Canal Prism (West of Stryker’s Road)


July 29, 2016
Author: Jim Lee III

Narrated by,
Jim Lee Jr.




Narrative

Canal Prism (West of Stryker’s Road)


July 29, 2016
Author: Jim Lee III

Narrated by,
Jim Lee Jr.




Narrative

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.

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The prism of the Morris Canal is the watered channel between the towpath (where the mules walked as they towed the boats) and the berm (or opposite bank). It’s called the prism because in profile its sloping sides, flat bottom, and surface resemble a quadrilateral. When the canal was built the prism was puddled with clay to prevent water from seeping out of it. It was originally built 20 feet wide at its base and 32 feet wide at the elevation of the towpath, with approximately 4 feet of water. In the 1840s, in an effort to compete with the newly emerging railroads, the canal prism was widened. It’s new dimensions were 25 feet across at the bottom and 40 feet wide at the top and the depth was increased to five feet. This left plenty of room for the 10.5-foot-wide canal company boats to pass one another. The towpath edge of the prism was regular and kept free of trees, shrubs and any other obstructions that would entangle the towline from the mule team. The berm side of the canal could be less regular and often followed the contours of the landscape.


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.