Editor's Note: Penny Helzer wrote this column before she passed away last week. For her next column, she was planning to profile the Port Byron man who took the last boat down the Erie Canal in 1916. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family in this difficult time.
The next profile of a “Canawler” life during the Erie Canal era is a three-generation boatman who played an important part. In our community was Captain Jesse Wimett, skipper of the New York state barge, Number Seven. Jesse, his grandfather (John H. Wimett) and his father were all “Canawlers” during the Erie Canal era.
Jesse said that life was not easy for a woman living on the canal. His wife, Minnie, was a cook for a crew of five men for a few years until their son, Jesse, was old enough to go to school. During this time, she and young Jesse settled down in Port Byron. Minnie enjoyed canal life, going through different villages and stopping at the grocery stores for supplies. She received $25 a month and her board for cooking for the crew.
Jesse said that every six hours the canal boats used to stop and change mules, giving the mules a rest from towing the boats. In the winter when the canal froze over, they would take the mules to farms, and the farmers would use them to haul wood and ice.
Usually a canal family lived on the boats from April to December. There was also work for the rest of the family. When the children were old enough, the sons helped to drive the teams of mules on the towpath. the wives and younger children would keep the inside of the living quarters clean, do the wash, bilge the pump and mend the mules' harnesses.
During December through April, the canal boats were taken to various dry docks for repairs and overhauled for the next season.
Jesse Wimett was born April 18, 1897 aboard a canal boat that was berthed in New York harbor. Jesse started steering a canal boat when he was old enough to stand on a box and reach the wheel. The Wimetts were married for nearly 60 years. One child was more to them, Jesse. The Wimetts are buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Port Byron.
- Source: Newspaper story dated November 1965, written by Irene C. Tallman
Jesse said that life was not easy for a woman living on the canal. His wife, Minnie, was a cook for a crew of five men for a few years until their son, Jesse, was old enough to go to school. During this time, she and young Jesse settled down in Port Byron. Minnie enjoyed canal life, going through different villages and stopping at the grocery stores for supplies. She received $25 a month and her board for cooking for the crew.
Jesse said that every six hours the canal boats used to stop and change mules, giving the mules a rest from towing the boats. In the winter when the canal froze over, they would take the mules to farms, and the farmers would use them to haul wood and ice.
Usually a canal family lived on the boats from April to December. There was also work for the rest of the family. When the children were old enough, the sons helped to drive the teams of mules on the towpath. the wives and younger children would keep the inside of the living quarters clean, do the wash, bilge the pump and mend the mules' harnesses.
During December through April, the canal boats were taken to various dry docks for repairs and overhauled for the next season.
Jesse Wimett was born April 18, 1897 aboard a canal boat that was berthed in New York harbor. Jesse started steering a canal boat when he was old enough to stand on a box and reach the wheel. The Wimetts were married for nearly 60 years. One child was more to them, Jesse. The Wimetts are buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Port Byron.
- Source: Newspaper story dated November 1965, written by Irene C. Tallman
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nature lover wrote on Mar 9, 2008 9:39 AM: