Weighlock Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1849-1850 at the southeast corner of Erie Boulevard East and Montgomery Street in Syracuse, this two-story brick building served the Erie Canal as a weighlock. Boats entered a lock, the water was drained, and each vessel settled onto a cradle connected to a scale so its weight could be recorded and tolls calculated on the cargo. It was the third toll and inspection facility at the site, replacing earlier structures from 1824 and 1834, and was sized for the larger boats of mid-century. Its architect is unknown, though carpenter Edward Fuller and masons William D. Champlain and James Thorne started construction. The building has brick walls, pediments on all four sides, corbeled cornices and a portico of square piers with Greek Doric capitals. Tolls ended in 1883, but the building continued to house canal engineers and maintenance officials. The scales were removed in 1906, and state offices occupied it until 1957. It was listed for its importance to canal, engineering and technological history.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an unusual and very important structure in the history of the Erie Canal and of technology and engineering. It was the third toll and inspection facility at this site and the most substantial, built for the larger boats of mid-century. It retains its Greek Revival-style portico, and later additions are clearly distinguishable.
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 71000552, listed February 18, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SE corner of Erie Blvd. E. and Montgomery St., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | February 18, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000552 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1849 - 1850 |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; carpenter Edward Fuller and masons William D. Champlain and James Thorne began construction in 1849; weighing lock built by Kasson and Lewis |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rated in fair condition and described as sound and generally complete except for the filled-in lock and removal of the weighing mechanisms and trusses; the form marks it as occupied and used as a museum. State Department of Public Works offices used it until 1957. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.05065, -76.15062 (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 71000552.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5388279
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.