By Christine Lorraine Morgan, October 25, 2022

THIS HISTORICAL MARKER AT THE FOOT OF CASCADE STREET TELLS A VERY ENLIGHTENING TALE OF ERIE’S BAYFRONT PAST.

“CASCADE CREEK ~

Cascade Creek is the last of Erie’s three

original creeks. Its western location saved

it from being completely compromised by

urbanization. Cascade Creek flows along the

Bayfront Parkway and into a delta behind

the western dock. In 1813, Daniel Dobbins

established a shipyard at the mouth of the

creek where the flagships Lawrence and Niagara

were built. The military shipyard later

became a commercial boat building center.

The western dock, where U.S. Navy ‘yard

ferry class’ ships were built during World

War II, continued as a shipbuilding and

repair facility until the 1980s. Cascade

Creek itself has enjoyed a renaissance with

local environmental groups having improved

water quality to the point where trout have

returned to the watercourse.”

Man-made structures were removed in the bottom photo to offer a glimpse of what that spot on the bayfront might have looked like when Dobbins was building ships there. All three photos were taken at the foot of Cascade Street on 10/24/2022.

This historical marker at the foot of Cascade Street in Erie, PA tells the wonderful tale of Erie’s bayfront past.

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Here is the present-day view looking north from the foot of Cascade Street. The colorful autumn trees of Presque Isle State Park are visible across the bay.

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Man-made structures have been removed from this altered photo which depicts what the foot of Cascade Street might have looked like over 200 years ago, facing slightly northwest.

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