Albion students sign petition to ‘Save the Urger’

Photo courtesy of Albion Central School: Seventh-graders Jack Kinter and Lucy Rivers sign a petition to save Tug Urger.

Posted 18 October 2018 at 9:07 am

Courtesy of Albion Central School

ALBION – As part of a bicentennial celebration of the Erie Canal, Albion students in 6th grade Citizenship classes and 7th grade Service Learning classes have been learning about the canal and its important role in New York State history.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Urger is pictured in Albion in October 2015.

Students also learned about Tug Urger. Built in 1901, it is the oldest tug on the Erie Canal and one of the oldest in the Country. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Since 1991 the Urger has been a floating museum making its way along the Erie Canal. lt would stop in villages, cities and towns welcoming thousands of school children to come aboard and learn more about the Canal’s history.

In 2017, the Urger was removed from active service. Plans are being discussed to make it a dry land exhibit on the NYS Thruway.

The Preservation League of NYS is spearheading a campaign to #SaveTheUrger.

The students read about the campaign. They signed and sent petitions to the New York State Canal Corporation and New York Power Authority.

This is a way for students to explore the many roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation.

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