Complex sentence: Even with the canals and the bridge bringing easier access to larger markets Cohoes was a sleepy place to be in prior to 1831, the nearest post office was at Waterford and fresh meat and groceries were a luxury hard to come by in Cohoes.
Split into simpler sentences: Even with the canals and the bridge bringing easier access to larger markets, Cohoes was a sleepy place to be in prior to 1831. The nearest post office was at Waterford and fresh meat and groceries were a luxury hard to come by in Cohoes.