In the early 19th century, Americans seeking to escape crowded coastal towns and cities, began to settle further inland, away from navigable waterways. Since passable roads were scarce at that time, it became necessary to develop a transportation system that would enable the movement of goods across inland routes.

The canal system was a man-made waterway, where boats and barges powered by mules would transport freight to various markets along a specific route. One of those canals, called the Morris Canal, stretched 102 miles across the rugged landscape of Northern New Jersey from Phillipsburg on the Delaware River to Newark & later to the New York Harbor at Jersey City.

Construction of the Morris Canal began in 1825 and first opened for business in 1831. The canal was used to carry large quantities of coal from eastern Pennsylvania and also iron, lumber, agricultural and home goods to the east coast cities and points in between.

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Bloomfield Councilman, Rich Rockwell. Rich, who is a council liaison to both the Morris Canal Greenway Committee and the Historic Preservation Commission, is also a trustee of the Historical Society of Bloomfield and author of the book, “Bloomfield Through Time”. He will talk about the history of the Morris Canal, including its engineering features, its affect on day to day life and its ultimate abandonment in 1924 after nearly 100 years of operation.

Rich will also tell of the efforts made in his community and the state of New Jersey to preserve the rich history of the Morris Canal.