Enlarged Double Lock No. 23, Old Erie Canal
Why it's listed
Enlarged Double Lock No. 23 is a limestone canal lock on the eastern side of the Mohawk River in Rotterdam, Schenectady County. Built in 1841-1842 as part of the Erie Canal's First Enlargement, it replaced the single-chamber Lock 26 of the original canal. Two parallel chambers, each 18 feet wide, are divided by a center pier and built of finely cut, mortared limestone blocks. The southwest chamber was extended to 220 feet in 1889-1890 so it could handle steam-towed vessels. The lock has an eight-foot lift. After the Barge Canal opened in 1918, the lock fell out of use and passed from General Electric to the town of Rotterdam. In the 1950s a town water main was laid through the chambers, and the site became overgrown. Since 1999 volunteers, beginning with Union College civil engineering participants, have cleared and stabilized it. The lock is valued for its masonry craftsmanship, its high integrity, and its link to the Erie Canal's transportation history.
Significance in brief: The lock is significant under Criteria A and C as a well-preserved example of masonry engineering and canal construction from the First Enlargement era. Its modifications reflect the Erie Canal's evolution until the Barge Canal replaced it in 1918. It also has ties to Schenectady's transportation history, including a 1903 General Electric 'electric mule' test nearby.
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 08000145, listed March 6, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Rice Rd., Rotterdam |
|---|---|
| County | Schenectady County |
| Listed | March 6, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000145 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1841-1918 |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The chambers contain no water and the site is listed as vacant/not in use. It was overgrown for decades, and volunteers have worked to reclaim and restore it since 1999. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | New York State Barge Canal |
| Coordinates | 42.82358, -73.98660 (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.
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 08000145.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5379048
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.