations were sent out for the Chenango Canal Ball at the Hotchkiss House on March 7, 1833.

The Courier, Binghamton

Thursday, February 28, 1833

                                    CHENANGO CANAL

                              Passage of the Bill and Doings

                              at Binghamton Thereupon

    The Chenango Bill has passed both Houses of the Legislature, received the signature of the Governor, and become a Law. The particulars will be found in our Legislative proceedings.

    In this place, although the bill had passed the House by so overwhelming a vote, a good deal of anxiety had been felt for some days, on account of the delays it sat in the Senate, and, Saturday last, as it was hoped definite information might be received, sometime before the arrival of the Northern stage, people began to assemble in the vicinity of the most Office. At last it came, bringing intelligence of the vote on Wednesday. 

    The news was electric. The four principal bells of the village, to say nothing of the smaller craft, as if by magic, commenced a simultaneous peel; and in an incredibly short period, a thousand persons, as was judged, were assembled in the streets, full of that joyous excitement which the intelligence was calculated to inspire. But few moments more elapsed before a piece of ordinance, a nine Pounder, was brought up from the gun house, and stationed in Court Street, at the crossing of Second street, the very center of the village; and while it was clearing itself to speak, the fire engine, Company 1, Captain Weed, made its appearance and commenced  a merry play of water, which was  dealt out in no sparing quantities, in all directions, and without any very extraordinary consideration as to the ultimate destination of the fluid. 

    Meanwhile the band of music had organized, and amidst flourishes of National and patriotic airs, the waving of flags, and immense shouts and cheering, the firing commenced. The first guns named aloud, GOVERNOR MARCY’S GUN, and was a rouser as all sorts of glass , from the English Crown to the green 7x9 can testify, if there be now enough panes left unsheltered in the place to serve as legal witnesses. This with the subsequent discharges, was heard to the remotest parts f the County, and a gun followed gun, the occasion was guessed, and each village and neighborhood testified its joy, according to means of the moment.

    The second was named, LIEUT. GOV. TRACY’S GUN; and was succeeded by seventeen discharges, as the seventeen Senators who voted for the Bill were separately named. These were followed by a bun in honor of Mr. Bidwell, the efficient Chairman of the Canal Committee in the House, and another in honor of Mr. Fisch of the Orange Delegation, to succeeded some dozen, in honor of those Assemblymen who voted for the Bill, and the other friends of the measure.

    The day was delightful and the mood in  which every thing passed off, should have been witnessed in order to be appreciated. The proceedings were entirely unpremeditated, the assembled multitude directed  - all was exhilaration, and yet there was fitness, order and harmony in the whole.

    The next call was for a speech, and Daniel S. Dickinson, Esq., was designated orator by acclamation. In a moment a flag was seen waving from the steeple of the Court House, and there again the merry bells sung, the multitude assembled. The house was called to order, by Levi Dimmick, Esq., and on motion, Ex-Sheriff Hinds took the Chair, and J.S. Hawley officiated as Secretary. A little circumstance occurred just previous to this, which exhibits in an agreeable light the spirit of our County witnessed, and which we here beg leave to mention.

    Among the last acts we noticed were long ladders, borne on shoulders through the streets, each of which sustained on its center a barrel of flaming pitch. Sunday was a quiet time until the arrival of the Northern Stage, the Mail Coach. It came down the valley, horns blowing and an ensign flying at its bow, sailed from Chenango Bridge, and brought up at the post-office in fine style.  The flag proved to be one forwarded by our good friends, and future co-workers, at Hamilton. It was elegantly wrought, with the Eagle, the Stripes and the Stars, with the words ‘CHENANGO CANAL,’ on its center, in capitals.

   Owing to the business of the Town Meeting, we had almost forgotten to notice the fine boat rides enjoyed by our citizens on Thursday last. These boats were built expressly for the occasion  - the Governor Marcy of Conklin; the General Jackson built by our townsmen at Williams, four miles up the Chenango; and the Farmers’ Enterprise from Hasbroucks’ Mills, in the same vicinity.  There were all fine boats, well-painted, and lettered, with cabins carpeted and curtained; and mounted on runners, with from four to six good hoses attached to each.

    The Marcy ahead, flags flying, and music cheering, quite a proportion of the day was passed, sleigh riding in Packet Boats, to the evident enjoyment of the hundreds who took part in the amusement. We should perhaps do injustice to the ingenious architect, if we neglect to make mention of a miniature Ship of War, finely executed, that every now and then saluted the spectators with a minute broadside of cannon.

  [The rest of the published story is unfortunately illegible].