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Old print showing canal boats being loaded with anthracite coal at Mauch Chunk

 

Weigh Lock and Lock #2 continued

 

 

The following photograph is of lock #2 from downstream, looking back north. Both the upper and lower gates are missing as is the wooden cribbing that formed the interior walls. Lock #2 which was on the river side of the weigh lock was used as a bypass for the weigh lock. Empty canal boats returning upstream would use lock #2 and thus avoid the weigh lock. The lift for lock #2 was 8.3 feet.

 


This portion of the canal is also not watered and while it has been allowed to become somewhat overgrown with wild grasses, there is evidence that it has been previously cleared of debris.

 

The foundation of an administration building can be seen in this photograph. It was just east of lock #2 and between the towpath and the river. Because of the amount of activity in this area, a number of canal employees would have been employed at this location to maintain records and operate the weigh lock and lock #2. Most likely, canal employees working at this location lived in nearby Mauch Chunk.

 

Additional photographs of the weigh lock provide some indication of the activity that took place at this locale. This shot is from above the weigh lock looking back upstream at the entrance.

 

The next photograph is also from the berm wall, looking upstream.  The weigh lock wall is immediately below and the wall in the center separates the weigh lock and lock #2 which is adjacent and to the left. The end of the lock #2 wall is just visiable and the towpath side of the canal can be descerned where it rises from the canal bed.

 

The final shot of the weigh lock is from above looking downstream and across to lock #2. The lower end of lock #2 is visible.

 

The Lehigh River leaves Mauch Chunk in a generally southernly direction and then immediately takes a sharp turn to the left or east as it bends around Bear Mountain and approaches lock #2. This photograph was taken looking due east or downstream from lock #2. As can be observed, after leaving lock #2 the river and thus the canal make a very distinctive turn to the right, guided by the surrounding mountains and begins its southernly flow through the Lehigh Gap on it's way to Allentown. It will continue in a generally southward direction until it passes Allentown where it will abruptly turn east when it encounters South Mountain and will proceed in an easternly direction until it joins the Delaware River at Easton.

 

    Continued

 

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Lehigh Canal & Navigation Company
History of the Lehigh Canal