Enfield Falls Canal
Encyclopedia
Enfield Falls Canal is a canal
that was built to circumvent the shallows at Enfield Falls on the Connecticut River
. It is situated along the west side of the river, adjacent to the towns Suffield
and Windsor Locks
of Hartford County
in the state of Connecticut
, USA
. Windsor Locks is named after the series of locks
on the canal.
Prior to the opening of the canal, the scow
s or flat-bottomed boats which plied the Connecticut River could only ascend the falls by engaging local fallsmen to propel the craft forward utilizing set poles. One fallsman was required for each ton of cargo. Not only did the added labor costs make this method of overtaking the falls expensive, but the amount of cargo that could be transported was limited to approximately ten tons. Any additional freight had to be offloaded at Warehouse Point on the east bank and warehoused for later transport or carried around the falls by ox
teams.
Construction of the canal commenced in 1825 and it was opened on November 11, 1829. The canal was 5¼ miles (8.5 km) long and had a vertical drop of 32 ft (9.75 m). The locks admitted craft up to 90 ft (27 m) long and 20 ft (6 m) wide. The canal was unique among canals of the era in that it was designed with structural reinforcement to facilitate steam tug boat traffic. The design of the canal included a massive head gate with apertures that could be opened and closed to precisely control water levels not only within the lock chambers but within the canal itself. The design feature supported the incorporator's dual intent to profit not only from tolls charged on canal traffic but from the sale of mill sites and the leasing of water rights to mill operators along the last mile of the canal bank.
Once the canal was opened, boats were able to carry much larger loads, and the anticipated steamboat
services were introduced using newly designed vessels capable of passing through the lock chambers. By 1844 the Hartford and Springfield Railroad
had started operation, and navigation on the Connecticut River gradually reduced. The profits realized from the sale of water rights proved to be the more lucrative of the canal's two purposes.
Today the canal is closed to navigation, but mostly still in water and used industrially. Most of the towpath is open for hiking and cycling. The canal is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
.
As of October 2004 the canal is owned by Ahlstrom Corp.
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
that was built to circumvent the shallows at Enfield Falls on the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
. It is situated along the west side of the river, adjacent to the towns Suffield
Suffield, Connecticut
Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It had once been within the boundaries of Massachusetts. The town is located in the Connecticut River Valley with the town of Enfield neighboring to the east. In 1900, 3,521 people lived in Suffield; and in 1910, 3,841. As of the...
and Windsor Locks
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Windsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 12,043. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region. It is also the site of the New England Air Museum...
of Hartford County
Hartford County, Connecticut
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the US state of Connecticut. The 2010 Census records show that the county population is at 894,014 making it the second most populated county in Connecticut....
in the state of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Windsor Locks is named after the series of locks
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
on the canal.
Prior to the opening of the canal, the scow
Scow
A scow, in the original sense, is a flat-bottomed boat with a blunt bow, often used to haul bulk freight; cf. barge. The etymology of the word is from the Dutch schouwe, meaning such a boat.-Sailing scows:...
s or flat-bottomed boats which plied the Connecticut River could only ascend the falls by engaging local fallsmen to propel the craft forward utilizing set poles. One fallsman was required for each ton of cargo. Not only did the added labor costs make this method of overtaking the falls expensive, but the amount of cargo that could be transported was limited to approximately ten tons. Any additional freight had to be offloaded at Warehouse Point on the east bank and warehoused for later transport or carried around the falls by ox
Ox
An ox , also known as a bullock in Australia, New Zealand and India, is a bovine trained as a draft animal. Oxen are commonly castrated adult male cattle; castration makes the animals more tractable...
teams.
Once the canal was opened, boats were able to carry much larger loads, and the anticipated steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
services were introduced using newly designed vessels capable of passing through the lock chambers. By 1844 the Hartford and Springfield Railroad
Hartford and Springfield Railroad
The Hartford and Springfield Railroad is the continuation of the Hartford and New Haven Railroad from the Connecticut state line to Springfield, Massachusetts. It was in length and was owned and run by the Connecticut company under the usual arrangements in such cases. It was opened to traffic and...
had started operation, and navigation on the Connecticut River gradually reduced. The profits realized from the sale of water rights proved to be the more lucrative of the canal's two purposes.
Today the canal is closed to navigation, but mostly still in water and used industrially. Most of the towpath is open for hiking and cycling. The canal is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
As of October 2004 the canal is owned by Ahlstrom Corp.