Erie Canal Mules

We don't know the dates of the following two pictures, but it's the "Enlarged Erie" (1862-1918), and a good guess might be circa 1890-1905 for both.  The scenes are of the same location, but some changes in the building with the awning at the top left of the first picture separate the two photos by probably only a few years (one version of the shots suggest that they were taken at Durhamville, several miles east of Syracuse - another source places them just a few miles east of Rochester)  See below for additional notes.

 

This mule is being "tailed" down the "horse bridge" to enjoy some fresh grass with his companion before heading out (note the towrope attached to the whipple-tree on the towpath between the two animals. Teams on the Erie alternated in shifts of "six on and six off" around the clock.  Also see the caption below

This loaded boat sits much lower in the water than the unloaded one in the first picture, making the horse bridge easier to negotiate for all involved.  The mule here is nonetheless NOT willing to leave the green grass for another six hour shift in his cramped quarters in the bow of the boat.  Note the rope around the animal's girth running to an unseen pulley in the boat, and the team just off-camera on the right being made to haul their partner into the stable with brute force. The fellow sitting in the doorway across the canal has no doubt seen this contest of wills before. Both pictures courtesy of Town of Perinton Historian. Additional notes for these two shots: Even without knowing the exact location of these photos, the shadows show that the top boat is eastbound and these two are westbound.  Notice that the doors to the stables allow access from either side, depending on the side the towpath happens to be on.