About the program: This program tells the stories and sings the songs of the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal was the most successful construction project in the history of America. It belongs in the same conversation as the Trans Continental Railroad.

Before the days of the Canal, Upstate New York was very much undeveloped. The population was extremely sparse. The area was so remote that most trading was done with lower Canadian provinces such as Ontario and Quebec.

George Washington himself saw we faced a great issue of how to trade with Americans in the west and bring them into the American marketplace. His great fear was that Americans in the West would eventually cease to be Americans as they used the Mississippi to trade with the French and Spain and the British in Canada.

The Erie Canal helped keep America from being chipped away by its remoteness. It was essential to America becoming the America we know now.

About the speaker: Don Dwyer is a musician, singer and songwriter from the Buffalo NY area. Don has shared the music and stories of the American Civil War with audiences in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey and Tennessee. He has been involved with the music of the Civil War for over 15 years with his band the Irish Volunteers Civil War Band and as a solo performer.

Don talks about the meaning behind the songs as well as their impact in society at that time and also frequently about the lives of the composers.

Please register by calling 225-8951 or online at https://greecepl.librarycalendar.com/event/songs_erie_canal

Disclaimer(s)

The Greece Public Library is accessible to people with disabilities. To request specific accommodations, call 585-225-8951 at least 10 days prior to the event, or you may contact us via email through our website.

Staff often take pictures at library programs. The library uses photos in its publicity, in social media, and on its website. If you do not wish to be photographed, please let us know before the program begins.