Hike #320 12/9/7
This was the hike where we first met Mary!
12/9/7 Morris Canal; Washington-Hackettstown with Rich Pace, Ron Phelps, Hsin Chien Tai, Maria Samelmacher, Jason Itell, Mary Tomsia, Eric Pace and DJ Ray Cordts
Along the canal in Washington, JCP&L
My next hike would be once again tracing the route of the former Morris Canal across Warren County, this time between Washington and Hackettstown. I met some at Hackettstown train station to spot cars, and a couple more in Washington Township, Brass Castle at the police station where I'd gotten permission to park.
Morris Canal in Meadow Breeze Park
Morris Canal, meadow breeze park
Morris Canal, Meadow Breeze Park
Morris Canal, Meadow Breeze Park
Morris Canal sign
Morris Canal site near Brass Castle School
Morris Canal aqueduct site in Brass Castle
Morris Canal, Brass Castle
Morris Canal, Brass Castle
Morris Canal in Brass Castle
Former Bowerstown Road bridge site along Morris Canal, Bowerstown
Pohatcong Creek Aqueduct for Morris Canal
Former Pohatcong Creek Aqueduct
Sleeper stones in front of a house from Inclinded Plane #7 West
Sleeper Stones from Inclined Plane #7 West
At the base of Inclined Plane 7W
Pohatcong Creek Aqueduct in Bowerstown
Top of Morris Canal Inclined Plane #7W
Morris Canal near JCP&L in Washington
Morris Canal in Washington
Morris Canal approaching Belvidere Ave, Washington
Belvidere Ave, Washington
Belvidere Ave, Washington
I found this mannequin at an abandoned building in Washington
Mannaquin in Washington
Abandoned industry
Abandoned industry
Inside
Inside
Inside
Inside abandoned building
Ladder to the attic
attic
attic
View from the abandoned building
Old buildings
Abandoned industry, Washington
Left, spur to former Warren Lumber; right, spur to former American Can. Straight, no more tracks, former Lackawanna northbound to Scranton
Former Morris Canal bridge under the railroad, Port Washington
Morris Canal, Port Washington
Morris Canal, Port Washington
Morris Canal, Port Washington
Road along the Morris Canal, Port Washington, at former railroad and canal offices
Along the canal site near Rt 31
Former canal crossing site of Rt 31
Morris Canal nearing Presidential Estate, Washington
Morris Canal at Presidential Estates, Washington
Morris Canal entering Presidetial Estates, Washington
We found an Acme cart on the canal! Washington
Morris Canal, Washington
Morris Canal east of Washington
Weeds along Morris Canal
Morris Canal east of Washington
Morris Canal east of Washington
Morris Canal near Port Colden
Morris Canal near Port Colden
Along Morris Canal near Port Colden
Along Morris Canal near Port Colden
I was in the worst shape of my life, working at Taylor Rental. Ugg. This is on the Morris Canal near Port Colden
Morris Canal near Port Colden
Ruins along Morris Canal, Port Colden
This is one of the bridges that was added along the canal after it's abandonement. Port Colden.
Bridge built over a creek during canal abandonment
Morris Canal, Port Colden
Canal Store, Port Colden
Old canal house, Port Colden
Former canal basin, now Port Colden School
My back yard, Port Colden
I miss my house
Hangin in my back yard
I miss my house in Port Colden
roof
Joining me for this trip were Rich and Eric Pace, Ron Phelps, Jason Itell, Hsin Chien Tai, and newcomers Mary Tomsia and Maria Samelmacher. We began walking from the police station down to the canal towpath at Meadow Breeze Park, very near to the police station. We were able to walk it only briefly through Meadow Breeze to Little Philidelphia Road where there was a yard over the house. We had to walk down Little Philidelphia Road and across a creek, then turned left toward Brass Castle School. I turned to the left away from the paved path to relieve myself, and accidently found myself on a piece of the canal. The other joined me, and we checked out an old aqueduct site. We were able to follow the canal very closely through a cut as we headed east, and soon crossed a yard out to Brass Castle Road. The sticker bushers were'nt too bad in this section. We crossed to Bowerstown Road and followed it, which paralleled the canal closely, and some of it was built on the canal. Some roads in the new developement bear names that bear canal names such as "towpath lane" but no other historical significance. The original Bowerstown Road must have followed the towpath itself, and there was what appeared to be an abutment to a bridge on one side of the road I had not noticed in the countless times I had walked and driven this route. The original road was now up on the hill which would have been above the canal to the north. We soon reached the intersection of Plane Hill Road, built on the actual plane. Rich pointed out that a house opposite the plane utilized the old stones that held the rails as part of the wall in front of a brick house. We crossed over the old aqueduct, a stone arch, over the Pohatcong Creek. To my knowledge, this may be the only remaining aqueduct on the Morris Canal. It was the last one I was aware of in any event, unless the one I'd found in Phillipsburg near the Lopatcong Creek was formerly an aqueduct. Rich ran down to get a picture of the bridge, and we began heading up Plane Hill Road, formerly the site of Inclined Plane #7 West. Rich pulled out his historic photograph book by Jim Lee to show us what it looked like a hundred years ago, which was great. We located what was probably the site of the power house and possibly the top of a turbine shaft, and the plane tenders house was in great shape and still lived in. We followed Plane Hill Road to the end, Kinnamine Ave, and I led everyone into the JCP&L property, first on their access road and then along a fence in a grassy area, directly on top of the former canal prism. We were able to follow it across a grassy yard, across a dirt road, then into an overgrown area to Belvidere Avenue. We crossed, and Warren Lumber was built over the canal here so we headed south, then east on the next streets leading us to the railroad tracks and an abandoned couple of buildings. Ron and I of course had to go in and have a look around. We used a ladder to get to the second floor, which was cool, and even walked through a second building before heading onto the railraod tracks, former Lackawanna's old main line, where the canal used to pass beneath. The old piers were still visible. We crossed and were able to walk in the canal prism for a ways, passing by old buildings that were once offices for the Lackawanna Railroad and the Morris Canal. The road to them paralleled the canal and we soon crossed Rt 31 directly following the canal close. The street paralleled the canal perfectly, so were were pretty much on it to the dead end of the road, then followed a cut path from the dead end to Flower Avenue near Mark Bond's house (former mayor of Washington). We turned left then right passing Skyler's house, but phone calls to him went unanswered. We followed this road to the dead end and followed a trail down hill to the right and the canal right of way. There was a power line built over it here, and it was clear for this section, but once we reached the end of the power line things got bad. We cut up the hill to the north and followed a surveyor's cut for the length of a piece of property, then we headed down across the former canal. I stayed on the tow path, crawling at times, while Rich led the rest of the group down the hill to the south of the canal to walk where there was less heavy brush. When it got better on the tow path we rejoined and moved on. We passed an old foundation of a house and soon crossed a stream on a concrete bridge constructed after the dismantling of the canal. As I had done many times in my youth, I jumped from the edge of the bridge across the creek to the other side. Jason asked "did you know you were going to land that safely?". I can remember well the first time I jumped off that bridge how nervous I was. Now, though I had'nt jumped off it in years it still was like I'd done it a thousand times recently. We walked on and reached Lock Street in Port Colden, and turned right. The old lock #6 was in someone's back yard within view, but filled in. We headed out Lock Street to Port Colden Road, formerly Main Street, passing the old canal store and turned left, then right into the Port Colden School yard, formerly the Morris Canal basin where canal boats were made and stored. We crossed the school yard and then crossed the canal to my mom's back yard, followed by my own. We stopped by my house and I let Rich use the restroom. After chatting with Cathy a bit, I was off.
I miss my house...along the hike
In my back yard for a break
Morris Canal, Port Coldn
Morris Canal headng west from Port Codlen
Morris Canal along a dirt road in Port Colden
Former canal basin just east of Port Colden, also the base of Inclined Plane #6 West
Former Inclinded Plane #6 West, Port Colden
Morris Canal just east of Plane 5
Former trolley bridge over a driveway east of Port Colden
Parallel tracks in Mansfield
Railroad tracks east of Port Colden
Abandoned car
Abandoned car near Port Murray
Along the tracks nearing Port Murray
Old brick yard house
Ruins on the brick yard property
Old building on the brick yard property
Amazing turbine chamber and tail race tunnel at Inclined Plane #5 West, Port Murray
Turbine chamber and tail race tunnel at Plane #5 West
Plane 5 West Turbine chamber
The inside of Plane 5 turbine chamber
Inside the tail race tunnel of plane 5 West
Crawling into the turbine chamber from the tail race tunnel at plane 5
Turbine chamber at Morris Canal inclined plane 5W
Morris Canal Plane 5W Turbine chamber
This is where the turbine would have been at plane 5 west
Inside the Turbine Chamber at Morris Canal Inclined Plane 5 West
Morris Canal turbine chamber and tail race tunnel
Morris Canal Plane 5 Turbine chamber
Tail race tunnel at Morris Canal Inclined Plane 5W
Tail race tunnel at plane 5W
Opening of the tail race tunnel of Morris Canal plane 5W
Turbine chamber and tail race tunnel at Morris Canal Plane 5W
Turbine chamber and tail race tunnel
Site of Inclined Plane #5 West on Morris Canal, Port Murray
Morris Canal inclined plane #5 West
Former Morris Canal, Port Murray
Descending to the tracks in Port Murray
Railroad tracks in Port Murray
Port Murray station
Port Murray Station
We headed back to the canal and followed it eastbound below the Washington Town Garage Hill, then crossed the canal to the road following the tow path. That road became dirt, and led us into nice woods along the canal. We soon passed where my old friend Justin Meixsell used to live, and a pond that was once a turning lagoon for the canal was still there and in good shape. It was here we came to the bas of Incined Plane #6 West. We headed up the old plane site, to Mr. Handlos's property, and followed the canal into the woods. It was terribly overgrown and tough to follow through here. We continued to a crossing woods road and opted to head back down since it was going to take us far too long to pass through the brush. We got onto the former Morris and Essex railroad track and headed west. I went up at one point to check out the canal, which was in good shape but hard to follow. We continued on the canal to the old Pyronics site and brickyard. Crossing here, it was not apparent where the canal was. We wandered around a bit, but never found it here. We continued out to Brick Yard Road, findng our way around a fence and up the road. Eric was telling us stories about how his grandfather used to work in there. Jason and I checked out some sort of ruin in a quarried area with two buildings, but it was not the canal. We followed a dirt lane back a ways and soon found the remains of Inclined Plane #5 West.
Turbine pit for Inclined Plane #5 West
Port Murray
Port Murray
Cabooses at Port Murray
Caboose at Port Murray station
Port Murray Station
Canal crossing site at Port Murray
Morris Canal in Port Murray
Former Morris Canal at Port Murray Canal Store
Port Murray Canal Store
Looking at the pictures of Port Murray Canal store, then and now
At Port Murray Canal store
Former Morris Canal in Port Murray
Cemetery in Port Murray
Port Murray
Former Morris Canal in Port Murray near Cherry Tree Bend Road
Along the Morris Canal west of Rockport
Morris Canal towpath west of Rockport
Morris Canal west of Rockport
Morris Canal west of Rockport
Along Rockport Road
Moo
Morris Canal road crossing in the middle of Rockport
Morris Canal former basin at Rockport. Just a few years before this was a healthy pond.
Morris Canal towpath in Rockport Game Farm
View of Rockport Game Farm
Trail in Rockport Game Farm with a view of Mansfield Township
View from the trail in Rockport Game Farm
Trail in Rockport Game Farm
View from the trail in Rockport Game Farm
View from Rockport Game Farm
Cuff House
Morris Canal near the Cuff House
Centenary College Dome from the Morris Canal towpath in Florence Kuipers Park
DJ Ray on the towpath, Florence Kuipers Park
Downtown Hackettstown
The turbine pit and tail race tunnel were dug all out through here so we could easily climb into them. Most of us climbed on through in amazement of the historical significance and lovely stone work. We took some time here and soon made our way up hill near the old plane site and along the canal till we came to some homes. We then headed down to the railroad tracks and followed them into Port Murray. When we reached the town of Port Murray, we admired the old station and cabooses parked on a siding and then walked the road to the site of the old canal store in town, where supposedly Ivory Soap was made popular according to canal lore. We followed a drive along the canal for a while, but then it said it was a private road so we turned back and cut through a church yard to Port Murray Road and headed to Cherry Tree Bend Road. We could see a nice watered turn lagoon below along the canal, and much of the canal in good shape though we could'nt really access it. We walked Cherry Tree Bend Road to Rockport Road which paralleled the canal for some time, and eventually got back on the canal in a piece of state Wildlife Management area heading east. We had to follow a field at first parallel with the canal because the tow path was over grown, but we could soon get on a piece of it at the site of another old aqueduct of some sort over a little stream. We crossed okay, and then continued on to the road crossing at Borealis industrial place; I think they make plastics. We had to turn back out to Rockport Road here and walk it for what seemed to be forever. Mary was picked up by her husband on this section, as she had previous engagements she had to see to. She stayed in front with the fastest of us the entire time, which was great for a first timer, or even a repeat hiker for that matter! We continued on Rockport Road to the village of Rockport where we jumped a fence to follow a piece of the canal in the State Game Farm. On my previous hike here, the canal was full of water in a lagoon here, but it was now dry and full of cattails. We continued along the evergreens to an access road, which makes up part of the loop trail to the viewpoint. I led everyone but Maria up to the viewpoint, giving Maria a chance to rest. The viewpoint was nice, and we wandered along the top of the pheasant area, then down to the canal towpath. We cut down to the road from here and wandered along it for what seemed to be another eternity. We passed Airport Road and Allen Road, then soon turned left parallel with the railroad tracks and then left again on a driveway heading up hill to the section of the canal that was now a trail. We made our way into the woods from the yard of the old house up the driveway. The house appeared to be vacant, and somewhat unkempt. I figured the nice old lady who came out and talked to Tea Biscuit, Kenny, and I in 2003 must have died by now. We continued east along a shelf on a beautiful section of the canal towpath heading into Hackettstown where we were met by "DJ Ray" Cordts for the end of the towpath and the road walking down into Hackettstown. We had a nice time talking about popping giant blow up Christmas ornaments because we did'nt like them. We soon reached the Hackettstown Station where our cars were. We decided to have dinner at a place called "The Laughing Lion" before heading back to Washington. DJ Ray was kind enough to return us to our cars.
1-2.) Morris Canal in Meadow Breeze Park, Washington2a.) The canal in Meadow Breeze Park (RP)2b.) In Meadow Breeze Park (RP)2c.) Historic marker in Meadow Breeze Park (RP)2d.) Along the creek near Brass Castle School (RP)3.) A former aqueduct site near Brass Castle school4.) On the canal towpath near Brass Castle School4a.) The canal in Brass Castle area (RP)5.) Along the canal in Brass Castle6.) An abutment to the former Bowerstown Road bridge over the canal7.) Pohatcong Creek aqueduct, now carrying Plane Hill Road in Bowerstown7a.) Pohatcong Creek Aqueduct (RP)8.) Old inclined plane base blocks used in this house's front wall in Bowerstown8a.) More of the stone wall made of the plane blocks (RP)9.) Eric along Plane Hill Road, the former canal on the aqueduct at Plane #7W9a.) The Pohatcong Creek Aqueduct in Bowerstown (RP)9b.) The top of Inclined Plane 7 (RP)10.) JCP&L property along the former canal just south of Kinnamine Ave11.) The former canal near JCP&L12.) Looking at the former canal toward Belvidere Ave in Washington12a.) Site of Morris Canal crossing of Belvidere Ave, Washington (RP)12b.) Belvidere Ave at the old canal site (RP)12c-12d.) I have a dummy here we found behind Warren Lumber, which I used to jump out and scare everyone (RP)13.) Abandoned building behind Warren Lumber at Port Washington13a.) The building (RP)14.) Inside the abandoned building15.) Ron in the building16.) Ron climbing up the ladder to the second floor17.) Inside the top floor of the abandoned building18.) Outside of the abandoned building at Port Washington19.) Abandoned rail spur between the buildings20.) Outside of the abandoned building20a.) The former Warren Railroad tracks behind Warren Lumber, with the spur to what used to be American Can (RP)20b.) Abutment and site of where the Morris Canal once passed under the former Warren Railraod at Port Washington (RP)21.) In the canal at Port Washington heading east of the tracks21a-21b.) In the canal22.) The canal is to the right; this is just to the west of Rt 3123.) Heading toward Rt 31, canal is on the left23a.) This is where the canal crossed Rt 31 (RP)24.) On the towpath just west of Flower Aveunue25.) Looking out across Flower Ave at the former canal26.) The canal at Flower Ave27.) Rich with an Acme shopping cart we found along the canal east of the Flower Ave developement27a.) Along the towpath east of Flower Ave (RP)28.) The canal heading east from Flower Ave29.) The group in the heavy weeds30.) On the canal just west of Port Colden30a.) Along the towpath (RP)30b.) The canal prism (RP)30c.) The group on the towpath (RP)30d.) Eric on the towpath (RP)30e.) Hsin Chien (RP)30f.) Me! (RP)30g.) A fallen tree over the towpath (RP)31.) Ruins of an old house along the canal31a.) The group on a bridge (RP)32.) Rich, Eric, Ron, Hsin Chien, Maria, Mary, and Jason on a bridge along the former canal33.) Heading into Port Colden along the canal34.) Former canal store in Port Colden34a.) Former canal store (RP)35.) At Port Colden School, formerly the canal basin at Port Colden36.) The group resting in my back yard36a.) The back of my house! (RP)36b.) The group resting in my back yard in Port Colden, with the neighbor's dog, Becka (RP)36c.) That's the back of my house (RP)36d.) Me up on my roof (RP)37.) Former canal in Port Colden near my mom's back yard38.) Former canal along the road just east of Port Colden39.) heading east from Port Colden40.) Former canal turning pond at the base of Plane #6W41.) Site of Plane #642.) Former canal near the top of plane 642a.) Former trolley bridge from the former Morris and Essex Railroad tracks (RP)42b.) Along the tracks (RP)42c.) Abandoned car! (RP)43.) An old car abandoned along the railroad tracks east of Port Colden44.) Along the tracks45.) The abandoned brick building at the old brick yard46.) Abandoned structures near the brick yard47.) Abandoned building near Brick Yard road48.) Turbine shaft and outlet race of former Inclined Plane #5W48a.) Inclined plane power house site (RP)48b.) The arch of the structure (RP)48c.) Inside the turbine shaft (RP)49.) Jason inside the outlet tunnel49a.) Me climbing out of the outlet tunnel (RP)49b-49d.) Views inside where the turbine used to sit (RP)50.) Looking up out of the old turbine shaft51.) Jason clmbing out of the tunnel51a.) Inside the structure (RP)51b-51c.) The outlet tunnel from the turbine chamber (RP)52.) The outlet race tunnel53.) Ron on top of the ruins53a.) Ron coming down from the power house site (RP)54.) The group ascending from the plane site55.) Nice little view near the top of plane #556.) Remains of the canal at the top of Plane 556a.) Descending toward the railroad tracks (RP)56b.) View of the tracks with the group from the Port Murray Bridge (RP)56c.) View east along the tracks from the bridge (RP)56d.) The station site from the bridge (RP)56e.) Eric on the bridge (RP)57.) Old cabooses at Port Murray station57a.) Cabooses at the station site (RP)57b.) Another caboose view (RP)57c.) The Port Murray railroad station (RP)57d.) At the site where the canal crossed Port Murray Road (RP)58.) Nice section of the canal in Port Murray59.) Old canal store in Port Murray, canal to the right59a.) Another one of the canal store (RP)59b-59c.) Checking out Rich's pictues at the road crossing site, of that exact spot (RP)60.) Former canal in Port Murray60a-60b.) Walking near a church in Port Murray to Cherry Tree Bend Road (RP)61.) The canal as seen from Cherry Tree Bend Road62.) Along the canal in a field along Rockport Road63.) The tow path in state land west of Rockport63a.) Along the towpath in state WMA land (RP)63b.) Former road crossing at Borealis place (RP)63c.) Turning onto Rockport Road (RP)63d.) COWS! (RP)63e.) The towpath at Rockport (RP)64.) The former canal in Rockport, formerly a turning pond64a.) Jason with the towpath sign at Rockport Game Farm (RP)65.) View of the game farm66.) View from the upper part of the pheasant farm at Rockport67.) Another view67a.) At the game farm (RP)68.) Yet another view68a.) Another view! (RP)68b.) On the towpath west of Hackettstown (RP)68c.) Heading toward Hackettstown (RP)68d.) Centenary College dome from the canal (RP)69.) DJ Ray walking to meet up with us in Hackettstown on the towpath70.) DJ Ray with a stern looking lion in Hackettstown71.) My cat!72.) My cat Turkey!
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