‘Old Stone Chimney’ moved for better viewing

NIAGARA FALLS — An 18th century chimney, which has been moved multiple times, outliving a fort and a home that had been attached to it, has found another new home alongside the Niagara River.

The New York Power Authority and city of Niagara Falls celebrated the completion of an extensive project to refurbish and relocate the Old Stone Chimney, a relic of the French and Indian War, to Adams Slip in order to support burgeoning heritage tourism efforts in Niagara Falls.

“The Power Authority is pleased to have been able to help highlight this important symbol of Western’s New York’s history,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. “This is one of a number of measures we are working on to help boost tourism in the region and stimulate the economy.”

“Part of the recent upsurge in tourism across Western New York has been a rediscovery of our region’s rich but unfortunately often long-neglected history. I can think of no historical artifact that has borne witness to more of our history, or instilled greater feeling of affection among our citizens, than the legendary Old Stone Chimney,” said Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster. “I want to thank all of the citizens who have advocated for this cause through the years, including the Niagara Portage Old Guard, but especially historian Paul Gromosiak, whose tireless and unselfish efforts have at long last been rewarded.”

“Coordinated efforts to preserve the Old Stone Chimney during reconstruction of the Robert Moses Parkway provide a new setting for the historic stone structure closer to the water’s edge,” Congressman Brian Higgins said. “Our office was pleased to work with NYPA and the City of Niagara Falls in relocation efforts to preserve this remnant of Niagara Falls’ past as a new heritage tourism point of interest.”

The chimney was originally part of the French barracks just outside Fort du Portage and was used for cooking and heating in the 1700s. When the British invaded, the French abandoned and burned down the fort, but the chimney survived. It then became part of the home of General Peter A. Porter in the 1840s. The fort was located on the Niagara Portage, a trade route that connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, but fell out of favor with the advent of the Erie Canal.

The chimney had most recently been on NYPA property on the former Porter Park on Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls. As part of the relocation effort, NYPA also installed a new foundation, fencing, signage and landscaping as well as a small parking area to improve public access.

Care was taken to disassemble the chimney and faithfully restore it using historically appropriate tools and techniques. NYPA hired Scrufari Construction Company of Niagara Falls to oversee the work which was handled by the Buffalo firm Morris Masonry Restoration. The chimney is located within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) boundary for the Niagara Power Project, and was subject to review under NYPA’s Historic Properties Management Plan agreed to with FERC during the Project’s relicensing in 2007. The New York State Historic Preservation Office monitored the work.