Hidden Water Tunnels of Lockport

Hidden in the tall rock walls of the Northern sides of the locks at Lockport are tunnels that were put there in the 1859’s using the works of Birdsill Holly. The Holly Manufacturing Works and using the Holly Water Works which was the first to provide water pressure at a constant pressure without reservoir or standpipe. They had built huge coal powered steam engines that drove the water pressure for all kinds of manufacturing.  The walls of the locks on this side were full of huge tunnels that supplied the water works and you can take tours of these hidden tunnels. Here is a runoff trough or canal at the base of the hidden canals and it runs into the Erie Canal at the base of the original locks.