Hamot Hospital and the Public Dock in 1929

Photo from the Hamot Hospital Association 49th Annual Report.

Hard to believe that UPMC Hamot in Erie, Pennsylvania had such humble beginnings, but this 1929 photo shows what a difference eight decades can make. The hospital, which was formerly known as Hamot Hospital and Hamot Medical Center, is located at 201 State St.

The Hamot campus has grown by leaps and bounds, and so has lower State Street. The old Public Steamboat Landing, which is visible in the middle left of this picture, is now the Bicentennial Tower at Dobbins Landing. The trolley tracks in the middle of State Street are long gone. The Peninsula is visible on the horizon.

Here's a 1910 photo of Lower State Street.

Find more old photos of Erie, PA at Old Time Erie

Public Dock Winter of 1967-68 Erie, PA

East side of Erie Public Dock, winter of 1967-68. Photo ©Jeffrey George 2012.

Remember rambling down State Street in your old boat of a car, pumping the brakes to make sure you didn't slide down State and spin out? And then gunning it to get back up the hill? Gotta love those old rear wheel drive cars. The big chrome bumpers made it fun for kids to latch onto and hitch a ride (not the safest sport).

This photo was taken by Jeffrey George the Public Dock during the winter of 1967-68. It's amazing how much this area has been built up with the newer Dobbin's Landing and Bicentennial Tower replacing this old antenna-like metal contraption on the dock. Local pranksters used to steal the 'L' from  the old Public Dock sign, much to the embarrassment of the local authorities...or maybe this is another one of those Eerie myths?

"Several cars went over the Dock, some accidentally and several on purpose!" said Beverly M.

At any rate, it looks like it was a mighty cold day when this picture was snapped.

Very little changed from 1967 to 1985 when this photo was taken at the Erie Public Dock.

Enjoy more facts and photos of Erie, PA at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

Public Dock Iced Over in 1985, Erie, PA

Photo by Chester Wasielewski taken in 1985. ©Debbi Lyon 2012.

Public Dock iced over in 1985 Foot of State Street in Erie, PA

Just think of the brutal wind whipping in from the north, spraying water from the bay onto the old Public Dock. The dock is a perfect place to take in the setting sun, catch a fish or capture  a photo ducks or seagulls. Or, you can go here a shoot the breeze or get an ice cream cone. 

This tourist attraction has been renamed  several times over the years and is now known as Dobbins Landing. The Bicentennial Tower replaced the old structure shown here.

Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, PA at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

Erie Public Dock & Lower State Street

Erie Public Dock and lower State Street. Photo by Chester Wasielewski, ©Debbi Lyon 2012.

Erie Bayfront and the Public Dock

Bugging State on a Saturday night was what every hot blooded young man did back in the day, trolling for girls in Erie, PA. Here is a daytime shot of the Public Dock taken from Hamot Hospital. Nolan Boat works is in the upper left, the bow of the USS Michigan/Wolverine is on the left and the Brig Niagara is in her berth on the west side of State Street. It sure looks different now. For instance, the large building in the center of this photo is now a field, the Niagara is parked behind the Maritime Museum, and the anchor from the USS Wolverine sits in front of the Maritime Museum on East Front Street.

The Erie Steamboat Landing was the tall structure topped by a red flag at the foot of State St. It has been replaced with the Bicentennial Tower, a major tourist attraction in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Here's an older shot of the Public Dock from a different angle: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/10/public-dock-and-uss-wolverine-erie-pa.html