Erie Canal Lock 52 Complex, Lock and historic district in Port Byron, New York.
Erie Canal Lock 52 is a lock facility with associated buildings and structures in Port Byron that dates to the mid-1800s. The site contains a former hotel, workshop spaces, stables for animals, and the actual lock mechanism that controlled water flow.
The lock was built between 1849 and 1853 as part of a major canal expansion effort designed to increase shipping capacity. Operations ceased in 1917 when the canal route was altered, leaving the complex no longer in use.
The complex shows how canal workers and travelers once lived and moved through this place daily. The buildings reveal the tight connection between commerce, labor, and lodging that defined life along the waterway.
You can reach the grounds on foot or by car through local streets, with convenient access from a nearby rest area. The layout is easy to walk through, though some buildings may only be viewed from outside.
The Erie House, built in 1894, served as both a bar and overnight lodging for those traveling and working on the canal. This wooden structure still stands in its original form, reflecting how single buildings served multiple purposes in bustling canal towns.
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