LOCK 61

Inscription

LOCK 61
APPROX. 250 FT. SOUTHEAST.
UPPER MACEDON DOUBLE LOCK
ON ERIE CANAL COMPLETED 1842.
LATER REPLACED BY BARGE CANAL
LOCK 30 & USED AS A SPILLWAY.
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2025

In 1842, the Upper Macedon double lock on the Erie Canal was completed. It was one of two sets of double locks serving the town of Macedon in Wayne County that were completed as part of efforts to enlarge the Erie Canal.

Soon after the official 1825 opening of the canal, an enlargement of the waterway began. On May 6, 1834, New York State passed “An Act to provide for the improvement of the canals of this state,” and from 1836 to 1862, portions of the Erie Canal were rerouted, locks were doubled and extended, and the canal was widened and deepened to accommodate larger vessels and improve transportation. In Macedon, a set of double locks were constructed, the Lower Macedon Lock 60 and Upper Macedon Lock 61. After the enlargement, the load capacity of vessels navigating the locks increased from 30 to 240 tons. This meant that boats could now carry significantly more cargo along the canal.

In 1905, New York State started another improvement effort of the Erie Canal which resulted in the construction of the Barge Canal. Completed in 1918, the Barge Canal was significantly deeper and wider, allowing for boats with a 2,000-ton load capacity. In Macedon, Lock 61 was replaced by Lock 30 on the Barge Canal. The former Lock 61 was then used as a spillway for the new, improved canal.