Upson Park

Upson Park. . The Raceway Tunnel was invented by Birdsell Holly. Blasting for the tunnel began in 1858. Construction of the 2,430 foot tunnel took 18 months. The tunnel contains old gates and ruins of buildings from the beginning of the Industrial Age. The cave features stalactites, flowstone and other geological formations., These dramatic and picturesque ruins are the remains of the Lockport Pulp Mill. Wheels at the mill were powered by an underground raceway constructed through solid rock from the upper level of the canal locks s by the Lockport Hydraulic Race Company. Note the large penstock and dual raceway outlets which emerge from the cliffs, as well as numerous scattered millstones., Looking West - to the Railroad Bridge , The Lockport Niagara Falls Railroad was incorporated in 1824. The 29 mile length of the line was completed in 1838 at a cost of $4,110,000. , The Rochester Lockport Niagara Falls Railroad extended the line to Rochester, an additional 76 miles of track costing $2,343,383. It was completed on July 1st 1852., Sidebar on the right , Lyman Spalding (1800-1885) was a early merchant in Lockport. He acquired large tracts of land and established a flour mill and sawmill. His flour mill was the first to use canal water for power in Niagara County. His failure to purchase the water rights to the surplus canal water caused him serious financial difficulties. He was also a Quaker and an abolitionist involved in the Underground Railroad Movement.