Lakes to Locks Passage Receives Pearsall Adirondack Foundation Funding

Lakes to Locks Passage logo

Lakes to Locks Passage has received funding through the Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation to explore the stories of the mining history in the Town of Moriah. Working with the Iron Center Museum, the Moriah Historical Society, the Moriah Chamber of Commerce, and high school students, this project considers how the mining and transportation of iron ore from the Adirondacks to Troy, NY helped spark the American Industrial Revolution.

Mining in Moriah, NY

At one time, Moriah was one of the largest producers of iron ore in the United States. High grade iron ore was mined in deep tunnels in the town, processed and transported from Port Henry on Lake Champlain – to the world. The mining industry flourished from the 1820’s to 1971 with evidence of the mining industry still visible in the community today.

The Iron Center Museum serves as a byway “Heritage Center” located along the Lakes to Locks Passage: the Great Northeast Journey Scenic Byway. For over ten years Lakes to Locks Passage has been working to support the region’s community museums through a program of “Heritage Centers” – places that tell the stories of the community and serve as a destination for visitors.

The Iron Center Museum is located in the restored carriage house at the former Witherbee-Sherman Company mining headquarters in Port Henry. The museum’s exhibits document the operations of the local iron ore mining industry. The Moriah Historical Society has a collection of artifacts, records, and photographs – as well as oral histories and video footage of stories told by the miners themselves. Students working on the project will be asked to use their technology skills to post the stories, with audio and video images, on the co-branded Lakes to Locks Passage/National Geographic website.

About Lakes to Locks Passage

Lakes to Locks Passage, Inc. is a nonprofit organization with the mission to stimulate community revitalization and build a commitment to the stewardship of the region’s rich historic, cultural, recreational and natural resources. Covering a region with spectacular landscapes laden with history, Lakes to Locks Passage connects the historic waterways from Troy to the Richelieu in Quebec.

About the Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation

Lakes to Locks Passage’s application is one of 36 grant applications funded this year by the Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation. The Pearsall Adirondack Foundation is a private foundation created “to improve the quality of life for year round residents of the Adirondack Park.” Additional information is available on their website: www.pearsallfoundation.org.

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About Lakes to Locks Passage

Midway between Manhattan and Montreal, this inter-connected waterway shaped the destiny of the United States and Canada. By bike, foot, boat, train or car, Lakes to Locks Passage provides access to charming cities, rural landscapes and Adirondack hamlets. Through all four seasons, you can travel through numerous historic, natural, cultural and recreational experiences along the scenic waterway that links upstate New York to southern Quebec. Click here to see a map of the byway corridor. Learn more on our website: www.lakestolocks.org.