| Muncy's
Heritage Park, Nature Trail begins with archaeology dig
By ROBIN VAN AUKEN
Sun-Gazette Correspondent
(MUNCY) -- Bill Poulton knew about the old well next to the defunct,
19th century canal, but he wasn't sure what to expect. After decades
of neglect, Tiger lilies, poison ivy and trees had overgrown the
small patch of land. The only clue was a stone, barely visible through
the brush.
As he uncovered the stone, the discovered that it was a four-foot
concrete block etched with a date: "October 22, 1928."
A bit more digging and a lot of heavy lifting and the well cover
was removed, revealing the colonial-era well that had served the
lock tender who had manned Lock 28 on the West Branch Canal.
Poulton, president of the Muncy Historical Society and Museum of
History, and his wife, Linda, editor of "Now and Then,"
the society's journal, are the driving forces behind the society's
newest endeavor -- the creation of the Muncy Heritage Park and Nature
Trail. Carved out of an 11-acre parcel that Betty Fisher donated
to the society, the Heritage Park will commemorate the historic
role of Muncy and the West Branch Canal. Richly illustrated, weather-proof
signs will regale visitors as they learn about the once-bustling
canal town, Port Penn, as well as the rich diversity of plants and
wildlife located along the trail. Plans are to place benches along
the canal tow path, which loops by a nearby farm pond, and to construct
a picnic pavilion and parking for the public.
Located on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, Muncy is a
town proud of its cultural and historical heritage. It's often been
referred to as the "Williamsburg of Pennsylvania." Its
citizenry enjoyed much wealth during the mid-1880s, thanks to the
private canal that extended .75 miles from the river into the small
town. The canal not only generated income for local business people,
it motivated the Sprout-Waldron company to re-locate, enabling the
company to expand and eventually employ hundreds.
According to Bill Poulton, Muncy owes its economic and social success
to the success of the canal system.
"Without the West Branch Canal system bringing products in
and allowing our farmers and merchants to ship product out, we would
not have been able to grow," Poulton said. "The growth
of Muncy is directly tied to the canal system."
The Muncy Heritage Park and Nature Trail, an ambitious undertaking,
will take at least four years to complete, Poulton estimates. Re-surveying
the property and securing the deed consumed nearly a year.
The next step is the archaeological excavation of the lock tender's
home, beginning with the colonial-era well. Last year, the Poultons
invited Lycoming College's archaeology department to investigate
the site during its annual American Archaeology field schools. Seven
students joined their instructor at the site, removing soil and
opening the well. Artifacts the students recovered include fragments
of 19th century pottery, rusty nails, broken bottles and a button.
The college will return for several years to investigate the foundation
of the canal lock tender's house, one of the remaining locks, a
canal wall and sawmill.
The Rev. Dr. John Piper, dean of Lycoming College, said he became
excited for Muncy after reading about their plans because the project
will be a major step forward in local
history and in Lycoming County history.
"Lycoming College is cooperating with the Muncy Historical
Society through its Archeology Program and its History Department.
The archeology work provides out students with the important hands-on
experience so necessary to develop archeological skills. The History
Department has long had an interest in local history and this program
seemed a perfect match for this interest," Piper said. "I
hope that the college will remain connected to this program through
faculty and student participation. It seems to me to be a natural
for those of our students who are interested in local history. And
I believe that all history is, in fact, local history."
Because of the historic society's mission, public archaeology is
an integral part of project. Eventually, the society will offer
outreach programs, community lectures, exhibits and hands-on demonstrations.
Exhibits also will be provided to community organizers, libraries
and municipal buildings. Information about the project will be distributed
through Internet sites, museum publications, brochures, portable
exhibits and site tours.
Academically, the development of the Heritage Park and Nature Trail
will serve as a resource for Lycoming College, the Pennsylvania
College of Technology and for Lycoming County public schools. During
the spring and summer, college students will participate in archaeology
field schools. During the rest of the year, students may utilize
the project for independent research in a variety of fields including
history, geology, geography, zoology, biology, environmental science
and anthropology.
Public and private school students will be invited to make annual
field trips to the excavation site and laboratory to participate
in tours and hands-on activities with artifacts. An additional program
geared towards local teachers will provide educators with materials
to use in lesson plans on science and social studies.
One of the goals of the project is stimulate public interest in
the study of history and archaeology. Through the use of displays,
site tours and various workshops, the Muncy Historical Society will
promote awareness of cultural resources and heritage preservation.
A Tradition of Preservation
The Muncy Historical Society has a proven track record of historic
preservation. In 2002, its volunteers achieved the prestigious,
statewide initiative award from Pennsylvania Preservation for preserving
and restoring the Eight Square Schoolhouse, a Lycoming County treasure
now used for living history lessons to local schools.
Prior to that, society volunteers reclaimed the Walton Graveyard,
burial place of the town’s founders, excavating and restoring
the cemetery in an effort requiring more than 1,200 volunteer hours.
A separate, non profit association was formed and had been funded,
dedicated to the maintenance of the cemetery.
The Muncy Historical Society also reclaimed the Old Hill Burying
Ground on East Penn Street. Maintenance is provided by the society.
Most recent projects include landscaping of Muncy’s Civil
War Monument site. As a follow-up to Dave Richards’ book,
"Priceless Treasures," the society spearheaded the completion
of the “Circle of Heroes” – inscribed paving bricks
adding the names of 64 additional Civil War casualties whose names
were omitted from the original monument. State and federal commendation
awards were issued by the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and
Historical Organizations and the American Association for State
and Local History, respectively.
The society has also completed the reconstruction of the cabin portion
of an authentic Canal Boat, coordinating that with exhibits and
special programs. The Packet Boat Project also received state and
federal commendation awards issued by the Pennsylvania Federation
of Museums and Historical Organizations and the American Association
for State and Local History, respectively.
Currently, volunteers are rebuilding two water exhibits salvaged
from the Pennsylvania Canal Museum – a working lock exhibit
and an incline canal boat exhibit.
Muncy Historical Society volunteers also spent hundreds of hours
raising funds for "The Last Raft,” a one-hour "living
history" documentary film, which explores the raft’s
tragic journey in March 1938, using rare photos, new and archival
footage, artifacts and news coverage.
It's not that the defunct canal is the most important historic project
in the area. It's the fact that people care enough to share it with
others that makes it worth investigating.
"There are many significant historic sites that we would love
to explore, but the problem has been in gaining access to them,"
Poulton said. "We're very fortunate that Betty Fisher, who
owns the canal, realized the importance of it and its significance
to Muncy and was farsighted to donate that property to the historical
society," he said, emphasizing that, "We're very fortunate,
but it is no more nor no less significant -- it is access that allows
us to explore its significance."
Funding for the Heritage Park and Nature Trail has been provided
by the Muncy Historical Society, the Margaret Waldron Memorial Trust
Fund and First Community Foundation. The historical society will
continue to solicit donations and support, as well as apply for
grants, as the multi-year project develops.
History of Port Penn, Muncy Canal
In the 19th century, Pennsylvania residents realized the importance
of the area’s waterways, capitalizing on the Susquehanna’s
channels, which had been cleared to Lock Haven. By 1834, the last
section of the West Branch Canal was finished.
John P. Schuyler and Joshua Alder purchased 50 acres of land in
Muncy, speculating that its resale would ultimately be a sound business
investment. This land, known as Port Penn, would first be dissected
by the canal and, later, the railroad -- both important to Muncy’s
growth.
Manufacturing flourished and the small business community would
support a large variety of trades, products and businesses. Local
carpenters worked in the Port Penn boat building facility and hotels
and taverns provided housing and food for boatmen, timber raftsmen
and canal travelers. Other occupations were represented here as
well, including a blacksmith, saddler, miller, grocer and butcher,
weaver, boot manufacturer, wagon maker, ice dealer, school teachers,
masons and general merchant.
Port Penn had a dark side as well. Barney McCue stabbed a neighbor
in 1870, and then took his friend’s life in 1874; Ellis Deeter
killed a neighboring man in 1909. Many children drowned in river
and canal accidents, some residents were killed or seriously maimed
in railroad accidents and, in March 1938, seconds after passing
the entrance to the Port Penn canal, the “Last Raft”
hit the railroad bridge, sending its 45 passengers into the river.
Seven died.
The Muncy Canal became a great business thoroughfare. The chief
products exported to points south were hogs, wheat, flour, lumber,
dried and salted meats, leather and whiskey. At the time, there
were 13 distilleries in the area with an estimated output of 1,200
to 1,500 gallons of whiskey a day. There were numerous sawmills,
shingle and gristmills along the canal bed. Imported cargo made
its way into warehouses then moved to downtown Muncy and to non-river
towns, like Hughesville and Picture Rocks.
Port Penn once was described as “a small suburb of Muncy ...
a freight depot and the point at which passengers boarded the packet
boats. A great many boats, both packet and cargo, were built here
during the canal days and the village grew to a population of 300
people. (By 1900) it is now a quiet and secluded outlying section
between Muncy and the Susquehanna ...”
Dig Personnel
Meet the archaeologists, students and volunteers working at the
Muncy Canal site
Dig Diaries
Participate in the exciting discoveries by reading the latest from
the field
Ask an Archaeologist
Visit our FAQs page to get answers to all your questions about the
dig
The Archaeologist's Toolbox
Learn about the tools we use before, during, and after excavations
Archaeology for Kids
Here are a few games and puzzles to help young children and students
learn about archaeology
Upcoming Events
Learn more about us, and get information on visiting the site or
taking part in one of our programs
Media Coverage
Read all about it! Public Radio, local newspapers, Web 'zines and
television newscasts investigate The Muncy Heritage Park and Nature
Trail
Join the Society
Want to help with the Archaeology Dig? Become a member of the Muncy
Historical Society
Muncy Historical Society
Visit the Muncy Historical Society's Web site
Robin
Van Auken, archaeologist for the project
Meet Robin Van Auken and find out more about the field school she
teaches for Lycoming College
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