Canal Basin Complex (Marker)

History of the Allegheny Portage Railroad/ Canal Basin

The commencement of the construction of the Allegheny Portage railroad was authorized by an act of the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed the 21st day of March 1831. Previous to that time of the Allegheny mountains had been made by several eminent engineers and these surveys had thrown much light on the of the country through which the railroad was to pass. The grading and masonry of the twenty six miles were contracted for at Ebensburg on the 25th of May and the work commenced by clearing a track one hundred and twenty feet wide through the forest most of which consisted of heavy spruce or hemlock timber. The location of the line from the turnpike crossing near the summit of Blair’s Gap eastward to Hollidaysburg a distance of ten and two thirds miles was immediately proceeded with. The Portage road consisted of eleven levels or grade lines and ten incline planes, with five incline planes on each side of the mountain varying in inclination. At the head of each incline plane there were 2 stationary steam engines of 35 horse power each, which gave motion to the rope to which the cars were attached. Only one engine was used a time but two were provided to prevent delay from accidents. Cars each loaded with 7,000 pounds could be drawn up and four let down at the same time and from six to ten such trips made in hour. The machinery was simple and effective in its construction and was superintended by Edward Miller as principal assistant engineer. A safety car attended the other cars both ascending and descending and stopped them in case of accident to the rope. Credit of this contrivance was due to Mr Welch, principal engineer.

 

Hollidaysburg had its growth and became a town of importance from its situation being at the termini of the Pennsylvania canal and Allegheny Portage railroad In 1831. When the act authorizing the construction of these public works became a law Hollidaysburg was but a small hamlet, Frankstown as before intimated and Newry were towns of far greater importance. It was generally conceded that wherever the basin or canal terminus would be located a town would spring into existence, which would be of considerable consequence precisely as the location of the shops and principal offices of the Pennsylvania Railroad company created a large and prosperous town. The engineers in charge considered Frankstown as the natural point, and the basin was not only staked off there but its construction actually commenced and on the strength of it Mr Henry Denlinger commenced the erection of a large three- story brick hotel (Capitol Hotel). Town lots went up rapidly and for awhile the old town enjoyed quite a boom. An effort was made to locate the basin on the farm of Jacob Wertz, now owned by Mr George W Rhodes, and an offer of ten thousand dollars at good sum at that time was made for the land but the old man refused to sell. Perhaps if Jacob had not proved so contrary and obstinate, Hollidaysburg would never have had any other existence than a resting place for teamsters. The farm of Patrick McCloskey where the reservoir was subsequently located was also selected as the place for the canal basin. The Wertz farm was the place designated by nature for its location, for near that point is the junction of two branches of the Juniata river, and with a proper dam it is fair to presume that the large expenditure of money for the construction of the reservoir would never have become a necessity.

 

The first canal boat arrived in Hollidaysburg in the fall of 1833 and was named the “John Blair.” The event was celebrated by a grand ball. No building in the town was large enough to accommodate the guests and the music and dancing was adjourned to the large brick building in Frankstown known as the Denlinger Hotel (Capitol Hotel). The work on the railroad was so far completed on the 26th of November 1833 as to permit the passage of the first car over its entire length. On the 18th of March 1834 the road was opened as a public highway. The Canal and Portage Railroad Exchange a new and spacious brick hotel corner of Mulberry and Montgomery streets was opened to the public April 1 1834 and was kept by JC Williams and R M Shaw (not Capitol Hotel).

All information provided by The Blair County Genealogical Society