An undated newspaper photograph of a canal boat docked in the Schuylkill Canal, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The original photo is from the collection of the Historical Society of Schuylkill County, Pottsville, and a better copy can be obtained from them. It was presented as part of the “Looking Back” feature in the Pottsville Republican, January 19, 1980, along with the following text written by Joseph M. Hanney, vice president of the society:
No historical series of Schuylkill County can ever be written without a story about the Schuylkill Canal – and there are many stories that CAN be written.
Even though the railroads became the major factor in coal hauling to markets before and after the official 1888 closing, barges still operated out of the lower section of the canal from Port Clinton. This 1906 photo shows a pair of boats entering the Blue Mountain Locks below Port Clinton. Note the “Boatman’s Choice” stove to the right of the foredeck of the first barge.
The article also noted that the Historical Society of Schuylkill County is located at 14 N. Third Street, Pottsville, C. Tyson Reilly, president; Robert Scheer, curator. “Historical items and memberships welcome.”
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