Constructing dams & hydro-electric plants for the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation

Working at one of the hydro-electric plant in South Colton

Here’s a look behind the scenes of the Niagara Mohawk Power Company — what it was like creating those big dams and plants, and a look at some of the huge, weird, and sometimes beautiful machinery that kept them running.

Collection Items

Construction workers at Blake Falls hydro-electric plant in Parishville

Construction workers at Blake Falls hydro-electric plant in Parishville

Crane excavating for hydro-electric project in Parishville

Crane excavating for hydro-electric project in Parishville

In the early stages of construction at Blake Falls in Parishville

In the early stages of construction at Blake Falls in Parishville

Carpenters constructing a draft tube at the South Colton hydro-electric plant

Carpenters constructing a draft tube at the South Colton hydro-electric plant

Construction site at Rainbow Falls Dam

Construction site at Rainbow Falls Dam

Construction site at the powerhouse in South Colton

Construction site at the powerhouse in South Colton

Construction worker in steel snail shell in South Colton

Construction worker in steel snail shell in South Colton

Construction workers at the hydro-electric plant in South Colton

Construction workers at the hydro-electric plant in South Colton

Construction workers building a surge tank in South Colton

Construction workers building a surge tank in South Colton

Construction workers building a damn at Rainbow Falls

Construction workers building a dam at Rainbow Falls

Contruction workers working in sub-freezing temperatures at Carry Falls

Contruction workers working in sub-freezing temperatures at Carry Falls

Machinery loading dumpster truck in the early stages of construction at Blake Falls in Parishville

Machinery loading dumpster truck in the early stages of construction at Blake Falls in Parishville

Meryl Morris and Alan Willard anaylzing hydro-electric plant blueprints in South Colton

Meryl Morris and Alan Willard anaylzing hydro-electric plant blueprints in South Colton

Portrait of a workman handling bags of fly ash at Five Falls plant in South Colton

Portrait of a workman handling bags of fly ash at Five Falls plant in South Colton

Men using machinery at Blake Falls in Parishville

Men using machinery at Blake Falls in Parishville

Workers using machinery to build Ranbow Falls Dam

Workers using machinery to build Ranbow Falls Dam

Hydraulic turbine driven generator providing power at South Colton Station

Hydraulic turbine driven generator providing power at South Colton Station

Portrait of construction worker in turbine in South Colton

Portrait of construction worker in turbine in South Colton

Two carpenters constructing a draft tube in South Colton

Two carpenters constructing a draft tube in South Colton

Two men remove bags of fly ash from Five Falls plant in South Colton

Two men remove bags of fly ash from Five Falls plant in South Colton

Pulling a bulldozer across the river in Hollywood

Pulling a bulldozer across the river in Hollywood

Working at one of the hydro-electric plant in South Colton

Working at one of the hydro-electric plants in South Colton

Workers in a control room at Brown Bridge in Pierrepoint

Workers in a control room at Brown Bridge in Pierrepont

Construction of hydro-electric plant in Dexter

Pouring concrete at a hydro-electric plant in Hollywood Hamlet

Pouring concrete at a hydro-electric plant in Hollywood Hamlet

Surveying party taking measurements at Carry Falls

Surveying party taking measurements at Carry Falls