Growing up in Bristol, I have many fond memories of the Delaware Canal – fishing, hiking, and even a few times swimming. I’ve walked the entire 60 miles several times – there are so many beautiful sites along the way. I remember seeing numerous couples having their wedding pictures taken at the Gazebo next to the canal. Even now, I enjoy the canal, walking with my boys to the Bristol Amish Market on Saturday mornings – it’s great to share this local treasurer with my children!
In the 1800s the United States was growing and the westward expansion was underway! To assist with travel and moving materials Pennsylvania began constructing a system of canals that stretched from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and to Lake Erie – more than 1,200 miles of navigable waterways were created. The Delaware Canal is a sixty-mile stretch that runs from Bristol to Easton, this waterway was primarily used to transport anthracite coal from Pennsylvania northeastern coal region down to cities along the eastern seaboard (from 1832 – 1931, almost 100 hundred years of use). The entire canal was dug by hand beginning in 1825!
A mule-powered boat load with 80 tons of goods could travel about 30 miles a day on the canal!
The Pennsylvania Canal System is full of history and contributed greatly to the development of the United States. The Delaware Canal was named a National Historic Landmark in 1978 and renamed the “Delaware Canal State Park” in 1989. It is preserved today as America’s most intact and fully-watered tow path canal!
The canal is also a fascinating engineering marvel – the Delaware Canal from Bristol rises in elevation 165 feet above sea-level through a series of 23 lift locks. Lock #11 in New Hope features a working lift lock and a completely restored Locktender’s House, which is now home of the Friends of the Delaware Canal.
On Friday, June 24th the Friends of the Delaware Canal along with the Landmark Towns of Bucks County, and the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor will be hosting a FREE concert as part of the Delaware Canal Festival. The concert featuring the “Cabin Dogs” is being held at the Bristol Lagoon (Jefferson Avenue) beginning at 7:00 PM.
The Cabin Dogs are a Philadelphia based band with an American Folk / Bluegrass sound. There newest album “Electric Cabin” has received much praise and many great reviews! I can’t wait to see them play as we celebrate the wonderful history of our canal.
The celebration will also include a “Decorated Boat Parade” for more information about entering a decorated boat please contact the Friends of the Delaware Canal. Prizes will awards for the best decorated boats.
The Delaware Canal is a truly a local treasurer, not just for Bristol / Levittown but for all of Bucks County. The canal offers beautiful scenery, great nature enjoyment and health family activities by walking / biking along the tow path. The boys and I enjoy seeing the different plant-life and animals during our “tow path walks” their favorite thing to see are the turtles as they sun themselves while sitting on rock and logs. Visit the National Canal Museum (and Crayola Factory) in Easton, Pennsylvania this summer – it’s a great day trip for the kids.
Learn more about the Delaware Canal by visiting the Friends of the Delaware Canal website or the Pennsylvania State Parks website and please help support the canal by donating time or money.
I look forward to seeing all of you at this funtastic family event on June 24th. Follow me on Twitter @chew143 and tweet me up when you get to the Delaware Canal Festival in Bristol!
This article was written by Bruce Chew. Bruce is a paramedic, who blogs about his many interests! Some of hist topics may include safety advice, current events in health care, religion, cooking, fun activities, movie reviews and just about anything else that may pop into my mind. Hope you enjoy.
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