The Glens Falls Feeder Canal is a canal from

Glens Falls Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States and is the central city of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census. The name was given by Colonel Johannes Glen, the falls refe ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

through

Hudson Falls Hudson Falls (formerly Sandy Hill) is a village located in Washington County, New York, United States. The village is in the southwest of the town of Kingsbury, on U.S. Route 4. Hudson Falls is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Are ...

and into Fort Edward. It is long and delivers water from above Glens Falls on the

Hudson River The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between N ...

to the highest point of the

Champlain Canal The Champlain Canal is a canal in New York that connects the Hudson River to the south end of Lake Champlain. It was simultaneously constructed with the Erie Canal for use by commercial vessels, fully opening in 1823. Today, it is mostly used by ...

. The Feeder Canal Heritage Trail runs along a large part of the canal.

History

The first Feeder Canal was constructed around 1822 at the foot of Fort Edward Hill, to direct water from the

east to the

. When a flood destroyed part of the dam across the Hudson River at Fort Edward, the feeder canal failed to provide enough water. In 1824 a new dam was built across the Hudson River upstream of Glens Falls and digging of the Glens Falls Feeder Canal began. It ran eastward to join the Champlain Canal, guaranteeing adequate water at its highest elevation. In 1832, the Feeder Canal was widened and deepened to accommodate boat traffic as well. Thirteen masonry locks were constructed to overcome the vertical drop east of Sandy Hill (now called

). This engineering feat includes the "Five Combines" Locks in Hudson Falls (at the intersection of Pine Street and Burgoyne Avenue. The Combine Locks lower water 55 vertical feet (). The locks were wide and long; these dimensions controlled the size of canal boats in the Champlain Canal system while the locks were in use. The present-day Champlain Barge Canal eliminated the need for boat traffic on the Feeder Canal in the early 1900s.

Present day

Today the canal is still an important source of water for the

as well as the Finch Pruyn & Company Paper Mill, which lies just east of the start of the Canal in Glens Falls. It is maintained by the New York State Canal Corporation. Champlain Feeder Canal near Finch Paper plant as seen from a canoe

Champlain Feeder Canal near Finch Paper plant as seen from a canoe

The canal is a popular destination for canoeing and kayaking. A long park/trail along the old canal towpath is frequented by tourists and joggers and cyclists. The canal was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1985. The not-for-profit Feeder Canal Alliance was formed in 1987 to preserve, promote and maintain the Feeder Canal.

References

External links

* {{National Register of Historic Places in New York Canals in New York (state) Canals on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state) Historic American Engineering Record in New York (state) Tourist attractions in Washington County, New York Tourist attractions in Warren County, New York Transportation buildings and structures in Washington County, New York Transportation buildings and structures in Warren County, New York Canals opened in 1822 National Register of Historic Places in Warren County, New York 1822 establishments in New York (state)