Construction was delayed by a January 1841 storm that washed away most of the dam,[2][3][4] with heavy downstream damage and loss of life.

The gravity dam was constructed with a rubble core and granite ashlar foundation.

Water flowed to New York City through the Old Croton Aqueduct, which started just upstream of the dam, carrying water down the Croton River valley toward the Hudson River, then roughly following the Hudson south.

The dam and aqueduct constituted a major part of the original New York City water supply system.

[5][6] The dam site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.