Ever ask yourself that question?
Did any of the miners of the #9 Mine in Lansford ever think as deeply as they traveled?
What was Josiah White's dream? does anyone really know just how ingenious he really was?
He invented hydraulic powered drills for the dry masons to use when boring holes into solid rock while building the canal. Many remember the storied Lower section of the canal from Jim Thorpe to Easton. Fewer realize that there was an "Upper Grand" section that ran from 'White's Haven' (White Haven) down to the Lower section. Immense dams were built to create slack water, then the boats were diverted to locks along the Lehigh River. And because the river depths were much higher than those on the Lower section, these locks were in the 30-50 foot range.
There are many lost skills and innovations that permeated this area. Did you know the Lehigh River once had hydroelectric generation, long before there was the concept of our current "power grid"? Take a minute to peek around the front of the Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center on Broadway in downtown Jim Thorpe and you'll see one of the fist hydroelectric turbines ever used right here in our own Lehigh River.
Metaphorically, where has all this lead us? Where can we go now that we're here? There are plans afoot and I hope you will stay tuned.
bohzo (Hello) Ronald
ReplyDeleteI posted your comment under the Jim Thorpe story, if you click the title of the story the comment will appear, the nine tribes elected officials pass through daily looking for comments, once they pick up the comments then i remove the comment, i will leave your up because the media also passes through and collects information.
Megwetch (Thank You)
David
I am a board member of the Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center here in Jim Thorpe. If you ever need a contact here in our county, please do not hesitate to contact me.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards, Ron Rabenold