Did the building of the Erie Canal and the national road displace and destroy homes?

Answer:

Answer

Lets first realize that construction of the Erie canal began in 1808 in a very rural upstate NY. Without actual records of land ownership it would be hard to tell if a home or two was displaced. However, many settlers welcomed the canal because of the economic advantage it would bring the region. Most of the area was farms or wilderness and the canal would provide essential transportation and irrigation for the area.
To answer, any home displacement would be considered negligible on a level measurable by today's standards.