Erie Canal Lock 32, Fort Plain Oddity
Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 10:38 pm
While on a bike ride I happened to notice what looked like an abandoned stone lock structure. As there were no readily apparent traces of the Erie Canal I was a bit startled to see the lock stonework spring up from the ground from 'nowhere'. Curious I stopped to take a few pictures. Unfortunately at the time I angled the camera view to try to hide some of the debris and trash that had collected in the old lock chamber.
Peering through the underbrush surrounding the old lock I got the impression that a structure was built straddling the lock, but the brush blocked a clear view. I thought I was being utterly ridiculous. Who builds a house directly atop an old lock?
In researching for some information about this lock I found I couldn't have been more wrong. Someone did indeed build a house on top of the former lock chamber walls. Had I taken a picture directly down the chamber - trash and all - I would have more readily seen the building on the lock.
The picture attached is the one I took of the lock itself. But if you want better pictures and the history of this particular lock I suggest you visit:
http://www.tug44.org/canal.history/erie-lock-32/
I've read accounts of bankrupt canal auctioning off locks to people who carted the stone away to build a house elsewhere. But I've never hear or read anywhere on the Erie Canal or any of its subsidiary branch canals where someone built their home directly atop a lock using the lock walls as part of the cellar.
Peering through the underbrush surrounding the old lock I got the impression that a structure was built straddling the lock, but the brush blocked a clear view. I thought I was being utterly ridiculous. Who builds a house directly atop an old lock?
In researching for some information about this lock I found I couldn't have been more wrong. Someone did indeed build a house on top of the former lock chamber walls. Had I taken a picture directly down the chamber - trash and all - I would have more readily seen the building on the lock.
The picture attached is the one I took of the lock itself. But if you want better pictures and the history of this particular lock I suggest you visit:
http://www.tug44.org/canal.history/erie-lock-32/
I've read accounts of bankrupt canal auctioning off locks to people who carted the stone away to build a house elsewhere. But I've never hear or read anywhere on the Erie Canal or any of its subsidiary branch canals where someone built their home directly atop a lock using the lock walls as part of the cellar.
