Dam #7, also known as the Hamilton Street Dam, at Mr Allen's town  (Allentown). Like other similar dams, this dam was created to provide a slack water pool to provide water to this, the seventh section of the Lehigh Canal.  The original dam at this location was of stone and wood crib construction with a height of 8 feet. The photograph shown here is of the original dam and bridge across the Lehigh River. In the foreground is guardlock #7 and the locktender's house. The foot bridge at the upper end of the lock allowed the mules and the mule tender to cross the canal and proceed southward along the towpath located on the river side of the lock and canal.

 

This is a current view of the Hamilton Street Dam looking west toward Allentown. The original dam was destroyed by floods. The bridge that now spans the Lehigh River at Allentown is also a replacement and is a little south of the original bridge and not shown in this photograph. The older bridge was also destroyed by floods. The abutment of the original bridge (shown in previous photograph), can be seen across the river in this photograph.

 

This is a period postcard view of guard lock #7 looking upstream from the lower "berm" wall. The canal boat is going upstream through the lock. The towpath crossed the lock on the bridge shown in this photograph.

 

 

Guardlock #7 is at the upper end of Section 7 immediately below dam #7 (Hamilton Street Dam). This photograph shows the upper end of guardlock #7 looking through the lock.

 

Looking back through guardlock #7, from downstream. Lock lift was 1.4 feet.

 

Guardlock #7 from lower end. The concrete spillway replaces the upper gates.

 

Guardlock #7 from river side looking downstream. There is no evidence of the original lock tender's house as the new bridge support columns now stand where the house once stood.

 

A view of the canal just south of the Hamilton Street bridge, looking south. The river, and thus the canal, will bend to the left a short distance from this point and proceed easterly through Bethlehem on its way to Easton and the confluence with the Delaware River. This portion of the canal and for a distance of 2.7 miles (to Bethlehem), is maintained by the City of Allentown.

 

Lock #40 looking upstream from a bridge that now crosses the canal. The original lock walls have been stabalized with concrete. A concrete spillway has been installed in the upper end of the lock. Lift was 7.3 feet.

 

A view of the canal between Allentown and Bethlehem looking downstream.

 

Canal looking downstream toward Bethlehem.

 

Lehigh River between Allentown and Bethlehem.

 

All along the canal and particularly in areas where the canal is easily accessible to visitors, the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Commission has placed information stations. A portion of one such station is shown above.

 

Canal between Allentown and Bethlehem.

 

This view of lock #41 is of the upper end of as you approach the lock from upstream. The footbridge across the upper end is a recent addition. To the left is a second foot bridge which crosses the bypass flume.

 

Lock #41 from the foot bridge looking downstream.

 

Cleat on the berm side lock wall of lock #41.

 

Lock #41 from the downstream towpath wall looking back through the lock. A spillway has replaced the upper gates. Lift was 7.2 feet.

 

From the towpath below lock #41 looking back at lower end of the lock. Note the water discharge at the lower end of the bypass flume (flume is to the right in this photograph).

 

    Continued