The History of the Canals in the Utica/Rome Area​

The talk will show the location and remains of the Canals which passed through Utica and Rome.  It will also highlight the engineering of Squire Whipple, a Utica native who developed the first engineered bridge and first lift bridge over the Erie Canal.  Canal maps will be used to show where remains are located and the paths of the canals.

Andrew Wolfe holds degrees in Surveying Technology (A. Eng.), Civil Engineering Technology (A. Eng.), Civil Engineering (BS), Environmental Engineering (MS) and Transportation Engineering (Ph.D.) and is a licensed professional engineer in New York. Dr. Wolfe began his academic career at the University of New Haven in 1993 as an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering.  In 1997, he moved to Union College, Schenectady, NY as an Assistant Professor in the Civil Engineering Department, serving as Chair of the department from 2001 – 2003. Dr. Wolfe also became interested in the Erie Canal and was on the team that recovered the structures in Albany's Little Basin area (Lock 1, Weigh Lock, Little Basin).  He also developed, with an economist, an interdisciplinary course on the Interactions between Society and Engineering as it pertained to transportation systems. In 2003, Dr. Wolfe moved to SUNYPOLY as an Assistant Professor in the Civil Engineering Technology program.  At SUNYIT he taught courses in civil engineering tech, in interdisciplinary studies, and developed the Civil Engineering program. In the Civil Engineering program, he has taught courses in transportation, environmental engineering, and several of the lower division courses. He has also served as department chair, coordinator and Interim Dean of the College of Engineering. Currently, Dr. Wolfe is a member of the Albany Waterway Board and is leading the team which is uncovering the eastern end of Lock 1.