Travel in Time with Dan: Unlocking the History of the Farmington Canal and Lock 12
Hey everybody, how are you doing? This is Dan Blanchard with the Travel in Time with Dan Show. Today, we’re blending travel, history, and leadership right here in amazing Cheshire, Connecticut, at Lock 12 of the Farmington Canal. This incredible piece of engineering is about 200 years old, and its story tells us a lot about bold action and big vision.
The Birth of Canal Fever
To understand why this canal exists, we have to travel back to the early 1800s, coinciding with the First Industrial Revolution. Factories, both in England and the United States, were producing all sorts of products. The big problem? Getting all that stuff to people who lived 50, 100, or even 200 miles away. Walking the goods over to them or jumping on a horse just wasn’t practical, especially for smaller profit items.
New York figured out the solution with the Erie Canal, an engineering marvel that connected New York City through upstate New York to the Great Lakes, linking the East Coast with the Midwest. This connectivity brought immense wealth to New York and created what historians call “canal fever”.
Connecticut wanted a piece of that economic action, especially for areas not located along the busy Connecticut River. They launched the New Haven-North Hampton Canal (which became known as the Farmington Canal in Connecticut).
A Water Highway Through New England
This bold project resulted in the longest canal in New England 200 years ago, stretching approximately 86 miles. Connecticut sought economic development and urban growth, aiming to bring trade and prosperity to new areas.
The solution was a man-made river: 20 feet wide and 4 feet deep. The route began in New Haven and traveled through Cheshire, Southington, Plainville, and Farmington, eventually heading all the way up to Northampton, Massachusetts. From there, it could connect with the Connecticut River and potentially shoot cargo all the way up toward the Canadian border—a true “water highway”.
Lock 12: The Water Elevator
The historical site of Lock 12 in Cheshire, Connecticut, holds significant historical importance. Because the terrain wasn’t flat, the builders had to invent a way for boats to “go uphill.” They did this using locks, which functioned like a water elevator. Boats would enter the lock, water would be poured in, lifting the boat up to the next level of the canal. This technology, successfully used on the Erie Canal, was implemented here.
Lock 12 is notable today because it is one of the only really well-preserved locks still left standing in Connecticut. Around the lock, you’ll find the keeper’s house. Believe it or not, the lock keeper often served double duty as the local sheriff.
It’s also interesting to note that the lock-keeper’s house was warmed from runoff water, a fascinating early example that could be considered the beginnings of geothermal heating.
This area also played a role in a famous historical event: the Amistad slaves traveled through here on their way to Farmington, where local residents helped them raise money to return home.
The End of the Era and a New Beginning
Despite the immense effort—dug largely by immigrant Irish labor using shovels and wheel barrels—the canal’s time as a primary economic engine was short-lived.
A couple of major issues doomed the canal system:
- Geography: The canal, guided by the stars, ran almost perfectly north and south, but most of the valuable economic opportunities were flowing east to west.
- Weather: The canal would freeze up solid in the winter, stopping boat traffic completely. While there were unreliable methods for dragging boats over the ice, traffic usually ceased.
Ultimately, the advent of the railroad sealed the canal’s fate. Railroads took over, effectively bankrupting the canals.
Today, the canal is a mixed landscape. Some parts have been built over, some have completely disappeared, but a significant portion has been preserved and transformed into the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail.
Two hundred years later, the original vision is still generating economic activity and utility. The Heritage Trail, running through parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts, is a cool place for people to ride bikes, go for walks, and support small businesses (like coffee shops and food vendors) that have popped up along the route.
This massive undertaking required a big vision, very bold action, and remarkable long-term adaptability. The canal’s transformation from a necessary trade route to a thriving recreational trail is a testament to that legacy.
If you’re ever in Cheshire, Connecticut, come check out this amazing 200 years of history!
Uncovering History. Inspiring Leadership. The Travel in Time Show is where travel, history, and leadership intermingle with history teacher, author, and speaker Dan Blanchard
*Check out Dan’s book, “Travel in Time in Connecticut”: https://www.amazon.com/Travel-Time-Co...
*Watch Dan’s YouTube video on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4VcO8NzmIA&t=1s
*Listen to Dan’s podcast on this episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Cx0Gtq1e9HKas8Oqu6ibb?si=BmbpVlqgSWmwjMl3IZBJDQ
*See Dan’s Interview with the Lock 12 Lock House Keeper: (Coming Soon)
*Learn more about Dan: https://granddaddyssecrets.com/