Scottsville and Genesee River Canal Map

This historical map shows where the Scottsville & Genesee River Canal began at Allen's Creek, now Oatka Creek and headed northeasterly.

The first black bar on this map across the creek is the location where a dam crossed the creek to supply feed water into the Scottsville & Genesee Valley Canal initially and then later as one of many feed water sources for the more modern Genesee Valley Canal. The wider black bar across the creek to the right of the dam marks the aqueduct which carried canal boats across the Oatka Creek. The creek flowed under this aqueduct. Later the footings of the aqueduct were used to construct the railroad bridge still present which everyone calls "George Bridge".

As the canal transitions northward from the creek to the canal itself, there is a guard gate shown by one "V" across the canal. This guard gate could be closed in the event that canal banks washed out and water had to be stopped to avoid flooding.

This map shows 3 sets of lift locks on the Scottsville & Genesee River Canal. There are no longer any remnants of these lift locks in existence and it was said that the lock closest to the Genesee River was difficult to maintain due to the sandy soil where it was constructed. It is still possible to view the canal ditch which runs parallel to Oatka Creek closer to the Genesee River. It is in the woods but it is still there and easiest to see in early spring or when there is little vegetation to make walking there easier.

The reference numbers on this map are also shown at the same approximate locations on a recent aerial photograph on the next entry of this blog. They are as follows:

#1: Geocache point #1 which is on the boardwalk near the stone foundation of what was once likely an old warehouse at the end of Canal Street on the west side of the canal. This point is directly over the original Scottsville & Genesee River Canal which later became a feed water supply to the Genesee Valley Canal.

#2: Geocache point #2 at the Greenway Trail bench near the end of present day Genesee Street. This is close to the point where the Scottsville & Genesee River Canal turned more eastward on a course toward the Genesee River. The turning point was claimed to be 100 rods or 1650 feet from the guard gates.

#3: Geocache final point #3 which is along the east bank of the Genesee Valley Canal which went from Rochester to Olean and joined the Allegheny River there.

#4: A point which is in the now wooded area in the farm fields of Rodney Horse Farms. This was the original site of the homestead of Ebenezer Indian Allen for whom Allen's Creek was named. Allen's creek was later renamed Oatka Creek.

Ebenezer Indian Allen was the first settler to plant wheat in what is now the Town of Wheatland. He planted two bushels of Lisbon or Velvet wheat seed on 2 acres near this site in the fall of 1788. He subsequently sold this property to Peter Sheffer who owned the wheat at harvest time.

Some remnants of construction at this site are still evident.

The Town of Wheatland was originally named "Inverness" but that name only lasted for 6 weeks after which it was renamed the Town of Wheatland. In the present time it should more likely be renamed "Cornland" since that seems to be the most common cash crop these days.