Diverting the Croton River

A photograph from Scientific American dated February 5, 1898, documents the initial phase of New Croton Dam construction—redirecting the Croton River's natural flow to create the excavation site for the dam's foundation.

The project commenced on September 20, 1892, with river diversion work. Engineers blasted a channel measuring 125 feet wide and approximately a quarter-mile long through solid rock on the valley's north side. A masonry barrier 25 feet high was constructed alongside this channel

Date: Various Source: crotonhistory.org — https://crotonhistory.org/2017/10/09/diverting-the-croton-river/ License: Used with attribution; consult crotonhistory.org for permissions