Hike #85; Morris Canal
Hike 85
Along former Morris Canal in Phillipsburg
3/23/3
I thought it would be fitting for this trip to actually do a new scouting hike on my
birthday, this time the western part of the Morris Canal from Phillipsburg, where it entered
the Delaware River, to Washington. This would be very difficult, and I went as far as to
get permission from Jim Lee Jr. and Jim Lee III, who own two of the canal’s inclined
planes, for permission to cross their land.
Morris Canal Arch, base of Plane 11W, Phillipsburg, in flood stage
Inclinded Plane #11 West, Morris Canal
Morris Canal marker in Phillipsburg park
Morris Canal trail near Mt. Parnassus
Morris Canal site along South Main Street near Green's Bridge
Morris Canal towpath walkway beneath Green's Bridge
Morris Canal, tow rope marks on Green's Bridge, Phillipsburg
Morris Canal along South Main Street Phillipsburg
Following Morris Canal site near Green's Bridge, Phillipsburg
The canal was an amazing engineering feat, using a system of locks to gain elevation for
boats on their way from Phillipsburg to Jersey City. This canal was also the first to use
Inclined Plane technology, which encompassed waterwheels and a cradle to carry boats
uphill on short portage railroads. Having been built in the 1830s makes it all the more
amazing. It is believed my house in Port Colden (named for a Port on the Morris Canal)
may have been built to house canal workers in the early 1800s.
Joining this time were Tea Biscuit and Bill Bill, as well as Damian Mohan, our good
friend and neighbor.
We were dropped off around noon or so in Union Square, Phillipbsburg, and we walked
down the Bel Del tracks to the Morris Canal outlet, which we had climbed on during the
Phillpsburg to Hampton CNJ hike in the fall of 2001. This time, the outlet arch was almost
completely under the waters of the very high Delaware. The canal came out of the
Delaware under the arch, and immediately entered Inclined Plane #11 West (This means
there were 11 inclined planes to the west of Lake Hopatcong, the center point of the
canal). The site of the plan was very much under water quite a ways up. Where the canal
passed under the Bel Del Railroad, there are still the tops of bridge abutments visible.
We soon reached a municipal park, and a paved path along the canal’s former prism
passing ballfields. We continued along the path, and had to go through a fence on the
other side to try to find the next section. I recall doing some trespassing, through industrial
areas, what appeared to have been a rail yard, and out to a place full of cardboard bales. I
asked the guy at this place one time about how they dispose of them, and he told me they
were melted down somewhere in the south, and that there’s something that pulled out the
impurities...interesting.
The canal apparently went across the yard of an elementary school after it turned inland
from the Delaware, but remnants were not to be found. A road called Morris Canal Lane
followed the route of the canal off South Main Street for a bit, and we found some sort of
half buried culvert. Somewhere in here, the canal entered what I believe is the Lopatcong
Creek, and used slack water from a kind of dam. We followed the creek/canal along South
main Street to the two railroad bridges, Green’s Bridge for the CNJ and an Iron deck
girder trestle for the Lehigh Valley line.
When we got under Green’s bridge, the stonework still had tracks worn into it from the
ropes that were attatched to the two mules that pulled the boats. In addition, amazingly
part of the towpath walkway’s base remained in the creek below the bridge. I once found
a bicycle under this bridge in the creek.
Climbing up a dam on the former Morris Canal, Phillipsburg
Morris Canal towpath, Phillipsburg
Former Morris Canal Inclined Plane #10 West
After crossing South Main Street, we crossed some paving business’s property out to a
dam and an intact piece of the canal towpath which looped us back to South Main. We
had to walk along the road a bit until we got to the site of Inclined Plane #10W, in nice
shape. James Lee, Jr. who’s father was the top authority on the Morris Canal, owned this
plane, and we stopped to talk to him. He gave us a brief history lesson on the canal,
showed us some artifacts, and told us the original plane 10 used only the power of the
creek and was further upstream!
James Lee Jr. shows us artifacts of the Morris Canal at the top of Plane 10 where he resides
Along the Morris Canal north of Plane 10
Along the Morris Canal near Stryker's Road
Former Morris Canal crossing Stryker's Road
Former Morris Canal weir site near Strykers Road
We made our way up the plane and across another guy’s yard, who we talked to, then
into the woods on a nice section of the canal prism. It was pretty walkeable until we
reached Rt 22, where we had to climb up and dash across the highway. On the north side
of 22, the canal was badly overgrown, but opened up soon to where it had been cleared
for walking. We decided to make our way up to a strip mall for some food after we
crossed Stryker’s Road. The guys wanted Chinese, so we stopped and they let me have a
taste. This was the first time I had liked Chinese food, and have enjoyed it ever since! Bill
Bill had this soft chicken stuff, and Tea Biscuit gave me some other thing I don’t
remember. After eating we climbed back to the canal.
Morris Canal towpath near Port Warren
There was the site of an aqueduct here, over a small creek, which we had to cross, then
the towpath was clear for a ways out to where it crossed Rt 519, once called Port Warren.
We wer enow at the base of Inclined Plane #9W, the longest on the canal. This was the
home of James Lee Sr., but he unfortunitely suffered from Alzheimers and was no longer
living in the plane tender’s house. His grandson, James Lee III was living there, where his
grandfather had life rights.
At Port Warren, Inclined Plane #9W
Morris Canal Inclined Plane #9 West at the top
Morris Canal Inclined Plane #9 West at the top
Fields along former Morris Canal east of Port Warren
Former Morris Canal along fields east of Port Warren
Former Morris Canal in Stewartsville
Former Morris Canal, Stewartsville
Alpaca in Stewartsville
New pizza place being built along Rt 57, Stewartsville
The Concrete Mile along Rt 57 near Stewartsville
Morris Canal at Bread Lock Park
Morris Canal, Bread Lock site, New Village
Morris Canal in New Village
Ruins along the Morris Canal, New Village
We climbed the plane, and were amazed to see some of the stonework and tow cables
were still in place! We were able to closely follow the canal for some distance to
Stewartsville on public land. My grandfather did the state’s survey for this section, and I
recall doing some of my first driving in the fields nearby. I also color coded many of the
maps for him. Unfortunitely, the Toll Brothers developement home owners file lawsuits
which kept the towpath from being officially developed as a recreational trail. Some
people are even using the canal prism as part of their back yard.
When we reached the next road crossing in Stewartsville, and headed out towards what I
believe is probably Merril Creek, we could see where the canal passed under the former
Morris and Essex Railroad, but had to use a road underpass and head out to Rt 57.
Inclined Plane #8W was in plain sight on private property. There were Llamas in a little
farm along the way which we had to gawk at a bit. After checking out some new building
on Rt 57, we continued on, walking the Concrete Mile.
The Concrete Mile is said to be the first paved concrete mile of roadway in the United
States, and it was still paved in it’s original concrete in New Village area of Rt 57. The
canal closely paralleled the highway at this point, following the contour of the land. We
were able to get back on the towpath at the relatively new Bread Lock Park. The lock was
called the Bread Lock because supposedly fresh bread was served there. We continued
past the foundation of the Lock Tender’s house, past a new house bought by the state or
something, and out across Rt 57 at a gas pipeline.
Abandoned building
Ruins along Morris Canal, New Village
Ruins along Morris Canal, New Village. This house had spiral stairs
Abandoned home, New Village
Abandoned house, New Village
Abandoned house, New Village
Abandoned house, New Village
Abandoned house, New Village
Abandoned house, New Village
Old truck along the Morris Canal, New Village
Morris Canal, New Village
We fought through some heavy weeds through New Village, until we came across some
abandoned buildings. What appeared to be the main house was half collapsed, but the
main portion made of brick was still standing, though it appeared it could fall at any time.
The roof was collapsing gradually, and the spirol wooden stairs appeared ready to fall.
When we got to the top floor, I tossed my disposeable camera to Damien to get a picture
of us in the structure. A second building, probably a barn, was also in bad shape. Tea
Biscuit and Damien climbed into the top of it. One of the old buildings had bars on the
lower windows, giving the idea that this may have been some sort of jail area.
After crossing another road, we found an old tanker truck, apparently abandoned for
years. We crossed another road area, and out a driveway. We fought through some heavy
weeds. The homeowners there did’nt mind us passing through. I tried to keep to the canal,
and walked in a watered section which was gross. The others were in the field below.
Along the Morris Canal, New Village
At Common Sense for Animals where we stopped for a break
We stopped into Dr. Blease’s to say hello, then returned to the canal prism. It was very
open, then became a line of trees. We continued on, passing the Scott House; Reverend
Scott lived there and took in orphans. We crossed his access road, then entered an open
field continueing to a creek crossing, another aqueduct site, or possibly a dam or spillway.
After crossing another field, an electric fence stood between us and the road. We all
managed to jump over, but Bill Bill never lets me forget what I put him through! The next
section was far too overgrown, and we decided it best to walk Rt 57 through Broadway,
NJ. It was getting very dark, and by the time we reached Warren County Community
College, we were ready to call for a ride home. I would follow the canal through
Washington on a future hike, but we were ready to stop!
Taking a rest near Warren County Community College
Pic! I used my Minolta Qtsi, as well as a disposeable Tea Biscuit sold me at discount when
Acme closed.
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