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Lehigh River
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If you use google calendars you can search for a public calendar called "Lehigh River Release Schedule" to add all of these dates.
2008 release schedule
http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Projects/FEWalter/wwrs.htm
August: 30, 31
September*: 13, 14, 27, 28
*The September dates are planned but will only be scheduled if precipitation and additional water accumulation occurs during the recreation season.
October**: 10, 11, 12
**The October dates will only occur if sufficient water remains. Release dates of 11 and 12 October take precedence over 10 October.
Total: 24 white water release dates planned, 7 of which are dependent upon additional water storage.
Water Level Info:
Upper - Paddled Second Lunch Wave as low as 180CFS to park and play. Works but bottom out easily.
Lower -
Section III -
8/20 331 CFS rafting Glenn Onoko to Jim Thorpe. Passable but very bony. Took about 2-2.5 hours with swimming/play time.
Description - F. E. Walter Reservoir is an integral part of the Lehigh River flood control plan. The dam's length is 3,000 feet, height is 234 feet and width is 30 feet. The drainage area covers a distance of 288 square miles with flood control storage of 107,815 acre feet. Whitewater boating is enjoyed during the regularly scheduled release dates which are listed on the Army Corp. of Engineers website. The 1800-acre project has a small 80 acre reservoir but no Corps-operated recreation facilities.
Attractions - The Francis E. Walter Dam was completed in December 1960 as an earth fill embankment-impervious compacted earth core with rip rap cover. The dam's length is 3,000 feet, height is 234 feet and width is 30 feet. The drainage area covers a distance of 288 square miles with flood control storage of 107,815 acre feet.
Recreation - The Philadelphia District of the Army Corps of Engineers has regularly scheduled release dates and makes those dates available through its website. Whitewater boating is enjoyed during these designated times.
http://www.leo.lehigh.edu/envirosci/watershed/index.html
The Lehigh River originates with a series of glacial bogs and marshes in the area of Pocono Peak Lake (elevation 2,100 feet above sea level) near the town of Gouldsboro. During the course of its 103 mile journey to the Delaware River in Easton, the elevation drops nearly 1,900 feet, a fact that has strongly influenced the history of the watershed.
It takes about 24 hours for a drop of Lehigh River water to travel the 103 miles of its length.
The Lehigh River serves as a geopolitical boundary between most of the Pennsylvania counties that it travels through, including Wayne, Lackawanna, Monroe, Luzerne, Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Lehigh River was referred to as the "West Branch of the Delaware River", and the area where it entered the Delaware River was called the "Forks of the Delaware". The name "Lehigh" is the anglicized version of the Lenni Lenape word "Lechewuekink" which means "Where there are forks."
The area between Freemansburg and Easton is known as the "dry-lands" because all the water from rain drainage flows underground (approx. 6 miles).
Between 1821 and 1966, the Lehigh River was owned by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, making it the only privately owned river in the United States. This private ownership continued until a local representative, Samuel Frank, promoted a bill to return control of the river to the state in 1967.
The 72 mile Lehigh Navigation Canal System was developed between 1827-1829 because the proximity of the Lehigh River to Eastern Pennsylvania's natural resources and its ability to link the resources to the marketplaces downstream.
After 1834, the Lehigh Navigation Canal System became part of a larger system of canals including the Morris Canal, which linked it to New York Harbor, and the Delaware canal, which linked it to Philadelphia.
In 1855, the peak years of its operation, the Lehigh Navigation Canal System carried over 1,000,000 tons of anthracite coal from Carbon County to Easton. The vast white pine forest that lined the banks of the upper Lehigh River helped to make Pennsylvania the greatest lumber producing state during the 1860s.
Portland cement was first manufactured in America along the banks of the Lehigh River at Coplay. Between 1890 and 1920, the Lehigh Valley was the greatest cement-producing region in the world.
Portions of the bottom and banks of the Lehigh River are covered by millions of tons of coal silt, which was deposited during the great anthracite boom of the 19th century. Until the 1950s this silt was dredged from the river and utilized as an industrial fuel.
The banks of the Lehigh River were once the heart of America's iron industry. Between 1850 and 1880, approximately one-fourth of America's annual iron production came from this region. The Bethlehem Steel Plant Corporation was the birthplace of Americas modern defense industry. It also produced the steel structural beams and columns that form the backbone of many of Americas skyscrapers and long-span bridges; including the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Lehigh Navigation Canal System supported all the industry along the Lehigh River watershed. The system overcame a greater elevation change than any other of Americas towpath canals. Its Upper Grand Section between White Haven and Jim Thorpe used 20 dams and 29 locks to overcome an elevation change of 600 feet in less than 26 miles. This drop creates a flow of water that makes the gorge ideal for whitewater sports. Its Lower Grand Section, between IM Thorpe and Easton, utilized 8 dams and 52 locks to overcome an elevation change of 353 feet in 46 miles.
The Lehigh Navigation Canal System was the longest-lasting towpath canal in American history. It remained in full operation until 1932.
Section 8 of the Lehigh Navigation Canal System is the only fully operational part of the towpath canal remaining in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. It is located in the City of Eastons Hugh Moore Park, which is named after the late Hugh Moore, the inventor of the paper cup and the founder of the Dixie Cup Corporation.
The Lehigh River watershed is 1,360 square miles in size. This watershed is part of the 12,755 square mile Delaware River watershed.
Numerous manmade ponds and lakes were created in the upper Lehigh River watershed to control the flow of water through all seasons.
Lehigh Falls was the site of Stoddartsville, a planned industrial village in the 1820s that today is a national historic site.
The Francis E. Walter Dam was created in 1962 to control flooding in the Lehigh River valley and to effect a manageable water source for a variety of needs.
Osprey, great blue heron, beaver, muskrat, killdeer, turkey, whitetail deer, hawks and even the occasional bald eagle has been sighted in the Lehigh Mountain reach of the Lehigh River between Allentown and Bethlehem.
The Lehigh River creates a "metro-wilderness" as it flows through the heart of the Lehigh Valley. The river and its banks are home to a wide variety of plant and animal species that exist in the midst of an area containing more than 560,000 people.
The Lehigh River has better water quality today than it has in more than 175 years.
The Lenni Lenape Indians (also called the Delaware Indians) were in both the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys when settlers began to arrive from Europe. Much of the settlement occurred along the Delaware River. In the 1600’s, the area where the Lehigh flows into the Delaware was known as the Forks of the Delaware (presently Easton). In the 1600’s the Lenape called the river "Lechauwekink" which translates into "where there are forks."
The Pennsylvania Germans shortened this name to "Lecha" which the English proceeded to mistranslate into Lehigh (Zagofsky, 1997).
The Lehigh Valley was entirely different billions of years ago. In fact, it did not exist at all and consisted entirely of a flat stretch of land with no animals or trees and little vegetation. Approximately 600 million years ago, a huge stretch of land broke apart into a western section (North and South America) and an eastern section (Europe and Africa). The area between these two landmasses, known as the Appalachian Sea, covered the Lehigh Valley at the time. Coral deposits, which have been found dating back 250 million years, have led scientists to believe that the Lehigh Valley area was part of a tropical inland sea. The simple creatures and algae in the area at that time combined with seawater and minerals to form clay, slates, and limestone. This allowed the Lehigh Valley to become a major source of natural resources (Hall and Hall, 1982).
Throughout its history, the area had various dramatic changes to face. The movement of the earth’s plates caused the land to buckle and the Appalachian Mountains to form. The waters which had once covered the region flowed away and were replaced with swamps and forests. Various reptiles and plants began to inhabit the area, but disappeared after an ice age swept over North America 150 million years ago. Huge glaciers and ice covered the region, causing the plant life to die and decompose. Eventually, the plant life transformed into the coal beds that lie to the north of the Valley. Many years later, these coal beds would become the source of many jobs in the Valley, helping to feed hungry mouths (Hall and Hall, 1982).
Eventually, the glaciers began to recede and animals that had once lived at the edge of the glacier began to enter the North American continent. These included caribou, bison, and wooly mammoth. Hunters followed the animals because they provided a source of food and clothing. Scholars believe that the first humans, known as Paleo-Indians, entered the Lehigh Valley about 10,000 years ago. This is because the remains of a mastodon, an animal hunted by the Paleo-Indians, was found at Marshall’s Creek near the Delaware River Gap. It dated back to 10, 210 B.C. These Paleo-Indians are thought to be the ancestors of the Lenni Lenape Indians (Hall and Hall, 1982).
The recession of the glaciers not only had effects on plant and animal life in the Lehigh Valley, but on the topography of the area as well. As the Wisconsin Glacier which covered the area receded, the melting ice gave way to rivers and streams, which dug into the land that had long been covered by the glacier. Eventually, the Lehigh River Watershed was formed (Hall and Hall, 1982).
The water in the Lehigh River comes from three sources: mountain streams, melting snow, and rain. The area around Gouldsboro, PA, is a spring-flooded wetland which drains into tributaries which combine to be the Lehigh River’s source. Winter snow then melts in March and April, which increases the rivers flow in the spring. Finally, spring rains, called freshets, also increase the river volume and have been the cause of floods in the past. The floods have been known to destroy bridges and dams on the river (Zagofsky, 1997).
The Lehigh River is 103 miles long and originates in the area of Pocono Peak Lake near Gouldsboro, PA. It would take approximately 24 hours for a single drop of water to travel from the beginning to the end of the river. At the origin of the river, the elevation is approximately 2,100 feet above sea level. When the Lehigh River meets the Delaware River, the elevation is about 200 feet above sea level, having dropped 1,900 feet from the origination in the Poconos (Tom Gettings).
By 1000 B.C., the Lenni Lenape no longer followed all the traditions of their ancestors the Paleo-Indians, who had once followed the animals they hunted. By the beginning of the century, the Lenni Lenape began to live a relatively stable life. They moved between the inland areas and the shore to hunt and fish, but this was not the only way they lived their lives. They planned around the seasons and also began to depend on crops for survival (Hall and Hall, 1982).
The Delaware Valley was the center of the Lenni Lenepe’s land. They were members of the Algonquin tribe and spoke two closely related dialects. When the Europeans first arrived, these Native Americans lived in bands of villages with a few hundred people in each (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums). These villages were spread over several regions, which are now known as New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware (Hall and Hall, 1982).
There was also Lenape activity in the Lehigh Valley, although not as much as would be expected. When European settlers first began arriving, there was a Lenape village located at the junction of the Lehigh River and Saucon Creek. There were also Indian campgrounds near the present day city of Easton, where the Lehigh and Delaware rivers meet (the Forks of the Lehigh). For many years, the Indians in the Lehigh Valley participated in quarrying activities, digging for both jasper and flint in today’s village of Vera Cruz (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
When the European settlers began to arrive, they participated in a lot of trade with the Native Americans. The Lenni Lenape would trade animal furs and skins with the Europeans in exchange for items that were far ahead technologically. These items, such as iron pots, needles, alcohol, and woolen cloth, made their way into the Indian culture. Within a generation, the culture began to decline because the Indians quickly became dependent on these newly introduced tools and skills that had been a part of the Lenape tradition began to disappear (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
Another issue that led to the downfall of the Lenni Lenape was the fact that they did not have a clearly defined system of leadership. The Lenni Lenape villages, as already stated, were spread out over an immense area. Each village would have a leader but there was not a specific leader for the entire Lenni Lenape people (Hall and Hall, 1982).
The differences in politics led to many misunderstandings between the Lenni Lenape and the Europeans as they arrived from across the Atlantic Ocean. When Europeans purchased land from a particular chief, they thought that the chief was speaking for all the people. After making a deal over land with one tribe of Lenni Lenape, the Europeans would face another tribe who claimed the land was theirs (Hall and Hall, 1982).
Political issues were not the only misunderstandings that the Lenni Lenape had with the new European settlers. The Lenni Lenape felt that owning land merely meant the ability to use that land — to hunt, to plant and to fish. Unlike the European settlers, they did not think that owning implied exclusive possession. When the Lenni Lenape signed treaties with the Europeans over land, they were shocked to find that they could no longer hunt on the lands as they had for thousands of years previously (Hall and Hall, 1982).
In 1467, the Moravians separated from the Roman Catholics and sought to live a life of the purest conduct. They were descendents of Martin Luther’s Protestant movement. Although the religious group has been referred to under various names, the English-speaking world has adopted the term Moravian, while the Moravian tend to refer to themselves as the "Unita Fratum" (Witcraft, 1927). The Moravians originally settled in the mountains east of Prague and then moved into areas of Moravia and Bohemia as well (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums). After the Thirty Years War, the Moravians began to be repressed by the Catholics. The repression motivated the Moravians to seek refuge in the New World, where they could establish their own missionaries (Smaby, 1988). The German nobleman Nicholas Ludwig, Count of Zinzendorf, was very influential in helping the Moravians meet this goal. In fact, he even helped them to receive free passage over to the colonies (Witcraft, 1927).
The first attempt at Moravian settlement in North America occurred in Georgia, but the Moravian beliefs were not accepted in this new colony. Therefore, they sought to settle elsewhere. In 1740, they befriended the Methodist preacher George Whitefield and helped him to build a school in the town which Whitefield later called Nazareth, near the Fork of the Delaware. Religious disputes caused the friendship between the Moravians and Whitefield to end sharply, but the Moravians refused to leave Nazareth when asked (Witcraft, 1927).
In 1741, they purchased a 500-acre plot of land where Monocacy flows into the Lehigh River. This site was known to the Indians as "Monogassi" (Meyers, 1981). The Moravians started to build their town, which would be the center of their missionary activities in America (Smaby, 1988). On December 21, 1741, Count Zinzendorf arrived at the new settlement. Since the colony was unnamed, it was decided by common consent to call it Bethlehem (Witcraft, 1927). The lands of Nazareth were also bought later that year by the Moravians due to the financial difficulties of George Whitefield (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
The Moravians in Bethlehem divided themselves into various groups called choirs. Age, sex, marital status, and spiritual seniority separated the members of these groups. Choir members did various things together such as eating, praying, working, and providing support for one another (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums). The people of the community gave time and labor in exchange for food and shelter, something they called the "General Economy" (Smaby, 1988). Their motto was "We pray together, we labor together, we suffer together, we rejoice together." The church was the center of the community and the Moravians sought to bring their religious beliefs to others in the area such as the Indians (Hall and Hall, 1982).
The Moravians were very interested in both religious and aesthetic matters such as visual arts and music. Besides this, they were very accomplished as architects and engineers. They developed large stone and brick buildings that are still standing today (Hall and Hall, 1982). Two industrial sections of Bethlehem were also established by the Moravians along Monocacy Creek. These industrial buildings were separated from the residential buildings, although they were made with the same limestone and red brick arches as those of the residencies. They were even created with the same amount of aesthetic detail. The common features unified the industries and the residences (Smaby, 1988).
In Bethlehem in 1754, the Moravians developed the first pumped water system in America (Hall and Hall, 1982). Maps of the area suggest that the Moravians may have placed the industries purposely near the water. Some of the industries such as the oil mills utilized water for their power. Others like the wash house or the bleach house needed water as an ingredient. Traditionally, industries have used water for waste removal, as most of these companies did. It is likely that the wastes flowed directly into the Monocacy Creek. Since the Monocacy Creek flowed directly into the Lehigh River, this waste removal would have decreased the water quality in both the Creek and the River (Smaby, 1988).
The communal nature of the Moravian settlements, including both Bethlehem and Nazareth, began to dissolve in 1762 when the General Economy was removed. The Revolutionary War provided further strain because it was not in the Moravians nature to fight; therefore, they refused to bear arms. This caused other Lehigh Valley Patriots to distrust them, although the Moravians did help in treating wounded soldiers and providing supplies. The Revolutionary War brought them into contact with other communities in America, namely, different secular communities. This enabled the Moravians to incorporate other communities into their daily lives and their exclusive religious communities eventually dissolved (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
The Lehigh Canal (also referred to as the Lehigh Navigation) was a major source of transportation built because the Lehigh River had limitations as a shipping route. In 1790, navigation of the Lehigh River began with the use of rafts that were referred to as "arks." The arks were made of 3 inch thick pine and were12 to 18 inches wide. They were used to transport grain or coal down the river. The Lehigh River was not very predictable due to the fact that it tended to flood or become too shallow for barges, depending on the season. The river was also very swift, making it impossible for boats to make a return voyage against the current. Often, when attempting to journey down the river, a boat would get caught in the rapids of the river or on rocks. It became apparent that a new system of travel besides the Lehigh River would have to be implemented.
In 1791, the discovery of anthracite coal in the present site of Summit Hill helped pave the way for the future development of the Lehigh Navigation (Historic Resources Study). The Lehigh Coal Mine Company was formed in 1792, but eventually business began to falter because of the cost of transporting anthracite coal to Philadelphia. The company could not compete with the bituminous coal that was being shipped over from England. The company briefly increased its sales during the War of 1812 under the control of Jacob Cist because bituminous coal could no longer be shipped over from England. Unfortunately, sales plummeted once again when the war was over.
Two men in Philadelphia, Josiah White and Erksine Hazard, had purchased some of the anthracite coal from Cist and discovered that it was an excellent industrial fuel. They decided to lease, and then eventually purchase, the lands of the Lehigh Coal Mine Company. White and Hazard received permission from the Pennsylvania State Legislature to improve navigation on the Lehigh River (Historic Catasauqua Preservation Society).
Developments on the Lehigh River itself came before the Lehigh canal was built. A system formed by Josiah White created sufficient water levels to transport anthracite coal down the Lehigh even during summer. This system involved a series of channels and "Bear Trap" locks. Hydrostatic pressure allowed barges to be transported into a lock, and from there, the boat would go to the next lower slack water pool. By 1820, the system on the Lehigh River was finished, but more was to come when the development of the Lehigh Navigation began (Historic Catasauqua Preservation Society).
The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company (LC & N), developed by Hazard and White in 1821, wanted to create a canal system which would enable ascending and descending traffic on the Lehigh. They employed Canvass White to help them with their plan because he was highly involved in the development of the Erie Canal. The Lehigh Navigation project began in 1827 and was completed in 1829. The canal was 60 feet wide at the top and 45 feet wide at the bottom and was 5 feet deep. There were a total of 48 lift locks over the Lehigh Navigation’s 46-mile route from Mauch Chunk (presently Jim Thorpe) to Easton. Ten miles of this route was made up of slack water pools (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
The Lehigh Navigation allowed anthracite coal to be transported to both New York and Philadelphia because of its connections to both the Morris Canal and the Delaware Division Canal, respectively. The Lehigh Navigation was lengthened with the finish of the Upper Grand Section in 1836. This portion of the canal connected White Haven and Mauch Chunk, traveling 26 miles and overcoming a difference of 600 feet in elevation. In 1841, a flood damaged the Lehigh Navigation. However, it continued to be prosperous until 1855 when it carried the highest annual amount of anthracite coal to the market (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
The typical day of canal workers was very long and arduous. Work began at 4:00 am, when boats would begin to move up and down the canal. The locks would also begin to function at this time. They would then move through the canal at a relatively slow pace. It would take 10 minutes for the canal boats to move through one lock.
The canal boats were pulled by mules up and down the canal. Mules were used instead of horses because they were thought to be smarter. They could also eat while they walked so travelling was faster. Feeding baskets were hung around their necks and they could munch away as they spent the day working.
Young boys were in charge of taking care of the mules. They would wake up around 3:00 am to groom the animals and make sure the mules had enough to eat. The children’s main duty was to guide the mules along the towpath, walking beside the animals from 4:00 am until the canal shut down for the night at 10:00 pm. It was a hard life.
Often, the families of canal boat captains would live right on the boat with them. There would be a small room on the boat where they could all sleep. This room would not be that big, so sleeping arrangements were sometimes cramped.
For recreation, children who lived along the canal or on the canal boats would swim in the Lehigh Navigation. One might think that this would clean them off after a long day working, but, unfortunately, this was not the case. The canal was so black from the coal silt that would fall into the canal and build up on the bottom. Those who chose to swim in the canal would get covered by the silt as well. Because of the buildup of silt on the floor of the canal, it needed to be dredged often. If the canal was not dredged, the coal silt buildup would cause the boats to get stuck on the bottom of the canal. This also did not make for very good water quality. In fact, people rarely fished back then because fish could not live in a canal or a river that was full of coal silt.
In the winter, the canal would freeze over. This was one of the major reasons that the railroads started to take business from the canal. When the canal was frozen, it could not operate. During this time, the families of the canalers would go back to their houses. This would be the vacation time for the canal workers. Now, summertime is often seen as a time to vacation. When the canal shut down, a little relaxation could occur. Walnutport was a town where many canal workers once lived. There are many houses located right along the canal in this town. A lot of these houses are still there today.
Locktenders put in extremely long days as well. They would have to wake up at around 3:00 am to prepare for the canal to open at 4:00 am. They would do more than just control the opening and closing of the locks. Often they would have to break up fights between boats that wanted to get into the lock first. If both boats claimed that they arrived at the lock at the same time, it was up to the locktender to decide who had the right of way. It was not unusual for locktenders to have side businesses well. Along the canal was a perfect spot for a store that sold groceries, toiletries, or other various products. Some locktenders kept small farms as well (Everet Kaul).
Despite the success that the Lehigh Navigation had in 1855, the Lehigh Valley Railroad between Mauch Chunk and Easton was completed that same year. This competition proceeded to decrease the usage of the Lehigh Navigation (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums). Railroads provided a much quicker form of transportation than the canal. Besides the speed,, the railroads were also beneficial because they operated during the cold winter months when the canal froze over (Zagofsky, 1997).
In June 1862, the Lehigh Navigation was practically destroyed by a devastating flood. The Upper Grand Section was replaced by an extension of the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad while the lower section of the canal was rebuilt. In 1869, the railway was extended southward to Easton. It was then leased by the Central Railroad of New Jersey in 1871. In 1901, another flood once again destroyed large portions of the canal; and it was once again rebuilt (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums). Besides the railroads, the Great Depression also decreased the operations of the Lehigh Canal. In the 1930’s, the only boats travelling on the canal were used to dredge coal silt out of the canal (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums). The last canal boat captain on the Lehigh Navigation was Alan Strohl in 1942 (Zagofsky, 1997). His journey ended in Walnutport as a storm began to role over the area (Everett Kaul). The canal was not rebuilt.
In 1962, the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company began to sell off the canal to municipalities along the route. The canal was restored in Weissport, Walnutport, Freemansburg, Easton, and between Bethlehem and Allentown (Zagolsky, 1997). It is presently used for recreational purposes. On any given day, one can find various fisherman on the side of the canal waiting for a fish to bite their line. Runners and bikers have also taken advantage of the towpath, taking time off from their days to jog or bike under the beautiful trees along the Lehigh Canal. Rafters and canoers also enjoy a day out in the sun on the waters of the Lehigh River. Teachers have also taken advantage of both the canal and the river by having students sample water in the area.
Jim Thorpe has gone through a series of name changes throughout the town's history. As the first settlement along the Lehigh River in 1815, it was originally called Coaltown. It was later changed to Mauch Chunk which translates to "Bear Mountain" in the Lenni Lenape language. Black bear are still said to roam the Mauch Chunk mountains. Today, the town is known as Jim Thorpe. This renaming occurred when Mauch Chunk, Upper Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk decided to merge. The name comes from the athlete, Jim Thorpe, who died in California at that time. In 1954, the town was renamed Jim Thorpe in the hope that some of his family's money would help fund a research institute and a hospital in the town. This, however, never occurred. It is interesting to note that Jim Thorpe never actually set foot in the town which was named after him (Zagolfsky, 1997).
Mauch Chunk was one of the earliest industrial towns in America. It was actually owned by the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company from 1818 to 1831. Both Josiah White and Erksine Hazard had houses in the town of Mauch Chunk even when it was first beginning to develop in the 1820’s. Various new buildings such as mills, factories, and a hotel began to spring up in Mauch Chunk and the town began to slowly develop. In 1823 plans for Mauch Chunk’s first school building were underway and the town’s population was rapidly increasing. The town slowly gained more and more economic prosperity, allowing for more independence. Because of this, the LC&N began to sell plots of the land in 1831 (Campion, 1997).
If anthracite coal had not been found, the town of Mauch Chunk would have been much different. But in 1791, Philip Ginter discovered coal on Sharp Mountain where Summit Hill now stands. Although this discovery was purely accidental, it lead the way for the industrialization of the area (Brenckman, 1912). Mauch Chunk began to develop in 1818 when White and Hazard began to use the area as a center of anthracite coal transportation along the Lehigh River (Campion, 1997).
Initially, a road was built from the Summit mine to the Lehigh River at Mauch Chunk. This provided a means for wagons to bring coal to the river. In 1827, the wagon road was transformed into a gravity railroad known as the Switchback Gravity Railroad. The coal could then travel down the mountain by means of this railroad system utilizing gravity. The empty cars were then hauled up the mountain by mules (Campion, 1997). It was also eventually used for recreational purposes and lead to the future development of roller coasters (Chris Kocker, personal communication, 7/6/00).
The Switchback Gravity Railroad provided a good way to get the coal to the Lehigh River. The Lehigh River was then used for further transportation of the coal, but the river was not incredibly reliable. In 1829, the Lehigh Navigation was completed. This provided a means of transporting the coal from Mauch Chunk to Easton. From Easton, the coal could travel down the Delaware Division Canal to Philadelphia (Campion, 1997)
Asa Packer came to Mauch Chunk in 1833 and was an important man in the development of Mauch Chunk. When he died in 1879, Packer was one of the richest men of the century. Packer was an entrepreneur who was involved in numerous business projects throughout his life. He was involved in the Mauch Chunk Water Company as well as with the law. He served five years as an associate judge in Carbon County and two terms in the House of Representatives. He is also well known for being the founder of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA (Campion, 1997).
Asa Packer also saw a prominent future for railroads in the area. In 1852, he put all the money that he had acquired into the development of a railroad. In 1855, Robert Sayre and Asa Packer finished the construction of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, resulting in the quick transport of coal from Mauch Chunk to Easton. This other means of transporting coal to Easton dealt a major blow to the canal system (Campion, 1997).
Anthracite coal was discovered by Philip Ginder in 1791 on Sharp Mountain, an area nine mile west of the Lehigh River and forty miles north of Allentown. The Lehigh Coal Mine Company was formed in 1792, but eventually business began to falter because of the cost of transportation for anthracite coal to Philadelphia. The company could not compete with the bituminous coal that was being shipped over from England. The company briefly increased its sales under the control of Jacob Cist during the War of 1812 because bituminous coal could no longer be shipped over from England. Unfortunately, sales plummeted once again when the war was over (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
Two men in Philadelphia, Josiah White and Erksine Hazard, had purchased some of the anthracite coal from Cist and discovered that it was an excellent industrial fuel. They decided to lease, and then eventually purchase, the lands of the Lehigh Coal Mine Company. They began their efforts in the present day Mauch Chunk and formed two separate companies: the Lehigh Coal Company and the Lehigh Navigation Company. Shortly after, they merged to become the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, know as LC & N (Campion et al., 1997). Through the LC & N, a wagon trail was built in 1818 from the Summit mines to Mauch Chunk. This wagon trail transformed into a gravity railroad later in order to minimize the time needed for coal to get down the hill. In 1829, the Lehigh Navigation was completed as well (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
The easier transport of coal due to the gravity railroad and the completion of the Upper Grand Section of the Lehigh Navigation made it possible to open more coal mines. New companies began to open in the Lehigh region, although they all transported their coal via the LC & N (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
During the early years of the anthracite coal industry at Summit Hill, deep mining was not necessary because the coal was located relatively near the surface. It was dug out by workers with a simple pick and shovel. The coal was not always located at the same location on different mountains. When Cist had begun his coal mine operations, his mine was located at Room Run. In 1830, White reopened the Room Run mines located near Nesquehoning Creek. There were pros and cons to this location since coal at Room Run was located closer to the river than the coal at Summit Hill. It was, however, deeper in the surface of the earth (Campion et al., 1997). This coal was retrieved by drilling tunnels until the coal was reached (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
Ethnic diversity was extremely prominent in the industry. Some of these new immigrants faced harsh treatment, partly because many of them could not speak English. Ironically, much of this discrimination was lead by the Irish, who too, had been previously discriminated against. However, his was partly due to economic fears (Campion 1997).
Strong ties were formed by men and boys who worked in the mines since they were expected to aid each other in the event of disaster. Mining accidents were very common for anthracite coal workers. During mining, coal gave off methane (also known as firedamp). This gas was explosive and a constant threat to the well being of those in the mines. Fans were utilized to circulate the air, but the methane remained a threat. There are numerous explosions in the record books due to firedamp explosions. The worst in history occurred in the Avondale coal fields near Wilkes-Barre in 1869. One hundred and eight men and boys were killed when a match was lit following a strike, igniting the circulating air and causing a fatal explosion. The mine collapsed, trapping the unfortunate people and taking their lives. This, however, is only one of the many tragic accidents that occurred (Campion et al., 1997).
Working in the coalfields began as early as the age of nine. These "breaker boys" had the job of picking slate out of the tons of coal. This was hard work and would often would lead to bleeding fingers at day’s end. When machinery started to become more popular, some of these young boys were mangled to death in the blades of the machinery (Campion et al., 1997).
Drinking alcohol also became a way of life for the miners due to the danger and hard work. This was the case for those who worked on the canal as well, although LC & N looked down upon this. The work on the canal was not as dangerous as it was in the mines. It was important to have a level head when coal mining because of the technical difficulty. However, the drinking continued because it was just the way of life (Campion et al., 1997).
The anthracite coal industry began to dramatically change during the 1850’s and 1860’s. This was directly related to the changing transportation systems in the area. Railroads began to be a much faster means of transportation. They were also operable in the winter months when the canal froze over. In the 1870’s and 1880’s, the industry was growing quickly but unfortunately, the market was growing at a much slower rate. This created competition between coal companies as well as the transportation companies (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
In the beginning of the twentieth century, the coal industry began to decline. Alternative fuels such as oil and natural gas were becoming more popular energy sources. There were also continuous problems between the workers and the management resulting in numerous strikes that were also extremely detrimental to the industry. The number of jobs was also decreasing due to increased in technology and the implementation of strip mining. The Great Depression also caused the coal industry to decline further. By 1954, the LC&N stopped mining coal altogether (Campion et al., 1997).
The anthracite coal industry has had a major impact on the quality of the water in the Lehigh River. Over the past thirty years, the quality of the water has drastically increased. Coal silt deposits in the Lehigh River used to increase the acidity of the waters. Much of this silt was swept away by hurricanes and floods. In addition, the average pH of the river has changed from approximately 4.5 to 6.0 in the 1950s to the present range of 6.9 to 9.2 (Miller, 2000).
Today, abandoned coal mines are a major cause of the decrease in water quality in the Lehigh River. Abandoned mine drainage is the "single largest source of water pollution in Pennsylvania" according to the Wildlands Conservancy in Emmaus, PA. The tributaries that lead into the Lehigh River, including Nesquehoning and Buck Mountain Creeks, are affected by the acid mine drainage from eight coal mines. This decreases the quality of water in the river. Drainage from the mines also causes various changes to the water including lowering alkalinity levels, decreasing the natural buffering capacity, and introducing high concentrations of sediment, iron, sulfate, aluminum, zinc, and acidity (Urban, 1998).
Efforts are being made by the Wildlands Conservancy to decrease the effects of this acid mine drainage. They have received a grant to construct a 1.5 acre artificial wetland to remove acid mine drainage pollutants from the Lausanne Tunnel discharge. Hopefully, this will be another step towards increasing the water quality of the Lehigh River (Miller, 2000).
The following is a brief chronology of Bethlehem Steel from 1857 to 1998. In 1857, the Saucona Iron Company was formed and eventually evolved into the Bethlehem Steel Company (after a series of name changes) in 1899. This company was extremely influential during the industrial revolution of the United States. Through the years, Bethlehem Steel gained control of various steel plants and ship building companies, helping to increase the profits of the company. For both World War I and World War II, Bethlehem Steel was involved in the production of vast quantities of ships, armor, ordnance, guns, and munitions for the United States and her allies. The company was also involved in the formation of the steel for various buildings, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Rockefeller Plaza, and the US Supreme Court Building. Although more than 10 million tons of steel were imported into the United States in 1965, Bethlehem Steel still managed to reach a record high of producing 23.7 million tons of raw steel in 1973. In 1978, over 28 million tons of steel were imported. In 1982, Bethlehem Steel began to lose money. Over the next 5 years, half of the employees were laid off and company branches began to be shut down. In 1995, steel making finally ceased in the Bethlehem plant. In 1996, Bethlehem Works was formed and began to plan ways to redevelop portions of the Bethlehem Plant.
Since the development of Bethlehem Works in 1996, plans have been underway for the redevelopment of the land owned by Bethlehem Steel, once highly involved in the industrial revolution. Historically significant buildings as well as new architecture will be utilized in order to retain the character of Bethlehem Steel. The plan involves adapting old buildings on the Bethlehem Steel site for new uses. This will allow the historical context of the buildings in the areas to remain. New buildings will also be developed in order to accommodate projects which could not be suitably placed in existing buildings.
Environmental plans are also underway to clean up the Bethlehem Steel site. This will be done through the combination of treatment, soil excavation, and engineering controls. Various sites were inspected including sites which would cause potential harm either to the environment or to people. Some of these sites included chemical storage areas, storage tanks, waste handling areas, and painting areas. These areas will be be thoroughly addressed during the cleanup of the site. Soil samples were also taken in 200 locations to identify sites of potential concern where volatile substances could migrate from the soil to groundwater. According to the soil samples which were taken, there were only a few sites which would need remediation. Eleven groundwater monitoring wells were also installed. These were utilized to evaluate the quality of groundwater as well as possible impacts on the Lehigh River. On May 6, 1999, all soil and groundwater remediation projects on the site were approved by both USEPA and PADEP (Bethlehem Works).
Throughout the years, shad have been a very important part of the lives of those who have lived along the Lehigh River. This type of fish is white in color with firm, rich flesh. The Lenni Lenape would eat shad, cooking these fish on long wooden sticks over a fire. The Europeans soon learned that shad provided a tasty meal as well. However, the unbelievably intricate bone structure of this fish was one major drawback. The Lenni Lenape even referred to the shad as a "porcupine-fish-turned-inside-out."
The Lehigh River provided an excellent environment for shad fishermen. It was wide and deep enough to attract the shad, but not too deep or rapid to scare fishermen from wading into the river. A particular shad fishing spot that was popular with the Moravians was between the ferry (near the Hill-to-Hill Bridge) and the fish dam (east of Sand Island). This was because this portion of the river provided a relatively shallow stretch of water.
Shad live their lives in both salt and fresh water. During the winter months, shad live in the Atlantic Ocean, where the water temperature is warmer than in the Delaware or Lehigh Rivers. Once the water begins to get warmer, around early March, the shad start to swim up the Delaware River. Moravian records indicate that the shad would usually arrive in Bethlehem in late April or early May. The shad’s goal during their ascension up the river was to locate the spot of their birth. Once this was accomplished, the shad would proceed to lay their eggs and new life was formed. All surviving shad would then migrate back to the Ocean for the cold winter months.
When the Lenni Lenape Indians and the Moravians fished for shad, the Lehigh River was exceptionally clean. Our country had not yet been hit with the problem of pollution. The first blow against shad in the Lehigh River occurred when coal mining began near Mauch Chunk. Quite a bit of coal was lost in the River when it was shipped downstream on boats. Therefore, the water quality began to decrease. A more efficient means of coal transportation was sought and the canal was finished in 1829. The dam that went across the Lehigh River at the Forks of the Delaware was finished as well, blocking all shad from any potential pursuit up the Lehigh River for over 150 years.
The rise of industry had negative effects on the water quality of the Lehigh River. Acid mine drainage in the tributaries around Mauch Chunk killed all life in the waters that drained into the Lehigh River. Coal silt was also highly detrimental to all aquatic life. Various other industries including iron mills, zinc refineries, and coal yards contributed to the pollution of the river.
In 1955, hurricanes Diane and Connie swept down the East Coast. Although their damage to the Delaware Valley was horrific (property damage and loss of lives), the pollutants and silt build-up in the Delaware River were swept away. By the spring of 1960, shad returned to the Delaware River, but not the Lehigh River due to the dam at Easton.
By 1968, the shad had once again disappeared. Both the Lehigh River and Delaware River were teeming with pollution. There was a 60-mile stretch of the Delaware River which became know as the pollution block. This area was located around the cities of Philadelphia, Camden, and Wilmington. The pollution caused the dissolved oxygen levels in that particular area to dip so low that the shad could not breathe (below four parts per million).
The Clean Water Act of 1970 began the turn around regarding pollution in the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. Sewage treatment plants and industries were forced to decrease the amount of pollutants that were released into the surrounding bodies of water. The numbers of shad in the Delaware River began to increase once again. Industries along the Lehigh River such as Bethlehem Steel and New Jersey Zinc Company cleaned up their act as well. Aquatic life began to return to the Lehigh River, which had been full of pollutants since the industrial revolution. In the 1980’s, Bethlehem Steel began to decrease their output of steel and the New Jersey Zinc Company ceased their operations. This also caused a further increase in the water quality of the Lehigh River.
The Lehigh River still did not have any shad in its waters because of the dams at Easton and Glendon. After much debate, the "Shad Ladder Bill" was passed in 1989. This bill provided $3.3 million towards the construction of fish passageways at the sites of both of the dams on the Lehigh River. This provided a means for shad to travel up the Lehigh River, something which had not been done since 1829. At the Easton site, there is actually a public viewing site where visitors can see the shad travel upstream through a large glass window. There is also scientific equipment which allows scientists to count the number of shad that travel through the ladder (Dennis Scholl, 1997).
In the 1840’s, another mineral was found in Saucon Creek Valley which lead to further industrialization of the Lehigh River Watershed. Zinc was the basic ingredient in white paint; it was also a rustproof metal (Hall and Hall, 1982). In 1853, the Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc Company was formed on the banks of the Lehigh River in Bethlehem. Later, in 1898, the New Jersey Zinc Company developed in Palmerton, and slowly the town began to form. Two zinc smeltering plants were developed: a west plant and an east plant. The east plant was on the southern bank of the Aquashicola Creek and flowed into the Lehigh River. The west plant was on the Lehigh River itself. The zinc industry helped provide jobs and money to those who lived in the town. It also was the reason that a town developed on the site in the first place (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
But where there is industry, there is often harm to the environment. The zinc industry was truly detrimental to the waters and land surrounding it. Today, if you travel down the Lehigh River in Palmerton and look at the hills on its bank, there is no vegetative growth. The land is merely hills of dirt. The land has been highly contaminated by the zinc smeltering that occurred there for 90 years. Lead, cadmium, and zinc left from the zinc smeltering process has been deposited in water and soils surrounding the east and west plants. The hills near these factories, including those on the river, could not support vegetation as a result of heavy metals concentrating in that area. Therefore, heavy metals present in surface water runoff from the mountain into area streams into the Lehigh River.
The minerals that have been left can be detrimental to one’s health if they are present in food. Palmerton has educated its citizens on the possible negative effects of being exposed to these toxins. They are, however, still doing research in order to determine how to control the problem that began when zinc smelting started in the area (Fox et al., 1987).
When exploration of the Lehigh River first began, the lumbering industry was extremely prominent in the area. In order to build the first arks that traveled down the river, it was necessary to cut down trees. Before the canal was built, these arks were destroyed once they reached their destination because they could not be sent back upstream. Lumber was still needed later in order to build the canal boats that would operate on the Lehigh Navigation. It was also used for various other things such as homes and mine props. In order to get this lumber, a large number of trees needed to be cut down. The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company owned the land surrounding the canal and leased it out to lumbering companies, not realizing that this would eventually help lead to the canal’s downfall.
Lumbering was extremely detrimental to the environment and contributed to floods that destroyed the Lehigh Navigation on various occasions. The Lehigh Gorge and the area located above it had been heavily involved in the lumbering business. By 1860, the area above the Lehigh Gorge had been almost cleared of all trees. In 1862, rain began to fall in the area for a prolonged time. The runoff could not be absorbed by the bare slopes of the mountain and caused the Lehigh River to rise to 27 feet above its normal level. The dams on the canal could not maintain this enormous amount of water and a tidal wave swept down the Navigation. Logs were also used to hold up the dams, and these were swept away as the dams burst. The water and logs led to the destruction of the entire Lehigh Canal. Only the section from Mauch Chunk to Easton was rebuilt (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museum).
41 15' 84 N
75 25' 24 W
The Lehigh River begins its journey in a sequence of glacial marshes and bogs in the Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania area. This area is part of the Glaciated Pocono Plateau Section of the Appalachian Plateau Province. The elevation at the headwaters of the river is about 2,200 feet above sea level. During its 103-mile journey to the Delaware River, the elevation of the river drops nearly 1,000 feet.
The river serves as a boundary for most of the counties in the watershed. It flows through a number of state parks and recreation areas. The river also contains a variety of different geologic formations. The unique characteristics of the river’s geology and history are explored throughout this photojournal.
75 31' 89 W
The Lehigh River flows through State Game Lands # 127 in Tobyhanna, Monroe County. This section consists of 25,527 acres that are allocated for wildlife management and seasonal hunting. The Pennsylvania Game Commission manages this area.
41 07' 82 N
75 37' 53 W
Stoddartsville was the dream of John Stoddart, an English immigrant who built the town to serve as the center of his business empire. Stoddart invested in the Pocono region and used his political stature to ensure that the plans for construction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike included passage through Stoddartsville. He envisioned creating a major transportation and trade route for grain from the fertile Wyoming Valley down to Philadelphia. Stoddartsville was completed in 1819, three years after both the turnpike and Stoddart’s gristmill were constructed.
Stoddart eventually became partners with Josiah White, another driven businessman. Together, White and Stoddart invested in opening the Lehigh River for navigation and transport. White was responsible for building dams that would control the flow of water and aid in the navigation of large barges that would carry grain down the river. White ran into difficultly with his “wing dams” due to water shortages. He was forced to invent a new type of dam called the “bear trap dam.” This created a problem for Stoddart since the bear trap dams only allowed for one-way travel. Therefore, once the barges reached their destination, they had to be broken up and sold. Stoddart quickly lost money as a result.
The coal industry was in favor of building a canal system that would allow for two-way traffic between the coal fields and the city of Easton. White began building the canals in Easton and worked his way upstream. In 1829, the canal reached White Haven, twelve miles short of Stoddartsville. The construction was stopped when the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company withdrew its mandate to extend the canal to Stoddartsville. Stoddart’s finances were in ruins. By the 1830’s, Stoddartsville was almost abandoned. Aside from the minimal sale of lumber to the downstream coal industry, Stoddartsville had little purpose. By the 1860’s, the dams had been flooded and the gristmill and sawmill destroyed.
41 07' 75 N
75 37' 65 W
Lehigh Falls is the site of one of the first planned industrial villages that was masterminded by John Stoddard. This magnificent site is hidden in the reaches of the river above Francis E. Walter Dam. The land on either side of the river is privately owned, making access to the falls limited. The Devonian shale, limestone, and sandstone of the area provide layered surfaces over which the waters of the Lehigh gracefully flow.
Video Clip 1 (1.4 MB)
41 06' 03 N
75 43' 19 W
The Francis E. Walter Dam was dedicated in 1961. It was constructed and is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. It is located in Luzerne County and stands at 1509 feet above sea level.
Prior to construction of the dam, the river level would continually rise each spring as a result of melting snow and spring rain. These freshets, as they are called, would cause severe flood damage. Bridges and dams were destroyed along the river each year. The dam was built to control these devastating floods and prevent seawater from entering the drinking water supplies in the Philadelphia area. The dam provides a water storage location for summer drought as well as recreational opportunities.
Francis E. Walter Dam is one of the largest dams on the Lehigh River. There were many sections of the river that could not be navigated by the packet boats. The canal was built to avoid these dangerous sections. A system of canal locks allowed passage in and out of the river to make the trip south. During the height of the coal industry, there were 56 locks in the canal. Forty-eight were lift locks and eight were guard locks. The total length of the canal was 46.01 miles with ten miles of slackwater. The average width of the canal was 60 feet at the top and 45 feet at the bottom. The canal was deepest in the center. A trip from Jim Thorpe, to Bristol via Easton, took five days.
41 03' 51 N
75 46' 35 W
White Haven was founded in 1835 and named after Josiah White, the famous dam builder and coal industry businessman. The town’s principle business in the years following its founding was lumber production. In the 25 miles between Mauch Chunk and White Haven, the Lehigh River descends 642 feet. In that area 29 locks were used to control the water and assist in the transport packet boats and arks down the river.
At White Haven, the Lehigh River and its surroundings become the Lehigh Gorge State Park. The park extends thirty miles from the outlet of the Francis E. Walter Dam to its southern boundary just north of the town of Jim Thorpe. This area was given to the Bureau of State Parks in 1980 to be preserved as parkland.
Lehigh Gorge State Park includes 4,548 acres of land and is known for its steep walls, dense vegetation, and numerous waterfalls. A great diversity of plants and animals are found throughout the park. In addition to the incredible scenery, this section of the river provides special opportunities for recreational activities. Abandoned railroad beds provide miles of mountain biking and hiking trails and the class II and III rapids attract whitewater boaters.
The geology of the Valley and Ridge Province, south of White Haven, consists of two sections, the Appalachian Mountain Section and the Great Valley Section. Blue Mountain is part of the Appalachian Section. The Great Valley Section consists of rolling hills and open areas. It is bordered on the north and west by Blue Mountain and by South Mountain on the south and east. The northern section of the Great Valley is blanketed by shale. In the eastern part of the valley, north of Allentown, the shale is replaced by slate.
41 57' 78 N
75 45' 41 W
Rockport sits 13 miles above Mauch Chunk. It was founded in 1836 by Mr. F.A. Foster after a discovery of coal in the region. From Rockport, coal was transported to market via the canal and river system. Rockport access is the midpoint of the 26 mile Lehigh Gorge State Park. The trail that goes through this state park is the Deleware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Trail. This state park is renown for its white water rafting and recreational activities.
Buck Mountain Creek (Indian Run) is one of four tributaries containing mine drainage entering into the Lehigh River.
40 51' 53 N
75 44' 06 W
Jim Thorpe was the first settlement in the mountainous valley of the Lehigh River. It was known as Coaltown in 1815. Later, the town changed its name to Mauch Chunk, which means ”Bear Mountain” in the Lenni Lenape language. The black bear was a common site in the 1800’s and can still be seen today in the Mountains near Jim Thorpe.
In 1953, two separate events led another changing of the town’s name. First, the boroughs of Mauch Chunk, Upper Mauch Chunk, and East Mauch Chunk wanted to merge to increase the industry in the town. Second, the athlete Jim Thorpe died in California and his remains had been sent to his home in Oklahoma. The state of Oklahoma had promised to build a park dedicated to his memory. Later, they backed out of their plan. When this happened, Mrs. Thorpe negotiated with the boroughs of Mauch Chunk. In 1954, the boroughs agreed to merge and change the town’s name to Jim Thorpe. The town planned to take the money from the estate of Jim Thorpe to create a hospital and cancer research center. Unfortunately, Jim Thorpe’s estate turned out to be less valuable than predicted. It should be noted that Jim Thorpe never set foot in the town named after him.
Jim Thorpe was the center of the American industrial revolution. Many wealthy businessmen owned large Victorian homes in town. When the coal industry diminished as Americans began to use electricity, many people left the town to find work in other places.
Today, the entire town is registered as a historic landmark. Many of the old homes, the jail, churches, and the railroad station have been restored as historic sites. There are wonderful places to camp, hike, bike, and white water raft.
40 51' 57 N
75 44' 00 W
Coal was first mined at Summit Hill, about nine miles west of Jim Thorpe. In 1819, horse drawn wagons would carry the coal back and forth from the mining site to the Lehigh River. In 1827, the first coal railroad was built. It is best known as the Switchback Railroad; but was originally called the Gravity Railroad. A safety car would ride at the front to slow and stop the train. Mules and horses would carry the cars back up after the steep descent. Each car held 1.5 tons of coal. The nine-mile descent to town took about twenty minutes and the cars sometimes reached a speed of fifty miles per hour.
In 1844, stationary steam engines replaced the mules and horses. In 1872, direct railroad service connected to Summit Hill and the Switchback was retired. The 16 miles of trails of the former railroad, beginning in Mauch Chunk State Park, are used as hiking trails today.
40 51' 30 N
75 12' 26 W
The coal that exists in the mountains above Jim Thorpe is anthracite coal. Anthracite is nearly pure carbon (about 86 percent) and is the result of a process called coalification. The high carbon content of anthracite makes it difficult to ignite. However, when it catches fire it burns with a short, very hot, colorless, smokeless flame.
Coalification occurred in Eastern Pennsylvania as a result of the folding and faulting in the formation of the Appalachian Mountains. These actions caused intense pressures that produced the high carbon content found in anthracite.
The anthracite deposits in Eastern Pennsylvania are divided into four fields: north, south, east, and west. The coal fields above Jim Thorpe are part of the southern field, the largest of the fields in northeastern PA. The southern field extends 56 miles from Jim Thorpe to Lykens. Coal is found in 141 square miles of this field.
If you use google calendars you can search for a public calendar called "Lehigh River Release Schedule" to add all of these dates.
2008 release schedule
http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Projects/FEWalter/wwrs.htm
August: 30, 31
September*: 13, 14, 27, 28
*The September dates are planned but will only be scheduled if precipitation and additional water accumulation occurs during the recreation season.
October**: 10, 11, 12
**The October dates will only occur if sufficient water remains. Release dates of 11 and 12 October take precedence over 10 October.
Total: 24 white water release dates planned, 7 of which are dependent upon additional water storage.
Water Level Info:
Upper - Paddled Second Lunch Wave as low as 180CFS to park and play. Works but bottom out easily.
Lower -
Section III -
8/20 331 CFS rafting Glenn Onoko to Jim Thorpe. Passable but very bony. Took about 2-2.5 hours with swimming/play time.
Description - F. E. Walter Reservoir is an integral part of the Lehigh River flood control plan. The dam's length is 3,000 feet, height is 234 feet and width is 30 feet. The drainage area covers a distance of 288 square miles with flood control storage of 107,815 acre feet. Whitewater boating is enjoyed during the regularly scheduled release dates which are listed on the Army Corp. of Engineers website. The 1800-acre project has a small 80 acre reservoir but no Corps-operated recreation facilities.
Attractions - The Francis E. Walter Dam was completed in December 1960 as an earth fill embankment-impervious compacted earth core with rip rap cover. The dam's length is 3,000 feet, height is 234 feet and width is 30 feet. The drainage area covers a distance of 288 square miles with flood control storage of 107,815 acre feet.
Recreation - The Philadelphia District of the Army Corps of Engineers has regularly scheduled release dates and makes those dates available through its website. Whitewater boating is enjoyed during these designated times.
http://www.leo.lehigh.edu/envirosci/watershed/index.html
| Fast Facts About Lehigh River |
The Lehigh River originates with a series of glacial bogs and marshes in the area of Pocono Peak Lake (elevation 2,100 feet above sea level) near the town of Gouldsboro. During the course of its 103 mile journey to the Delaware River in Easton, the elevation drops nearly 1,900 feet, a fact that has strongly influenced the history of the watershed.
It takes about 24 hours for a drop of Lehigh River water to travel the 103 miles of its length.
The Lehigh River serves as a geopolitical boundary between most of the Pennsylvania counties that it travels through, including Wayne, Lackawanna, Monroe, Luzerne, Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Lehigh River was referred to as the "West Branch of the Delaware River", and the area where it entered the Delaware River was called the "Forks of the Delaware". The name "Lehigh" is the anglicized version of the Lenni Lenape word "Lechewuekink" which means "Where there are forks."
The area between Freemansburg and Easton is known as the "dry-lands" because all the water from rain drainage flows underground (approx. 6 miles).
Between 1821 and 1966, the Lehigh River was owned by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, making it the only privately owned river in the United States. This private ownership continued until a local representative, Samuel Frank, promoted a bill to return control of the river to the state in 1967.
The 72 mile Lehigh Navigation Canal System was developed between 1827-1829 because the proximity of the Lehigh River to Eastern Pennsylvania's natural resources and its ability to link the resources to the marketplaces downstream.
After 1834, the Lehigh Navigation Canal System became part of a larger system of canals including the Morris Canal, which linked it to New York Harbor, and the Delaware canal, which linked it to Philadelphia.
In 1855, the peak years of its operation, the Lehigh Navigation Canal System carried over 1,000,000 tons of anthracite coal from Carbon County to Easton. The vast white pine forest that lined the banks of the upper Lehigh River helped to make Pennsylvania the greatest lumber producing state during the 1860s.
Portland cement was first manufactured in America along the banks of the Lehigh River at Coplay. Between 1890 and 1920, the Lehigh Valley was the greatest cement-producing region in the world.
Portions of the bottom and banks of the Lehigh River are covered by millions of tons of coal silt, which was deposited during the great anthracite boom of the 19th century. Until the 1950s this silt was dredged from the river and utilized as an industrial fuel.
The banks of the Lehigh River were once the heart of America's iron industry. Between 1850 and 1880, approximately one-fourth of America's annual iron production came from this region. The Bethlehem Steel Plant Corporation was the birthplace of Americas modern defense industry. It also produced the steel structural beams and columns that form the backbone of many of Americas skyscrapers and long-span bridges; including the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Lehigh Navigation Canal System supported all the industry along the Lehigh River watershed. The system overcame a greater elevation change than any other of Americas towpath canals. Its Upper Grand Section between White Haven and Jim Thorpe used 20 dams and 29 locks to overcome an elevation change of 600 feet in less than 26 miles. This drop creates a flow of water that makes the gorge ideal for whitewater sports. Its Lower Grand Section, between IM Thorpe and Easton, utilized 8 dams and 52 locks to overcome an elevation change of 353 feet in 46 miles.
The Lehigh Navigation Canal System was the longest-lasting towpath canal in American history. It remained in full operation until 1932.
Section 8 of the Lehigh Navigation Canal System is the only fully operational part of the towpath canal remaining in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. It is located in the City of Eastons Hugh Moore Park, which is named after the late Hugh Moore, the inventor of the paper cup and the founder of the Dixie Cup Corporation.
The Lehigh River watershed is 1,360 square miles in size. This watershed is part of the 12,755 square mile Delaware River watershed.
Numerous manmade ponds and lakes were created in the upper Lehigh River watershed to control the flow of water through all seasons.
Lehigh Falls was the site of Stoddartsville, a planned industrial village in the 1820s that today is a national historic site.
The Francis E. Walter Dam was created in 1962 to control flooding in the Lehigh River valley and to effect a manageable water source for a variety of needs.
Osprey, great blue heron, beaver, muskrat, killdeer, turkey, whitetail deer, hawks and even the occasional bald eagle has been sighted in the Lehigh Mountain reach of the Lehigh River between Allentown and Bethlehem.
The Lehigh River creates a "metro-wilderness" as it flows through the heart of the Lehigh Valley. The river and its banks are home to a wide variety of plant and animal species that exist in the midst of an area containing more than 560,000 people.
The Lehigh River has better water quality today than it has in more than 175 years.
| The origin of the name of the Lehigh River |
The Pennsylvania Germans shortened this name to "Lecha" which the English proceeded to mistranslate into Lehigh (Zagofsky, 1997).
| The historical development of the river |
The Lehigh Valley was entirely different billions of years ago. In fact, it did not exist at all and consisted entirely of a flat stretch of land with no animals or trees and little vegetation. Approximately 600 million years ago, a huge stretch of land broke apart into a western section (North and South America) and an eastern section (Europe and Africa). The area between these two landmasses, known as the Appalachian Sea, covered the Lehigh Valley at the time. Coral deposits, which have been found dating back 250 million years, have led scientists to believe that the Lehigh Valley area was part of a tropical inland sea. The simple creatures and algae in the area at that time combined with seawater and minerals to form clay, slates, and limestone. This allowed the Lehigh Valley to become a major source of natural resources (Hall and Hall, 1982).
Throughout its history, the area had various dramatic changes to face. The movement of the earth’s plates caused the land to buckle and the Appalachian Mountains to form. The waters which had once covered the region flowed away and were replaced with swamps and forests. Various reptiles and plants began to inhabit the area, but disappeared after an ice age swept over North America 150 million years ago. Huge glaciers and ice covered the region, causing the plant life to die and decompose. Eventually, the plant life transformed into the coal beds that lie to the north of the Valley. Many years later, these coal beds would become the source of many jobs in the Valley, helping to feed hungry mouths (Hall and Hall, 1982).
Eventually, the glaciers began to recede and animals that had once lived at the edge of the glacier began to enter the North American continent. These included caribou, bison, and wooly mammoth. Hunters followed the animals because they provided a source of food and clothing. Scholars believe that the first humans, known as Paleo-Indians, entered the Lehigh Valley about 10,000 years ago. This is because the remains of a mastodon, an animal hunted by the Paleo-Indians, was found at Marshall’s Creek near the Delaware River Gap. It dated back to 10, 210 B.C. These Paleo-Indians are thought to be the ancestors of the Lenni Lenape Indians (Hall and Hall, 1982).
The recession of the glaciers not only had effects on plant and animal life in the Lehigh Valley, but on the topography of the area as well. As the Wisconsin Glacier which covered the area receded, the melting ice gave way to rivers and streams, which dug into the land that had long been covered by the glacier. Eventually, the Lehigh River Watershed was formed (Hall and Hall, 1982).
| The Lehigh River today |
The water in the Lehigh River comes from three sources: mountain streams, melting snow, and rain. The area around Gouldsboro, PA, is a spring-flooded wetland which drains into tributaries which combine to be the Lehigh River’s source. Winter snow then melts in March and April, which increases the rivers flow in the spring. Finally, spring rains, called freshets, also increase the river volume and have been the cause of floods in the past. The floods have been known to destroy bridges and dams on the river (Zagofsky, 1997).
The Lehigh River is 103 miles long and originates in the area of Pocono Peak Lake near Gouldsboro, PA. It would take approximately 24 hours for a single drop of water to travel from the beginning to the end of the river. At the origin of the river, the elevation is approximately 2,100 feet above sea level. When the Lehigh River meets the Delaware River, the elevation is about 200 feet above sea level, having dropped 1,900 feet from the origination in the Poconos (Tom Gettings).
| Native Americans |
By 1000 B.C., the Lenni Lenape no longer followed all the traditions of their ancestors the Paleo-Indians, who had once followed the animals they hunted. By the beginning of the century, the Lenni Lenape began to live a relatively stable life. They moved between the inland areas and the shore to hunt and fish, but this was not the only way they lived their lives. They planned around the seasons and also began to depend on crops for survival (Hall and Hall, 1982).
The Delaware Valley was the center of the Lenni Lenepe’s land. They were members of the Algonquin tribe and spoke two closely related dialects. When the Europeans first arrived, these Native Americans lived in bands of villages with a few hundred people in each (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums). These villages were spread over several regions, which are now known as New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware (Hall and Hall, 1982).
There was also Lenape activity in the Lehigh Valley, although not as much as would be expected. When European settlers first began arriving, there was a Lenape village located at the junction of the Lehigh River and Saucon Creek. There were also Indian campgrounds near the present day city of Easton, where the Lehigh and Delaware rivers meet (the Forks of the Lehigh). For many years, the Indians in the Lehigh Valley participated in quarrying activities, digging for both jasper and flint in today’s village of Vera Cruz (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
When the European settlers began to arrive, they participated in a lot of trade with the Native Americans. The Lenni Lenape would trade animal furs and skins with the Europeans in exchange for items that were far ahead technologically. These items, such as iron pots, needles, alcohol, and woolen cloth, made their way into the Indian culture. Within a generation, the culture began to decline because the Indians quickly became dependent on these newly introduced tools and skills that had been a part of the Lenape tradition began to disappear (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
Another issue that led to the downfall of the Lenni Lenape was the fact that they did not have a clearly defined system of leadership. The Lenni Lenape villages, as already stated, were spread out over an immense area. Each village would have a leader but there was not a specific leader for the entire Lenni Lenape people (Hall and Hall, 1982).
The differences in politics led to many misunderstandings between the Lenni Lenape and the Europeans as they arrived from across the Atlantic Ocean. When Europeans purchased land from a particular chief, they thought that the chief was speaking for all the people. After making a deal over land with one tribe of Lenni Lenape, the Europeans would face another tribe who claimed the land was theirs (Hall and Hall, 1982).
Political issues were not the only misunderstandings that the Lenni Lenape had with the new European settlers. The Lenni Lenape felt that owning land merely meant the ability to use that land — to hunt, to plant and to fish. Unlike the European settlers, they did not think that owning implied exclusive possession. When the Lenni Lenape signed treaties with the Europeans over land, they were shocked to find that they could no longer hunt on the lands as they had for thousands of years previously (Hall and Hall, 1982).
| The Moravians |
In 1467, the Moravians separated from the Roman Catholics and sought to live a life of the purest conduct. They were descendents of Martin Luther’s Protestant movement. Although the religious group has been referred to under various names, the English-speaking world has adopted the term Moravian, while the Moravian tend to refer to themselves as the "Unita Fratum" (Witcraft, 1927). The Moravians originally settled in the mountains east of Prague and then moved into areas of Moravia and Bohemia as well (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums). After the Thirty Years War, the Moravians began to be repressed by the Catholics. The repression motivated the Moravians to seek refuge in the New World, where they could establish their own missionaries (Smaby, 1988). The German nobleman Nicholas Ludwig, Count of Zinzendorf, was very influential in helping the Moravians meet this goal. In fact, he even helped them to receive free passage over to the colonies (Witcraft, 1927).
The first attempt at Moravian settlement in North America occurred in Georgia, but the Moravian beliefs were not accepted in this new colony. Therefore, they sought to settle elsewhere. In 1740, they befriended the Methodist preacher George Whitefield and helped him to build a school in the town which Whitefield later called Nazareth, near the Fork of the Delaware. Religious disputes caused the friendship between the Moravians and Whitefield to end sharply, but the Moravians refused to leave Nazareth when asked (Witcraft, 1927).
In 1741, they purchased a 500-acre plot of land where Monocacy flows into the Lehigh River. This site was known to the Indians as "Monogassi" (Meyers, 1981). The Moravians started to build their town, which would be the center of their missionary activities in America (Smaby, 1988). On December 21, 1741, Count Zinzendorf arrived at the new settlement. Since the colony was unnamed, it was decided by common consent to call it Bethlehem (Witcraft, 1927). The lands of Nazareth were also bought later that year by the Moravians due to the financial difficulties of George Whitefield (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
The Moravians in Bethlehem divided themselves into various groups called choirs. Age, sex, marital status, and spiritual seniority separated the members of these groups. Choir members did various things together such as eating, praying, working, and providing support for one another (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums). The people of the community gave time and labor in exchange for food and shelter, something they called the "General Economy" (Smaby, 1988). Their motto was "We pray together, we labor together, we suffer together, we rejoice together." The church was the center of the community and the Moravians sought to bring their religious beliefs to others in the area such as the Indians (Hall and Hall, 1982).
The Moravians were very interested in both religious and aesthetic matters such as visual arts and music. Besides this, they were very accomplished as architects and engineers. They developed large stone and brick buildings that are still standing today (Hall and Hall, 1982). Two industrial sections of Bethlehem were also established by the Moravians along Monocacy Creek. These industrial buildings were separated from the residential buildings, although they were made with the same limestone and red brick arches as those of the residencies. They were even created with the same amount of aesthetic detail. The common features unified the industries and the residences (Smaby, 1988).
In Bethlehem in 1754, the Moravians developed the first pumped water system in America (Hall and Hall, 1982). Maps of the area suggest that the Moravians may have placed the industries purposely near the water. Some of the industries such as the oil mills utilized water for their power. Others like the wash house or the bleach house needed water as an ingredient. Traditionally, industries have used water for waste removal, as most of these companies did. It is likely that the wastes flowed directly into the Monocacy Creek. Since the Monocacy Creek flowed directly into the Lehigh River, this waste removal would have decreased the water quality in both the Creek and the River (Smaby, 1988).
The communal nature of the Moravian settlements, including both Bethlehem and Nazareth, began to dissolve in 1762 when the General Economy was removed. The Revolutionary War provided further strain because it was not in the Moravians nature to fight; therefore, they refused to bear arms. This caused other Lehigh Valley Patriots to distrust them, although the Moravians did help in treating wounded soldiers and providing supplies. The Revolutionary War brought them into contact with other communities in America, namely, different secular communities. This enabled the Moravians to incorporate other communities into their daily lives and their exclusive religious communities eventually dissolved (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
| The development of Lehigh Navigation |
The Lehigh Canal (also referred to as the Lehigh Navigation) was a major source of transportation built because the Lehigh River had limitations as a shipping route. In 1790, navigation of the Lehigh River began with the use of rafts that were referred to as "arks." The arks were made of 3 inch thick pine and were12 to 18 inches wide. They were used to transport grain or coal down the river. The Lehigh River was not very predictable due to the fact that it tended to flood or become too shallow for barges, depending on the season. The river was also very swift, making it impossible for boats to make a return voyage against the current. Often, when attempting to journey down the river, a boat would get caught in the rapids of the river or on rocks. It became apparent that a new system of travel besides the Lehigh River would have to be implemented.
In 1791, the discovery of anthracite coal in the present site of Summit Hill helped pave the way for the future development of the Lehigh Navigation (Historic Resources Study). The Lehigh Coal Mine Company was formed in 1792, but eventually business began to falter because of the cost of transporting anthracite coal to Philadelphia. The company could not compete with the bituminous coal that was being shipped over from England. The company briefly increased its sales during the War of 1812 under the control of Jacob Cist because bituminous coal could no longer be shipped over from England. Unfortunately, sales plummeted once again when the war was over.
Two men in Philadelphia, Josiah White and Erksine Hazard, had purchased some of the anthracite coal from Cist and discovered that it was an excellent industrial fuel. They decided to lease, and then eventually purchase, the lands of the Lehigh Coal Mine Company. White and Hazard received permission from the Pennsylvania State Legislature to improve navigation on the Lehigh River (Historic Catasauqua Preservation Society).
Developments on the Lehigh River itself came before the Lehigh canal was built. A system formed by Josiah White created sufficient water levels to transport anthracite coal down the Lehigh even during summer. This system involved a series of channels and "Bear Trap" locks. Hydrostatic pressure allowed barges to be transported into a lock, and from there, the boat would go to the next lower slack water pool. By 1820, the system on the Lehigh River was finished, but more was to come when the development of the Lehigh Navigation began (Historic Catasauqua Preservation Society).
The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company (LC & N), developed by Hazard and White in 1821, wanted to create a canal system which would enable ascending and descending traffic on the Lehigh. They employed Canvass White to help them with their plan because he was highly involved in the development of the Erie Canal. The Lehigh Navigation project began in 1827 and was completed in 1829. The canal was 60 feet wide at the top and 45 feet wide at the bottom and was 5 feet deep. There were a total of 48 lift locks over the Lehigh Navigation’s 46-mile route from Mauch Chunk (presently Jim Thorpe) to Easton. Ten miles of this route was made up of slack water pools (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
The Lehigh Navigation allowed anthracite coal to be transported to both New York and Philadelphia because of its connections to both the Morris Canal and the Delaware Division Canal, respectively. The Lehigh Navigation was lengthened with the finish of the Upper Grand Section in 1836. This portion of the canal connected White Haven and Mauch Chunk, traveling 26 miles and overcoming a difference of 600 feet in elevation. In 1841, a flood damaged the Lehigh Navigation. However, it continued to be prosperous until 1855 when it carried the highest annual amount of anthracite coal to the market (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
| Life of people using the Lehigh Navigation |
The typical day of canal workers was very long and arduous. Work began at 4:00 am, when boats would begin to move up and down the canal. The locks would also begin to function at this time. They would then move through the canal at a relatively slow pace. It would take 10 minutes for the canal boats to move through one lock.
The canal boats were pulled by mules up and down the canal. Mules were used instead of horses because they were thought to be smarter. They could also eat while they walked so travelling was faster. Feeding baskets were hung around their necks and they could munch away as they spent the day working.
Young boys were in charge of taking care of the mules. They would wake up around 3:00 am to groom the animals and make sure the mules had enough to eat. The children’s main duty was to guide the mules along the towpath, walking beside the animals from 4:00 am until the canal shut down for the night at 10:00 pm. It was a hard life.
Often, the families of canal boat captains would live right on the boat with them. There would be a small room on the boat where they could all sleep. This room would not be that big, so sleeping arrangements were sometimes cramped.
For recreation, children who lived along the canal or on the canal boats would swim in the Lehigh Navigation. One might think that this would clean them off after a long day working, but, unfortunately, this was not the case. The canal was so black from the coal silt that would fall into the canal and build up on the bottom. Those who chose to swim in the canal would get covered by the silt as well. Because of the buildup of silt on the floor of the canal, it needed to be dredged often. If the canal was not dredged, the coal silt buildup would cause the boats to get stuck on the bottom of the canal. This also did not make for very good water quality. In fact, people rarely fished back then because fish could not live in a canal or a river that was full of coal silt.
In the winter, the canal would freeze over. This was one of the major reasons that the railroads started to take business from the canal. When the canal was frozen, it could not operate. During this time, the families of the canalers would go back to their houses. This would be the vacation time for the canal workers. Now, summertime is often seen as a time to vacation. When the canal shut down, a little relaxation could occur. Walnutport was a town where many canal workers once lived. There are many houses located right along the canal in this town. A lot of these houses are still there today.
Locktenders put in extremely long days as well. They would have to wake up at around 3:00 am to prepare for the canal to open at 4:00 am. They would do more than just control the opening and closing of the locks. Often they would have to break up fights between boats that wanted to get into the lock first. If both boats claimed that they arrived at the lock at the same time, it was up to the locktender to decide who had the right of way. It was not unusual for locktenders to have side businesses well. Along the canal was a perfect spot for a store that sold groceries, toiletries, or other various products. Some locktenders kept small farms as well (Everet Kaul).
| The downfall of the Lehigh Navigation |
Despite the success that the Lehigh Navigation had in 1855, the Lehigh Valley Railroad between Mauch Chunk and Easton was completed that same year. This competition proceeded to decrease the usage of the Lehigh Navigation (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums). Railroads provided a much quicker form of transportation than the canal. Besides the speed,, the railroads were also beneficial because they operated during the cold winter months when the canal froze over (Zagofsky, 1997).
In June 1862, the Lehigh Navigation was practically destroyed by a devastating flood. The Upper Grand Section was replaced by an extension of the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad while the lower section of the canal was rebuilt. In 1869, the railway was extended southward to Easton. It was then leased by the Central Railroad of New Jersey in 1871. In 1901, another flood once again destroyed large portions of the canal; and it was once again rebuilt (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums). Besides the railroads, the Great Depression also decreased the operations of the Lehigh Canal. In the 1930’s, the only boats travelling on the canal were used to dredge coal silt out of the canal (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums). The last canal boat captain on the Lehigh Navigation was Alan Strohl in 1942 (Zagofsky, 1997). His journey ended in Walnutport as a storm began to role over the area (Everett Kaul). The canal was not rebuilt.
In 1962, the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company began to sell off the canal to municipalities along the route. The canal was restored in Weissport, Walnutport, Freemansburg, Easton, and between Bethlehem and Allentown (Zagolsky, 1997). It is presently used for recreational purposes. On any given day, one can find various fisherman on the side of the canal waiting for a fish to bite their line. Runners and bikers have also taken advantage of the towpath, taking time off from their days to jog or bike under the beautiful trees along the Lehigh Canal. Rafters and canoers also enjoy a day out in the sun on the waters of the Lehigh River. Teachers have also taken advantage of both the canal and the river by having students sample water in the area.
| Jim Thorpe |
Jim Thorpe has gone through a series of name changes throughout the town's history. As the first settlement along the Lehigh River in 1815, it was originally called Coaltown. It was later changed to Mauch Chunk which translates to "Bear Mountain" in the Lenni Lenape language. Black bear are still said to roam the Mauch Chunk mountains. Today, the town is known as Jim Thorpe. This renaming occurred when Mauch Chunk, Upper Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk decided to merge. The name comes from the athlete, Jim Thorpe, who died in California at that time. In 1954, the town was renamed Jim Thorpe in the hope that some of his family's money would help fund a research institute and a hospital in the town. This, however, never occurred. It is interesting to note that Jim Thorpe never actually set foot in the town which was named after him (Zagolfsky, 1997).
Mauch Chunk was one of the earliest industrial towns in America. It was actually owned by the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company from 1818 to 1831. Both Josiah White and Erksine Hazard had houses in the town of Mauch Chunk even when it was first beginning to develop in the 1820’s. Various new buildings such as mills, factories, and a hotel began to spring up in Mauch Chunk and the town began to slowly develop. In 1823 plans for Mauch Chunk’s first school building were underway and the town’s population was rapidly increasing. The town slowly gained more and more economic prosperity, allowing for more independence. Because of this, the LC&N began to sell plots of the land in 1831 (Campion, 1997).
If anthracite coal had not been found, the town of Mauch Chunk would have been much different. But in 1791, Philip Ginter discovered coal on Sharp Mountain where Summit Hill now stands. Although this discovery was purely accidental, it lead the way for the industrialization of the area (Brenckman, 1912). Mauch Chunk began to develop in 1818 when White and Hazard began to use the area as a center of anthracite coal transportation along the Lehigh River (Campion, 1997).
Initially, a road was built from the Summit mine to the Lehigh River at Mauch Chunk. This provided a means for wagons to bring coal to the river. In 1827, the wagon road was transformed into a gravity railroad known as the Switchback Gravity Railroad. The coal could then travel down the mountain by means of this railroad system utilizing gravity. The empty cars were then hauled up the mountain by mules (Campion, 1997). It was also eventually used for recreational purposes and lead to the future development of roller coasters (Chris Kocker, personal communication, 7/6/00).
The Switchback Gravity Railroad provided a good way to get the coal to the Lehigh River. The Lehigh River was then used for further transportation of the coal, but the river was not incredibly reliable. In 1829, the Lehigh Navigation was completed. This provided a means of transporting the coal from Mauch Chunk to Easton. From Easton, the coal could travel down the Delaware Division Canal to Philadelphia (Campion, 1997)
Asa Packer came to Mauch Chunk in 1833 and was an important man in the development of Mauch Chunk. When he died in 1879, Packer was one of the richest men of the century. Packer was an entrepreneur who was involved in numerous business projects throughout his life. He was involved in the Mauch Chunk Water Company as well as with the law. He served five years as an associate judge in Carbon County and two terms in the House of Representatives. He is also well known for being the founder of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA (Campion, 1997).
Asa Packer also saw a prominent future for railroads in the area. In 1852, he put all the money that he had acquired into the development of a railroad. In 1855, Robert Sayre and Asa Packer finished the construction of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, resulting in the quick transport of coal from Mauch Chunk to Easton. This other means of transporting coal to Easton dealt a major blow to the canal system (Campion, 1997).
| Anthracite Coal |
Anthracite coal was discovered by Philip Ginder in 1791 on Sharp Mountain, an area nine mile west of the Lehigh River and forty miles north of Allentown. The Lehigh Coal Mine Company was formed in 1792, but eventually business began to falter because of the cost of transportation for anthracite coal to Philadelphia. The company could not compete with the bituminous coal that was being shipped over from England. The company briefly increased its sales under the control of Jacob Cist during the War of 1812 because bituminous coal could no longer be shipped over from England. Unfortunately, sales plummeted once again when the war was over (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
Two men in Philadelphia, Josiah White and Erksine Hazard, had purchased some of the anthracite coal from Cist and discovered that it was an excellent industrial fuel. They decided to lease, and then eventually purchase, the lands of the Lehigh Coal Mine Company. They began their efforts in the present day Mauch Chunk and formed two separate companies: the Lehigh Coal Company and the Lehigh Navigation Company. Shortly after, they merged to become the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, know as LC & N (Campion et al., 1997). Through the LC & N, a wagon trail was built in 1818 from the Summit mines to Mauch Chunk. This wagon trail transformed into a gravity railroad later in order to minimize the time needed for coal to get down the hill. In 1829, the Lehigh Navigation was completed as well (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
The easier transport of coal due to the gravity railroad and the completion of the Upper Grand Section of the Lehigh Navigation made it possible to open more coal mines. New companies began to open in the Lehigh region, although they all transported their coal via the LC & N (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
During the early years of the anthracite coal industry at Summit Hill, deep mining was not necessary because the coal was located relatively near the surface. It was dug out by workers with a simple pick and shovel. The coal was not always located at the same location on different mountains. When Cist had begun his coal mine operations, his mine was located at Room Run. In 1830, White reopened the Room Run mines located near Nesquehoning Creek. There were pros and cons to this location since coal at Room Run was located closer to the river than the coal at Summit Hill. It was, however, deeper in the surface of the earth (Campion et al., 1997). This coal was retrieved by drilling tunnels until the coal was reached (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
Ethnic diversity was extremely prominent in the industry. Some of these new immigrants faced harsh treatment, partly because many of them could not speak English. Ironically, much of this discrimination was lead by the Irish, who too, had been previously discriminated against. However, his was partly due to economic fears (Campion 1997).
Strong ties were formed by men and boys who worked in the mines since they were expected to aid each other in the event of disaster. Mining accidents were very common for anthracite coal workers. During mining, coal gave off methane (also known as firedamp). This gas was explosive and a constant threat to the well being of those in the mines. Fans were utilized to circulate the air, but the methane remained a threat. There are numerous explosions in the record books due to firedamp explosions. The worst in history occurred in the Avondale coal fields near Wilkes-Barre in 1869. One hundred and eight men and boys were killed when a match was lit following a strike, igniting the circulating air and causing a fatal explosion. The mine collapsed, trapping the unfortunate people and taking their lives. This, however, is only one of the many tragic accidents that occurred (Campion et al., 1997).
Working in the coalfields began as early as the age of nine. These "breaker boys" had the job of picking slate out of the tons of coal. This was hard work and would often would lead to bleeding fingers at day’s end. When machinery started to become more popular, some of these young boys were mangled to death in the blades of the machinery (Campion et al., 1997).
Drinking alcohol also became a way of life for the miners due to the danger and hard work. This was the case for those who worked on the canal as well, although LC & N looked down upon this. The work on the canal was not as dangerous as it was in the mines. It was important to have a level head when coal mining because of the technical difficulty. However, the drinking continued because it was just the way of life (Campion et al., 1997).
The anthracite coal industry began to dramatically change during the 1850’s and 1860’s. This was directly related to the changing transportation systems in the area. Railroads began to be a much faster means of transportation. They were also operable in the winter months when the canal froze over. In the 1870’s and 1880’s, the industry was growing quickly but unfortunately, the market was growing at a much slower rate. This created competition between coal companies as well as the transportation companies (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
In the beginning of the twentieth century, the coal industry began to decline. Alternative fuels such as oil and natural gas were becoming more popular energy sources. There were also continuous problems between the workers and the management resulting in numerous strikes that were also extremely detrimental to the industry. The number of jobs was also decreasing due to increased in technology and the implementation of strip mining. The Great Depression also caused the coal industry to decline further. By 1954, the LC&N stopped mining coal altogether (Campion et al., 1997).
The anthracite coal industry has had a major impact on the quality of the water in the Lehigh River. Over the past thirty years, the quality of the water has drastically increased. Coal silt deposits in the Lehigh River used to increase the acidity of the waters. Much of this silt was swept away by hurricanes and floods. In addition, the average pH of the river has changed from approximately 4.5 to 6.0 in the 1950s to the present range of 6.9 to 9.2 (Miller, 2000).
Today, abandoned coal mines are a major cause of the decrease in water quality in the Lehigh River. Abandoned mine drainage is the "single largest source of water pollution in Pennsylvania" according to the Wildlands Conservancy in Emmaus, PA. The tributaries that lead into the Lehigh River, including Nesquehoning and Buck Mountain Creeks, are affected by the acid mine drainage from eight coal mines. This decreases the quality of water in the river. Drainage from the mines also causes various changes to the water including lowering alkalinity levels, decreasing the natural buffering capacity, and introducing high concentrations of sediment, iron, sulfate, aluminum, zinc, and acidity (Urban, 1998).
Efforts are being made by the Wildlands Conservancy to decrease the effects of this acid mine drainage. They have received a grant to construct a 1.5 acre artificial wetland to remove acid mine drainage pollutants from the Lausanne Tunnel discharge. Hopefully, this will be another step towards increasing the water quality of the Lehigh River (Miller, 2000).
| Bethlehem Steel |
The following is a brief chronology of Bethlehem Steel from 1857 to 1998. In 1857, the Saucona Iron Company was formed and eventually evolved into the Bethlehem Steel Company (after a series of name changes) in 1899. This company was extremely influential during the industrial revolution of the United States. Through the years, Bethlehem Steel gained control of various steel plants and ship building companies, helping to increase the profits of the company. For both World War I and World War II, Bethlehem Steel was involved in the production of vast quantities of ships, armor, ordnance, guns, and munitions for the United States and her allies. The company was also involved in the formation of the steel for various buildings, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Rockefeller Plaza, and the US Supreme Court Building. Although more than 10 million tons of steel were imported into the United States in 1965, Bethlehem Steel still managed to reach a record high of producing 23.7 million tons of raw steel in 1973. In 1978, over 28 million tons of steel were imported. In 1982, Bethlehem Steel began to lose money. Over the next 5 years, half of the employees were laid off and company branches began to be shut down. In 1995, steel making finally ceased in the Bethlehem plant. In 1996, Bethlehem Works was formed and began to plan ways to redevelop portions of the Bethlehem Plant.
| Bethlehem Works |
Environmental plans are also underway to clean up the Bethlehem Steel site. This will be done through the combination of treatment, soil excavation, and engineering controls. Various sites were inspected including sites which would cause potential harm either to the environment or to people. Some of these sites included chemical storage areas, storage tanks, waste handling areas, and painting areas. These areas will be be thoroughly addressed during the cleanup of the site. Soil samples were also taken in 200 locations to identify sites of potential concern where volatile substances could migrate from the soil to groundwater. According to the soil samples which were taken, there were only a few sites which would need remediation. Eleven groundwater monitoring wells were also installed. These were utilized to evaluate the quality of groundwater as well as possible impacts on the Lehigh River. On May 6, 1999, all soil and groundwater remediation projects on the site were approved by both USEPA and PADEP (Bethlehem Works).
| Shad and the Lehigh River |
Throughout the years, shad have been a very important part of the lives of those who have lived along the Lehigh River. This type of fish is white in color with firm, rich flesh. The Lenni Lenape would eat shad, cooking these fish on long wooden sticks over a fire. The Europeans soon learned that shad provided a tasty meal as well. However, the unbelievably intricate bone structure of this fish was one major drawback. The Lenni Lenape even referred to the shad as a "porcupine-fish-turned-inside-out."
The Lehigh River provided an excellent environment for shad fishermen. It was wide and deep enough to attract the shad, but not too deep or rapid to scare fishermen from wading into the river. A particular shad fishing spot that was popular with the Moravians was between the ferry (near the Hill-to-Hill Bridge) and the fish dam (east of Sand Island). This was because this portion of the river provided a relatively shallow stretch of water.
Shad live their lives in both salt and fresh water. During the winter months, shad live in the Atlantic Ocean, where the water temperature is warmer than in the Delaware or Lehigh Rivers. Once the water begins to get warmer, around early March, the shad start to swim up the Delaware River. Moravian records indicate that the shad would usually arrive in Bethlehem in late April or early May. The shad’s goal during their ascension up the river was to locate the spot of their birth. Once this was accomplished, the shad would proceed to lay their eggs and new life was formed. All surviving shad would then migrate back to the Ocean for the cold winter months.
When the Lenni Lenape Indians and the Moravians fished for shad, the Lehigh River was exceptionally clean. Our country had not yet been hit with the problem of pollution. The first blow against shad in the Lehigh River occurred when coal mining began near Mauch Chunk. Quite a bit of coal was lost in the River when it was shipped downstream on boats. Therefore, the water quality began to decrease. A more efficient means of coal transportation was sought and the canal was finished in 1829. The dam that went across the Lehigh River at the Forks of the Delaware was finished as well, blocking all shad from any potential pursuit up the Lehigh River for over 150 years.
The rise of industry had negative effects on the water quality of the Lehigh River. Acid mine drainage in the tributaries around Mauch Chunk killed all life in the waters that drained into the Lehigh River. Coal silt was also highly detrimental to all aquatic life. Various other industries including iron mills, zinc refineries, and coal yards contributed to the pollution of the river.
In 1955, hurricanes Diane and Connie swept down the East Coast. Although their damage to the Delaware Valley was horrific (property damage and loss of lives), the pollutants and silt build-up in the Delaware River were swept away. By the spring of 1960, shad returned to the Delaware River, but not the Lehigh River due to the dam at Easton.
By 1968, the shad had once again disappeared. Both the Lehigh River and Delaware River were teeming with pollution. There was a 60-mile stretch of the Delaware River which became know as the pollution block. This area was located around the cities of Philadelphia, Camden, and Wilmington. The pollution caused the dissolved oxygen levels in that particular area to dip so low that the shad could not breathe (below four parts per million).
The Clean Water Act of 1970 began the turn around regarding pollution in the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. Sewage treatment plants and industries were forced to decrease the amount of pollutants that were released into the surrounding bodies of water. The numbers of shad in the Delaware River began to increase once again. Industries along the Lehigh River such as Bethlehem Steel and New Jersey Zinc Company cleaned up their act as well. Aquatic life began to return to the Lehigh River, which had been full of pollutants since the industrial revolution. In the 1980’s, Bethlehem Steel began to decrease their output of steel and the New Jersey Zinc Company ceased their operations. This also caused a further increase in the water quality of the Lehigh River.
The Lehigh River still did not have any shad in its waters because of the dams at Easton and Glendon. After much debate, the "Shad Ladder Bill" was passed in 1989. This bill provided $3.3 million towards the construction of fish passageways at the sites of both of the dams on the Lehigh River. This provided a means for shad to travel up the Lehigh River, something which had not been done since 1829. At the Easton site, there is actually a public viewing site where visitors can see the shad travel upstream through a large glass window. There is also scientific equipment which allows scientists to count the number of shad that travel through the ladder (Dennis Scholl, 1997).
| Zinc |
In the 1840’s, another mineral was found in Saucon Creek Valley which lead to further industrialization of the Lehigh River Watershed. Zinc was the basic ingredient in white paint; it was also a rustproof metal (Hall and Hall, 1982). In 1853, the Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc Company was formed on the banks of the Lehigh River in Bethlehem. Later, in 1898, the New Jersey Zinc Company developed in Palmerton, and slowly the town began to form. Two zinc smeltering plants were developed: a west plant and an east plant. The east plant was on the southern bank of the Aquashicola Creek and flowed into the Lehigh River. The west plant was on the Lehigh River itself. The zinc industry helped provide jobs and money to those who lived in the town. It also was the reason that a town developed on the site in the first place (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museums).
But where there is industry, there is often harm to the environment. The zinc industry was truly detrimental to the waters and land surrounding it. Today, if you travel down the Lehigh River in Palmerton and look at the hills on its bank, there is no vegetative growth. The land is merely hills of dirt. The land has been highly contaminated by the zinc smeltering that occurred there for 90 years. Lead, cadmium, and zinc left from the zinc smeltering process has been deposited in water and soils surrounding the east and west plants. The hills near these factories, including those on the river, could not support vegetation as a result of heavy metals concentrating in that area. Therefore, heavy metals present in surface water runoff from the mountain into area streams into the Lehigh River.
The minerals that have been left can be detrimental to one’s health if they are present in food. Palmerton has educated its citizens on the possible negative effects of being exposed to these toxins. They are, however, still doing research in order to determine how to control the problem that began when zinc smelting started in the area (Fox et al., 1987).
| Lumber |
When exploration of the Lehigh River first began, the lumbering industry was extremely prominent in the area. In order to build the first arks that traveled down the river, it was necessary to cut down trees. Before the canal was built, these arks were destroyed once they reached their destination because they could not be sent back upstream. Lumber was still needed later in order to build the canal boats that would operate on the Lehigh Navigation. It was also used for various other things such as homes and mine props. In order to get this lumber, a large number of trees needed to be cut down. The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company owned the land surrounding the canal and leased it out to lumbering companies, not realizing that this would eventually help lead to the canal’s downfall.
Lumbering was extremely detrimental to the environment and contributed to floods that destroyed the Lehigh Navigation on various occasions. The Lehigh Gorge and the area located above it had been heavily involved in the lumbering business. By 1860, the area above the Lehigh Gorge had been almost cleared of all trees. In 1862, rain began to fall in the area for a prolonged time. The runoff could not be absorbed by the bare slopes of the mountain and caused the Lehigh River to rise to 27 feet above its normal level. The dams on the canal could not maintain this enormous amount of water and a tidal wave swept down the Navigation. Logs were also used to hold up the dams, and these were swept away as the dams burst. The water and logs led to the destruction of the entire Lehigh Canal. Only the section from Mauch Chunk to Easton was rebuilt (Hugh Moore Historical Park and Museum).
| Headwaters |
75 25' 24 W
The Lehigh River begins its journey in a sequence of glacial marshes and bogs in the Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania area. This area is part of the Glaciated Pocono Plateau Section of the Appalachian Plateau Province. The elevation at the headwaters of the river is about 2,200 feet above sea level. During its 103-mile journey to the Delaware River, the elevation of the river drops nearly 1,000 feet.
The river serves as a boundary for most of the counties in the watershed. It flows through a number of state parks and recreation areas. The river also contains a variety of different geologic formations. The unique characteristics of the river’s geology and history are explored throughout this photojournal.
| State Game Lands 127 |
75 31' 89 W
The Lehigh River flows through State Game Lands # 127 in Tobyhanna, Monroe County. This section consists of 25,527 acres that are allocated for wildlife management and seasonal hunting. The Pennsylvania Game Commission manages this area.
| Stoddartsville |
75 37' 53 W
Stoddartsville was the dream of John Stoddart, an English immigrant who built the town to serve as the center of his business empire. Stoddart invested in the Pocono region and used his political stature to ensure that the plans for construction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike included passage through Stoddartsville. He envisioned creating a major transportation and trade route for grain from the fertile Wyoming Valley down to Philadelphia. Stoddartsville was completed in 1819, three years after both the turnpike and Stoddart’s gristmill were constructed.
Stoddart eventually became partners with Josiah White, another driven businessman. Together, White and Stoddart invested in opening the Lehigh River for navigation and transport. White was responsible for building dams that would control the flow of water and aid in the navigation of large barges that would carry grain down the river. White ran into difficultly with his “wing dams” due to water shortages. He was forced to invent a new type of dam called the “bear trap dam.” This created a problem for Stoddart since the bear trap dams only allowed for one-way travel. Therefore, once the barges reached their destination, they had to be broken up and sold. Stoddart quickly lost money as a result.
The coal industry was in favor of building a canal system that would allow for two-way traffic between the coal fields and the city of Easton. White began building the canals in Easton and worked his way upstream. In 1829, the canal reached White Haven, twelve miles short of Stoddartsville. The construction was stopped when the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company withdrew its mandate to extend the canal to Stoddartsville. Stoddart’s finances were in ruins. By the 1830’s, Stoddartsville was almost abandoned. Aside from the minimal sale of lumber to the downstream coal industry, Stoddartsville had little purpose. By the 1860’s, the dams had been flooded and the gristmill and sawmill destroyed.
| Lehigh Falls (Old Mills) |
75 37' 65 W
Lehigh Falls is the site of one of the first planned industrial villages that was masterminded by John Stoddard. This magnificent site is hidden in the reaches of the river above Francis E. Walter Dam. The land on either side of the river is privately owned, making access to the falls limited. The Devonian shale, limestone, and sandstone of the area provide layered surfaces over which the waters of the Lehigh gracefully flow.
Video Clip 1 (1.4 MB)
| Francis E. Walter Dam |
75 43' 19 W
The Francis E. Walter Dam was dedicated in 1961. It was constructed and is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. It is located in Luzerne County and stands at 1509 feet above sea level.
Prior to construction of the dam, the river level would continually rise each spring as a result of melting snow and spring rain. These freshets, as they are called, would cause severe flood damage. Bridges and dams were destroyed along the river each year. The dam was built to control these devastating floods and prevent seawater from entering the drinking water supplies in the Philadelphia area. The dam provides a water storage location for summer drought as well as recreational opportunities.
Francis E. Walter Dam is one of the largest dams on the Lehigh River. There were many sections of the river that could not be navigated by the packet boats. The canal was built to avoid these dangerous sections. A system of canal locks allowed passage in and out of the river to make the trip south. During the height of the coal industry, there were 56 locks in the canal. Forty-eight were lift locks and eight were guard locks. The total length of the canal was 46.01 miles with ten miles of slackwater. The average width of the canal was 60 feet at the top and 45 feet at the bottom. The canal was deepest in the center. A trip from Jim Thorpe, to Bristol via Easton, took five days.
| White Haven |
75 46' 35 W
White Haven was founded in 1835 and named after Josiah White, the famous dam builder and coal industry businessman. The town’s principle business in the years following its founding was lumber production. In the 25 miles between Mauch Chunk and White Haven, the Lehigh River descends 642 feet. In that area 29 locks were used to control the water and assist in the transport packet boats and arks down the river.
At White Haven, the Lehigh River and its surroundings become the Lehigh Gorge State Park. The park extends thirty miles from the outlet of the Francis E. Walter Dam to its southern boundary just north of the town of Jim Thorpe. This area was given to the Bureau of State Parks in 1980 to be preserved as parkland.
Lehigh Gorge State Park includes 4,548 acres of land and is known for its steep walls, dense vegetation, and numerous waterfalls. A great diversity of plants and animals are found throughout the park. In addition to the incredible scenery, this section of the river provides special opportunities for recreational activities. Abandoned railroad beds provide miles of mountain biking and hiking trails and the class II and III rapids attract whitewater boaters.
The geology of the Valley and Ridge Province, south of White Haven, consists of two sections, the Appalachian Mountain Section and the Great Valley Section. Blue Mountain is part of the Appalachian Section. The Great Valley Section consists of rolling hills and open areas. It is bordered on the north and west by Blue Mountain and by South Mountain on the south and east. The northern section of the Great Valley is blanketed by shale. In the eastern part of the valley, north of Allentown, the shale is replaced by slate.
| Rockport |
75 45' 41 W
Rockport sits 13 miles above Mauch Chunk. It was founded in 1836 by Mr. F.A. Foster after a discovery of coal in the region. From Rockport, coal was transported to market via the canal and river system. Rockport access is the midpoint of the 26 mile Lehigh Gorge State Park. The trail that goes through this state park is the Deleware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Trail. This state park is renown for its white water rafting and recreational activities.
Buck Mountain Creek (Indian Run) is one of four tributaries containing mine drainage entering into the Lehigh River.
| Jim Thorpe |
75 44' 06 W
Jim Thorpe was the first settlement in the mountainous valley of the Lehigh River. It was known as Coaltown in 1815. Later, the town changed its name to Mauch Chunk, which means ”Bear Mountain” in the Lenni Lenape language. The black bear was a common site in the 1800’s and can still be seen today in the Mountains near Jim Thorpe.
In 1953, two separate events led another changing of the town’s name. First, the boroughs of Mauch Chunk, Upper Mauch Chunk, and East Mauch Chunk wanted to merge to increase the industry in the town. Second, the athlete Jim Thorpe died in California and his remains had been sent to his home in Oklahoma. The state of Oklahoma had promised to build a park dedicated to his memory. Later, they backed out of their plan. When this happened, Mrs. Thorpe negotiated with the boroughs of Mauch Chunk. In 1954, the boroughs agreed to merge and change the town’s name to Jim Thorpe. The town planned to take the money from the estate of Jim Thorpe to create a hospital and cancer research center. Unfortunately, Jim Thorpe’s estate turned out to be less valuable than predicted. It should be noted that Jim Thorpe never set foot in the town named after him.
Jim Thorpe was the center of the American industrial revolution. Many wealthy businessmen owned large Victorian homes in town. When the coal industry diminished as Americans began to use electricity, many people left the town to find work in other places.
Today, the entire town is registered as a historic landmark. Many of the old homes, the jail, churches, and the railroad station have been restored as historic sites. There are wonderful places to camp, hike, bike, and white water raft.
| Jim Thorpe, right after take off |
75 44' 00 W
Coal was first mined at Summit Hill, about nine miles west of Jim Thorpe. In 1819, horse drawn wagons would carry the coal back and forth from the mining site to the Lehigh River. In 1827, the first coal railroad was built. It is best known as the Switchback Railroad; but was originally called the Gravity Railroad. A safety car would ride at the front to slow and stop the train. Mules and horses would carry the cars back up after the steep descent. Each car held 1.5 tons of coal. The nine-mile descent to town took about twenty minutes and the cars sometimes reached a speed of fifty miles per hour.
In 1844, stationary steam engines replaced the mules and horses. In 1872, direct railroad service connected to Summit Hill and the Switchback was retired. The 16 miles of trails of the former railroad, beginning in Mauch Chunk State Park, are used as hiking trails today.
| South of Jim Thorpe |
75 12' 26 W
The coal that exists in the mountains above Jim Thorpe is anthracite coal. Anthracite is nearly pure carbon (about 86 percent) and is the result of a process called coalification. The high carbon content of anthracite makes it difficult to ignite. However, when it catches fire it burns with a short, very hot, colorless, smokeless flame.
Coalification occurred in Eastern Pennsylvania as a result of the folding and faulting in the formation of the Appalachian Mountains. These actions caused intense pressures that produced the high carbon content found in anthracite.
The anthracite deposits in Eastern Pennsylvania are divided into four fields: north, south, east, and west. The coal fields above Jim Thorpe are part of the southern field, the largest of the fields in northeastern PA. The southern field extends 56 miles from Jim Thorpe to Lykens. Coal is found in 141 square miles of this field.
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