Lockport in Niagara County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Lock Construction

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 2, 2014

1. Lock Construction Marker

Caption: Workers who graded and set timbers for the track on which the cantilever crane operated (left).

Inscription.

Lock Construction. . From the original Erie Canal to the Barge Canal System, crossing the Niagara Escarpment posed immense challenges to canal engineers., The first Lockport locks were designed by Nathan Roberts, who was in charge of constructing the Erie Canal from “the mountain ridge” at Lockport to Lake Erie. In 1822 he advertised for “1000 men wanted at Lockport - twelve dollars per month and found” (meaning room and board). Excavation for the locks and the “deep cut” channel section southwest of the locks required extensive blasting and drilling of rock., Drill holes were packed with DuPont’s blasting powder, a newly invented explosive, which was far superior to gunpowder. Work on the locks and “the cut” was extremely dangerous due to careless and inexperienced blasting. The shattered rock was removed by timber derricks, powered by horse driven treadmills. Work continued through the winter. Holes drilled into the rock face were filled with water. the rock would crack and split as the water froze. The builders of the Erie Canal had a genius for improvisation., The original Lockport locks were completed on June 25, 1825. Within a short time the locks, like the entire canal, proved too small to handle the large volume of boat traffic., The combined locks were rebuilt on a larger scale between 1836 and 1847. Work on the enlarged Erie Canal was halted under the “Stop Law: of 1842, enacted in response to serve state debt. Work was resumed in 1847. The enlargement of the entire Erie Canal was not completed until 1862. The enlarged Lockport locks operated until the southern tier was removed in 1910 for construction of Lock 34 and 35 of the Erie Barge Canal., The north tier of the combined locks was left intact and passed vessels during Barge Canal construction. The old locks today serve as a visible reminder of the genius of the first canal builders in New York State., Sidebar on the right , Thomas Evershed (1817-1890) , As New York State Engineer, Evershed made numerous contributions, and served an important roll in canal development. By 1838, he was supervising the construction of both sets of combined “Flights of Five” locks in Lockport.

From the original Erie Canal to the Barge Canal System, crossing the Niagara Escarpment posed immense challenges to canal engineers.

The first Lockport locks were designed by Nathan Roberts, who was in charge of constructing the Erie Canal from “the mountain ridge” at Lockport to Lake Erie. In 1822 he advertised for “1000 men wanted at Lockport - twelve dollars per month and found” (meaning room and board). Excavation for the locks and the “deep cut” channel section southwest of the locks required extensive blasting and drilling of rock.

Drill holes were packed with DuPont’s blasting powder, a newly invented explosive, which was far superior to gunpowder. Work on the locks and “the cut” was extremely dangerous due to careless and inexperienced blasting. The shattered rock was removed by timber derricks, powered by horse driven treadmills. Work continued through the winter. Holes drilled into the rock face were filled with water. the rock would crack and split as the water froze. The builders of the Erie Canal had a genius for improvisation.

The original Lockport locks were completed on June 25, 1825. Within a short time the locks, like the entire canal, proved too small to handle the large volume of boat traffic.

The combined locks were rebuilt

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on a larger scale between 1836 and 1847. Work on the enlarged Erie Canal was halted under the “Stop Law: of 1842, enacted in response to serve state debt. Work was resumed in 1847. The enlargement of the entire Erie Canal was not completed until 1862. The enlarged Lockport locks operated until the southern tier was removed in 1910 for construction of Lock 34 and 35 of the Erie Barge Canal.

The north tier of the combined locks was left intact and passed vessels during Barge Canal construction. The old locks today serve as a visible reminder of the genius of the first canal builders in New York State.

Sidebar on the right
Thomas Evershed (1817-1890)
As New York State Engineer, Evershed made numerous contributions, and served an important roll in canal development. By 1838, he was supervising the construction of both sets of combined “Flights of Five” locks in Lockport. (Marker Number 7.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the ASCE Civil Engineering Landmarks, and the Erie Canal series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is June 25, 1825.

Location. 43° 10.241′ N, 78° 41.576′ W. Marker is in Lockport, New York, in Niagara County. It is on Pine Street.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 2, 2014

2. Lock Construction Marker

Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Pine Street, Lockport NY 14094, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

specifically in Western New York,

and in the Buffalo Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Great American Canal (a few steps from this marker); Lockport City Hall (a few steps from this marker); Old City Hall (a few steps from this marker); A View to the Past (within shouting distance of this marker); Lock Tenders Tribute (within shouting distance of this marker); Upper Locks View (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Locks West (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Fittings (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lockport.

More about this marker. This marker is located at the southwest end of the Pine Street Bridge.

Lock 35 from the Pine Street Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 2, 2014

3. Lock 35 from the Pine Street Bridge

Monument to the Pioneer Engineers next to the Lock Construction Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 2, 2014

4. Monument to the Pioneer Engineers next to the Lock Construction Marker

Erected August 16, 1975 In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the completion of the original locks which opened a connecting waterway between the Hudson River and the Great Lakes.
This completion of the Erie Canal was the opening of a door to the settling of the West.
Tribute must be paid to the engineers of that age who surveyed and designed this project with antiquated instruments and little engineering experience.
These men were the pioneers of American Engineering.

Ereected by
American Society of Civil Engineering
Buffalo Section

American Consulting Engineers Council
Western New York Chapter

National Society of Professional Engineers
Erie-Niagara Chapter

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,240 times since then and 86 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 7, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.