A New Discovery

Image courtesy of the Ellenville Public Library and Museum

Do you see what we see?

At the D&H Canal Museum, we are always researching relevant topics, people, and endeavors related to the D&H Canal. One area of interest has been the role of women on the canal, as they were greatly underrepresented and not documented. Up until now we only knew of one picture of a girl hoggee along the D&H, but recently that all changed.

In July, our Historian and Curator, Bill and I (Visitor Center Director and Assistant Curator Courtney) went to visit our friends at the Ellenville Public Library and Museum to look through their lengthy collection of D&H Canal photos. We spent close to an hour browsing through four thick binders of photographs. Coincidentally, one topic of conversation with our colleagues at the Ellenville Library was the representation of women along the D&H. It seemed to be a sing of what was to come. While browsing through one of the albums, I spotted something in one of the photos that caught my attention-a skirt. Upon closer inspection we had unearthed something we didn't think existed, a second photo of a girl hoggee! Take a close look at the image and see for yourself. Up until this point, we only knew of one photograph taken by LeGrand Botsford that inspired the painting "On the Towpath" by E.L. Henry. We are thrilled with this recent discovery. Many thanks to our friends at the Ellenville Public Library and Museum for letting us share this incredible photo!

A zoomed in version of the photo, showing the female hoggee more closely.