Don’t the 2023 Tug Talks!

The Champlain Canal at 200!

Presenter: Russ Vandervoort

Date and Time: Saturday, 9/9/2023, 10:00 AM

Description: Explore the early days of the Champlain Canal, its impact, and the stories of pioneers like John Edlict and Erastus Gay.

Presenter's Bio: Russ Vandervoort is Waterford's Historian and the 2022 Tug Parade Grand Marshal. He is a dedicated advocate and historian of the NYS canal system.

 The Rise and Fall of Russell Brothers Towing including Captains' memories of adventures and daily life on the tugs.

Presenter: Hilary Russell

Date and Time: Saturday, 9/9/2023, 2:00 PM

Description: Discover the maritime activities of the Russell family from 1844- 1962 -- their sail lighterage firm,the tugboat company, shipyards, iron works, and machine shop.

Presenter, Hilary Russell, the author of Tugboats and Shipyards: the Russells of New York Harbor, 1844-1962 will cover the family's immigrant story, technological innovations, the rise of the family business, the forces that contributed to the business' closing, and the daily lives of boatmen.

Matton Shipyard: Preservation & Adaptive Reuse Initiative

Presenter: Andy Kitzman

Date and Time: Saturday, September 9th at 5:00 PM

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Description: Matton Shipyard, located a half-mile from the site of Tugboat Roundup, is a historic shipbuilding facility situated along the Hudson River. The shipyard's legacy is inextricably tied to the maritime history of the region. This year’s “tug of the year”, James Turecamo, was one of the hundreds of tugs built at Matton Shipyard over its more than 60 year history.

This presentation will explore that history, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor’s work to preserve the site, and what is next for this historic maritime and cultural treasure. Presenter's Bio: Andy Kitzman is the Assistant Director at Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and a former curator at the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse. He is an Erie Canal enthusiast, historian, and expert.

Rewatering Albany

Presenter: Len Tantillo

Date and Time: Sunday, 9/10/2023 at 11:00 AM

Description: Learn about the transformative Albany Waterway project and its potential impact on Albany's historic, social, and economic connections to the Hudson River and Erie Canal.

Presenter's Bio: Len Tantillo is a licensed architect turned historical and marine painter. He has received honorary degrees and is a Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists. His work is internationally recognized, and he is an expert in New York State history.