The following item came across my desk -- it was written by Dick Palmer sometime in August of 2009. The message in the last paragraph should be clear to those of us studying the Canal history of New York State and certainly, there are few experts on this subject as thorough as Dick Palmer. (by Shirley)

Recently I have seen the over-use of the term "hoagie" or "hoggy" applied to people who drove mules on the canal. The term did not exist during canal days and is fiction. They were "canal drivers" and nothing else. if you want a hoagie you go to Jreck Subs, not to the canal. It was NEVER used during the entire existence of the Erie Canal - was a term contrived by a folklorist, possibly Samuel Hopkins Adams.

I had a little discussion with Tom Grasso, president of the Canal Society of New York State, regarding the blatant misuse of mythical terms applied to the canal that never existed and he said:

"The hoagie or hoggy thing is among one of the worst offenses. I have never come across the term in any official publication I ever read. 'Canawler' is another. I have come across boatman and possibly driver (even this I am not quite sure about--could have dreamt it). The only other possibility is that the term "hoagie" was the equivalent of today's urban street talk. But even in interviews that I have heard and read about, I can't recall "boat people" ever using the term."

QUIT USING IT!