Early Industry

Early Industry. South Main Street. , Early industry started along Lopatcong Creek between South Main Street and the Delaware River. Water, that was readily available from the creek, powered grist and sawmills. The unused water was returned to the creek which then emptied into the Delaware River., After the Morris Canal was built in 1831 it was combined with the creek near Green's Bridge and the over-flow was impounded in a mill pond. Riley-Shimer flour mill was one of several that ground rye, corn and wheat. The finished products were shipped on the canal., The Hagarty Sawmill was located southwest of Sawmill Street. A turbine fed by a 19 foot fall of water operated the mill. Lumber rafts traveling on the Delaware River brought logs to the mill to be made into usable planks and other products which could be shipped on the canal., The first boat on the Morris Canal to travel from Phillipsburg to Jersey City and return originated from the Greens Bridge area in 1832. It may have carried lumber and flour from this area., After the canal was abandoned in 1924 most of the area, including the mill pond, was filled in covering up the remains of a once thriving industrial area.