Waterford in Saratoga County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Lock 2 Park

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, October 7, 2011

1. Lock 2 Park Marker - Front Side

Inscription.

Lock 2 Park. . [Front Side- Left Panel], Welcome to Lock 2 Park . You may continue across Lock 2 to stay on the Champlain Trail to access: .Garret Field .Old River Lock #4 .The Waterford Rural Cemetery .The Northside Business District .The Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center If you turn left, you will pass the Side-Cut Locks and access: .The Waterford Harbor Visitor's Center .The Site of the Button Fire Engine works .The Hudson and Mohawk Rivers .Pebble's Island State Park and Visitor's Center., [Front Side- Right Panel], . Side-Cut Locks Empty . A unique view of the Side-Cut Locks when drained of water in the winter time. The view is from below the steel pilings on the right and looks down the locks from the bed of the original Champlain Canal, down through three lock chambers, out to the Waterford Harbor area and into the Hudson River., . Side-Cut Locks . The originally built locks, seen here, were constructed during the canal enlargement era circa 1860 and were the first gateway to the Canal System. With the exception of the wooden doors and mechanisms used to open and close them, they remain the same as in 1860., The original purpose of these locks was to allow boat traffic from the Hudson River into the Champlain Canal and back out from the Champlain Canal into the Hudson River. Today the Side-Cut Locks are used as a spillway for excess water to flow out into the Hudson River when Lock 2 on the Erie Barge Canal is being operated., Some old time canallers referred to this area as "The Crossroads". A boat entering the top chamber of the lock and turning right it was headed north to Lake Champlain. A left turn would link with the original Erie Canal with the first two miles of its trip toward Lake Erie., There were Side-Cut Locks at West Troy, now known as Watervliet, which were designed to accommodate west bound traffic. Any vessel that used the canal had to fit into these locks., [Reverse Side- Left Panel], Pictured here tying up along the towpath just north of the locks are two old canal tug boats, the Annex and the Almira. The Annex was the first tugboat to successfully engage in towing on the Champlain Canal. In the background note the Broad Street Bridge. This was a lift bridge to allow boat traffic to pass under and other traffic to pass over. Boat traffic had the right of way., The W.C. Baxter docked on the other side near Ever's Coal Dock was the first tug boat that was specifically built to tow on the Old Champlain Canal. After the Annex became successful towing on the Old Champlain others followed along, but the Baxter was the only "new" tug to work the canal system., Shown here, being steered under the lift bridge, is the Wonder, whose home port is New York City. Note the high arch bridge over the canal at Division Street. The mules pulling this boat are almost to the next bridge., [Reverse Side- Right Panel], By noting all the cargo carrying canal boats awaiting to enter the system, one gets a feel for the amount of activity here. The Van Schoonhoven's operated a mule barn here and were allowed to charge $0.25 per boat to pull them through the locks. In this Picture barn boss Fred Bass oversees a locking., The Van Dervoort Family owned and operated the tug Annex on the Old Champlain Canal. All family members lived on a houseboat, sometimes accommodating eleven people. Pictured here is the family home, the Rudder Grange, traveling through the lock. On board is mother Julia, daughter Beatrice and brother Elmer., The last picture shows Engineer William Van Dervoort, in 1909, preparing the tug Annex for a trip through the Side-Cut Locks and up to Lake Champlain.

[Front Side- Left Panel]

Welcome to
Lock 2 Park
You may continue across Lock 2 to stay on the Champlain Trail to access:
•Garret Field
•Old River Lock #4
•The Waterford Rural Cemetery
•The Northside Business District
•The Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center

If you turn left, you will pass the Side-Cut Locks and access:
•The Waterford Harbor Visitor's Center
•The Site of the Button Fire Engine works
•The Hudson and Mohawk Rivers
•Pebble's Island State Park and Visitor's Center.

[Front Side- Right Panel]

Side-Cut Locks Empty A unique view of the Side-Cut Locks when drained of water in the winter time. The view is from below the steel pilings on the right and looks down the locks from the bed of the original Champlain Canal, down through three lock chambers, out to the Waterford Harbor area and into the Hudson River.

Side-Cut Locks The originally built locks, seen here, were constructed during the canal enlargement era circa 1860 and were the first gateway to the Canal System. With the exception of the wooden doors and mechanisms used to open and close them, they remain the same as in 1860.

The original purpose of

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these locks was to allow boat traffic from the Hudson River into the Champlain Canal and back out from the Champlain Canal into the Hudson River. Today the Side-Cut Locks are used as a spillway for excess water to flow out into the Hudson River when Lock 2 on the Erie Barge Canal is being operated.

Some old time canallers referred to this area as "The Crossroads". A boat entering the top chamber of the lock and turning right it was headed north to Lake Champlain. A left turn would link with the original Erie Canal with the first two miles of its trip toward Lake Erie.

There were Side-Cut Locks at West Troy, now known as Watervliet, which were designed to accommodate west bound traffic. Any vessel that used the canal had to fit into these locks.

[Reverse Side- Left Panel]

Pictured here tying up along the towpath just north of the locks are two old canal tug boats, the Annex and the Almira. The Annex was the first tugboat to successfully engage in towing on the Champlain Canal. In the background note the Broad Street Bridge. This was a lift bridge to allow boat traffic to pass under and other traffic to pass over. Boat traffic had the right of way.

The W.C. Baxter docked on the other side near Ever's Coal Dock was the first tug boat that was specifically built to tow on the Old Champlain Canal. After the Annex became successful

Lock 2 Park Marker - Reverse Side image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, October 7, 2011

2. Lock 2 Park Marker - Reverse Side

towing on the Old Champlain others followed along, but the Baxter was the only "new" tug to work the canal system.

Shown here, being steered under the lift bridge, is the Wonder, whose home port is New York City. Note the high arch bridge over the canal at Division Street. The mules pulling this boat are almost to the next bridge.

[Reverse Side- Right Panel]

By noting all the cargo carrying canal boats awaiting to enter the system, one gets a feel for the amount of activity here.
The Van Schoonhoven's operated a mule barn here and were allowed to charge $0.25 per boat to pull them through the locks. In this Picture barn boss Fred Bass oversees a locking.

The Van Dervoort Family owned and operated the tug Annex on the Old Champlain Canal. All family members lived on a houseboat, sometimes accommodating eleven people. Pictured here is the family home, the Rudder Grange, traveling through the lock. On board is mother Julia, daughter Beatrice and brother Elmer.

The last picture shows Engineer William Van Dervoort, in 1909, preparing the tug Annex for a trip through the Side-Cut Locks and up to Lake Champlain.

Erected by The Village of Waterford.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce

Lock 2 Park Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, October 12, 2011

3. Lock 2 Park Marker

The spillway from the Old Champlain Canal is in the background.

• Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Erie Canal series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.

Location. 42° 47.411′ N, 73° 40.899′ W. Marker is in Waterford, New York, in Saratoga County. It can be reached from Broad Street just south of 5th Street (New York State Route 32), on the right when traveling west. The sign is located at the top of the Side-Cut Locks beside the Old Champlain Canal at the edge of an un-named road that provides auto access to Lock E2 Park. . Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Waterford NY 12188, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

in the Capital District,

and in the Albany Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Flight of Five Locks (within shouting distance of this marker); Parsonage of Dutch Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Issac Eddy House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Button Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Waterford (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Waterford (approx. ¼ mile away); Water Ford (approx. ¼ mile away); Eagle Tavern Site (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waterford.

More about this marker. The marker is in the form of a dual-panel, double-sided sign with historic photos and text on both sides.

Also see . . .

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, October 12, 2011

4. Lock 2 Park Marker - Reverse Side

1. Waterford Harbor Visitor Center. Discover the Erie Canal website entry (Submitted on January 19, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Waterford Tugboat Roundup. Event website homepage (Submitted on December 27, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)

Lock 2 Park Marker Detail - The Side-Cut Locks image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, October 12, 2011

5. Lock 2 Park Marker Detail - The Side-Cut Locks

Lock 2 Park Marker Detail:<i>Champlain Canal Lock</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, October 7, 2011

6. Lock 2 Park Marker Detail:Champlain Canal Lock

Side-Cut Locks Empty image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, January 16, 2007

7. Side-Cut Locks Empty

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, January 4, 2007

8. Side-Cut Locks Empty

A unique view of the Side-Cut Locks when drained of water in the winter time. The view is from below the steel pilings that the overflow water cascades and looks down the locks from the bed of the original Champlain Canal, down through three lock chambers, out to the Waterford Harbor area and into the Hudson River.

Side-Cut Locks as Spillway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, May 12, 2007

9. Side-Cut Locks as Spillway

Photographed by Howard C. Ohlhous, May 12, 2007

10. Lock E5

The kids watch and learn about how a lock works at Lock E5 as a boat locks through during Canal Fest, a celebration of the opening of the state canal system which is one of many seasonal community events hoasted by the Village and Town of Waterford. Lock E6 is in the distance, looking west on the canal. Locks E2 through E6 make up the Waterford Flight of locks.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 1,724 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on December 27, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.