The Schuylkill Canal was a system of interconnected canals and water pools along the Schuylkill River built as a commercial waterway in the early 19th-century. The navigation opened in 1825 to provide coal transportation and water power. The initial trek was approximately 108 miles linking Philadelphia to Port Carbon in the Southern Anthracite Coal Fields near Pottsville.
During the 1860s the railroads had become the king of transportation with their improved power and speed of travel, so like most North American canals, the Schuylkill Canal began to decline in use for general freight. Railroads could reach mine heads and coal breakers where no stream existed to support the costly digging of a new ditch. Coal shifted away from canals to the more flexible means of bulk goods transportation.
By 1890 only 144,994 tons of cargo passed through the Schuylkill Canal. The Canal was also hindered by coal silt deposits that made its upper sections almost unusable. By 1891 the portion of the Schuylkill Canal above Port Clinton was abandoned. By 1904 the anthracite traffic had almost completely ceased, and after 1913 only an occasional cargo passed between Port Clinton and Philadelphia. Thus ending the Schuylkill Canal's illustrious navigation run
There have been numerous tales of drownings, murders, floods, and even pirates on the Schuylkill Canal. This tale focuses on an accidental downing during the 1890s and an apparition's purposeful appearance twenty-five years after death.
In August 1912, a group of six teenage boys decided to take an evening walk. As time passed, their trek took them to an area of Schuylkill Haven known as Quarley Point. This location was where the old boat yards were located during the heyday of the Schuylkill Canal. Here barges were launched and repaired to be used as transportation vessels. As the boys laughed and enjoyed the summer evening, to their amazement they spotted a slowly moving figure about 20 yards away. The figure appeared to have come out of nowhere. As the boys became quiet and focused the reality took hold the slowly walking figure was semi-translucent. To the boys horror, the figure took on the shape of a man dressed all in white. The boys froze as a smile crept upon the figure's mouth. It's arms raised in the wind and waved the boys to come closer.
The shocked lads opted not to accept the greeting and ran as fast as their terrified legs would carry them down Canal St.
They arrived at one of the boy's home pale and struggling to find their breath. There the young men told of their ghastly experience. Not surprisingly, the parents of the boys were filled with doubt, yet the young lads swore they were telling the truth.
The next night, to prove to their parents the experience was not a hallucination, the boys and parents traveled to the same spot of the ghostly sighting. The young lads were sure to equip themselves with clubs and rocks in case the apparition attempted anything. Sadly, after a period of anxiously waiting, the boys and parents went away without a second sighting. However, local residents noticed the group and inquired about their intentions before they left.
The boys told the tale from the previous night as the older residents listened. Those who had lived in the location for many decades began to lock eyes and nod. They knew exactly what the boys had witnessed.
Boat Building was a prime business within the borough during the height of Canal Navigation. Boats were not just constructed but also launched in that exact location. Decades before a boat launching was scheduled. The Day was like any other and no complications were expected. A 40 year old man named Jacob Smith was in the process of readying the launch. He stood on the side of the vessel when tragedy struck. The vessel broke free of its constraint ropes and toppled into the water sideways sending Smith into the drink. To Smith's horror, he was pinned beneath the weight of the vessel. After several moments, the vessel was finally righted and bobbed in the water. The other workers immediately dove into the Canal's waters attempting to retrieve Smith. Sadly to their shock his body could not be located. In fact, Jacob Smith's body was never retrieved.
This accident caused many local superstitious canal workers to leave the profession completely. They were convinced a curse was upon the location and Smith would surely return to exact revenge.
Claims of apparition sightings began sporadically but grew to be semi-consistent. The older residents knew the ghost was that of Jacob Smith attempting to find those who were responsible for his death. He would continue his ghostly search until he had his revenge.
The residents claimed to see the apparition frequently at Quarley Point and also at several locations along the canal. One claim even reported seeing Smith's ghost walking along an old route. His body half in the ground and half above. This was due to the fact the route had been partially filled with dirt since Smith's death.
The next time you are in Schuylkill Haven you may find yourself near the old canal location. Keep your eyes peeled and senses aware. You just may be greeted by the ghost of Jacob Smith grinning as he waves to you to come closer.💀
Comments