Lawrence Van Wyck diary

1847-1857

Lawrence Van Wyck kept this diary while assisting in the construction of the Hudson River Railroad near Yonkers, from March 15, 1847 until July 1, 1848; while helping build the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad near Central Bridge, New York from July 16, 1853 until January 11, 1854; and during construction work near Medina and Albion, New York, from July 27, 1856 until September 8, 1857. Van Wyck mentions the names of his fellow workmen and people he met socially, and he also makes occasional references to the trend of public opinion concerning slavery