The ending of the canal

By 1898 the canal's usefulness had run its course. The railroads could carry coal faster and cheaper. Railroads ran all year, the canal only worked when the water wasn't frozen or there wasn't a drought. The Rosendale cement that was shipped from the Rosendale Cement Mines became outdated when Portland Cement was found to dry and cure quicker. By 1898 the canal could no longer operate at a profit and was closed.

Many of the locks and canal works can be seen through the length of the area. The remains of the old aqueduct and over the Rondout Creek can still be seen, as can the towpath in many of the areas in the Rondout Valley. If you travel through Port Jervis, Wurtsboro, Ellenville, and Rosendale New York, look for the old stonework of the canal and think back to when it was a busy and active operation from a time long ago.