Farmington Canal
Encyclopedia
The Farmington Canal, also known as the New Haven and Northampton Canal, was a major private canal
built in the early 19th century to provide water transportation from New Haven into the interior of Connecticut
, Massachusetts
and beyond. Its Massachusetts segment was known as the Hampshire and Hampden Canal
. With the advent of railroads, it was quickly converted to a railroad in the mid-19th century and in recent years has been converted to a multi-use trail (a rails-to-trails
project) after being abandoned for years.
The entire length of the still extant canal right of way in Connecticut (covering 25 segments and a total area of 247.6 acres) from Suffield
to New Haven was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1985 under the name "Farmington Canal-New Haven and Northampton Canal". The 1984 NRHP nomination document provides a detailed history, and describes 45 separate bridges, aqueducts, weir
s and other surviving features.
The Farmington Canal Lock in Cheshire, Connecticut, and the Farmington Canal Lock No. 13 in Hamden, Connecticut were listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP) in 1973 and 1982, respectively. Those are locks 12 and 13 out of 28 original locks on the canal.
to Farmington
. By 1835 the complete route to Northampton
was finished and operating. The canal, however, was never successful financially. Competition with railroads threatened the canal. The New Haven and Northampton Company was built along the canal's right of way in 1848. Joseph Earl Sheffield
was involved with the financing of both the canal and railroad. This railroad merged with the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
in 1887. Portions of the railway were in use up until the 1980s. A two-mile section from the Main/Whiting Sts intersection in downtown Plainville, to just south of Townline Rd (Plainville/Southington) is still in use(2009).
During the 1990s, the railroad right-of-way was converted to a rail trail
for recreational use. The Farmington Canal Trail
runs from downtown New Haven to Northampton
, Massachusetts
, closely following the path of Route 10.
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
built in the early 19th century to provide water transportation from New Haven into the interior of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and beyond. Its Massachusetts segment was known as the Hampshire and Hampden Canal
Hampshire and Hampden Canal
The Hampshire and Hampden Canal was the Massachusetts segment of an canal that once connected New Haven, Connecticut to the Connecticut River north of Northampton, Massachusetts...
. With the advent of railroads, it was quickly converted to a railroad in the mid-19th century and in recent years has been converted to a multi-use trail (a rails-to-trails
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
project) after being abandoned for years.
The entire length of the still extant canal right of way in Connecticut (covering 25 segments and a total area of 247.6 acres) from Suffield
Suffield, Connecticut
Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It had once been within the boundaries of Massachusetts. The town is located in the Connecticut River Valley with the town of Enfield neighboring to the east. In 1900, 3,521 people lived in Suffield; and in 1910, 3,841. As of the...
to New Haven was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1985 under the name "Farmington Canal-New Haven and Northampton Canal". The 1984 NRHP nomination document provides a detailed history, and describes 45 separate bridges, aqueducts, weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
s and other surviving features.
The Farmington Canal Lock in Cheshire, Connecticut, and the Farmington Canal Lock No. 13 in Hamden, Connecticut were listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(NRHP) in 1973 and 1982, respectively. Those are locks 12 and 13 out of 28 original locks on the canal.
Canal and railroad
Ground was broken for the canal in 1825 and by 1828 the canal was open from New HavenNew Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
to Farmington
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
. By 1835 the complete route to Northampton
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
was finished and operating. The canal, however, was never successful financially. Competition with railroads threatened the canal. The New Haven and Northampton Company was built along the canal's right of way in 1848. Joseph Earl Sheffield
Joseph Earl Sheffield
Joseph Earl Sheffield was an American railroad magnate and philanthropist.Sheffield was born in Southport, Connecticut, the son of Paul King Sheffield, a shipowner, and his wife Mabel . He attended public schools, and moved south to enter the cotton trade...
was involved with the financing of both the canal and railroad. This railroad merged with the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
in 1887. Portions of the railway were in use up until the 1980s. A two-mile section from the Main/Whiting Sts intersection in downtown Plainville, to just south of Townline Rd (Plainville/Southington) is still in use(2009).
Trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
for recreational use. The Farmington Canal Trail
Farmington Canal Trail
The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail is an 80-mile multi-use rail trail located in Connecticut and Massachusetts.It follows the abandoned north-south right-of-way of the former New Haven and Northampton Company...
runs from downtown New Haven to Northampton
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, closely following the path of Route 10.
See also
- Hampshire and Hampden CanalHampshire and Hampden CanalThe Hampshire and Hampden Canal was the Massachusetts segment of an canal that once connected New Haven, Connecticut to the Connecticut River north of Northampton, Massachusetts...
- New Haven and Northampton Company
- Farmington Canal TrailFarmington Canal TrailThe Farmington Canal Heritage Trail is an 80-mile multi-use rail trail located in Connecticut and Massachusetts.It follows the abandoned north-south right-of-way of the former New Haven and Northampton Company...
External links
- Farmington Valley Greenway and the Farmington Valley Trails Council (FVTC)
- Farmington Canal Rail-to-Trail Association
- The Farmington Canal 1822–1847
- Farmington Canal Greenway Vision Trail