Moore, Benjamin C., Mill
Also known as: Lockport City Hall; Holly Water Works
Why it's listed
Standing at the foot of the Erie Canal's flight of locks in Lockport, this limestone building began in 1864 as the Benjamin C. Moore Company flour mill. About twenty years later it became one of the first water pumping plants in America, operated by the Holly Water Works, a pioneer in central pumping systems. The city bought it, ran it as the municipal water works until 1893, and then converted it into city hall. A trapezoidal rear wing for the common council was added that year. Locally quarried Lockport limestone was used in its walls, and an old hydraulic raceway still runs beneath it. The building is one of the few survivors of some 25 industrial buildings once clustered along the canal. Its foundation wall also acts as a retaining wall at the foot of the 1918 locks. Changing uses brought many interior alterations, but milling remnants survive in the sub-basement, and the site has long been a focal point of the city's civic life.
Significance in brief: The building is a surviving example of the stone mills that once lined the Erie Canal at Lockport, one of few left of about 25 industrial buildings. It was converted into one of America's early water pumping plants, run by the Holly Water Works, and then into city hall in 1893. Its close fit with the canal locks and escarpment gives it a strong sense of place.
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 73001226, listed June 19, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Pine St. on the Erie Canal, Lockport |
|---|---|
| County | Niagara County |
| Listed | June 19, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001226 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1864) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Engineering, Politics/Government, Architecture, Invention |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as city hall; condition rated fair and integrity marked altered. The form notes plans for a new city hall across the canal, leaving the building's future uncertain. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Lockport Industrial District |
| Coordinates | 43.17076, -78.69247 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 73001226.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4888366
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.