Millerstown - The Canal Era

Millerstown - The Canal Era. Perry County Bicentennial. , Millerstown, founded in 1790 as the first borough in Perry County, has long served as a transportation hub. From the time of settlement river arks and flatboats navigated the Juniata River. As early as 1822 a stage road, called a turnpike, ran north to south through the town linking Clarks Ferry with Lewistown. Another road, east to west, enabled wagons to deliver the abundant harvests of Pfoutz and Raccoon Valleys to markets. In April 1827 the Pennsylvania Legislature voted funding to extend the eastern section of the Main Line Canal from Clarks Ferry to Lewistown adding another mode of transportation for the town., This entire line entered service November 1829 when a celebratory canal boat loaded with elected officials journeyed via canal to Newport. In 1830, the first boat built west of Harrisburg, the "Pennsylvania," was launched in a gala ceremony at Millerstown on July 4th., With the coming of the canal, markets expanded for local produce and commodities. Cheaper, and heavier goods could be obtained by Millerstown businesses. Coal, important to the local iron furnace and tannery, traveled from the anthracite fields by canal boat. A boat dock, located approximately two blocks north of the square, provided residents easy access to grocery boats where buying and selling of grain, hay, chickens, eggs and butter occurred. With both a canal and a turnpike, numerous hotels welcomed visitors for a night's rest., Rope Ferry - An Engineering Marvel. , About two miles below Millerstown geographically dictated that canal boats had to cross from one side of the river to the other. They were pulled by an ingenious engineer device, an endless rope-tow, which hooked to the boats. To have enough water for the boats, the river was dammed at North's Island, creating an eight foot slack-water pool. After crossing the river in this pool west-bound boats continued north through Millerstown then westward to Lewistown. Ultimately, at Hollidaysburg, they were taken over the mountain on a railway lift and put back into the water for the final leg to Pittsburgh., In 1849 the Pennsylvania Railroad reached Millerstown and substantially eroded canal transportation. by the end of the 19th century the canal era finally closed. In the 1960s, a four-lane highway, built directly on top of the canal, bypassed Millerstown. Remnants of the canal still can be seen just south of Millerstown along with the remains of the stone abutments of an aqueduct in the Borough's river park.