A scene from the 1820s repeats in the modern era. This site once teemed with a thousand workers--blasting, excavating, and then building what became known as the Flight of Five locks. Originally of wood, they were later replaced with the limestone blocks visible today. But wooden gates remained.

A later canal enlargement left only one side of the Flight of Five locks, which were turned into a spillway. Now replica oak gates are being fabricated and installed.

Even with electricity at the job site--the work hasn't really changed. It still takes careful and intricate craftsmanship to taper giant wooden beams. An artistic effect has been added.