LOOKING FORWARD TO 2025

During our recent Annual Friends Membership Meeting, the focus was on the future, one filled with opportunities to improve and expand the
park experience and the Friends’ role in making that happen.

In 2024, there was a great deal of construction along the canal and towpath and many sections of the canal remain without water. However, 2025 will be a turning point for our beloved park. At our meeting, we heard updates from the park staff about what lies ahead next year and it was good news.

Delaware Canal State Park Management Update

Kelsey Hansen, the assistant park manager, Brian Heath, the Delaware Division manager, and Brian Taylor, DCNR’s regional manager, were on hand to review past and planned projects and answer questions.

Ms. Hansen provided the overview, stating, “Nine major projects were completed within the last year. Projects that are considered major cost
$100,000 or more to do the work. Bowman’s Hill Wastegate, a significant structure to hold in water, was replaced, and several bridges from our twelve bridges project work were completed, including Tebola-Beans Bridge and the David Library Bridge.”

To ensure that the public is kept informed of these projects and their status, the park introduced some new resources on its website, including maps showing the location of construction, a Gantt chart showing the timelines of major projects and an FAQ page.

Two of the projects that received the most attention during the meeting were the replacement of the High Falls Creek Sub-canal culvert and Lumberville Aqueduct. Several delays due to re-designs and easements have been ironed out, and contracts have been awarded. Weather
permitting, these projects will move forward with construction in early 2025. You can find additional details in the Park Manager’s Report included in this newsletter.

The Friends’ Vision for 2025 and beyond

Brett Webber, board president, reviewed highlights from the Friends’ 2032 Plan. Working with DCNR and Studio Bryan Hanes, a regional landscape architecture and design firm, the Friends identified key initiatives to enhance the infrastructure in the park and improve access while
preserving this National Historic Landmark. Webber remarked, “ We are in our final review and will have an event to take you through the opportunities we feel are actionable and needed
such as improved access for pedestrians, boaters and linking to other parks.”

Webber also outlined our involvement with the broader “canal community.” The Friends are pursuing an application to present a history of the Delaware Canal at the next World Canals Conference in Buffalo next year. “These conferences are a great opportunity. Several years ago, we participated in a conference hosted by the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The conference is an enormous collection of people from all over the world talking about their advocacy, plans, and how they manage and operate canals. Many of them are within park systems, and there are others around the world that are not. But there’s lots to learn.” Webber continued, “We have lots to share, but it’s also a
dry run because we are eagerly pursuing hosting the 2032 World Canals Conference here on the Delaware Canal, in partnership with our friends
across the river and north.”

Senator Steve Santarsiero shows his support of the Delaware Canal

The meeting’s highlight was a presentation by Senator Steve Santarsiero. A long-time Bucks County resident, legislator and outdoor enthusiast, Santarsiero understands the importance of the Delaware Canal to his district.

“I want to make sure that part of my legacy is to ensure this canal will be taken care of for years to come. This park is a special place, and that’s why we are all here tonight. We are so lucky to have this unique park right here in Bucks County.” Santarsiero said. To illustrate his commitment to the park, “A year and a half ago, I started the first Delaware Canal Caucus in the state legislature; it is bicameral and bipartisan so every legislator who represents any stretch of the canal is a part of it. I represent the longest stretch in my district.” This group has worked with DCNR to ensure that needed repairs are completed so that water can be reintroduced back into the canal. “All I want to do tonight is to let you know that I am 100% behind the Friends’ efforts. Back in September, when we did our tour with DCNR, it was helpful to see the work that was happening and, I think, also to reinforce with the caucus members how important it is to continue to fight for the canal. It is frustrating for me that the state doesn’t do more to fund our park system. The guys at DCNR do a tremendous amount of work on a shoestring budget. We will
continue to fight to get more funding.”

Senator Santarsiero then presented a $95,000 check to FODC board members and Executive Director Michael Ginder to move forward with
a new pump in the Bowman’s Hill area. The Friends will use this money to create an engineering design for the pump housing in accordance with requirements from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and DCNR.

Great food, great Friends and a nice big check! It was a perfect evening.

Park Project Recap

The park staff has been hard at work getting projects underway so that we can have a fully watered canal. As many already know, engineering a solution, bidding and awarding a project, and getting the work underway can take a very long time.

We all love our canal with water. Unfortunately, the canal has been plagued with issues that originated when it was first constructed. Think
about it: A nearly 60-mile-long trench was dug by hand by farmers and laborers in record time. The state was in a hurry to open the canal, and
subsequently, the construction quality suffered.

However, the flaws and setbacks haven’t curbed DCNR’s determination to repair and rewater, hopefully by the semiquicenntential. In fact, many major projects have been completed.

Projects Completed in 2024
• Easton Towpath–Flood damage repairs
• Canal Lane Bridge
• New Hope Inlet Bridge
• New Hope Canal Bank Wall Repair
• Bowman’s Hill Waste Gate
• Buckstone Farm Bridge
• Tebola-Beans/Amber Beech Bridge
• Bridge Street Crossing / Morrisville Ramp
Current Projects
• Raubsville Sub-Canal Culvert
• High Falls Sub-Canal Culvert
• Smithtown Bridges 3 & 4
• Lumberville Aqueduct

FODC Michael Ginder, Laure Duval and Brett Webber accept check from Senator Steve Santarsiero

Home for the Holidays

It’s not surprising that so many people are drawn to Bucks County and the Delaware River Valley region as vacation destinations. We are blessed to live in an area that provides visitors with so many options to enjoy the outdoors, explore charming towns, shop and dine and of course commune with nature.

When you talk to new arrivals, they are struck by the fact that there is so much to experience and enjoy. Often, the “locals” forget these resources exist. So, if you plan to stay home for the holidays, here are a few of our Friends of the Delaware Canal Travel tips.

BE A FOODIE
There are so many restaurants and pubs along the river, that there are too many to mention. We will, however, remind people of our old and new favorite spots. The town of Bristol is on the rise, with more shops and eateries to choose from. We have had several Lunch and Walk events at the King George II Inn (below) and it is a historic and culinary treasure. Want to try something new, check
out AshLynn Distilleries in Morrisville.

In Yardley, we have been hosted by the Continental Tavern as well as the Yardley Inn. Both good choices. And, in Lumberville we enjoyed several events at the Lumberville General Store and the Black Bass Inn. Along with the Golden Pheasant Inn in Erwinna, these establishments are now under the ownership of a long-time Friends supporter, Karen Thompson of LSL Brands.

In Point Pleasant, stop into Dharma Bums, a new vegan eatery that would make Jack Kerouac proud. Further north, you will find the Homestead General Store and Coffee Roastery, the Narrows Restaurant, Mueller’s General Store and Kitchen and the Riegelsville Inn. All these historic establishments are worth a try.

GET SHOPPING
The Delaware River Valley is home to many charming river towns that seem to be growing and getting more interesting every year. Everyone is familiar with New Hope and Lambertville, but there is so much more to explore. Venturing further north from New Hope you will find the towns
of Stockton, Frenchtown and Milford on the New Jersey side of the river. On the Pennsylvania side, be sure to explore Point Pleasant, Riegelsville and the northern-most town along the canal, Easton. This city, located at the confluence of two rivers, is attracting a lot of well-earned attention and investment.

Remember, when you shop at local businesses you help support the local economy. Studies show that 48% of the revenue generated by a local business is re-circulated back into the local economy, versus 14% for chain stores. Shop online, and the positive impact to the local economy is negligible. And it’s not nearly as much fun as an in-person stroll down lovely old streets filled with a range of fascinating shops.

GATHER OUTDOORS
Not only is the canal towpath a great place to walk and bike, but there are many adjacent parks and trails to explore.

The Bristol Lagoon Park is a lovely spot to stop and relax. Falls Township Park at Mill Creek offers plenty of open space to play your favorite sport. The canal runs through Washington Crossing Park and the park staff offer tours of the property and historic buildings. Venture onto the other side of River Road and take in the scenic views from Bowman’s Tower.

In New Hope, Solebury’s Canal Park and Magill’s Hill Park are next to the towpath and also connect to the Solebury Trail. Further
north you will find Ralph Stover State Park, a part of the Delaware Canal State park complex. Some of the trails in this park can be steep and challenging but are well worth the experience. Nearby Tinicum Park offers wide open fields, disc golf and of course the canal towpath.

Wy-Hit Tuk Park, which means “river” in the Native American language of the Lenape, is located in Easton. From this park you can take the towpath north to make your way to the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers.

Of course, we can’t forget the Canal Loop trails which take you from one side of the Delaware River to the other and offer different views and perspectives of the river valley.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME
So, if you are staying home for the holidays, venture to some new towns, parks and trails that you have not visited before. The Delaware River Valley has so much to offer and explore, we hope you will take a few days to enjoy these local treasures.

PARK MANAGER’S REPORT
By Kelsey Hansen, Assistant Park Manager

Greetings all, it’s been quite some time since a park manager report has been written for the Friends’ newsletter. Our apologies. Thank you for patiently waiting to hear from management about the canal. My name is Kelsey Hansen and I’m one of two Assistant Park Managers at the Delaware Canal.

As many of you have noticed, a large number of projects have been occurring up and down the canal over the past year, causing trail closures between Easton and Morrisville and a certain number of headaches. In an effort to engage visitors and bring about more awareness, Delaware Canal State Park has added a few new great resources that you can find on its DCNR webpage regarding these projects (www. dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/DelawareCanalStatePark/Pages/default.aspx). We recently released several links that give information for the following: Delaware Canal State Park FAQ, Current Project Map, and Project Management Chart. We will update the map and chart every few months, but here you can see what projects are complete, which are under construction, and what is under design. The map helps you to visualize where the projects are located. All of these links can be found under “Additional Information” on the webpage at www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/DelawareCanalStatePark/Pages/default.aspx. Please check it out!

High Falls Creek Sub-Canal Culvert and the Lumberville Aqueduct have been big topics of conversation since Ida caused damage to those areas in September 2021. We are on track to start work soon, likely early 2025, for the High Falls SubCanal Culvert, which is a long time coming for us too. We are as ready as everyone else to see work finally begin there. As for the Lumberville Aqueduct, that project broke ground earlier this year, but due to the discovery of unexpected timber cribbing in the canal bed, work came to an abrupt halt. The findings needed to be documented by the PA Historical Museum Commission and a change order went into place to take the cribbing into consideration for the construction. This is another project that has been delayed for months, but we look forward to it starting again soon to close that trail gap.

On the note of water, we are all sad to see low or no water in the canal in the last year and especially the last couple months. For a time, projects were a big reason not to allow water to flow, but at this point we are trying to let as much water in as possible. Hopefully everyone understands that the lack of it is beyond the park’s control. The majority of the canal relies on natural sources of water to feed it, be it rain or the river. Take into consideration the water levels of the canal from New Hope to Bristol. There is a river inlet in New Hope that feeds the canal, and we use the Trenton River Gauge to determine how much water to expect to come into the canal. The Delaware River has been low at least since the beginning of September 2024, sitting between 8 feet and 8.5 feet. At the time of this writing, the river gauge shows 8 feet, and the river needs to be at least 9 feet in depth to push sufficient water down the canal to Bristol. For the canal between Easton and New Hope, which is fed by the Lehigh River, we have to let river water out prior to the High Falls breach to prevent more damage to that area.

Thank you for reading, and I hope everyone has safe and happy holidays. Let’s make the best of the present and of what comes to us for the future.

A Mule’s Mile

We recently completed our 36th Annual Canal Walk on November 2, 2024.

Over the course of five weekends, walkers covered 49.6 miles of the towpath trail, just 9.3 miles shy of the entire distance. Only three sections, in Lumberville, Smithtown and Upper Black Eddy, could not be traversed due to construction closures.

As you walk along the towpath with Friends, you learn about the history of the Canal, the surrounding towns and hamlets, and some notable
canal features. You are struck by the fact that this towpath was used by so many industrious families and, of course, their mules nearly two hundred years ago.

The Canal Mules
The “Canallers” or boatmen worked with their trusty mule team from early morning to long after dark. Mules were a much-preferred equine over horses.

From the perspective of the canal boat operator, mules had several distinct advantages. They had a sturdy constitution and were not prone to health problems. They could work long hours, perhaps slower than a horse, but they would keep going. The structure of the mule’s hoof increases its stability, and mules have fewer foot-related problems than horses. The tough skin of this equine helped protect them from harness sores even after an 18-hour day.

And mules seem to be calmer, exhibiting more common sense than a horse. According to author Rinker Buck, who wrote a book about his experience retracing the Oregon Trail in a covered wagon pulled by three mules, “Mules have a larger cranial capacity and thus larger brains than horses—a gift from their feral, burro side—and they ponder things a lot more.”

Buck also admired the strong constitution of the mule. “Draft horses are too highly bred and, at almost a ton apiece, too heavy for long wagon journeys. They have stamina for only about 10 to 15 miles a day, have tremendous appetites, and cannot last very long without water or in the extreme heat of the deserts. However, draft mules weigh about 700 pounds less, can go long distances without water, and can barely perspire in the heat.” 1

Outfitting a Canal Mule
Canal boatmen purchased most of their mules from the company operating the canal. That company was the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. Boatmen would also buy the harness and other supplies from Lehigh Coal. The company would then deduct these
expenses from the captain’s pay. The Delaware Canal Journal describes the sale of young mules that the company would import from Kentucky and Missouri. According to one boatman, Grant Emery, “The Kentucky mules were better, or fancier looking, but they didn’t hold up as well. I know my people were always Missouri mule men.” 1

Once the young mule was purchased and fitted for a harness, it was shod and tattooed with a number on the sole of its front foot. That number was used not only to identify the mule’s owner but also to ensure the company could track and charge the boatman for the cost of the mule.

Getting to Work
The canal boat crew could vary, but at the very least, it included a captain, a tiller and a mule driver. Very often, the family of the canal boat operator was on board to help with the daily routine. And, small children could be called into service as mule drivers. One woman told of her experience as a mule driver on her father’s boat. Madeline Free Rilleria vsaid, “I loved the animals, and they loved me, and they used to cry
for me and whinny every once in a while when they knew I was getting tired, and then I would crawl up on their backs, and make
a bed on there.” 2

A day on the canal started at 3:30 am with grooming the mules and getting them ready for the day’s journey. Some boatmen liked to feed their animals a ration of food before starting the day; others wanted to get the mules moving before feeding them on the towpath with a feedbag. After harnessing the mule team, the captain would toss the towline to a helper on the towpath, who would attach it to the mule team.

Once they started, the crew would take turns at the tiller while someone cooked breakfast. Often, boat captains, who were confident in their mule teams, could leave them unattended to continue their towpath journey while the mule drivers took a break. Some captains were not lucky, and their animals would nibble greenery along the way. This annoying habit was called bushwhacking, a term generally used for clearing a path; it seems appropriate here.

Around 10:00 pm, the captain would stop at a stable for their mules. Stables were located near locks and at other points along the canal. Some canal towns, like Uhlerstown, not only offered a stable but also blacksmith and boat repair services, along with food and other supplies.

Once the harnesses were removed, most mules liked to have a good roll (a characteristic they are well known for), scratching and stretching before their evening repast and rest.

Caring for the Mules
The value and importance of this equine cannot be understated. Mules played an essential role in the boatman’s success, and canallers ensured
their animals were well cared for, including regular feeding as they walked the towpath, watering, grooming and farrier care.

To keep everyone honest, an SPCA inspector would travel the length of the canal to inspect the condition of the mules. One boatman recalls, “You didn’t dare to be mean to your animals on the Delaware. They had a woman down there, she’d make you stop the mules and lift the collar; and, if there was a sore on his shoulder, you had to take that mule out, you couldn’t use him. She was all through the Delaware. You never know when you’d run into her.” 2

A Most Noble Creature
Historically, mules have worked tirelessly for us. They ask little. They are easy keepers and very loyal to their owners. Once they bond with you, you have a friend for life. Mules are also quick learners, so working with a mule requires consistency. When they know what is expected, they will provide hours of service.

Mules are still popular today, especially with people who work the land by hand. Travel to Amish Country in Pennsylvania and you will more than likely see a team of mules, not horses, at work in the fields.

Scientific studies show mules are generally more intelligent than horses or donkeys. This intelligence means they will not do anything to harm themselves, and they can be protective of their owners. When handled and trained correctly, they are gentle, loving family members.

So, next time you are on the towpath, remember those noble creatures who followed the same path, doing what was asked and creating
a more prosperous future for all in the Delaware River Valley.

Sources:
1. Interview with Rinker Buck: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/
farming/the-animals-on-george-washingtons-farm/the-maharajah-of-mules-an-interview-with-rinker-buck/
2. Delaware Canal Journal, C.P. Yoder

37TH ANNUAL CANAL WALK COMPLETED

This fall, a group of nature-loving, sure-footed friends gathered on Saturdays and Sundays to walk the entire length of the Delaware Canal Towpath. A few construction projects on the way made it impossible to complete the task, but they got close, covering nearly 50 of the 58.9-mile distance. Quite a feat, as the list of canal towpath “ long-walkers” has grown. New to the list this year was Jason Goldstein, who not only walked a lot but also helped shuttle others to and from our starting points.

In 2024, we made some new friends and reconnected with those who had walked with us before. Jeff Connell, a veteran “long-walker” and board member, led the walks, providing an engaging narrative that included history and highlights.

The list of those who can boast about completing this feat is growing. Some intrepid travelers who have walked the 58.9-mile distance include Jerry Taylor, Will Rivinus, Kamini Desai Carroll, Mark Frey, and Stephen Schlosser. However, we know there are many more people who have completed the task, but we don’t have a comprehensive list. It is one of our to-dos for 2025.

So, if you have walked the entire length of the Delaware Canal Towpath or if you know someone who has, please let us know. We are compiling a list of these hardy adventurers for posterity and bragging rights. And there might be special recognition as well. You can call or email us with the information.

Thanks, and see you on the towpath!