Rexford

(click on the image below to see the full-size version)
The Rexford Aqueduct, or Upper Mohawk River Aqueduct, crossed the Mohawk River just east of Schenectady. Built in 1842, and continuing in operation until the new State Barge Canal System opened in 1916, a major portion of the Rexford Aqueduct was removed in 1918. At present, only a one-arch portion of the north, or Rexford, end and a two-arch portion of the south, or Niskayuna, end of the old Rexford Aqueduct remains. Below are some photographs of the remains of the Rexford Aqueduct taken in Spring 2006.



The Rexford Aqueduct remains, overall view, looking north -- the canal path is on the left side, with the prism supports to its right. The view is to the north, from the Niskayuna side, with the Rexford side in the distance.	The northern (Rexford) segment seen from the Niskayuna side.


The northern (Rexford) segment, prism support.	The northern (Rexford) segment, towpath side.


The southern (Niskayuna) segment, seen from the Rexford side.	The southern (Niskayuna) segment, prism supports.


Looking east at the the southern (Niskayuna) segment behind the Route 146 bridge.	The Route 146 bridge over the Mohawk River -- remnants of the Rexford Aqueduct can be seen under the bridge at both ends.


The Rexford Aqueduct, prism supports, southern (Niskayuna) side -- taken by Howard Ohlhous.	The Rexford Aqueduct, prism supports, southern (Niskayuna) sides, looking west up the Mohawk -- taken by Howard Ohlhous.


The Rexford Aqueduct, towpath supports, southern (Niskayuna) side, looking northeast ; the prism supports can be seen just behind the arches -- taken by Fred Wehner, 2007.

Compare the above photographs with those of The Rexford Aqueduct remains taken in 1969 for the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER NY-12) of the National Park Service.



Left: View of the former Rexford Aqueduct site on the left, and the remains of the Enlarged Erie Canal bed on the northern (Rexford) side of the Mohawk River on the right [picture taken by Chris Klein, with some editing by Frank Sadowski]. The old canal bed is being used as an access to the Mohawk River by a boat repair and launch facility. Compare this view with that of a 1907 postcard of the same area on the right.

For historical images of the Rexford Aqueduct, see the The Mohawk River Aqueducts page in the Take a Tour section of this web site, as well as the 175th Anniversary Section for an 1847 map of the aqueduct area.

The Rexford Aqueduct