St. Lawrence Power Co. of Massena, New York - 1898-1900 dated New York Utility Stock Certificate

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The St. Lawrence Power Company, chartered by the New York State Legislature in 1896, embarked on a ambitious project to construct a power canal connecting the St. Lawrence River to the Grasse River in Massena, New York. Led by local promoter Henry H. Warren and a board of directors, the company aimed to rival the Niagara Falls Power Plant by utilizing local water resources for industrial purposes. Construction commenced in 1897, but the company encountered immediate challenges, including arduous excavations through “Massena Clay” and severe financial instability. Despite these obstacles, the canal and its associated powerhouse were completed by 1903, briefly holding the distinction of being the largest concrete structure in North America.

The company’s survival was ultimately secured by the arrival of the Pittsburgh Reduction Company, later known as Alcoa. Alcoa sought substantial quantities of inexpensive hydroelectricity to power its energy-intensive aluminum smelting process. This partnership transformed Massena into an industrial hub and established the world’s longest continuously operating aluminum smelter. The original power canal remained a crucial local resource for over five decades until its closure in 1958. This closure was due to the completion of the much larger Moses-Saunders Power Dam and the St. Lawrence Seaway.