11 June 2017

Canandaigua To Detroit


Below is an excerpt from Detroit In 1827 And Later On, By General Friend Palmer:


Source - History Of The Great Lakes


Our trip through New York from Canandaigua to Buffalo was by stage and very rough, the roads having been rendered almost impassable by recent rains. It took us, I think, two days and two nights to reach Buffalo. We had to wait at that point two or three days for the steamboat ‘Henry Clay.’ We did not mind that in the least, for we were quartered at the old Eagle hotel, kept by Benjamin Rathbun, a most sumptuous resting place, we all thought it, and so it was for those days. Our trip up the lake to Detroit on the ‘Henry Clay’ was uneventful. We had a pleasant passage that occupied, I think, two or three days. The ‘Henry Clay,’ commanded by Captain Norton, was a floating palace, we thought, and we greatly enjoyed the time spent on it. It had no cabin on the upper deck—they were all below. When you desired to retire for the night or for meals, or get out of the reach of rain and storms, downstairs or between decks you had to go.

Source - Great Lakes Ship (Not One Mentioned)

The ‘Henry Clay’ was one of the three steamers that composed the line from Buffalo to Detroit, viz.: ‘Henry Clay,” “Superior” and “Niagara.” It was the only regular line between the above points. Now and then the steamers “William Penn” and “William Peacock” would put in an appearance. We could only count upon about one boat a week. The mails came by these boats during the season of navigation and the balance of the year by land through Ohio.




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