Understanding the growing need for electricity and the role of harnessing the Falls, Schoellkopf purchased the land for the hydraulic canal on May 1, 1877 for $71,000.

The original 1874 plant did not produce electricity but used water turbines to power belts and drive shafts for nearby mills.

As the old hydraulic canal was already operating at capacity a new tunnel was constructed to supply the new station.

3b flooded and collapsed into the Niagara River, destroying two thirds of the plant and the six generators that produced more than 300,000 horsepower.

3a was demolished in 1962 as part of Robert Moses's work to beautify the American side of the Falls.

The production capacity lost by the 1956 collapse was replaced by the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant, which was commissioned in 1961.

The only permanently extant part of the Schoellkopf site is the stone wall (known as Power Station No.