Travels along the Delaware & Hudson CanalAn article from the New York Times, Aug. 25, 2002In 1822, Maurice and William Wurts, Philadelphia, developed a New York market for their anthracite coal mined in Pennsylvania. Their plans included building a canal system on the Delaware River to transport their coal to New York markets. The completed canal, 108 miles in length, ran from Eddyville on the Rondout Creek to Honesdale, Pennsylvania, a point 16 miles from the Wurts brothers´ coal mines. The subsequent development of the Delaware & Hudson Canal in 1827 transformed the Rondout Valley into a hub of activity. The Canal Company erected a wharf on Rondout Creek, just above Kingston Landing, with a yard for the storage of coal. As the canal´s business expanded and more dockage and coal storage was needed, a bulkhead constructed around a shallow area of the creek was filled, forming what is now known as Island Dock. With the success of the canal, Rondout quickly built up as a commercial waterfront area. It became congested with wharfs and ships, warehouses for goods, workers´ houses, and shops. A recent article in the New York Times describes an interesting trip along the route of the canal. A Main Artery of the 1800's, Retracing the Delaware & Hudson Canal |
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These periodic newsletters and announcements are published to promote the historic, cultural, and maritime resources of the Hudson River.
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