Stone Spillway, National Defense Stockpile Center
Why it's listed
Built in 1944 at the foot of a wooded hillside in Hillcrest, north of Binghamton, this stone spillway carries runoff from an intermittent stream into a ditch along East Avenue. It forms a U-shaped wall of hand-dressed fieldstone and concrete mortar, with a twenty-two-foot center section, angled end sections, stepped wings, and five tapered piers that suggest battlements. At its highest it reaches nineteen feet. It was the last World War II structure added to the military depot, which otherwise relied on wood and concrete block because of material shortages. Its crafted stonework resembles Civilian Conservation Corps work in regional state parks. Long-time depot employees recalled that conscientious objectors in the Civilian Public Service program built it, though records do not name the builders. It is the only resource tied to that program identified in New York State. The structure remains highly intact and in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the spillway is a well-preserved example of CCC-style stone construction from World War II, standing out among the depot's utilitarian wood and concrete block buildings. It is also believed to have been built by conscientious objectors in the Civilian Public Service program, the only such resource identified in New York State to date. The builder attribution rests on recollections of long-time depot employees.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 04000347, listed April 20, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Gilmore Ave., Hilcrest |
|---|---|
| County | Broome County |
| Listed | April 20, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000347 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1944 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as highly intact and in excellent condition; historic and current function is waterworks. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.15504, -75.87576 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 04000347.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7619029
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.