Drinking Well
The lockkeeper and his family needed a source of water that was clean enough for drinking. Because of the proximity to the canal, the lockkeeper's family probably sold well water, homemade baked goods and produce from their garden to the canal boatmen and their families.
This is a dry laid-up stone well, which means that each stone was positioned to hold the surrounding ones in place. The mortar that you see between the stones was placed there recently in order to preserve the well.
The well pavilion and entry stone work was funded in part by donations from William Bailey, a descendant of John Smith, one of Port Penn's boatbuilding families.
[Inset photos and narrative read]
The well was capped for safety purposes with a concrete slab on October 22, 1928.
The slab was removed from the well in May 2005 so that archaeological excavation could begin.
Tom Baird helped excavate inside the well and removed soil to a depth of 16 feet. At that level, water began to seep into the well and further excavation was halted.
Erected by Muncy Historical Society and Museum of History, PA DCNR, Susquehanna Greenway, et al.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • Settlements & Settlers
Location. 41° 11.547′ N, 76° 48.193′ W. Marker is in Muncy, Pennsylvania, in Lycoming County. Marker is on Pepper Street, on the left when traveling south. Marker and well are at the Muncy Heritage Park and Nature Trail, along Pepper Street north of the park entrance. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Muncy PA 17756, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Welcome to Port Penn (a few steps from this marker); The Lock-tender and His House (within shouting distance of this marker); How a Lock Works (within shouting distance of this marker); Nature's Highway (within shouting distance of this marker); Canal Boat Building (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Canal Boats (about 400 feet away); Fisher Pond (about 600 feet away); Old Walton Cemetery (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Muncy.
Also see . . . Muncy Historical Society PA. (Submitted on July 25, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 171 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 25, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.