Seneca Chief draws fans as boat heads across Orleans County on commemorative trip

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Seneca Chief is led by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol as they head east on the Erie Canal around 11 a.m. today. This photo was taken from the Allens Bridge Road bridge with the Presbyterian Road bridge in back.

The Seneca Chief is a replica of the boat from 200 years ago that carried Gov. DeWitt Clinton across the Erie Canal for the first time.

The Seneca Chief is one day 3 of a 33-day journey from Buffalo to New York City, commemorating the first trip.

The boat passes by Allen’s Bridge with Eagle Harbor next up on the journey.

These people pass under the lift bridge in Eagle Harbor, waving to people on shore who water to see the boat.

The Seneca Chief is pulled by a tugboat, the C.L. Churchill.

Volunteers at the Buffalo Maritime Center built the 73-foot-long boat over four years.

As the boat approached the Main Street lift bridge in Albion, people pulled out their phones to get photos and video. Heidi Coriddi of Albion is in front at left getting some photos.

The Main Street lift bridge goes up to accommodate the Seneca Chief caravan of boats.

The boat stopped in Albion and offered tours to the public, before heading east to Holley. The boat’s final destination today is in Brockport.