Crooked Lake Canal facts for kids

The Crooked Lake Canal was an important waterway in western New York. It was built a long time ago, between 1830 and 1833. This canal connected two of the famous Finger Lakes: Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake. It got its name from Keuka Lake, which used to be called "Crooked Lake" because of its unusual shape. Today, you can walk or bike on the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, which follows much of where the canal used to be.

The Crooked Lake Canal: Connecting Lakes

Why Was the Canal Built?

Local farmers and business owners really wanted a canal. They believed it would help them move their goods to market faster and make more money. In 1828, the state of New York agreed to study the idea. The next year, in 1829, they gave permission to start building the canal.

Building the Canal

Construction of the Crooked Lake Canal began in 1830 and finished in 1833. Workers built the canal and its many locks along the Keuka Lake Outlet. This was a natural stream that already connected Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake.

The canal stretched for almost 8 miles. It ran between Dresden on Seneca Lake and Penn Yan at the end of Keuka Lake. Along this short distance, the canal needed twenty-eight locks. This was a lot of locks because the land dropped very steeply. Keuka Lake was 270 feet higher than Seneca Lake! To give you an idea, the much longer Erie Canal (360 miles) only had 90 locks at that time. Building the Crooked Lake Canal cost about $157,000.

Life of the Canal

When the canal opened in 1833, it quickly helped the local economy grow. It made it easier and cheaper to transport farm products and other goods. However, the canal soon faced tough competition. New railroads were being built, and they could offer faster service than the canal.

There were also problems with the canal itself. Mill owners along the outlet stream often complained that there wasn't enough water. The original locks were made of wood, and they started to rot. Replacing them with stronger stone locks would have cost over $107,000.

From Canal to Trail

After many years of not making enough money, the Crooked Lake Canal was officially closed in 1877. Railroad companies took over the land where the canal used to be. A new rail line was built along the canal's path, becoming part of the New York Central Railroad.

In 1972, a big storm called Hurricane Agnes caused a lot of flooding. This damage destroyed the old rail line. Later, the land where the canal and rail line once stood was bought for fun activities. Today, you can explore part of the canal's old route. It's now the 6.7-mile Keuka Outlet Trail, a popular place for hiking and biking.