The North Branch Canal was built in 3 segments.
The first segment was begun in 1828 and completed in 1831. It ran 55 miles from Northumberland to Nanticoke Falls.
In 1834, the 17 mile Wyoming Extension began, running past Wilkes Barre to Pittson.
An additional extension of 97 miles from Pittston to the New York State line was completed in 1856.
For this post, I'm going to focus on the section that ran from Northumberland, through Danville, Rupert, Bloomsburg, Berwick, and into Wilkes Barre - the first two sections, not including the Wyoming Extension.
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NORTHUMBERLAND
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Northumberland Canal Basin
0 Miles
Lock #1 1.2 Miles
Lift 11.49 Feet
See more about the Canal in Northumberland, with maps, sketches, and photos, here:
The North Branch Of The Canal, at Northumberland
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DANVILLE
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Danville
Lock #2 14.2 Miles
Lift 11.21 feet
Lock was removed in 1919
Typically the canal follows the path of the river, but at Danville, the canal veered away form the river and veered through the center of town. Daniel Montgomery, the man the town was named after, was president of the Board Of Canal Commissioners, formed in 1826.
The Montgomery family had mills near the path of the canal, he may have influenced that route.
"The path of the North Branch Canal through Danville left the Susquehanna River just before the American Legion Home on Northumberland Street, passed behind the Danville Area Middle School and traveled across Continental Blvd. to the area that is known today as Canal Park between what was Doc’s shoe Store and the Municipal Building, passed the Moose Building, Cole’s Hardware, Giant Food Store near Brady’s Funeral Home and continued behind the row of homes on the north side of E. Market, crossing back to the river around the State Hospital entrance on E. Market Street. The canal opened 1856 and closed 1901."
I read in one article that the reason Danville had two churches for every denomination was because of the canal - there would be one church on each side of the canal.
The Canal Near Danville, 1900
10/1/1831: On Tuesday last, the canal boat, "Danville," with Captain Gaskins, on its first trip traveled with plaster for Jack Cowden of Northumberland. Merchandise for Colt and Donaldson arrived at this place being the first boat via the canal, the whole distance from Philadelphia.
"The use of anthracite coal in the iron furnaces in Montour County and the rolling of the first T Rail at The Montour Iron Works on Oct. 8, 1845, contributed significantly to the success of the North Branch Canal. Thousands of tons of coal were shipped from the Wyoming coalfields to produce the rails, which in turn were shipped to markets by canal boats. As more and more railroads were built, they became the preferred method of transportation. "
Mill Street Canal Bridge, Danville
Ferry Street Canal Bridge
And the North Branch Canal
Today the American Legion Post #40, this brick home was constructed abt. 1818, and the canal later ran in front of the property. George and Abigail Geisinger lived here in 1878. In later years it was a restaurant, and in 1942 it was sold to the American Legion.
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RUPERT
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Rupert
Lock #3 21.7 miles
Lift 10.65 feet
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BLOOMSBURG
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Bloomsburg
Lock #4 23.1 miles
Lift 5.51 feet
August 1906
Fishing Creek Aqueduct
Boat Yard At Espy
Canal running through Espy
River on the left
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STONEY TOWN [Lime Ridge]
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Stoneytown
Lock #5 30.1 Miles
Lift 9.63 feet
Remnants of the tow path and canal bed at Lime Ridge
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BERWICK
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Berwick
Lock #6 36.2 Miles
Lift 8.48 feet
Sketch of the Berwick Lock
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BEECH HAVEN
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Beach Haven
Lock #7 39.3 Miles
Lift 8.92 feet
The Canal Near Shickshinny
Canal Near Shickshinny
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NANTICOKE
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Nanticoke
Guard Lock
Lock #8 55.8 Miles
Lift 1.93 feet
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THE END
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On April 1 1901, shareholders voted to abandon the canal and sell the property.
The D.L.& W. Rail Company purchased the canal in 1904. In a resolution by the Danville Board of Health, the canal was described as "
an open sewer, transversion the entire length of our town, thus menacing the health of the whole community"
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READ MORE
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The West Branch Canal
Where North Met West - The Canal At Northumberland
The Canal Path Trail At Danville
When A Tightrope Walker Came to Danville and the Crowds Collapsed the Canal Bridge
BOATS
-excerpted from Nanticoke - 200 Years (1993)
"During this period of Connecticut predominance, the settlers were of necessity almost self-sufficient due to poor transportation. The only means of transportation in 1836 was a weekly stagecoach which ran through Nanticoke and which by 1845, was increased to three times a week. The key which unlocked the potential wealth of Nanticoke and all of Wyoming Valley was adequate transportation. This arrived in 1830 with the opening Of the North Branch Canal and the completion of the Nanticoke Dam. Constructed of white pine timber cribs filled in with stone, the eight foot dam was completed under the supervision of Mr. Babb. The dam had a chute at one end for rafts and arks to run through. These would be lined six and eight abreast along the east side for miles above the dam waiting their turn to be run through the chute, Freight-laden barges were assembled at Nanticoke for transfer to both up river and down river points.
The North Branch Canal started at Northumberland and extended 72 miles to the mouth of the Lackawanna River and 94.19 miles to the New York state line. It followed the west bank of the Susquehanna to West Nanticoke crossed the river about one mile north of the Nanticoke Dam. It proceeded to Wilkes-Barre, Pittston and Athens. For three miles north from Nanticoke the river was used as a canal.
Boats were towed by horses or mules either two or four in number. A towpath ran along the canal. When the boats crossed the river at Nanticoke, the horses crossed on the bridge. Horses or mules were usually driven by a boy. Sometimes the captain took his family along on the trip. Then, wash tubs and clothes lines were often seen on the deck. Sometimes a boat would be washed and cleaned for a pleasure party trip down the river.
The first boat "Wyoming," built by Hon. John Koons at Shickshinny, was launched and towed to Nanticoke where she was loaded with ten tons of coal, a quantity of flour, and other articles; her destination was Philadelphia. The "Wyoming" passed through the Nanticoke chute and down the river to Northumberland where she entered the Susquehanna division of the canal and then by way of the Union and Schuylkill canals to Philadelphia. The first venture by river and canal was frozen up on the return trip and its cargo of 15 tons of dry goods was carried to Wilkes-Barre on sleds.
In 1831, the "Luzerne" ran round trips from Nanticoke to Philadelphia. By stagecoach or canal packet, it took two days to reach Philadelphia or New York.
Peter Miller of Dorrance Corners owned boats which plied the canal and the river from Nanticoke to Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Baltimore and New York. Gilbert Miller was the mule driver on the canal, making an average of nine round trips a year between Nanticoke and New York. The trip each way took thirty days. Because of the falls and rapids, navigation was difficult and dangerous in running rafts, arks, and Durham boats; therefore skilled river pilots were needed.
Water transportation was important in marketing coal in the industry's early days. Nanticoke was a terminal point for the canal which was used extensively for coal shipments to larger cities north and south of the city. In 1840, Co. Lee's mines shipped 20,000 tons of coal a year on the canal. From 1830 to 1900, the economy was entirely dependent upon it's canal system.
Canal boats were used to convey coal to the large cities. Al Grett of Nanticoke was one of the first boatmen from 1855 until 1890. Each boat carried at least 15 tons. Shippers paid the boatmen $5 per ton free of toil and towage. Besides, the boatman was given a bonus of $10 and his winter coal. The last two boats were shipped from Nanticoke on December 9, 1900 to Bloomsburg. Captain Cooper, father of Daniel Cooper, a former superintendent of the Nanticoke Light Company, was in charge. During the 70 year span from 1830 to 1900, the canal system played a major role in the life of Nanticoke. Then the canal water was drained into the river. Left abandoned were 178 canal boats, 2 steam tugs, 10 large scows, and 2 dredges."
Hollenback Breaker on the North Branch Canal at Wilkes-Barre. c 1860s
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