About Plane 9


July 29, 2016
Author: Jim Lee III

Narrated by,
Jim Lee Jr.



About Plane 9


July 29, 2016
Author: Jim Lee III

Narrated by,
Jim Lee Jr.

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About Plane 9

About Plane 9

This site is the former home of the late James S. Lee, Sr. (pictured left), Morris Canal author and historian. Plan 9 West is located on Rt. 519 1/2 mile south of Route 57 intersection east of Phillipsburg. The address for obtaining directions is 477 County Route 519, Stewartsville NJ 08886.

James S. Lee, Sr. was a Morris Canal author and historian.
Pictured here is James S. Lee Senior, a Morris Canal author and historian.

Some facts about Plane 9 West:

  • Plane 9 West is the longest inclined plane on the Morris Canal (about 1600 feet) with the highest change in elevation (100 feet). The property was purchased by James Lee, Sr., one of the foremost authorities on the Morris Canal.
  • Another interesting bit about Plane 9 West was that it was a double-track. Two cradles meant that two boats could move at the same time, one coming up, one heading down. The other double-track planes along the Morris Canal were at Port Colden (Plane 6 West) and Newark (Plane 12 East).

  • Explore Historic Morris Canal
    Plane 9 West Sites

    About Plane 9

    About Plane 9

    This site is the former home of the late James S. Lee, Sr. (pictured left), Morris Canal author and historian. Plan 9 West is located on Rt. 519 1/2 mile south of Route 57 intersection east of Phillipsburg. The address for obtaining directions is 477 County Route 519, Stewartsville NJ 08886. Some facts about Plane…

    Canal Prism (West of Stryker’s Road)

    Canal Prism (West of Stryker’s Road)

    The prism is the watered channel of the canal that carried boats between the canal’s locks and inclined planes.

    Bridge abutment

    Bridge abutment

    This stone bridge abutment elevated Morris Canal Bridge #6 over the canal so that boats could pass underneath.

    Waste Weir at Stryker’s

    Waste Weir at Stryker’s

    The ruins of a waste weir are located between Stryker’s Road and the bottom of Plane 9 West that helped regulate the level of water in the canal.

    Brakeman’s House

    Brakeman’s House

    The Brakeman’s house is probably the original plane tender’s house for Plane 9 West.

    Plane Tender’s House

    Plane Tender’s House

    The two-family Plane Tender’s House was built around 1850 for the plane tender and his family as well as another canal employee.

    Bottom of the Plane

    Bottom of the Plane

    Canal boats were loaded on and off of cradle cars that carried the boats on rails up the inclined plane.

    Tailrace

    Tailrace

    The tailrace carried water exhausted from the turbine down to the bottom of the inclined plane.

    Top of Turbine Chamber

    Top of Turbine Chamber

    At the top of the turbine chamber there was a large wooden structure known as the Power House.