These Pics were taken in 1911...when the Niagara Falls were frozen...








The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – Buffalo District was tasked with the dewatering of the American Falls project in 1969. That actually resulted in drying up of the niagara.
The Albert Elia Construction Company of Niagara Falls, New York was awarded a $445,412 contract to build and remove a 600 foot (183m) cofferdam from the mainland to the head of Goat Island in order to divert the water from the American channel. In addition, they were required to clean the surface of the river bed, scale loose rock from the face of the Falls, and install a water spray system.
t took 1,264 truck loads of fill to stop the flow of water. The fill consisted of 27,800 tons of rock and earth to build the cofferdam. One truck driver received the scare of his life as a front tire of his vehicle slipped over the soft edge of the dam.

Mr. Pat Stoutamire, the dewatering superintendent for the Albert Elia Company was one of the first persons to inspect the dry river bed.


the United States Army Corps of Engineers
drilling on the dry American Falls

constructing the cofferdam to
dewatered American Falls


spectators picking coins from the dry riverbed
only feet from the brink of the Falls

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