Upper Black Eddy in Bucks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Life Along The Canal
1831-1932
— Delaware Canal Lock 19 State Park —
Photographed By Craig Doda, October 18, 2019
1. Life Along The Canal Marker
Inscription.
Life Along The Canal. "We used to trade a lot along the canal, people who had vegetables and things. We'd give them coal and they'd give us cabbages, tomatoes and things like that. Then there were lock tenders whose wives made good bread. We'd give them coal for bread."
Mrs. Chester Mann , Boat Captain's Daughter , Morris Canal
Standing on a loaded L.C. and N. boat headed downstream, are, left to right, William Reed, Alex Gold, Joe Reed, Sr. and Louis Possie.
The "kitchen” of the canalboat was usually located on deck, keeping food preparation from interfering with progress.
Canallers
You became a captain as young as sixteen by showing “The Company” what you could do. You demonstrated how to "snub" (slow down and brake for lock operations), keep accurate cargo records (pay based on number of miles hauled and coal tonnage delivered), and care for the mule team.
A boat's "rig” consisted of mules, harness, tow lines, feed box, night hawker (headlight), stove and bilge pump. While some captains owned their boats, most rented them from Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. The captain hired a mule driver or used family as crew members.
The "Swampers” (Delaware Canal captains) and "Lehigh Dutchmen” (Lehigh Canal captains) ran the lengths of both canals. They loaded coal in Luzerne (1838-1862) or Carbon County, delivered it to Bristol, and returned to Seigfried (now Northampton) for their pay.
Locktenders ended their day at 10:00 p.m. When canallers reached the next lock, they stabled their mules for the night, made necessary repairs, and rested. At 4:00 a.m., when locktenders began work, boats once more pressed forward.
Life On The Water
Canal boats provided primitive living conditions. The typical crew of two slept on deck or in the 8 x 10 foot cabin below. They prepared meals on a cook stove, enhancing their stored supplies with fresh food from locktenders or general stores. They enjoyed foods such as bread, flitch (bacon), coffee, cured meats, eggs, fresh fruits, vegetables, and canned goods. Springs along the canal supplied drinking water kept in wooden barrels on deck.
Often, a canaller's family came along for the ride. Children as young as seven drove the mules along the towpath. Wives took over cooking operations and shared steering responsibilities. During warmer months the canals were their entire world.
"We used to trade a lot along the canal, people who
had vegetables and things. We'd give them coal and
they'd give us cabbages, tomatoes and things like
that. Then there were lock tenders whose wives
made good bread. We'd give them coal for bread."
Mrs. Chester Mann
Boat Captain's Daughter
Morris Canal
Standing on a loaded L.C. & N. boat headed
downstream, are, left to right, William Reed, Alex
Gold, Joe Reed, Sr. and Louis Possie.
The "kitchen” of the canalboat was usually
located on deck, keeping food preparation from
interfering with progress.
Canallers
You became a captain as young as sixteen by showing “The
Company” what you could do. You demonstrated how to "snub"
(slow down and brake for lock operations), keep accurate cargo
records (pay based on number of miles hauled and coal tonnage
delivered), and care for the mule team.
A boat's "rig” consisted of mules, harness, tow lines, feed box,
night hawker (headlight), stove and bilge pump. While some
captains owned their boats, most rented them from Lehigh Coal
and Navigation Company. The captain hired a mule driver or
used family as crew members.
The "Swampers” (Delaware Canal captains) and "Lehigh
Dutchmen” (Lehigh Canal captains) ran the lengths
Click or scan to see this page online
of both
canals. They loaded coal in Luzerne (1838-1862) or Carbon
County, delivered it to Bristol, and returned to Seigfried
(now Northampton) for their pay.
Locktenders ended their day at 10:00 p.m. When canallers
reached the next lock, they stabled their mules for the night,
made necessary repairs, and rested. At 4:00 a.m., when
locktenders began work, boats once more pressed forward.
Life On The Water
Canal boats provided primitive living conditions. The typical
crew of two slept on deck or in the 8 x 10 foot cabin below.
They prepared meals on a cook stove, enhancing their stored
supplies with fresh food from locktenders or general stores.
They enjoyed foods such as bread, flitch (bacon), coffee, cured
meats, eggs, fresh fruits, vegetables, and canned goods.
Springs along the canal supplied drinking water kept in wooden
barrels on deck.
Often, a canaller's family came along for the ride. Children as
young as seven drove the mules along the towpath. Wives took
over cooking operations and shared steering responsibilities.
During warmer months the canals were their entire world.
40° 32.967′ N, 75° 5.083′ W. Marker is in Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania, in Bucks County. Marker is on Sanctuary Hill Circle, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Upper Black Eddy PA 18972, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 100 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 30, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
