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SPEAKER SERIES
July 5, 2026

11 AM: The Prevailing Epidemic: Cholera, the Erie Canal, and the Public Health Response
Presented by Patrick Stenshorn, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
Explore how the movement of people and goods accelerated the spread of the disease between canal towns, the fear and disruption that followed, and the public health measures communities adopted in response.

12 PM: Fairport: How a Canal Town Reinvented Itself
Presented by Nancy Ragus, Fairport Perinton Cooperative
A look at how Fairport embraced its canal heritage, invested in community partnerships, and created a vibrant destination for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

1 PM: Pathway of Resistance: The Erie Canal and the Underground Railroad
Presented by Derrick Pratt, Erie Canal Museum
Examine the experience of African-Americans along the Erie Canal Corridor, with a particular focus on the struggle for abolition.

2 PM: The Flats of Seneca Falls: The Cradle of our Village
Presented by Pam Becker, Seneca County Historian
During the Seneca-Cayuga Canal expansion in 1918, a thriving community in Seneca Falls, known as the Flats, was removed to make way for VanCleef Lake. See how this expansion forever changed the geography and way of life in Seneca Falls.

Sponsored by:
bonafiglia family foundation