So this has been on the to-do list for quite a long time now, and another thanks to pinelandspaddler for the info back in 2008. The ultimate goal of this trip was to not only follow the canal, but to hopefully find some of the Batsto glassworks ruins that were dumped into the creek to help divert the water.
Starting where the canal exits the woods at Richards Ave, I made my way across the huge flowing puddle and paralleled the canal with the small path that runs north.
The ditch works runs through 4 swamps total, and looked like it picked up water and sent it north at the top end, and south at the end by the fields and bogs. Neat to see it's still carrying water after all of these years. About 3/4 of the trip was on the path/road. The rest was a mix of deer runs and canal "infrastructure" The swear vine grows heavy through some of the swamps here.
Upon reaching the end, I found what I was looking for. A grass and vine covered skinny island extending out across the creek to the other side. The Beavers helped out a little in the crossing too thankfully. Buried under the overgrowth was a ton of old ironstone, brick pieces, and some of the same glittery stone found at other local area glassworks.
Interesting to note here, there was a set of what looked like cranberry bog dykes very close to the creek. And there was quite a lot of coyote evidence throughout the trip. My dog actually didn't have that hard of a time navigating through the swamps like I did as it looked like there were well worn runs around that kept the vines off of him.
It had to be a lot of work to create all of this. I really give the folks credit who cleared the way through the vines, roots and muck to make it all possible. I forgot the mileage of the total works from when I measured it before, but I want to say under 2 miles. I'm sure that some of the other folks here could provide some much better insight to the build details and the court case that ensued with the Pleasant / Nescochage Mills Co. if needed.
Happy trails.
Starting where the canal exits the woods at Richards Ave, I made my way across the huge flowing puddle and paralleled the canal with the small path that runs north.
The ditch works runs through 4 swamps total, and looked like it picked up water and sent it north at the top end, and south at the end by the fields and bogs. Neat to see it's still carrying water after all of these years. About 3/4 of the trip was on the path/road. The rest was a mix of deer runs and canal "infrastructure" The swear vine grows heavy through some of the swamps here.
Upon reaching the end, I found what I was looking for. A grass and vine covered skinny island extending out across the creek to the other side. The Beavers helped out a little in the crossing too thankfully. Buried under the overgrowth was a ton of old ironstone, brick pieces, and some of the same glittery stone found at other local area glassworks.
Interesting to note here, there was a set of what looked like cranberry bog dykes very close to the creek. And there was quite a lot of coyote evidence throughout the trip. My dog actually didn't have that hard of a time navigating through the swamps like I did as it looked like there were well worn runs around that kept the vines off of him.
It had to be a lot of work to create all of this. I really give the folks credit who cleared the way through the vines, roots and muck to make it all possible. I forgot the mileage of the total works from when I measured it before, but I want to say under 2 miles. I'm sure that some of the other folks here could provide some much better insight to the build details and the court case that ensued with the Pleasant / Nescochage Mills Co. if needed.
Happy trails.
