Lewis G. Morris
Encyclopedia
A resident of Morris Heights
, Lewis G. Morris maintained a small farm at Fordham, until it was encroached upon. He then purchased another farm in Scarsdale and on these farms bred sheep and cattle.
In 1838, he took up his lifelong fight to restore and improve the Harlem River
. After careful legal consultation and planning, on September 14, 1838, he led a raid on the Macombs Dam
, and restored the channel. After a long legal battle with the dam's owner, he persevered in Renwick v. Morris. The removal of the dam was justified as being a public nuisance
in violation of the original provisions of dam's public authorization.
Morris also championed the design of the Croton Aqueduct
to soar over the Harlem River at High Bridge
, rather than block the channel. He also pushed to see the Harlem River Ship Canal
become a reality.
Morris Heights, Bronx
Morris Heights is a low income residential neighborhood located in the west Bronx. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 5. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: West Burnside Avenue to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, the Cross-Bronx Expressway to the...
, Lewis G. Morris maintained a small farm at Fordham, until it was encroached upon. He then purchased another farm in Scarsdale and on these farms bred sheep and cattle.
In 1838, he took up his lifelong fight to restore and improve the Harlem River
Harlem River
The Harlem River is a navigable tidal strait in New York City, USA that flows 8 miles between the Hudson River and the East River, separating the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx...
. After careful legal consultation and planning, on September 14, 1838, he led a raid on the Macombs Dam
Macombs Dam
Macombs Dam was a dam and bridge across the Harlem River between Manhattan and the Bronx in New York City, which existed from c.1814 to c.1858.-History:...
, and restored the channel. After a long legal battle with the dam's owner, he persevered in Renwick v. Morris. The removal of the dam was justified as being a public nuisance
Public nuisance
In English criminal law, public nuisance is a class of common law offence in which the injury, loss or damage is suffered by the local community as a whole rather than by individual victims.-Discussion:...
in violation of the original provisions of dam's public authorization.
Morris also championed the design of the Croton Aqueduct
Croton Aqueduct
The Croton Aqueduct or Old Croton Aqueduct was a large and complex water distribution system constructed for New York City between 1837 and 1842...
to soar over the Harlem River at High Bridge
High Bridge (New York City)
The High Bridge is a steel arch bridge, with a height of almost 140 feet over the Harlem River, connecting the New York City boroughs of The Bronx and Manhattan...
, rather than block the channel. He also pushed to see the Harlem River Ship Canal
Harlem River Ship Canal
The Harlem River Ship Canal is a channel connecting the Hudson River and Spuyten Duyvil Creek to the Harlem River in New York City, separating the neighborhood of Marble Hill from the island of Manhattan...
become a reality.