Erie Canal Village

Erie canal Village in Rome, amazing Erie Canal museum! We're getting it in order and you will be invited first. Opens this summer! BTW it sits less than a stone's throw from a pristine section of the Enlarged Erie Canal.

Great News!! We just had a bucket truck donated to help us work on the buildings that are taller and harder to reach. We will now be able to paint and replace windows on the higher floors of Bennett's Tavern, Harding Building, and the Maynard Church. We are so thankful for the generosity that has been shown to us. ... We are still waiting on the City to cooperatively work to find a solution to the access at the western side of the Village. This access allows the City, the Rome Historical Society, and the Erie Canal Village access to the south side of the property. Looking forward to a great season this year! ECV

On February 21, 2020, Erie Canal Village representative Rick Rios met with various members of city staff and a couple of common council members to discuss a cooperative way to move forward making the Village available to visit this summer. Unfortunately, the Mayor could not attend the meeting but did give staff and council members direction on how she would like to help ensure we are reaching our goal of having more buildings open this summer. We discussed several issues and... concerns around the Erie Canal Village. I believe all in attendance was encouraged that we left the meeting with some clear short-term objectives in order to help make it safe and accessible to the public. Some of the topics included the site retaining nonconforming zoning status in order for the Village to comply with the City deed signed in 2002, access to Fort Bull, City-owned artifacts being stored in a Village warehouse, and the replacement of a culvert that bridges the maintenance road on the west end of the property. Unfortunately, as we have posted in the past, we believe a majority of the artifacts stored in the warehouse are not in good or usable condition any longer. However, everyone had hope that what was there and could be salvaged would be. The City is working on some legal paperwork that would allow the cataloging and use of the artifacts still intact for future viewing. Of the items that came up, probably none is as time-sensitive as the culvert access. The City has offered a creative partnership in which the culvert could be replaced. Without the culvert, the Village is limited to the level of activities we can offer the public due to the Fire Department not being able to get vehicles on the south side of the canal. In addition, this is the easement road to Fort Bull granted to the Rome Historical Society for maintenance. They would be under the same safety restrictions as the Village and large events or gatherings of large crowds would pose a problem. As soon as we can move forward on the culvert, we are ready to start work! This includes painting some of the buildings, clearing out the Erie Canal Museum, and looking at what work needs to be done to open up the New York State Cheese Museum. Thank you for all your support and well wishes. It is what keeps us going. Rick Rios