STORY No.136 September 2020 EDITION

IRON and STEAM on the Delaware & Raritan Canal In 1830 both the Delaware & Raritan Canal, promoted by Robert Stockton of Princeton, and the Camden & Amboy Railroad, pro- moted by the Stevens family of Hoboken, received charters on the same day to build along the same route across the waist of New Jersey. Rather than compete, they formed the Joint Companies and agreed to share both risks and profits. When existing shipping lines were slow to use the D&R Canal, both parties built boats and orga- nized their own shipping companies. Both had an interest in early steamboat technology and used their experience to make the D&R an important and profitable addition to the coastal trade network. uilt wider and deeper then However, negotiating a canal under the Morris Canal, the D&R sail was not practical and transship- Bcould accommodate boats in- ping goods to and from mule-driven volved in the coastal trade. Although canal boats was an equally bad idea. By the mid-1800s, the piers along New York’s transporting anthracite coal might The Joint Companies partners un- South Street, on the East River, served foreign become profitable in the future, the derstood that they could realize large trade from ocean-going ships, coastal trading coastal trade was already a well-es- profits if they could make steam- schooners, and canal boats from a myriad of tablished economic engine. An inland boating on the canal practical. Over inland waterways. water transportation route between the next few years, the newspapers In 1842 an unidentified newspa- New York and Philadelphia, rather kept track as, Stockton and the Ste- per reported that Hogg & Delama- than the potentially stormy sea pas- vens built boats, and created a web ter, of the Phenix Foundry of New sage, would be a useful connection. companies to operate them. York City built for the Delaware & (Continued on page 2)

In the 1840s, shipping companies decorated their waybills with engravings of the their new, iron-hulled, propeller-driven coastal steamers. IRON and STEAM on the Delaware & Raritan Canal

Boston

New Haven

New York Coastal Trade Route Philadelphia

Delaware & Rariran Canal 1836 Baltimore

Washington Chesapeake & Delaware Canal 1829

The coastal shipping route hugged the shoreline taking advantage of any Norfolk inland passage. The D&R Canal was a good alternative to the rough outside passage. (Continued from page 1) gine with 18” by 24” stroke of piston Raritan Canal Company four iron- that drove two Ericsson screw pro- hulled, propeller-driven, steam-pow- pellers 5’ 10” inch in diameter. These ered, canal boats. Built from a design were the first twin-screw steam ves- furnished by John Ericsson, each sels in the country. The vessels were measured 96’ long, 24’ beam, and 7’ also provided with sails to be used depth in the hold. They were named, when circumstances were favorable. Anthracite, Black Diamond, Vulcan, Their hulls were built with heavy and Ironsides. Each was fitted with a iron frames and sheathed with iron 20-horsepower grasshopper-type en- plates, mostly of American manu-

Ericsson’s Propeller hen Swedish-born inventor vessels that Stockton had built for use John Ericsson’s design for a on the D&R Canal. screw propeller steamboat was During the American Civil War, Wrejected by the British Admiralty, Erics- Ericsson submitted a unique design son built the Robert F. Stockton named for an ironclad warship to counter the for American naval officer and D&R Confederate States plans to build one John Ericsson Canal promoter Robert F. Stockton of of their own. His ship, Princeton, New Jersey. The Stockton was the famed Monitor, suc- the first iron-screw steamship to cross cessfully fought with it the Atlantic, although mostly under sail. counterpart the Virgin- In 1839 Ericsson moved to the United ia in a Battle in Hamp- States where he used his skills in partner- ton Roads. ship with Stockton’s political connec- His design went on tions to design and build the sloop USS to be used throughout Princeton, the US Navy’s first screw- the Civil War and his propelled warship. The ship saw action concept of an armored during the War with Mexico. He went revolving turret contin- on to design iron-hulled, steam-powered ues to be used today. n A drawing of one of Ericsson’s propeller designs.

2 Waybills of Companies that Shipped via the D&R Canal The Missing Philadelphia Steam Propeller Company New York to Philadelphia via the D&R Canal Carriage House May 2, 1856 hen Nathan A. Smith Swiftsure Transportation Line married in 1860, he Steam Tow Boat Company New York to Philadelphia via the D&R Canal Wmoved into a comfort- May 27, 1843 able house next the recently Iron Steam Boat Line completed Waterloo Method- Hartford to Philadelphia via the D&R Canal ist Church. Each of his three Shipped in the Ironsides – November 25, 1843 brothers also built or renovated Waybills on the left homes for themselves commen- surate with their status as afflu- facture. The iron hulls were pro- ent country gentlemen. In addi- tected from oxidation with red lead tion, each built a carriage house and oil. These vessels remained in to hold the equipment required service until 1850; when their bot- Historic view of the Nathan A. Smith tom plates were found to be badly for rural transportation of the day. carriage house before renovation. corroded, they were sheathed with In the 1960s, interior designers Percy Leach and his partner Louis Gua- wood planks. landi began acquiring properties at Waterloo. They renovated many of the On July 1, 1842 the newspa- buildings and used their professional skills to decorate the interiors. They per The Princeton Whig reported also restored three of the four carriage houses as venues for historic craft that the Black Diamond, and Vul- demonstrations. The Waterloo Foundation for the Arts was established and can, owned by Captain Stockton, the Village became a tourist attraction. Today those three carriage houses passed through the canal on their survive in good condition but the fourth is missing. way to Philadelphia carrying coal Prior to selling the Waterloo Village property to the State of New Jer- in regular service between Phila- sey, the Nathan Smith carriage house had been moved across Waterloo delphia and New York. Later in Road. Mr. Leach restored the the month the New York Tribune building, added two wings reported that a steamboat line had and turned it into an elabo- been established between Hartford rate home for himself. When and Philadelphia and that the Iron- Percy Leach passed away, sides, the first ship of that line, had the house was sold and is arrived in Hartford from Philadel- now owned by a restaurateur phia in only 56 hours. from New York City. It is In 1831, the owners of the Joint now private property. n Companies formed the New Bruns- wick Steamboat & Canal Transpor- tation Co., later to be known as the An exterior view of the Percy Leach home. Napoleon Company. Robert Stock- ton and the Stevens family held the (Continued on page 7) Nathan A, Smith Carriage House Waterloo Meth- Smith’s Canal odist Store Church

In this early 1900s photo of Waterloo, taken from the Morris County side of the Muscon- etcong River, we can plainly see the Nathan A, Smith carriage against the fields that once This photo of the Martha Stevens of Philadelphia stretched up the Allamuchy Mountain shows that steamers changed very little from those depicted in 1840s waybill engravings. 3 The Morris Canal’s Move into Jersey City & the New York Connection By John Prieto he Morris Canal’s venture into of the first distinction, throughout the Jersey City was a series of fits Union.” The association’s president Tand starts that lasted some nine was, of course, Clinton; one of its vice years. Excavation of the canal itself had presidents was Cadwallader Colden. begun in 1825 but it was in 1827 that Colden’s rise in New York also in- the focus of its eastern terminus was cluded stints as District Attorney and suddenly on Jersey City. as a director (along with Clinton) of Cadwallader D. Colden had become the Bank of Savings of New York in president of the Morris Canal and 1816. Colden dealt with many promi- Banking Company late in 1826. Cold- nent New Yorkers in his career, but it en, a New Yorker, was a distinguished was Clinton who held Colden close politician, having served as mayor of and involved him in many official du- New York City, in the New York state ties. It was Clinton who appointed assembly and senate, and as a U.S. rep- Colden mayor in 1818. resentative. Colden was also a politi- As the idea of constructing the cal partner with New York Governor Morris Canal took root, the decision DeWitt Clinton, who championed the of where to put the canal’s eastern Cadwallader D. Colden Erie Canal. It was Clinton’s aim to terminus became a subject of lengthy promote “internal improvements” not debate. The original canal charter of had a bank office in New York City only for the state of New York, but 1824 called for it to end at the Passaic and most of the canal company’s direc- also for the nation. River in Newark, but allowed that the tors were from New York. Clinton had ordered an 1818 publi- route could be “altered.” The charter To provide some context, it is rel- cation that promoted canals. His desire also called for stock subscriptions to be evant to discuss the activities in Jersey for internal improvements was chan- advertised in New York City and for City in the years leading up to the ca- neled through a New York association the canal company’s banking office to nal’s opening. The section of land on whose goal was to “[open] an exten- be located in Jersey City. It is interest- the waterfront in Jersey City known sive correspondence, with gentlemen ing to note that the canal company also as Powles Hook (Paulus Hook) was owned by the Van Vorst family in 1804. Several sales of land were subsequently transacted. A group known as the “Jer- sey Associates” then sold 185 lots and New York City ferry rights to inventor Robert Fulton, who had a steamboat shop in Jersey City and had become partners with Cadwallader Colden. By 1826, Colden had gained the ferry rights; he in turn deeded them back to the Jersey Associates, who then deeded them to the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company in 1831. Near the end of his life, Colden, who owned land in Jersey City, deeded it to directors of the canal company who then turned it over to the Morris Canal and Banking Company in 1834. These This early 20th century photo shows canal boat 794 as it exits tide Lock 22 East into Jersey latter events would help to shape the City’s Little Basin while a group of bystanders watch from the Washington Street bridge. outcomes of the canal’s terminus, the

4 riinal easter end of the Morris Canal ssaic Pa LEFT: To reach the harbor, the Morris Canal followed a seemingly circuitous route south to a break in the Ber- Morris Canal gen Ridge, then north along the shoreline and across the NEWARK marshes to Powles or Paulus Hook

Marsh Hudson River BELOW: In the 19th century, Paulus Hook was one of the and erse Cit few places in, what would become, Jersey City with deep- Etension aes water access to the Hudson River. Both the Morris Canal Hoo Jersey and New Jersey Railroad chose the hook to reach New York City Harbor. Over the years, most of the shoreline was filled to Beren Ride Canal create additional commercial waterfront property Basin

Beren Ride arsis Morris Canal Cove

New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Company Newark Bay New York New York Harbor erry Dock

HUDSON RIVER

Historic Shore ine Modern Shore ine

railroads, and Jersey City itself. to resign”. It is not a Not long after construction of the ca- stretch to imagine De- Conia nal was started, the company’s financial Witt Clinton having a Cove outlook became cloudy. The company’s hand in this decision. Coal Depot stock subscription books were opened in Colden had been, April 1825 and work was underway that like his mentor Clin- JERSEY CITY – 1844 summer. By spring 1826, evidence of a ton, an early promoter POWLES HOOK scandal surfaced. In what later resulted in of such projects as the (Paulus Hook) trials and some convictions, a Wall Street Erie Canal. In his cel- investor group led by Thomas Vermilyea ebratory memoir of the opening port to the canal company’s directors had control of the finance committee of of that canal in 1825, Colden wrote that Colden officially announced the canal company and had persuaded that many states were considering Jersey City would be the eastern ter- the company to sign blank stock certifi- canals and that “…we do not forget minus rather than Newark. He then cates so that its shares could be used as that the State of New York is but a ordered Ephraim Beach, the canal’s payment to another company as part of a member of the great political fam- chief engineer, to survey a route from fraudulent series of financial transactions. ily, and that our welfare is intimately Newark to Jersey City which would In the resulting legal discourse and sub- connected with the prosperity of the avoid the long trip down Newark sequent legislative action, it was Cadwal- whole…”. In speaking of the pro- Bay and back up New York Bay. lader Colden, as chair of the New York posed Morris Canal, Clinton himself With the canal company’s financ- state senate judicial committee and one- had written to its commissioners in es reflecting a sizable debt owed to time counsel for one of the conspirators, 1823 that “…The demands of the the New York bank, the final route who publicly denounced what he felt was City of New-York…and the manu- through Newark not yet determined, overreaching state regulation. factories of New-Jersey… will for- and the Jersey City extension not yet In 1826, as a means of reassuring the ever secure a great revenue from the begun, an 1829 amendment to the public, Colden was invited to review the canal.” Clinton also met with Morris charter allowed the canal company canal, construction of which was well Canal visionary George P. Maccull- to borrow money and mortgage its underway, as well as the company’s busi- och and later urged New Jersey to waterway. This led to the so-called ness affairs. He evidently liked what he proceed with the canal so that coal “Dutch Mortgage” whereby the ca- saw and purchased some company stock. from Pennsylvania could help the nal could repay its debts. In November, Colden was chosen as a New York City area industrialize. By 1830, Ephraim Beach had con- director of the canal company; he was President Colden toured the canal cerns about the inadequate soil in the then immediately elected president. He in the spring of 1827 with Clinton, marshes between Newark and Jer- remained in the New York state senate whose praise for the canal was likely sey City, but did have a plan for the until August 1827 “when a regard to in part an attempt to attract new in- required locks to be used. He cited other paramount duties compelled him vestor money. It was in his first re- Harsimus Cove in northern Powles (Continued on page 7) 5 The Morris Canal Muse of a Nutley Artist hen we think of the towns Canal. The Reverend William Stu- that the Morris Canal art had served as a pastor at Frank- Wonce traversed, Nutley lin Reformed Church in Nutley: He doesn’t typically comes to mind. was also an accomplished amateur However, as the canal wended its artist who enjoyed walking along way south through Bloomfield, it the Morris Canal towpath. One day did skim the southwest boundary of in 1911, he was painting a landscape Nutley. Because the canal contribut- from a bridge over the canal when ed little to Nutley’s history or indus- an incident occurred that try, few stories have survived relating spawned the story that is to the Morris Canal there. Yet, one still told amongst his de- was recently shared with us. cedents. Anne Neatby of Prince Edward While Rev. Stuart was Island, Canada, contacted the Ca- painting, two of his grand- Reverend William Stuart’s painting of the nal Society of New Jersey to re- Morris Canal. late a story involving her great children, Elizabeth, age 6, and Ernest grandfather and the Morris “Budge”, age 3, were playing along the towpath when Budge’s hat blew off. When he tried to retrieve it, he fell into the canal. Thinking quick- ly, Elizabeth knelt down and pulled her younger brother to the safety of the towpath. After determining that Budge had suffered no harm, Rev. Stuart took him home, a distance of Historic view of Nutley‘s Franklin Reformed Church. about three-quarters of a mile. At the time, the incident was con- sidered noteworthy in the small town of Nutley (population 6,010 in 1910), as a short article appeared in the next week’s local newspaper. However, it was also memorialized in a different way: Rev. Stuart included his grand- daughter in his painting, gallantly PO Box 737, Morristown, New Jersey 07963-0737 rescuing her little brother from the On the Level is published three times a year by the Canal Society of New Jersey. Morris Canal. Appropriately, this OFFICERS DIRECTORS painting is titled Life Saver. Today, the canal’s route through President: Joe Macasek Bruce Blondina Jim Lee III Vice President: Tim Roth Bob Bodenstein Bill Meier Nutley has been replaced by the Gar- Treasurer: Ken Roser Janice Escobar Bill Pegg den State Parkway and the parsonage Recording Secretary: Carl Loutzenheiser Rod Howarth Rich Richter where Rev. Stuart once lived has been Corresponding Secretary: Vacant razed, but the Franklin Reformed Judy Keith Bierce Riley Past President: Vacant Church still has an active congrega- Steve Lauf tion. The story of a brother and sister CONTACT INFORMATION playing along the Morris Canal one Financial Administrator: Lew Wefferling – 973-768-4268 day in 1911 survives through the ar- Membership Chairman: Judy Keith – 973-347-9199 – [email protected] tistic talent of their grandfather and Museum Director: Rich Richter – 973-728-0316 – [email protected] in family’s oral history. n OTL Editor: Bierce Riley – 973-455-0491 – [email protected]

6 The Morris Canal’s in Jersey City (Continued from page 5) Hook as the recommended spot for the canal’s terminus. It was also in 1830 that negotiations for the termi- nus were heating up; in the end, the railroads, ever pressing for access to New York City, were to terminate at the Jersey Ferry Wharf in Harsimus Cove. The canal would have to settle for its terminus being south of the wharf at Communipaw Cove. President Colden realized that fi- The steamer Nellie, formerly the Harry, worked on the D&R Canal in the 1890s. nances were again an issue by 1832. Efforts were under consideration to borrow even more money to com- IRON & STEAM on the D&R plete the extension to Jersey City. (Continued from page 3) However, he felt confident that the In 1853 the locks on the main canal company was in a sound condition majority of the stock. The company were lengthened from 110 feet to 220 and felt empowered by the section operated steamboat service at both feet to accommodate boats of larger of the charter that allowed the canal ends of the Camden & Amboy Rail- dimension as well as steamboats with company to create a trust company; road. When the D&R Canal opened a barge or canal boat in tow. In addi- he felt that the trust would not be li- in 1836, they started running freight tion, the canal was widened at bridge able for the debts of the company. service through the canal. To control crossings to permit two boats to pass Colden did not live to see the com- toll rates, liability, and payments due at the same time. Previously, one pletion of the canal’s extension to Jer- to the state of New Jersey under the boat had to slow to let another pass, sey City, which occurred after much terms of the Joint Companies charter, causing numerous collisions, some delay and no finalized basin in 1836. the NBS&CTCo. held a controlling of them serious. The improvements In the years after Colden’s death, the interest in a tangle of shipping com- were covered by a $700,000 loan that canal company would lease its water panies all making use of the Joint was charged to capital stock. for manufacturing, enhance its bank- Companies’ canal and railroad. This It must have been quite a scene ing operations, increase shares to help arrangement insured the Joint Com- with mule-powered canal boats and pay for the Jersey City extension, and panies owners maximum profits. steam vessels competing for use of enjoy cooperation with the railroads. Now that speed was becoming a the canal. Unfortunately all this oc- But the pull of New York would still point of pride, it was found that fast- curred before popular photography be evident, as its increase in popula- moving steamboats created a wash could record the changes. We hope tion and demand for resources carried that damaged the banks of the canal. that these reports, waybills, and en- by the canal would lead to the canal’s To solve that problem, the sides of graving of some of the early steam- enlargement starting in the 1840s. the canal prism were rip-rapped with boats will help bring this story back n Perhaps foreshadowing the even- a stone lining extending down 3½ to life. tual extension to Jersey City at the feet below the surface of the water to The pictures, waybills and newspaper Hudson River was the Army Corps prevent erosion. article used to create this story were of Engineers’ report to the Canal donated to the CSNJ by Bill McKelvey. Commissioners in 1823. Their con- cern was that 25-ton boats would be 2021 D&R Canal Calendar “too small for the navigation thence This lovely full-color calendar features images taken by people to the City of New-York, in rough who visit the towpath. The calendar includes a map and a his- weather.” Having a New Yorker with tory of the D&R Canal. The cost is $20, with all proceeds going to the D&R Canal Watch to purchase items for the park. Jersey City land holdings may have Supplies are limited, so order your copy now. n also been a factor. To order, please email Linda Barth at [email protected], and she will arrange for delivery.

7 Debbie Wefferling ith sadness, we report that Debbie village maps, and walking them over to the Wefferling of Caldwell, New Jersey, orientation area. Her vivacious personality Wpassed away at home on May 11, 2020, built visitor interest even before most had surrounded by her loving family, after a entered the Village. long illness. She was 70 years old. Born in Debbie had a passion for cooking, New York, New York, she was graduated whether for two or two hundred. Af- from Verona High School in 1967. ter attending only a few CSNJ program Perky and amiable, Debbie contrib- meetings, she offered to make dinner for uted to the Canal Society of New Jersey the next meeting. Her wholesome and in two major areas: at Waterloo and as a delicious hot meals always included a hot caterer. As a volunteer at Waterloo Vil- dessert, often involving three or four large lage, she worked at the front gate. Debbie chafing dishes. Debbie continued to serve often stood between the parking lot and in this capacity as long as she was able. Debbie Wefferling gatehouse, greeting visitors, handing out She was also an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Caldwell where her coffee hour was a favorite, with the different treats she prepared. When not Canal Society Members cooking, Debbie was busy crocheting or We hope you have enjoyed this Story Issue of On the Level. We are sorry that doing stained glass work. She also enjoyed we haven’t had a chance to be together since January. Due to the health crisis, our boating with her husband, Lewis, a member program meetings, walking tours and other events have been canceled. To get back of CSNJ’s Advisory Board. on track, we are planning an online program meeting for this September and will Debbie is survived by her husband, continue to offer online activities until things are again back to normal. Some of you Lewis; two children, Lawrence and his may already be old hands at using ZOOM or other applications to communicate with wife, Debra Z.; daughter Laurel Wefferling- friends and family. If not, I think you will find that it’s not all that complicated. We, Pezeur and her husband, Michael; nine too, are learning and improving our skills as we go along. We hope you will join us grandchildren and too many friends to count. She will be remembered by CSNJ on-line for the September meeting. Joe Macasek, President CSNJ as the petite bundle of energy who changed

www.CanalSocietyNJ.org our program meetings, for which we are ex-

tremely grateful. n

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE ADDRESS

Morristown, New Jersey 07963-0737 Jersey New Morristown,

PO Box 737 Box PO

J N S C ey s er ew of iety c o anal FIRST CLASS MAIL CLASS FIRST