About Brakeman’s House


July 29, 2016
Author: Jim Lee III

Narrated by,
Jim Lee Jr.




Narrative

About Brakeman’s House


July 29, 2016
Author: Jim Lee III

Narrated by,
Jim Lee Jr.




Narrative

About Brakeman’s House

About Brakeman’s House

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

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What is called the Brakeman’s House at Plane 9 West is probably the original plane tender’s house. When the plane was originally built with an overshot waterwheel at its summit, this building Would have been conveniently located near the operating mechanism for the plane. It was a frame structure with hand-hewn timbers built on a stone foundation. It had a stone chimney that served open hearths, unlike the later plane tender’s house, which was built to use stoves. Although this house was occupied after the newer plane tender’s house was built, it was in poor condition when the canal was dismantled. It was pulled down in 1970 because it had become unsafe.


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.