Fulton and the Oswego River

Images of America: New York

by Friends of History in Fulton

The city of Fulton lies twelve miles south of Lake Ontario on the Oswego River. Early history reveals the importance of the river to the Native Americans and the European settlers. The early settlement's strategic location at the site of the waterfalls, with dangerous rapids below, contributed to the success of various industries that harnessed the waters' power. Fulton grew, flourished, and became a city having the distinct honor of being virtually unaffected by the Great Depression. Fulton and the Oswego River contains a striking collection of hundreds of rare local photographs, together with the stories of the town, the river, and the people who have lived here. The early settlers, including blacksmith Daniel Masters and the Van Buren family come to life in these pages, as the reader imagines their early struggles. The building of the Erie and Barge Canals had a influence on the economy, as did the businesses that developed along the the flour mills, paper mills, and woolen mills, such as the American Woolen Mill, which made military uniforms on Oswego's banks through World War II.

130 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2001

Reviews

[Maryclaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book on Fulton at one of the local museums. It really surprised me on the contents. The pictures are interesting, educational and historic. The book explains so much of the local past, with the Indians, the wars, and the building of the canal. It's hard to believe that all that industries was once here. The Hunter Fan, a silk and a woolen mill, many paper companies and pottery. The canal and the waterpower played an important part of this area.