Thursday, June 17, 2010

George Bridge

This view is from the modern bridge which crosses the Oatka Creek just south of the village of Scottsville.

The "George Bridge" is the old railroad bridge in this photo. It was once the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad bridge and then later the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge. The bridge is constructed on some of the original stone work which supported the aqueduct for the Genesee Valley Canal which crossed Oatka Creek here. Thus, canal barges would cross the creek in a huge trough or aqueduct and the creek flowed under it on its way to the Genesee River.

It is not visible in this picture due to the vegetation along the banks but the abutments for the dam which crossed this creek are still visible when the leaves fall. The dam which crossed the creek here was located about where the rapids are seen on the surface of the water in this picture. The dam was constructed to provide water for the Scottsville & Genesee River Canal which branched off to the left in this photograph. The stone guard gate structure is still present and is referred to as the "feeder gates" since it was converted from guard gate to a feeder gate to provide water to the more modern Genesee Valley Canal when the Scottsville & Genesee River Canal ceased to be used and was incorporated into the newer canal where possible.

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