Syracuse is a city in New York State incorporated as a village in 1825. Its growth as stimulated by the construction of the Erie Canal and railroads in the 1830s. When the Erie Canal was completed in 1825, low shipping rates prompted a significant increase in salt production. A century later, the economy was shifted towards manufacturing and engineering. The first New York State Fair was also held in Syracuse in 1841. World War II triggered significant industrial expansion in Syracuse, especially steel, fasteners, and custom machining. The population peaked at 221,000 in 1950.
Here below are some historical photos of Syracuse from the early 20th Century that capture street scenes, cityscapes, and everyday life. Also check historical photos of Rochester and Albany.
Time has flown by so fast!
The lack of education, coupled with a high violent crime rate, has slowly eroded this once beautiful city.
I wish the world were as simple as you portray it to be
It would have been great if they had kept the canal.
An old coworker would always say, “I wish they’d put the canal back in; that way, I could barge into work.”
Whatever floats your boat
It would be beautiful to see Syracuse with that canal still in place.
This is amazing! What beautiful pictures! My dad currently works at the Syracuse Savings Bank
I really enjoyed it.
Isn’t it amazing how so many beautiful buildings were demolished during the city’s history? Wouldn’t it be cool if Syracuse still had its canal?