Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House - Havre de Grace, MD - Maritime Museums on Waymarking.com

Taken from the website, "THE SUSQUEHANNA AND TIDEWATER CANAL
Construction on the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal was begun in 1836 and completed in 1840. The 45 miles of canal ran from Havre de Grace at the top of the Chesapeake Bay to Wrightsville, Pennsylvania. It interconnected with nearly 4,000 miles of other canals throughout the Midwest and Eastern United States gatesand opened central Pennsylvania to convenient trade with Philadelphia and Baltimore. A total of 29 locks, 19 in Pennsylvania and 10 in Maryland, raised or lowered canal boats a total of 233 feet to compensate for the elevation differe
nce. The boats were pulled by mules. Lumber, farm products, and especially coal were the primary cargoes transported via the Canal during its heyday in the 1860s and 1870s. With the advent of the railroad, the role of canals began to decline. Railroads were faster, cheaper to maintain, and could operate 12 months a year. In fact, the Reading Railroad acquired the Canal in the 1870s, eventually selling it to an agent of the Philadelphia Electric Company in 1902 for the future construction of the Conowingo Dam. Thus ended the active life of the S & T Canal and the Canal Era in Havre de Grace.

THE LOCK HOUSE
While the Canal was in operation (1840 – 1890s), the Lock House, built in 1840, served ably in its dual roles of providing a residence for the Lock Tender and his family and an office for the Toll Collector. A brick two-story building about 30 feet deep and 37 feet long, it was nearly twice the size ofSusquehanna Museum Sign the other lock houses on the Canal. It is of the late Greek Revival style reflecting the latest fashion of the time.

After Canal operations ceased around 1900, it served as a rental property for about 70 years at which time the property was leased to the City by the Philadelphia Electric Company for museum purposes. In turn, the City agreed to allow the Susquehanna Museum organization to become the caretakers of the building and to restore it so that the history of the Canal and Havre de Grace could be told. Extensive archaeological studies were conducted and the house was restored. In 1979, the Electric Company deeded the building and about 7 acres surrounding the Lock House to the City. In 1982 the building was rededicated and opened to the public as The Susquehanna Museum of Havre de Grace at the Lock House. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the seven acres of North Park containing the Lock House and the Canal Lock are designated a Historic Area."

Taken from Wikipedia, "The Southern Terminal, Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal is a national historic district at Havre de Grace, Harford County, Maryland, United States. Located along the western bank of the Susquehanna River near its mouth at the Chesapeake Bay, it includes the Lock Master's House, the canal's outlet lock, and the foundations of a bulkhead wharf along the river side of the lock. Most of the structures built to serve aspects of the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal operations are no longer standing, but the locations of warehouses, stables, and several other buildings, including a broom factory, are shown on old city maps. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987."

Museum Address: 817 Conesteo Street Havre de Grace, MD USA 21078 Museum Website: [Web Link] Cost: 0.00 (listed in local currency) Hours of Operation: Varies.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   06/04/2018 bluesnote visited it