South Ann Street-Mill Street Historic District

Along the north bank of the Mohawk River in Little Falls, this small district preserves part of the city's canal-era industrial core. Its 16 contributing features include a four-story stone woolen mill built in 1839, a second stone mill of 1855, a brick factory and frame carriage works, and a 1911 stone and brick hydroelectric station beside the remains of a dam. Commercial buildings include a rare connected row of brick Greek Revival stores from about 1835 and two brick blocks on Mohawk Street. Transportation is represented by the ruins of the Erie Canal aqueduct and basin, a steel bridge and the 1894 railroad passenger station. Water power from the falls and access to the Erie Canal, opened through Little Falls in 1825, drew mills, knitting works and a large shoe factory to the area. Fire, flood and demolition removed many buildings, but the survivors show how the canal and river shaped local industry and commerce between about 1827 and 1911.