Mount Hope Reservoir
Why it's listed
Mount Hope Reservoir is a 64-acre site three miles south of downtown Oneida, New York, holding two dams, their valve houses and miles of wooded trails. The lower dam, an earthen structure with a concrete core, was built in 1883 by local engineer and industrialist Judson W. Warner as a private water works supplying drinking water, fire protection and industrial needs. The village bought the system in 1895. In 1905-06 a concrete gravity dam and second pond were added upstream to meet growing demand. The reservoir supplied Oneida until the larger Taberg Reservoir opened in 1927, after which it served for fishing, swimming, camping and hiking. The upper dam was later condemned for its poor condition, and the city largely abandoned the site in 1979. Concrete is spalled, and one gate house is in ruins. The site is valued as a public works achievement from the period when Oneida grew into a regional rail and manufacturing center.
Significance in brief: The reservoir is argued to be significant under Criterion A for its link to Oneida's growth as a regional center of rail transportation, commerce and manufacturing in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It was the city's original public water supply, built privately in 1883 by engineer Judson W. Warner, bought by the village in 1895 and expanded in 1905-06. It retains integrity from both building phases despite deterioration.
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 97000981, listed August 29, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Between Mt. Hope and Fairview Aves., Oneida |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | August 29, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000981 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1883-1906 |
| Architect / builder | Judson W. Warner, Engineer |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | No longer in use as a water supply; the city all but abandoned the site in 1979 and it remains posted. The dams show deterioration, and the upper dam was condemned by state dam safety officials. Trails are maintained by volunteers. |
| Acreage | 64.1 |
| Coordinates | 43.05924, -75.64610 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 97000981.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6921308
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.