Research


New York State Canal Corporation Survey Maps of the Northern and Southern Reservoir Systems


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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
This series was created by the Canal Corporation of the Thruway Authority to establish state property boundaries adjacent to the Northern and Southern Reservoir Systems. It consists primarily of maps and structure drawings of the Northern and Southern Reservoirs of the Barge Canal. Most maps relate to either the Northern or Southern Reservoir System in whole or part; some relate to the entire reservoir system, and others relate to feeders and other reservoirs.
Creator:
Title:
Survey maps of the Northern and Southern Reservoir Systems
Quantity:

2 cubic feet

100 maps

Inclusive Dates:
1854-1975
Series Number:
B1542

Arrangement

Arranged by reservoir system.

Administrative History

Although surveys were made when the reservoir system was created by the Department of Public Works to serve the state canal system (early 19th through 20th century), the boundary lines of state property were not clearly defined, especially in the Adirondack region. In the early 1990s the Thruway Authority was mandated to conduct a comprehensive survey to clearly establish the state's property lines. The maps in this series are the result of the research portion of that survey. The survey was completed in 1997.

Scope and Content Note

This series was created by the Canal Corporation of the Thruway Authority to establish state property boundaries adjacent to the Northern and Southern Reservoir Systems. It consists primarily of maps and structure drawings of the Northern and Southern Reservoirs of the Barge Canal. Most maps relate to either the Northern or Southern Reservoir System in whole or part; some relate to the entire reservoir system, and others relate to feeders and other reservoirs. Several of the maps are unrelated to the reservoir systems and were apparently inadvertently withdrawn by the Canal Corporation for the survey.

Reservoirs documented in the series which pertain to the Northern Reservoir System include Carthage Dam; Delta Dam; the Fulton Chair; South Lake Reservoir, White Lake Reservoir, and Woodhull Reservoir.

Reservoirs documented in the series which pertain to the Southern Reservoir System include Bradley Brook; DeRuyter; Eaton Brook; Erieville; Hatch's Lake; Jamesville; Kingsley Brook; Madison Brook; Woodman Pont; and Leland Pond reservoirs.

B1542-15: This accretion contains a map of DeRuyter Reservoir, 1856; surveys of Leland Ponds Reservoir (Madison County), as well as transcriptions and photostats of deeds for reservoir land around time of purchase in the 1830s; and appropriation surveys of the Stone Monuments, Hinckley Reservoir, 1909.

Related Material

B0729 Roll Maps and Plans of the Middle Division of the Erie Canal, is one collection from which some of these maps were withdrawn prior to transfer to the State Archives.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

B1542-97: Item list is available at the repository.

Acquisition Information

B1542-15: These records were identified and transferred by principal engineer William Schollenberger of the New York State Canal Corporation in April 2014.

Custodial History

B1542-97: This set was kept at the main office of the Waterways Maintenance Division of the Department of Transportation (later the Thruway Authority) and may be largely duplicated by maps retained in the divisional office in Syracuse. The maps were withdrawn from many separate collections by the Thruway Authority for the purpose of more clearly establishing state boundaries around reservoirs created to supply water for the state's canal system.

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Access Terms

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Detailed Description

Dates Contents Box

Accretion: B1542-15
1909 Appropriation Surveys and Coordinates of Stone Monuments Hinckley Reservoir by W.J. Durkan 1
Surveys of Leland Ponds Reservoir (folder 1 of 2) 1
Surveys of Leland Ponds Reservoir (folder 2 of 2) 1
Leland Ponds Reservoir deeds, before and after construction (3 envelopes, photostats and transcriptions) 1
1856 October Map, DeRuyter Reservoir 1