| Press Release: NYS Canal Corporation, June 10, 1997
New York State Thruway
Authority/Canal Corporation Chairman Howard E. Steinberg announced today that
the tugboat Urger again is welcoming visitors aboard to learn how New York's
historic Canal System helped make New York the Empire State.
"Each summer, the Urger
participates in numerous canal festivals and events, helping to broaden the
public's knowledge of the canal system," Steinberg said. "We invite everyone
attending these festivities to visit the Urger and discover the living history
and heritage of the Empire State."
The Urger travels the
length of the canal system each year, welcoming thousands of people aboard. In
addition to the educational experience, visitors get a firsthand look at how a
tugboat operates.
"In the spring and fall,
the Urger becomes a movable classroom, welcoming students aboard for shore-side
educational sessions," Steinberg added. "The children learn about the past and
present of the 524-mile canal system, comprised of the Erie, Oswego, Champlain
and Cayuga-Seneca canals."
The Urger, formerly the
Henry J. Dornbos, was built on the shores of Lake Michigan in 1901 for use as a
commercial fishing boat. It started state service on New York's newly
constructed Barge Canal in 1922. At 96, it is one of the Canal Corporation's
oldest vessels afloat and is the flagship of New York's historic
fleet.
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