1900 Map of Baldwinsville

About this map

The Erie Canal cuts through the southern portion of this landscape, serving as a vital industrial artery near Jordan and Camillus at the turn of the century. This era finds the region at its transportation peak, where the canal's path runs nearly parallel to the New York Central and Hudson River R.R. and the West Shore R.R.. To the north, the convergence of the Oneida River and Seneca River at Three River Point forms the Oswego River, anchoring the settlement of Phoenix. The topography is defined by the drumlin fields around Sorrel Hill, which dictate the winding paths of rural roads and the placement of hamlets like Lysander and Plainville. From the mills at Marcellus Falls to the sprawling waters of Cross Lake, the map documents a complex network of water-powered industry and rail-dependent trade.