OFFICERS

President, Russ VanDervoort

Vice President, Richard Powell

Secretary, Amy O'Shea

Treasurer, Curtis King

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Donna Diviney

Ronald Hathaway

Roger Johnson

Ward Patton

Fred Potter

Mary Stalker

Lawrence TenEyck

As part of the initiative of individuals working on the historic 1823 side-cut to the Champlain Canal and its towpaths and locks on the Waterford section, Russ Vandervoort and Richard Powell proposed an organization be formed to pull together individual projects. The Waterford Canal and Towpath Society (Waterford CATS) was formed in 2009 to utilize, enhance and preserve the existing stretch of the Old Champlain Canal, including the area in Waterford from River Lock #4, at the Mohawk River, north to the Old Champlain Lock #5. This area is extremely rich in historic, architectural and industrial archeology resources and would significantly strengthen local efforts to increase tourism, promote additional homeownership and generate additional revenue.

It is also the goal of the Waterford CATS to preserve, maintain and historically recreate the locks, towpaths, walls, weigh station and areas adjacent to the side-cut to the Champlain Canal area to prevent community deterioration in and of that area. Improving access to the Champlain Canal is very important to the Town and Village of Waterford. Clearing excess and overgrown vegetation wherever practical and environmentally acceptable and ensuring that interpretive signage at appropriate locations to enhance the views.

The Waterford CATS seeks to promote education and a better understanding of the NYS Canal System which provides the recreational and tourism benefits important to the future of Waterford.

In an effort to recognize our future by restoring our heritage, the Waterford CATS is proposing to build, as much as possible, a historically correct replica the Packet Canal Boat, the J. Q. Adams, as shown in. the organization’s logo, which travelled the Champlain Canal from Waterford to Whitehall, NY in 1825.