The Junction of four Canal Branches

The Junction of four Canal Branches. . , The first Clarks Ferry Bridge was part of the Main Line Pennsylvania Canal built in 1828. Mules walked on a cantilevered walkway outside the structure and towed canal boats across the river. A dam below the bridge created a calm surface for those boats. The Eastern Division Canal ended at the western end of the Clarks Ferry Bridge, here on Duncan's Island., At this location, the Susquehanna Division Canal began and continued along the western side of the Susquehanna River to Northumberland. Further up at the north end of Duncan's Island by Amity Hall, the Juniata Division originated and crossed the Juniata River by an aqueduct, continuing west to Hollidaysburg., Across the Susquehanna River from here on the eastern edge of the Clarks Ferry Bridge, the Wiconisco Branch followed the eastern shore of the Susquehanna through Halifax and on to the Wiconisco Creek at Millersburg., Within this 3 mile stretch of the canal system, there were four branches. The Canal Foreman was headquartered at Clarks Ferry and was responsible for operations on the Juniata, Susquehanna and Wiconisco Divisions of the Canal., [Captions:] , Duncan's Island outlet basin, locks, and lock keeper's house, circa 1888. The locks were added to the outlet basin in 1838 to alleviate a water flow problem. With the completion of this work, the major portion of the Canal Complex had reached its final form., In 1857, the Duncan's Island outlet basin, the towing path bridge, and the dam were sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad. An engineering blueprint of the period details the locations the locations of the bridge, dam canal outlet, lock and pier, as well as a road, lock house, tavern, stable, and several outbuildings (PBCCR n.d.)., The bridge continued in use until the spring of 1859 when it was blown down by a heavy storm., Photo courtesy of Dauphin County Historical Society. , Map of Duncan's Island showing canal and bridge routes also shows Hulings Island. Channels that once formed these islands have silted and been filled in., Clark's Ferry Bridge, about 1890, looking from Duncan's Island east toward Peter's Mountain. On the towpath on the down-stream side of the bridge, a horse team can be seen towing a boat out of the Duncan's Island canal entrance in the foreground., Photo - Dames A. O'Boyle. , Canal boat in Benvenue lock at Duncan's Island, circa 1886. The lock is full and the boat is ready to proceed northward. The boat barely clears the bridge above the lock., Photo - Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers. , Map exhibiting the connection of the Wiconisco Canal with the Pennsylvania Canal at Clarks Ferry Special thank you to the Duncannon American Legion Post 340, American Legion Post 340 Auxiliary, Duncannon VFW Post 255, local businesses and individuals for helping to fund this project and to Reeser's Gun Shop and Gunsmithing for use of the land.