Transportation

The Chemung Canal ran directly through Millport. When it opened in 1833, it brought great prosperity to the village. Stores and taverns opened to serve workers and new hotels provided convenient overnight accommodations. Boatbuilding also became a big industry. Six boatyards in the village produced barges for the canal. Once the railroad line between Elmira and Watkins Glen opened in 1849, however, canal shipments steadily decreased. The canal was officially abandoned in 1878. The Northern Central and the Pennsylvania Railroads provided rail service to the village through the turn of the century and the Watkins Route trolley provided passenger service from 1900 to 1923.

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Millport

Canal lock near Millport, mid-1800s The Chemung Canal connected Seneca Lake at Watkins Glen to the Chemung River in Elmira. The 23-mile-long canal was 42 feet wide at the top, 26 feet wide at the bottom, and 4.5 feet deep. It took three days to travel from Elmira to Watkins Glen through the canal’s 49 locks.
Bill of Lading, 1863 This bill of lading is from the Barclay Coal Company for a shipment on the Chemung Canal through Millport.
Andrus family on canal barge, 1800s
Canal horn, mid-1800s Chemung Canal boat captains used horns to warn the lock tenders of their approach.
Canal barge stool, mid-1800s
Glen Route Trolley, 1900 The Watkins and Havana Railroad Company began running trolleys on the Watkins Route through Millport in 1900. The line was abandoned in 1923.
Pennsylvania Railroad station, 1923 Today, the Catharine Valley Trail, a multi-use recreational trail that runs through Millport, follows segments of the abandoned Northern Central Railroad and Chemung Canal towpath.
Railway ticket, 1905 Ticket to Elmira from Millport on the Northern Central Railway.

Transportation

Canal lock near Millport, mid-1800s

The Chemung Canal connected Seneca Lake at Watkins Glen to the Chemung River in Elmira. The 23-mile-long canal was 42 feet wide at the top, 26 feet wide at the bottom, and 4.5 feet deep. It took three days to travel from Elmira to Watkins Glen through the canal’s 49 locks.

Bill of Lading, 1863

This bill of lading is from the Barclay Coal Company for a shipment on the Chemung Canal through Millport.

Andrus family on canal barge, 1800s

Canal horn, mid-1800s

Chemung Canal boat captains used horns to warn the lock tenders of their approach.

Canal barge stool, mid-1800s

Glen Route Trolley, 1900

The Watkins and Havana Railroad Company began running trolleys on the Watkins Route through Millport in 1900. The line was abandoned in 1923.

Pennsylvania Railroad station, 1923

Today, the Catharine Valley Trail, a multi-use recreational trail that runs through Millport, follows segments of the abandoned Northern Central Railroad and Chemung Canal towpath.

Railway ticket, 1905

Ticket to Elmira from Millport on the Northern Central Railway.