The Canal Era

The Canal Era. . , In November 1829, a canal boat loaded with elected officials arrived in Newport from Mifflintown. The boat was drawn by two white horses. An American flag was flying, a cannon roaring and a band playing! Thus, the canal era officially opened for the village already called Newport. This event, despite floods and national depressions, initiated a ninety-year period of economic expansion. , Construction of the engineering marvel known as the Juniata Division of the Pennsylvania Canal began in 1826 at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers. When the canal reached the headwaters of the Juniata a steam-driven portage railroad lifted packet boats over the Allegheny Divide. They were then lowered onto waters on the western side where the boats continued to Pittsburgh. , The Canal Era accelerated prosperity for Newport, doubling its population in 20 years and creating its first building boom. Hotels, warehouses and planing mills appeared as the community became Perry County's largest town. For decades the canal and local boatyard businesses employed as many as 100 people. At times over 30 packet boats docked in the vicinity. , The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) purchased the state-owned, financially struggling canal in 1857. Even though it was a competitor the railroad kept the water way open. However, the 1889 flood so damaged the Newport portion of the canal that it was never repaired. In 1901 the Canal Company officially ceased operations. In 1905 the PRR constructed a multi-track system over much of the once vibrant water way that had transformed Newport. Remains of the canal can still be found along the Juniata River, but sadly not in Newport.