To take advantage of the natural slope of the valley towards the Des Plaines River, the Hydraulic Basin was constructed on the westside of the I & M Canal. The 260-foot by 370-foot basin, begun in 1848, gave Lockport the greatest water power potential of any point along the Canal.
The 21-foot fall of water of the basin, fed by Canal, was used to power a complex of mills owned by the Norton Company. Around the basin were a flour mill and grain elevator, a cooper shop, and a sawmill later a paper mill for making strawboard, a coarse cardboard. The basin was also a turning basin for boats.
!n 1871, the Canal between Chicago and Lockport was deepened which stabilized the water level in the basin. This increased the hydraulic power and enabled the Norton Company to become one of the largest flour milling operations in Illinois.
As the use of the Canal declined the Hydraulic Basin was gradually filled in. The site, seen across the bridge, is now marked by a picnic shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  

The Lockport Station
The Norton Building
The Norton & Company Warehouse
Lock 1
Abraham Lincoln
Illinois & Michigan Canal Office
William Schuler
George Gaylord
"Whittling Their Time Away"
Old Congregational Church

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.