Published: October 09, 2009 10:12 pm      

CANAL DISCOVERY: Catching up with ‘Cappy’

No history of Lockport and its Erie Canal heritage would be complete without a chapter about the community’s pop-icon, “Cappy.” Like the Erie Canal itself, “Cappy” and his canal-boat have developed their own local legend, complete with a mysterious disappearance, dedicated volunteers and a petition drive that saved them from a future of near-certain destruction.

The subject of this narrative should actually be called “Canal Tender No. 10,” but most of its fans just call the boat and its resident captain “Cappy.” “No. 10,” and the other 30-foot-by-6-foot canal tenders were a common sight on the Erie Canal during their workhorse years from the 1920s to 1940s. Correctly called buoy tenders, these miniature tug boats had the job of re-supplying kerosene for the lamps used to provide illumination along the canal, along with a myriad of other tasks, including a push or shove given to barges or other boats as needed along the canal.

Fast forward to the 1980s and we find Canal Tender No. 10, resting in peace in the bone yard of the state Canal Corp dry dock, a rusting and decaying hulk of its former self. With its next stop being a salvage facility, local canal enthusiasts Susan and Gregory Pope agreed to try to rescue the old tender and move it front and center into a position of prominence on the Tri-Way Bridge, part of the major east-west arterial from Niagara Falls to Lockport.

To say that the canal tender needed a monumental restoration would be an understatement. The repair efforts were led by U.S. Navy veteran Charlie Winters, who was assisted by the members of the Lockport Navy-Marine Club. The group’s scraping, painting, welding and repairs included replacing the wooden floor in the boat, which was completely missing when work began.

Winters enlisted the help of dozens of volunteers and more than 20 area businesses that gladly donated materials to see the transformation completed in 1995.

The next chapter of Cappy’s life would best be titled, “The Mysterious Disappearance.” In September, 1996, a passing LPD patrol officer discovered the canal tender’s front window kicked out and Cappy missing. After a few weeks of absence and a reward offer of $100 for his safe return, the community once again came to the rescue of the little canal tender and provided it with a new mannequin to serve as captain. “Cappy II” took his place at the helm of his craft on Oct. 11, 1996. This time, “New Cap” came complete with a family with two additional mannequins on board.

All seemed in order with Cap and his family until 2001, when “storm clouds” were seen on the horizon. The city entertained a plan to replace Cappy and the canal tender with a sign instead. The thought of losing Cappy was too much to bear for his supporters. Still others felt that Cappy would serve the city better in a location at the Widewaters or another city park. Winters conducted his own public relations blitz, complete with a petition drive requesting folks not mess with Cappy. “Cappymania” ensued and hundreds of people chimed in with their opinions on the “Cappy hotline,” set up by the Union-Sun & Journal. In the end, the pro-Cappy camp succeeded in their mission and a decision was made to leave Cappy on the site and add a high-quality sign, complete with landscaping.

Today, “Canal Boat No. 10,” seems to enjoy some pretty nice digs. The 80-plus-year-old canal tender sits in a well-earned place of honor and a neat new sign has been added through the help of the Lockport Business Association. The combined result is a great example of what can be accomplished when a group of citizens takes it upon themselves to try and improve the community where they live. Charlie Winters should be very proud of both Cappy, and Lockport. As for Cappy, Winters says he is spending his retirement years with him in Florida.

Doug Farley is director of the Erie Canal Discovery Center. Contact him at 434-7433. The Erie Canal Discovery Center is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.