View of Cohoes, N. Y. From Prospect Hill. Waterford, Lansingborough [Lansingburgh], Mt. Rafenesque [Rafinesque], and Troy, in the Distance de LEWIS & GOODWIN (pub) - 1862

Albany: Lewis & Goodwin, 1862. Tinted lithograph. Sheet size: 21 1/2 x 38 1/2 inches. Very rare, large panoramic view of Cohoes, New York and points beyond George W. Lewis and Thomas Goodwin, Albany printers, appear to have teamed up for a year or two in the early 1860's. Several other town views, also in New York State, are dated 1862. This unusually large view was probably drawn by George W. Lewis. Reps cites a copy with only Lewis's name on it. Most town views of the period are about half the size of this one. Viewmakers usually solicited business owners and prominent citizens of a town prior to beginning the project, and it is very likely that the mill owners whose companies are all listed in the bottom margin contributed largely and required the larger format. At the time this view was published, Cohoes was one of the most prosperous towns in America. Known as "Spindle City", it was the center of textile manufacturing in the country. Cotton shipped up from Mobile (and other Southern ports) to New York and up the Hudson was turned into fabric at the many mills seen here lining the Erie Canal. In fact, Harmony Mills (represented in two buildings here) was just then under contract to produce uniforms for the Union Army. Cohoes is at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. It enjoys immense water power from the Mohawk and access to the world via the Hudson. This is nicely demonstrated in this view which focuses on the rivers and canals that interlace the region, with the Erie Canal, lined with barges, in the foreground. This portion of the Canal, with several locks, was created to circumvent Cohoes Falls seen at the far left. The emphasis of the work and of the city was on production, and this is nicely demonstrated in the broad sweep of mills and boats that stretch across this panorama. Reps, Views and Viewmakers 2487.