Lock Tender’s Shanty

Lock Tender’s Shanty

In 1822, Champlain Canal Lock 10 was constructed, forming an outlet between the old Champlain Canal and the Hudson River. Canal employees operating the lock used this small building as a shelter. In an 1822 appointment letter, a canal superintendent detailed the lock tender’s duties: For the sum of $12 per month, the lock tender was “to assist all boats in passing the lock, to keep the culvert gates in repair and also the spindles, cranks, etc.” and “to keep the culverts or passages for water in the locks clear from all sticks or other substances.”

In 2010, local students constructed this replica lock tender shanty for Hudson Crossing Park. Early 20th-century photographs of the original shanty were used when creating their plans. The shanty serves as a reminder of the early canal infrastructure and the people who ensure that the canal system functions smoothly.