The summer of 2018 will be remembered for its seemingly unrelenting heat and its abundant rainfall that came down in torrents or tropical showers. The rain both helped and hurt the Canal.
The Fry’s Run Aqueduct after the August 11 flash flood. The west wall was gone and the Lehigh River poured out of the side of the remaining structure.
The water level in the southern 24-miles of the Canal did not drop, as it usually does in the summer, because the frequent rains kept the level of the Delaware River high enough to feed the Canal through the New Hope inlet located behind the former Odette’s restaurant. The fish, wildlife, and visitors are happy to have a watered Canal from Lock 8 in New Hope to the Lagoon in Historic Bristol Borough.
In the northern end of the Canal, the rain hasn’t been so kind. On Saturday, August 11, a deluge (almost 3 inches over a short period of time) fell in the Williams Township area. Flash flooding resulted. Fry’s Run dramatically overflowed its banks and sent a wall of water into the Fry’s Run, aka Kleinhans, Aqueduct. The raging water completely blew off the aqueduct wall on the west side. The temporary bypass, which had been carrying the Canal’s water past the already structurally unsound aqueduct, was washed away. One of the pipes was found all the way south in Riegelsville.
To prevent further damage, the Delaware Canal State Park staff diverted the water out of the Canal at the Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area between Raubsville and Riegelsville until repairs could be made. The pump at Durham Lock was turned on to keep some water in the Canal south of that location.
Much to the Park’s credit, the temporary bypass was put back in place very quickly, and Lehigh River water was again flowing south through the aqueduct site by August 23. The plan to replace the Fry’s Run Aqueduct was in the final design phase when the flash flood occurred. Now the plans are being revised to account for the additional damage.
Despite the rain, significant progress is being made on the two major construction projects on the Canal. The replacement of the Phillips’ Mill Bridge, north of New Hope proper, is moving along well, with the forms for the west abutment completed and the foundation for the east abutment poured. There is still hope that this project will be completed this winter ahead of schedule.
The framework for the west abutment of the new Phillips’ Mill Bridge is ready for the concrete truck to arrive.
The contractors are finally preparing to drill the passageway through the Conrail embankment obstruction south of Morrisville. Securing access, approvals and clearances has taken a very long time, but, when the project is completed in 2019, one of the most hazardous detours along the Canal will be history.
Ever since Hurricane Sandy, trees have been falling in astonishing numbers along the entire length of the Canal. The recent rainstorms, sometimes accompanied by high winds, have done nothing to make the situation better. The Park’s policy is to clear the towpath first and then return to clear the remains of the almost always huge trees from the waterway. Tree removal has grown to be a job that cannot be accomplished on a timely basis by the current number of Park maintenance workers. Offers of assistance from tree services would be most welcome. Volunteers can clear limbs, etc., but are not permitted to use chain saws, unless they have been formally trained.
The repair of the sinkholes near the Mountainside Inn and north of Lumberville has been delayed because Bi-State Construction was called away from canal projects by an emergency sewer system repair in Easton. In the meantime, a few other sinkholes have been discovered. All are awaiting “flexible flow concrete” repairs.
The plans to install a submersible pump at Bowman’s Hill to supply water to the southern end of the Canal during summer dry spells are still moving along – slowly. An alternative pumping plan and location have emerged as a possibility. They are being investigated because the solution would be less expensive and could be put into operation more quickly.
Drill rig in place on the south side of the Conrail embankment preparing to tunnel through. Photo shows the site looking down from the top of the embankment.
The Tyburn Road detour trail in Falls Township is still awaiting permission to begin construction.
There is good news on the Delaware Canal State Park staffing front. A new full-time Maintenance Repairperson 2 is now at work to be followed by a full-time Equipment Operator in September.
All this persistence and care will pay off, and invigorating, crisp autumn days are bound to move things right along.
The Delaware Canal has doghouses, but not a single dog has ever lived in them. (Wasps and spiders are a whole different matter.)
Doghouse Rescue Step #1: Paint the Roof Boards. L-R: Elizabeth Bennett, Roger Clark, Rich Einstein.
Originally, the twenty-three lift locks on the Delaware Canal were all one-boat-wide structures with miter gates at either end. The miter gates were opened and closed by mechanisms protected by small structures called “doghouses,” located on the side wall adjacent to each gate. A rack bar extending from the center edge of each gate to the doghouse was moved in and out by gears connected to a crank. By turning the crank, the locktender could open and close the gates.
Each lock had four individual miter gates and four doghouses. Some of the doghouses disappeared when several locks were converted to two-boat-wide locks in the 1850’s. To achieve better efficiency, the northern miter gates were replaced with drop gates, and wicket shanties took the place of doghouses.
More doghouses were lost when the Canal closed commercially. Without the need to accommodate boats locking through, bulk heads took the place of miter gates; other gates were simply removed.
Ed Leydon and Josh Gradwohl ponder the deteriorated doghouse at Lock 14 in Point Pleasant.
Today the only doghouses that remain on the Delaware Canal are at locks that still have two sets of miter gates. There aren’t many, and most of those were in a sad state.
To the rescue came a team of the Friends’ Canal Action Team volunteers ready to replace roofs, sand and paint, and sometimes completely rebuild our pieces of canal history. The plan of action was to tackle the doghouses at four locks. The two relatively new doghouses at Lock 11 in New Hope only needed a minor roof board repair and painting. The four doghouses at Lock 12 in Lumberville had their roofs replaced and painted. Lock 13 in Point Pleasant required the same work, and then came nearby Lock 14. Oddly, the roofs on two of those doghouses were in good shape and only needed painting, even though they stood on the shady berm bank. The two doghouses on the towpath side were badly deteriorated requiring lead carpenter Josh Gradwohl to fabricate all new pieces at home. After one more carpentry and painting session, CAT’s work was done. Fourteen doghouses stand ready to tell their stories for years to come. The Friends’ Canal Improvement Fund supplied the $700 needed for materials, and the CAT members provided all the labor and expertise.
Back in the 1980’s, Bill Farkas was cajoled into attending a Friends of the Delaware Canal meeting by his friend and fellow Yardley Commons resident Zabel Davis. Living close by the Canal, he had taken walks and bicycle rides on it. With his introduction to the Friends, he now had a way to help it, and he has been ever since.
Through the years, Bill has participated in scores of activities – clean-ups, walks, programs, fundraisers, and, most importantly, as a member of the Friends’ Board of Directors. Bill’s expertise as a retired accountant for US Steel made him the natural choice for Board Treasurer, a position that he held with dedication and precision for seven years.
Bill Farkas at Faces & Places in 2010 with Susan Burnham, who portrayed the writer Dorothy Parker.
All good Boards are deeply concerned with the fulfillment of their mission, so in the mid-1990’s, the Friends’ Board began to plan for the establishment of an Endowment Fund. Its purpose would be to provide a sustainable and reliable source of additional income to support the activities of the Friends in perpetuity. Bill Farkas was one of its strongest proponents. The Endowment Fund (now the Legacy Fund) was officially established in 1998 with a $25,000 bequest from Anna Billa of Point Pleasant. Bill created a very successful investment strategy and has been implementing it and, more recently, providing guidance since the Fund’s inception. In addition, Bill has generously contributed on a regular basis, particularly when challenge opportunities were offered.
This recounting of Bill’s longtime commitment leads us to his most recent momentous contribution. Bill has long envisioned contributing his house in Washington Crossing, PA to the Friends. This May he decided that the time had come to act. He donated his rancher, which is situated on a lovely canal-side lot, to the Friends. The attractive home was put on the market and quickly sold to a couple with two young children. The proceeds from the sale are now invested within the guidelines of the Legacy Fund – just as Bill had envisioned.
Bill Farkas’ legacy of commitment to the Delaware Canal and the Friends is a shining inspiration. We are so very grateful! His greatest hope is that his contributions will motivate others to demonstrate their commitment to an ever better future for the Canal and its surroundings.
To learn more about the Friends of the Delaware Canal Legacy Fund, visit www.fodc.org or call 215-862-2021.
“I heartily support the efforts of the Friends because in today’s hectic world, I appreciate the Canal’s serenity and beauty and find it a wonderful place to reconnect with our past.” –
Sprucing up restored camelback bridges is next on the Canal Action Team’s to-do list. First up this fall will the Thompson-Neely Camelback Bridge in the northern section of Washington Crossing Historic Park.
If you can lend a hand with applying barn red stain to the Canal’s iconic structures, please contact us at 215-862-2021 or friends@fodc.org. We’ll put you on the CAT contact list, and let you know via e-mail when the workdays will occur.
Spotted Lantern Fly has been identified in Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven) trees adjacent to the parking lot at Virginia Forrest Recreation Area north of Centre Bridge. If you are visiting the
An adult Spotted Lanternfly is approximately 1″ long and 1/2″ wide. It isn’t good at flying, but is an excellent jumper.
area, be on the watch for the adults and their egg masses. Feel free to go ahead and squish the adults and destroy their egg masses. When you leave, please make sure that none are hitchhiking home with you.
The Spotted Lanternfly was first encountered in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014, and now is here. It’s a distinctive-looking leaf hopper native to China, India and Vietnam. In this country, the invasive insect has the potential to greatly impact the viticulture (grape), tree fruit, plant nursery, and timber industries.
Autumn is the time to be particularly watchful for Spotted Lantern Fly. As has been found at the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area, the adults prefer Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), another introduced invasive species, as their primary food source, mating, and egg-laying location. The Spotted Lantern Fly isn’t very fussy, though. It will lay 30 to 50 eggs covered in a brown, mud-like substance on any smooth surface – trees, stones, cars, yard furniture, or any item stored outside. Egg laying begins in late September and continues through late November and early December. The egg masses
Spotted Lanternfly egg masses.
pose the greatest risk for accidental transport of Spotted Lantern Fly to new areas.
The Spotted Lanternfly is a “Bad Bug.” Please be on the lookout and do what you must to stop its spread, especially if you like apples, peaches, grapes/wine, and hardwoods. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture encourages the public to report sightings by e-mailing badbug@pa.gov or calling 1-888-422-3359. For more information on the Spotted Lantern Fly, please visit the PA Dept of Agriculture SLF website here: https://bit.ly/2MAVdGF
For more information on the Spotted Lantern Fly, please visit the PA Dept of Agriculture SLF website here: https://bit.ly/2MAVdGF
New Hope Borough Council has contributed a piece of the Canal’s more recent history to the Friends. We are so grateful to have received the metal silhouette sculpture, entitled “The Good Life,” that once graced the entry gate to The Towpath House, located by the Canal on Mechanic Street in New Hope. Thank you, New Hope Borough, for allowing us to display “The Good Life” in the Locktender’s House where the public can enjoy it in the context of Lock 11 on the Delaware Canal.
The sculpture has very special significance because it was the inspiration for the Friends of the Delaware Canal logo. Many of the initial gatherings of the Friends in the early 1980’s were dinner meetings held at the Towpath House. Since nearly every canal organization uses a silhouette as its logo, the Friends’ leaders thought that it would be a good idea to do likewise. How the decision was made to use “The Good Life” as a model remains a mystery, but it was a good one since the design is light-hearted, draws attention, and gets many compliments.
As the plans to redevelop The Towpath House property have progressed, the sculpture was removed from the gate of the restaurant and sold to an individual. That individual generously donated it to New Hope Borough, and subsequently New Hope Borough Council voted to allow it to be displayed at the Locktender’s House. The six–foot-long cutout, mounted in a wooden stand, sits by the lock model in the parlor.
“The Good Life” is an appealing, ever so appropriate addition to the offerings at the Locktender’s House, and we are very pleased that our visitors will be able to enjoy it thanks to the generosity of New Hope Borough.
If you are planning to use Amazon for holiday shopping this year, please remember that the Friends of the Delaware Canal is eligible to receive contributions from the AmazonSmile Foundation. Designate the Friends when you make a purchase from Amazon, and the Friends will receive a contribution.
Here’s how it works. Visit AmazonSmile on the internet, and choose Friends of the Delaware Canal as your charitable organization. For eligible purchases, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5 percent of the purchase price to the Friends. There is no cost to you. You’ll find the exact same low prices, choices, and convenience as Amazon.com. It’s a quick and easy way to spread holiday cheer, not only to the people on your gift list, but to the Canal, too.
No one would dispute that the Delaware Canal can be “challenging”, and, for the most part, 2018 has been a good illustration.
The recently widened bypass trough is conveying more water south through the Tinicum Aqueduct.
Impressive headway is being made on the complicated Phillips’ Mill Bridge replacement project, and, with luck, may be finished ahead of schedule this winter.
The bypass trough that carries Lehigh River water past the bank break by the Tinicum Aqueduct was recently widened and now carries a much greater volume of water to Point Pleasant. Sinkholes near the Mountainside Inn and north of Lumberville prevent the State Park from allowing water to flow farther south. The permanent repair of the bank break is being designed by engineering consultants. DCNR has decided that the aqueduct itself will be repaired rather than replaced at this time.
The “flexible flow concrete” repair technique that the Park has been using on canal prism sinkholes is working well. Unfortunately, new sinkholes are being discovered faster than the contractor has able to take care of them.
The Kleinhans Aqueduct replacement is in the final design stage and should be put out for bids this fall with construction anticipated to begin in the winter/spring, depending upon conditions.
Two stone wall repairs have been finished – the river wall north of the Virginia Forrest Recreation Area and the towpath bank wall in Erwinna.
This season’s crazy storms did a number on the Canal. Raging inflowing streams deposited branches, logs, and debris at the mouth of Windy Bush Creek in New Hope and at the Bowman’s Hill waste gate. A stationary downpour caused the Canal to overtop its banks at one location in Yardley Borough. Localized flooding with property damage was a consequence of both. Clean-up is ongoing, engineering solutions devised, and improved response instituted.
After being repaired and restarted late this spring, the Centre Bridge pump began shutting off nearly every evening during the heat wave. Investigation as to the cause is underway with fluctuating electrical power and the limitations of the safeguard device likely culprits.
The installation of a submersible pump at Bowman’s Hill to supply water to the southern end of the Canal during summer dry spells is moving along at a snail’s pace, primarily because of State purchasing restrictions.
The grass and weeds have grown sky high along the Canal, particularly in the north sections. The primary mower has been out of commission because vandals dumped dirt into its gas tank. Expecting water to be the culprit, not dirt, the Park maintenance staff, followed by the John Deere dealer, tried to dry out the tank several time. And then the dirt was discovered. The mower was back in service only to develop two different problems related to its thermostat, but it’s back in action now working its way south.
The new Lower Limeport Bridge, completed last year, suffered significant damage when one or more large vehicle tried to cross it and hit the sides. Wood rails were ripped from their bolts, guide rails bashed, and there are scrape marks all along the length of the bridge. No one has come forward to confess to the damage.
The Conrail embankment project continues to ¼ inch along. Permitting and permissions have taken an unimaginable length of time. The access, much simpler than originally envisioned, is in and shoring of the south side of the embankment is due to start. This project will not be completed as scheduled in the fall.
The construction of a trail around the Tyburn Road encroachment, an easy project, is languishing in planning and permitting. When that is done, the Park staff will quickly construct the pathway.
Depressions have developed over the culvert that carries the Cuttalossa Creek under the Canal. Sections of the culvert pipe have shifted. Holes will be drilled from the inside and the voids will be pressure grouted.
On top of all this, the already lean Delaware Canal State Park staff complement is four full-time employees short. Missing are two Maintenance Repair persons and one Equipment Operator, which are vital to the upkeep of the Canal; and one Environmental Education Specialist. These positions have been open, for the most part, more than a year. The State’s drawn-out hiring processes ( although, improvements have been initiated), hiring freezes, and the policy of having just one statewide pay scale, in spite of the fact that the cost of living varies greatly across the Commonwealth, all work to keep the Delaware Canal State Park in a constant state of need. These are issues to work on legislatively.
So, with persistence things will improve. They have for the Canal’s 191-year existence.
Come by the Locktender’s House at Lock 11 in New Hope and meet our new Locktender’s House guide. Susan Schneider answered our call for someone to staff our mini historic house museum on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. She’s been a member of the Friends for years, lives along the Canal, and knows more than a thing or two about the waterway and towpath. Best of all, she loves meeting people and she knits beautifully, a perfect pastime for sitting on the House porch. Stop by to see her. She’ll be in New Hope on weekends until the end of October. Thanks, too, to Donald Macfarlan, a retired New Hope Mule Barge Ride captain and musician, for filling in when Susan can’t be there.
Eighteen new interpretive sign panels, which tell the Delaware Canal’s basic story, are in place along the length of the Canal. They’re more colorful, more accurate, and feature a better illustration of lock locations/elevations.
Susan and Jeff Witte wrestle with a worn-out sign.
Nine Canal Action Team (known as CAT) volunteers met in New Hope on one of the rare Saturdays in May when it wasn’t raining, reviewed the process of removing the worn-out panels and installing the new, divided into two teams, and headed north and south. As you can tell from the photograph, coaxing old panels from their bases isn’t the easiest of jobs, but CAT accomplished the mission in a full morning. Many thanks!!
The project of improving and replacing the basic wayside signs came together last October when thirteen guests at the Faces and Places fundraiser contributed the funds needed to design and fabricate the new signs. Much effort went to revising text and designing new graphics; followed by a significant period of review, revision, and approval by DCNR and partners.
Now the new signs are in place and their design sets a standard for the other interpretive sign projects that the Friends have underway – a new 3-panel kiosk at Groundhog Lock in Raubsville, nine improved replacement panels in Historic Bristol Borough, and a new wayside sign in Smithtown.
Take a look at the signs when you’re passing by on the towpath, and CAT can always use some more volunteers.
CAT volunteers trained and ready to tackle sign panel replacement.
Gene Kancianic makes final adjustments to the KayaArm kayak stabilizer.
The Friends have purchased a kayak stabilizing device that has been installed on the wooden dock at Locks 22/23 aka Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area in Raubville. The KayaArm was invented and is manufactured in Canada for the purpose of making getting in and out of a kayak at a dock safe and easy. Anyone who has participated in our kayaking adventures at this location knows that a stabilizer would be a good thing.
CAT volunteers Pete Rosswaag and Gene Kancianic installed the KayaArm in July, and we’ll be trying it out during our Paddling the Canal sessions on August 18. It’s a relatively simple device with a cradle and arm that can be adjusted for varying water levels. If it works as advertised, the Friends will consider buying one or two more for other dock locations.
Meet in the parking lot of the Bristol Amish Market, 498 Green Lane, Bristol, PA 19007
We’re coming for you, Berm Bank Trash!
We’ll be in kayaks for In-Water Clean-Up Day, unlike this photo taken in 2011 when volunteers went right into the water.
On what we hope will be a cool-ish Sunday morning, the Delaware Canal State Park educators will have their fleet of 12 kayaks at the Bristol Amish Market ready to go. Can you be one of the volunteers who will paddle south from Green Lane and extract trash from the towpath and berm banks along the way? Or be an on-land assistant who can unburden the kayak crews of their accumulations?
We’ll need about 12 hearty kayakers and 6 on-land helpers. The Park will provide paddles and PFD’s, in addition to the kayaks. The Friends will supply the trash bags and refreshments. Volunteers are asked to bring their own gloves and come dressed to tackle wet work.
The trash and debris that lies just out of reach along the Canal is really frustrating. This clean-up effort should be a fun and effective way to leap from being frustrated to being finished.
If you can help, please email friends@fodc.org or call 215-862-2021. It’s proven that a clean Canal stays cleaner.
If the water level is low in Bristol in early August, we’ll switch our efforts to the Forks of the Delaware in Easton. If this change is necessary, we’ll put out the word on www.fodc.org.
Paddling the Canal II
Saturday, August 18
10 A.M. – NOON or 1-3 P.M.
Meet in the upper parking area of the Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area aka Locks 22/23, 198 Canal Road, Easton, PA 18042. The parking area is accessed from PA Route 611 and is located between Riegelsville and Raubsville.
This will be the second of four of our ever-popular paddling adventures. We’re pleased to be able to offer an additional date this year in cooperation with the very busy Delaware Canal State Park education staff.
Taking off from the dock at Locks 22/23.
You don’t even have to own a boat to see the Delaware Canal from the vantage of the water. State Park Educator Katie Martens has equipped kayaks ready to be loaned for these morning and afternoon sessions of paddling. They’re perfect opportunities to try out the sport of kayaking.
Our round-trip journey will begin at Locks 22/23. The two locks were combined in the 1800’s, and now the deep, stone structure is the first lock south of Easton, where the rush of Lehigh River water enters the Delaware Canal. The lively southward current requires kayakers and canoeists to put a bit more oomph into their paddling as they head north, but the trip back will be a breeze. The scenery along the way is lovely, especially at St. Paul’s Church in Raubsville; and there are great tales to tell about the lost town of Uhlersville, the remains of the hydroelectric plant that powered the Easton-to-Doylestown trolley line, and “Ripple Rock.”
You may bring your own kayak or canoe and personal flotation device or your may borrow one of the equipped kayaks that the Park staff will have on hand. For each session, there are 16 seats available in 12 single kayaks and 2 tandems.
Registration is required for this activity. Please do so early. You many sign up by contacting 215-862-2021 or friends@fodc.org. They are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are planning to use Park equipment, a $10 per person donation is requested on the day of the event.
Paddle the summer away!
A Multi-Faceted Afternoon in Historic Bristol Borough
Saturday, August 18, 3 P.M.
Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library
680 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, PA 19007
Historic Bristol Borough is a diamond with many facets. Join us as we discover some of the best.
Our afternoon will begin at the Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library, beautifully situated along the Delaware River. Two treats are in store there. “Paradise Ditch,” a short 1950’s era film about the Delaware Cana and surrounding area, will be projected. It’s a real period piece including shots of mule-drawn boats, locktenders, and skinny dipping whippersnappers taken during the preceding 25 years.
Rich history, revitalization, community spirit and river views can all be experienced in Bristol Borough. This is a view from the Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library garden to the Delaware River.
Also on view will be an exceptional special exhibit, “Made in America: The Grundy Mill and the Business of Spinning Wool. It features the iconic woolen mill owned by Bristol Borough’s foremost citizen and philanthropist Joseph R. Grundy. The daily lives of mill workers and the wool manufacturing process are featured, and the perspectives of industrialists and the political environment of the time are interwoven. It’s a fascinating story with compelling photographs and maps.
Outside, we’ll take in the Library’s lovely rooftop patio garden and walk along the Delaware River using the new Bristol History Trail. There are benches for river and boat watching and a series of interpretive signs explaining the area.
After our Library visit, you are invited to do the Bristol Stroll on your own. (Bristol Stomping is allowed, too.) The Stroll route will lead you down Radcliffe Street and into the center of town. Along the way, you will see exceptional colonial and Victorian buildings, the famous Wharf, the busy new pier and dock, and the monuments in Riverfront Park. The town’s many restaurants and shops along Radcliffe and Mill Streets await your visit.
There is always something good happening in Historic Bristol Borough.
Skirting Scudder Falls – A Late Summer Saunter
Sunday, August 26, 4 P.M.
Meet in the parking lot at the intersection of Taylorsville Road and Mt. Eyre Road, Yardley, PA 19067
A new I-95 bridge is being built across the Delaware River at Scudder Falls. The gargantuan project started a year ago and won’t be complete until 2021. The new bridge structure will span both the Delaware Canal in Pennsylvania and the Delaware and Raritan Canal in New Jersey and includes a pedestrian/bike way with connections to both canal towpaths.
On our Late Summer Saunter along the towpath we’ll get a firsthand view of the current state of the project as well as see two
An artist’s rendering of the new Scudder Falls Bridge, to be completed in 2021. Graphic courtesy of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.
canal locks. First up on our 2.4-mile roundtrip walk will be the Dyer’s Creek waste gate and overflow south of Mt. Eyre Road. Here we’ll learn about the vital functions of these structures; then on to Lock 7 aka Borden’s Lock. The stone walls of Lock 7 were meticulously restored by the Friends more than a decade ago. The workmanship is well worth admiring as well as the spirit and conviction of the mason who re-laid each stone. Lock 7 is also home to the Delaware Canal State Park Maintenance Area, which has some interesting stories all of its own.
The existing Scudder Falls Bridge and the sprawling new bridge construction site come into view as we cross Woodside Road. Take this opportunity to see the project up close and find out what’s to come, including a new Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission headquarters, towpath trail connections, and comfort facilities in the 1799 House.
Next up is Lock 6 aka Lear’s Lock, which is our turnaround point. Hear some of the colorful tales told by Chester Lear, the son of Lock 6’s last locktender. On our way back to Mt. Eyre Road, we’ll check out the sights that we may have missed on the way south.
Take this opportunity to be in the know.
Paddling the Canal III
Sunday, September 9
10 A.M. – NOON or 1-3 P.M.
Meet at Tinicum Park, 963 River Road, Upper Black Eddy, PA 18972.
When entering the Park, follow the roadway back to the parking area closest to the Canal.
Some sun, some shade. You can find what you like while paddling along the Canal.
As the fall sets in, we’ll be paddling on the Canal with the advantage of having two historic villages along the route. To the south will be Erwinna, a bustling town while the Canal was in commercial operation. It was home to the Canal Superintendent and boasted all the necessary canal-related businesses, including a boat building yard. Uhlerstown and Lock 18 will be our northern turnaround point. There we can paddle under the only public covered bridge over the Canal and view the buildings that once served the canal trade and now have been lovingly preserved and converted for residential use. Uhlerstown is reputed to be the “best preserved Canal hamlet in America.”
Delaware Canal State Park educator Katie Martens will be leading both the morning and afternoon sessions and will have fully equipped kayaks available to borrow. You may reserve a Park kayak or bring your own canoe or kayak and personal flotation device.
Registration is required. The details are provided in the Paddling the Canal II – August 18 notice. The Park kayaks are claimed quickly, so call or e-mail as soon as you can, particularly if you’re planning to paddle with family or friends.
See the Canal’s historic villages from the water.
Paddling the Canal IV
Sunday, October 21
10 A.M. – NOON or 1-3 P.M.
Meet at the Black Rock Road Picnic Area at the intersection of the Canal and Black Rock Road in Yardley.
Come on in!
Autumn colors will surround us as we paddle south from Black Rock Road through the widest of the Canal’s widewaters. Trees tower overhead where mule-drawn canal boats pulled over to the side to get out of the way of “traffic,“ much like trucks pull over on highway shoulders today.
The Canal widewaters have evolved into abundant habitats where turtles, great blue herons, ducks, frogs, fish and all sorts of other critters can be spotted. In this final paddling adventure before colder weather sets in, we should see an assortment of wildlife, perhaps even the beaver that we saw this spring.
After instructing everyone on kayaking safety and technique, State Park Educator Katie Martens will lead the fleet south both in the morning and afternoon. She will have fully equipped kayaks available to borrow. You may reserve a Park kayak or you’re very welcome to bring your own canoe or kayak and personal flotation device.
Registration is required. The details are provided in the Paddling the Canal II – August 18 notice. Please call or e-mail early, so that you don’t end up on the waiting list. The Park kayak are much in demand.
This hearty and still smiling group walked all 58.9 miles of the Canal last year.
Before the celebration of last year’s 30th Anniversary, there was a thought to change our Canal Walk around a bit in 2018, perhaps dividing the 58.9 mile trek into eight shorter sections rather the five traditional 12-mile-or-so legs. In fact, we even included a question in Canal News. When only one person responded that he thought that shorter walks would be a good idea and lots of people walked the entire 30th anniversary walk, the thought flew out the window.
So, we will be doing Canal Walk 2018 in the way it’s always been done – five walks conducted over five successive Saturdays. This year we’ll be starting in Riverfront Park in Historic Bristol Borough and heading north to Easton.
It’s time to start getting in shape and find the perfect pair of walking shoes. The full Canal Walk 2018 itinerary will appear in the Fall issue of Canal News and on-line at www.fodc.org. Will this be your year to take on the challenge and enjoy the sights and camaraderie?
Faces and Places – Save the Date…October 14
You are cordially invited to join the Friends of the Delaware Canal for our ninth annual signature event – Faces & Places – A Celebration of the Arts and History along the Delaware Canal.
The river valley and rolling hills of northern Bucks County are our destination this year as we explore Riegelsville and Durham. On our chauffeured tour will be:
The stately Robert A. Shimer House on Riegelsville’s Mansion Row. A showpiece of the town’s industrial wealth, the stone mansion was built in 1898 with great style. Today it reflects its Edwardian heritage and the many interests of it current owner, who proudly serves as the local constable.
The “Roebling Bridge,” one of the most graceful structures spanning the Delaware River. A walk from Riegelsville, PA to Riegelsville, NJ offers memorable views, refreshing breezes, and a bit of Brooklyn Bridge aura.
Durham, a now quiet village where ore in the hills led prominent colonial investors to erect a nation-building iron furnace. The boats that carried George Washington’s troops were invented here, and a replica will be on view. A walk through the town’s gristmill will reveal the secrets of its inner workings, and the nearby historic houses beg to be strolled by.
A ride through the countryside down to the river with picture-perfect farms, churches, pristine Cook’s Creek, and lovely vistas along the way.
Ending the day by the Delaware River, we’ll arrive at the historic Riegelsville Inn where drinks, hors d’oeuvres and dinner will be waiting in the dining room and out on the canalside patio.
The crowd lined the towpath waiting for the racing ducks to drop into the Canal.
Yellow rubber duckies connected the Friends to more than a thousand people this spring and summer. Smiles, creativity, and awareness blossomed. In the spirit of past Canal Festivals, the Friends sponsored “The Great Yardley Duck Race” on June 9 and had duck decorating booths at two First Fridays in Historic Bristol Borough and at the Tinicum Arts Festival. A good time was had by all in support of the Friends’ efforts to improve the Canal.
At work at the Tinicum Arts Festival.
Many thanks to our volunteer “duck handlers “ – Mark Baldwin, Bob Behney, Robin Butrey, Pam Can, Bart Davidoff, Richard Emmons, Susan Firestone, Margie and Rick Mingione, Susan and Lily Schneider, Larry Reinfeld, Pete Rosswaag, and Jerry Taylor. And we very much appreciate the help of the Bristol Borough Business Association, Tinicum Civic Association, Yardley Farmers Market, Yardley General and Yardley Borough in hosting our ducky activities.
All finished at First Friday in Historic Bristol Borough.
On May 30, the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives passed Resolution 901 recognizing the 125th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s state forest and state park systems.
The PA Parks and Forests Foundation kicked off the 125th Anniversary with a gathering at the newly operational gristmill in Washington Crossing Historic Park. From left to right; Representative Helen Tai, Washington Crossing Park Manager George Calaba, Foundation President Marci Mowery, Representative Perry Warren, and DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.
Did you know —-
A bill signed in 1893 formed the Pennsylvania Forestry Commission, tasked with the control of forest fires and to establish a forest reserve system. The system began with the purchase of 7,500 acres in Clinton County.
Pennsylvania’s first state park was designated in 1893 to mark a Revolutionary War site. In 1976 it became Valley Forge National Historical Park under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.
Gifford Pinchot State Park is named after the nation’s “First Forester.” Pinchot was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt to head the U.S. Forest Service and then served as Pennsylvania State Forestry Commissioner before becoming governor in 1923.
In 1955, Maurice K. Goddard was appointed director of the Department of Parks and Forests. At the time there were 44 Pennsylvania state parks. Dr. Goddard proposed building a state park within 25 miles of every resident of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania’s New State Parks: A Report to the General Assembly was released in 1957. It studied 175 potential state parks sites, which were evaluated on water, location, topography, subsurface conditions, availability, and scenic and historical significance. Acquisition of the some of the new state parks began immediately.
Pennsylvania’s state park system was recognized in 2009 as the best in the nation by the National Recreation and Park Association.
There were nearly 40 million visitors to Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests in 2017, generating approximately $4billion for the economy.
Today Pennsylvania has one of the nation’s largest state park systems with 121 state parks encompassing nearly 300,000 acres.
The newest state park in the system is the 500-acre Washington Crossing Historic Park.
To learn 116 more interesting things about Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests and to find out about 125th anniversary events, visit https://paparksandforests.org/
Back by popular demand! Eric Mintel’s music and Linda Kenyon’s dinners are irresistible.
Join us for a captivating evening at a very cool location where you’ll have the chance to enjoy a unique music and dining experience. As you enter Linda’s striking home, you’ll be greeted by friends, spirits and savory hors d’oeuvres. After some mingling, seats will be found, and the acclaimed Eric Mintel Quartet will perform two sets of jazz with Linda’s famous soup served during the break. An elegant dinner creatively prepared by Linda in the best tradition of Julia Child will be ready when the music ends.
Jazz legend Dave Brubeck said, “As long as the music attracts dedicated young musicians like Eric Mintel, jazz will continue to thrive and progress as a voice of freedom.” Joining Mintel on piano will be Nelson Hill on sax and flute, Brian Bortz on bass, and Dave Mohn on drums. The Quartet thrills audiences of all ages and connects with people all over the world.
Bucks County’s Eric Mintel has played piano all his life. His career highlights include two performances at the White House, several concerts at the Kennedy Center, and a special concert at the United Nations.
You won’t want to miss this special occasion!
Donation: $100 per person for the concert and dinner.
A few of the hikers on our “Winter Footgear Walk,” held on February 18, pause at a muddy stretch of towpath in Lumberville.
After being in place for 15 years, the red argillite stone surface of the Canal towpath is showing its age. The argillite is deteriorating to dust leaving behind an earthen surface punctuated with holes, ruts, and humps. On a sunny day, walking and bicycling require watchfulness. On a rainy day, be prepared for lots of mud and deep puddles.
After the floods of 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2011, the red argillite surface was replaced with “stabilized turf” in the sections of towpath that were damaged by the floodwaters. The red argillite was allowed to remain in the non-flood prone areas. Now that the argillite is failing, DCNR must step up to the problem and develop and implement a plan to bring the towpath back to a safe and visitor-friendly condition.
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One Pump On, One Pump Off , One Pump To Come
From the Point Pleasant Pumping Station to the Delaware Canal
On January 23 water began flowing into the Delaware Canal via a diversion from the Point Pleasant Pumping Station. The lively stream flowing down the berm bank from the big red barn was a welcome sight made possible by an agreement between the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Forest Park Water Authority, owner-operator of the Point Pleasant Pump. The agreement was brokered by State Senator Chuck McIlhinney at the suggestion of Delaware Canal 21.
The diversion can supply water to the Canal during the periods when the giant pump in the Delaware River is operating. The Delaware River Basin Commission has approved the agreement for a six-month test period with a possible extension of an additional six months.
The Point Pleasant Pump last supplied water to the Canal during the summer of 2000. At that time the Tohickon Aqueduct reconstruction project was running a year behind schedule and recent repair work done in Lumberville desperately needed some stabilizing water. Paul Bogen, a Friends’ member, negotiated a deal with the water authorities operating the pump at that time to supply water to the Canal. The water authorities’ “Water Wizard” mascot turned on the system on May 9. The diversion did supply water to the Canal, but not in sufficient volume to make a significant difference. The white PVC pipes from that attempt can still be seen on the Pumping Station property.
The centrifugal pump that conveys water from the River into the Canal at Centre Bridge has been out of service since the end of January. High river levels and cold temperature have prevented the Park maintenance staff from getting down to and into the river water to determine the cause of the problem. It’s most likely that a supply pipe was dislodged while the River was filled with ice chunks and the repair shouldn’t be too difficult. The water level in the Centre Bridge to Lock 11- New Hope section has not dropped too low because of the snow melt, rain, and runoff. In fact, the entire Canal has benefited from these sources of water.
The Friends and DCNR will be working out the final details of installing a centrifugal pump in the River at the northern section of Washington Crossing Historic Park. The distance between the River and the Canal at that location is fairly short and a power supply is available. The pump that will be utilized is one purchased by the Friends for use by the Park. Its purpose will be to supply water to the southern end of the Canal when the Delaware River drops below the level of the New Hope inlet, which often happens in late summer and early fall.
The quest for a fully watered Canal goes on.
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Delaware Canal Bound
The site of the waterwheels that once supplied water to the southern end of the Delaware Canal will be the first stop on the NY and PA Canal Societies’ spring field trip.
An annual field trip is a part of nearly every state canal society’s schedule of events. This year the Canal Society of New York State and the Pennsylvania Canal Society are collaborating on a spring field trip to the Delaware Canal.
The trip will extend from Friday afternoon, April 27 to Sunday afternoon, April 29. The main feature will be a guided bus tour from the south end of New Hope to the Forks of the Delaware in Easton on Saturday, April 28. Stops will be made along the way, and lunch will be served at the Homestead Store in Upper Black Eddy. After the tour, the group will have dinner at the Wyndham Philadelphia-Bucks County Hotel, and Susan Taylor, Executive Director of the Friends of the Delaware Canal, will present a program “What You Didn’t See on the Bus.”
Friends’ members are invited to join the two canal societies for this exploration. Seeing the Delaware Canal in the company of canal experts and enthusiasts will be an enlightening treat, and the extensive illustrated tour guide developed by trip organizer Bruce Schwendy will be a resource well worth having.
To see a full schedule of activities and register for the trip, go to www.newyorkcanals.org and click on Upcoming Events.
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Park Manager’s Report
The snow and ice is melting, and spring will be here soon. I am looking forward to warmer temperatures and the return of our seasonal staff to the Park. Trout season opens on March 31, and with it comes the return of eager fishermen looking forward to the first cast of the season.
We are still anticipating the beginning of several projects along the Canal this year. They are:
the Kleinhans Aqueduct replacement in Williams Township
the Phillips’ Mill bridge replacement in Solebury Township
the construction of a passageway through the Conrail embankment in Falls Township
the trail bypass along Tyburn Road, also in Falls Township
Also underway this year is a large capital project to repair, replace, and/or restore ten bridges and two sub-canal culverts within the Park. This project will be completed in three phases over the course of about three to five years. The first phase of this project will include Canal Lane in Upper Black Eddy, Smithtown Bridges 3 & 4, and a sub-canal culvert in Raubsville just north of the Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area. Right now, we have an engineering consulting firm working on the design and planning for this project. We anticipate having the three bridges and one sub-canal culvert in Phase One of this project ready for bid in November of 2018. Phase Two will include Canal Road North in Raubsville, Canal Road South in Raubsville, Berm Lane in Upper Black Eddy, and Island Road in Kintnersville. Phase Three will include the Tebola Beans Bridge in Washington Crossing, the Buckstone/David Library Bridge in Upper Makefield, the Rabbit Run sub-canal culvert just north of New Hope, and the Mechanic Street Bridge in New Hope. This large capital project will make a huge difference and will help in addressing the numerous infrastructure needs along the Canal.
Enjoy the Canal!
Josh Swartley, Park Manager
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What’s on the CAT To-Do List?
Repairing the roofs on lock doghouses
Painting camelback bridges
Installing new interpretive sign panels
Building another Potty Barn
Be a CAT member and you can be in the doghouse, too.
Plus whatever comes along
Do you want to work on these substantial projects and enjoy working with your fellow Friends?
Be a part of the Canal Action Team (CAT)
Who: Anyone who wants to and can be physically active.
When: CAT projects can be undertaken both on weekdays and weekends. Usually they take no longer than 3-4 hours.
Where: Work sites can be located anywhere from Easton to Bristol. They are determined by the urgency of the job and the location and number of available volunteers.
The Plan: If you want to be part of CAT, please call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org and give us your contact info and your preferred work locations (north, central, south). When a work project is developed, an e-mail notice containing the job details is sent to all the prospective volunteers about two weeks prior. Those who can help on a particular project just respond to the e-mail and show up on the appointed day.
CAT is expert at getting things done well while still having a good time.
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Sharing the Towpath Trail
Spring brings sunny days, comfortable temperatures, and great numbers of Delaware Canal State Park visitors – bicyclists, hikers, runners, walkers, equestrians, birders, scenery lovers, etc. The Canal towpath, with its many quirks, is required to accommodate everyone, making it so much more important for visitors to be aware of and courteous to each other.
Here are two tips for sharing the towpath trail:
Bicyclists: Please signal your approach verbally or by ringing a bicycle bell. It’s easy to startle others when you’re coming up quickly and quietly. Slowing down would be nice, too.
Walkers: Please stay to the right on the towpath, so that others can pass by safely.
The Delaware Canal towpath is a trail for all.
An old-fashioned bicycle bell is a good way to let other towpath users know that you’re about to pass them and very appropriate for the old-fashioned Canal.
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Opportunities to the North and South
Dedicated Canal Tenders are taking care of 45 miles of the Delaware Canal – 13.9 miles are still in need of adoption. These miles lie on the northern and southern ends. Please consider volunteering to close these last gaps.
Easton – Forks of the Delaware to Wy-Hit-Tuk Park – 2.3 miles
Riegelsville/Upper Black Eddy – Mueller’s Store to Indian Rock Inn – 5.5 miles
Falls Township – Conrail Obstruction to Wheatsheaf Road – 2.5 miles
Bristol Township/Bristol Borough – Levittown Center to Bristol Lagoon Park – 2.8 miles
Bristol Borough – Beaver Street to Riverfront Park – 0.8 mile
The sections can be divided into smaller stretches.
We have a very willing volunteer for the Bristol Township area, but she wants to work with at least one other person.
Three Canal Tenders have “retired.” We heartily thank Tom and Carol Grube, who tended from the Forks of the Delaware to Wy-Hit-Tuk Park, and Daniel Duffin, who tended from Mueller’s Store to Indian Rock Inn, for all their years of hard work.
Marge Copenhaver retired from her section from Lock 17 to Bridge 3 in Smithtown, but has decided to get right back into tending by adopting the Centre Bridge to Phillips’ Mill section. Linda and AodanPeacock have volunteered to partner with her.
New Friends’ member Thomas Fryer has adopted the Lock 17 to Bridge 3 section.
We’re so grateful to our Canal Tenders – new, current, and retired for helping to improve the towpath and waterway. If you would like to be part of the program, please call 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org.
The Canal needs you!
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In the Merry Month of May
You will be receiving your Friends of the Delaware membership renewal request for the year 2018. Please support all that we do to improve the Canal.
We welcome checks because we save on credit card fees, but also are happy to have you renew online. Just click on Join in the main menu and navigate to the Renew Your Membership page.
The Friends of the Delaware Canal are pleased to report that four interpretive sign projects will move forward this year. Two involve replacement of sign panels that are the worse for wear after 20+ years. The other two will create new and long-awaited signs that will allow visitors to better understand what took place at special sites.
The Friends, Bristol Borough Council, the Grundy Foundation, Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau, and the Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation have collaborated to replace the nine interpretive signs that tell the story of the Delaware Canal as it passed through Historic Bristol Borough from the Lagoon to Riverfront Park. Not only will the panels be replaced, but the content will be revised to include new information and photographs.
More interpretive signs are on their way, all the better for visitors to read.
Eighteen wayside signs that tell the basic story of the Delaware Canal will be replaced thanks to the generosity of thirteen guests who enthusiastically contributed to their cost during the auction at October’s Faces and Places benefit.
The lost town of Uhlersville and the powerhouse at Groundhog Lock in Raubsville will have their stories shared on a new three-panel kiosk sign thanks to the initiative of several local residents and a generous contribution from the Williams Township Board of Supervisors.
A wayside sign about the fascinating history of Smithtown in Tinicum Township will be created through a contribution in memory of dedicated, long-time member Tom Copenhaver.
Exciting and challenging days lie ahead as text is written, illustrations are found, and the signs are designed – all in the quest to share the Delaware Canal’s rich history in the best, most understandable way.
We are so grateful to all our partners for their support of these efforts.
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The Flowable Fill Solution
by Tony Giacobbe, Regional Engineer, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Park Region #4, and Bilal Baqai, Civil Engineer, PA DCNR, Park Region #4
Sinkholes have been an issue in the more recent history of the Delaware Canal, and an especially incessant and serious problem in 2017. Sinkholes are openings that develop in the canal prism and tend to be most prevalent in areas where the Canal is adjacent to high rock walls and their associated shallow bedrock.
The fractures in the upper strata of the bedrock serve as erosion channels or “pipelines” for the materials, such as soil and gravel, which lie under the Canal’s clay liner. The channels were revealed by the use of ground penetration radar (GPR) during DCNR’s latest study to understand why sinkholes form.
Previously, DCNR’s best practices included over-excavating the sinkhole, placing some bentomat (a geosynthetic clay liner), then finally packing clay above the liner to canal-bed elevation. This practice did not seem effective since there were locations where this repair had been done multiple times.
To minimize costs of repairing the same areas, alternatives were considered for repairing sinkholes. “Flowable fill” was chosen as an inexpensive and effective material for the task. Flowable fill consists of Portland cement, fine aggregate, fly ash, water, and may contain other admixtures as needed (admixtures are materials that are added to the basic mix to change or improve the quality of the product). Like concrete, flowable fill cures over time, but its curing process is less restrictive. The use of flowable fill has become much more common by PennDOT for structural backfilling, pipe and bedding backfilling, and utility trench back filling, among many other uses.
The unique aspect about flowable fill is that it can flow into interstitial spaces without the need of vibrators, and once it settles and cures, it leaves a level surface. Along the Delaware Canal, it has become a much-needed solution to preventing leaks through the fractured bedrock under the Canal.
Once a sinkhole or cavity is identified, it is excavated, if needed, to identify the extent of the cavity. Flowable fill is then poured into the hole to ensure that all voids are plugged. After placement of the flowable fill, the area is lined with clay and compacted. With the restoration of the clay liner, the repair process is complete.
The area where a sinkhole had been repaired with “flowable fill” is covered with clay to restore the Canal’s ability to hold water.
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Thank You So Much!
2018 is off to a splendid start thanks to all of you who so generously responded to the Friends’ Year-End Appeal. We asked you to help us accomplish more in the new year, and you did just that. Your contributions replenish the Canal Improvement Fund.
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See It Before It’s Gone
Beginning in 1794, the River House accommodated rafters and boaters who tied up before making their way through the formidable Wells Falls on the Delaware River in New Hope. When the Delaware Canal opened in 1831, the River House also welcomed canal boatmen on their way south to Bristol. In the 20th century, the River House came to be Odette’s, a popular cabaret and restaurant.
Odette’s will soon be moving.
Preparations are well underway to move the original portion of the fieldstone River House inland to the American Legion triangle on South Main Street. The move will make way for the new Riverhouse at Odette’s, a luxury boutique hotel catering to weddings, meetings and special events.
Soon the River House that has stood between the Delaware River and the Delaware Canal for nearly two hundred years will no longer be at the site that gives it meaning. It’s time to take a last look.
Many purposes will be served by the new Riverhouse at Odette’s complex. Sadly, historic preservation is not one of them.
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Park Manager’s Report
Happy New Year!
It has been a cold, snowy winter so far with much of the Canal frozen and snow on the towpath. We still have several weeks of winter to come with, I’m willing to bet, several more snow storms. It may be a good time to dust off the cross-country skis and get them ready for a trip out on the Canal.
We are anticipating the beginning of several projects along the Canal this year. They are: the Kleinhans Aqueduct replacement in Williams Township, the Phillips’ Mill bridge replacement in Solebury Township, the construction of a tunnel through the Conrail embankment near Fairless Hills, and the trail bypass along Tyburn Road.
In addition, development in New Hope at Odette’s is beginning to move forward. The Gateway to New Hope group is in the process of installing a temporary access road at the northern end of Odette’s to provide trail access to Park visitors. They are also preparing and shoring up the oldest portion of the Odette’s building so that it can be moved to its new location at the intersection of New Street and Riverwoods Drive. The move is anticipated to be within the next few months. DCNR is in the process of developing a preliminary plan for its facilities in New Hope including the relocated Odette’s building. The Department is looking at the feasibility of building a classroom space, public restrooms, and a new concession building in New Hope along with repurposing the Odette’s building into a space where educational and interpretive activities can take place. We would also like to make the towpath more accessible by installing an ADA accessible ramp from South Main Street up to the Canal.
Enjoy the Canal!
Josh Swartley
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Want to be a Canal Tender?
Canal Tenders are at work along the entire length of the Canal, and their year-round help is very much appreciated by visitors and the State Park staff. Tenders pick up litter and debris, remove any small obstructions from the towpath, make notifications concerning creeping invasive species, watch for and report significant changes or anything unusual about their section of the Canal, and submit written reports twice each year.
Two of our long-time Tenders have retired because they’ve moved inland. Marge Copenhaver and Robert McEwan cared for their sections for many years and we thank them for all of their efforts and concern.
The “Housewives of Rolling Hills” and their helpers following their tending session out on the Canal from the Uhlerstown Covered Bridge to Lock 17 in Tinicum Township
Although nearly all of the Canal is covered from Easton to Bristol are covered, there are five sections that need adoption.
Bristol Riverfront Park to the Lagoon (0.97 miles)
Beaver Street to Home Depot/Levittown Shopping Center (2.91 miles)
Wheatsheaf Road to the Conrail Obstruction (2.52 miles)
Phillips’ Mill to Centre Bridge (1.54 miles)
Smithtown Bridge 3 to Treasure Island Lock 17 (1.01 miles)
Please let us know if you can help fill these gaps. The sections can be divided into shorter lengths to suit Canal Tender’s needs.
Being a Canal Tender is an interesting and exciting volunteer opportunity. The Canal is ever-changing and Tenders get to experience it all. Please call 215-862-2021 or email friends@fodc.org for more information.
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Opportunity Knocks
Want to help the Friends help the Canal?
Here are some of the ways that you can –
Work with the Canal Action Team (CAT) on projects that require some heft.
Become a Canal Tender. Several sections of the Canal need adoption.
Be part of a Friends’ committee and make things happen. The standing committees are:
Advocacy, Restoration and Maintenance
Development
Education and Recreation
Finance
Fundraising
Membership
Check out the Help the Canal page to learn more and feel free to call Susan at 215-862-2021 or e-mail friends@fodc.org with questions or suggestions.
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At the Board Table
During our Annual Meeting on November 14, several actions were taken concerning the Friends’ Board of Directors.
Retiring, but still active, Board member Peter Sperry was honored and thanked for his many accomplishments. The membership re-elected Jeff Connell, Bob Ketler, Eileen O’Neil, Pete Rosswaag, and Brett Webber to additional two-year terms.
Elected to their first terms were Laure Duval and Lawrence Reinfeld.
At its first meeting of the new year, the Board of Directors elected its officers:
Brett Webber – President
Pam Can – Vice- President
Lynn Vogel – Secretary
Judith Franlin – Treasurer
The Board looks forward to making progress in 2018 and having some fun, too.
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Welcome, New Friends
Ron Anzivino
Curt Biehn
Bristol Borough Business Association
Barbara Bristow
Brian Cassel
Kamini Desai-Carroll
Robin Federiconi and Daniel Popkin
Brian Greene
Jack Hartmann
Richard Jackson
Dorothy Knaus
Theresa Lynn and Kenneth Plunkett
Mary O’Malley
Janet Margolies
Nancy Martin-Gash
Maureen McFadden
James O’Brien
Joanne and Alfred Reszka
Jane Richter
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Schrader
Bruce Schwendy
Raymond Skaddan
Kathleen Weeks
Yoga Love Studio
Locktender’s House where the public can enjoy it in the context of Lock 11 on the Delaware Canal.
