Mapleton borough

The Canal Lock West Of Mapleton

Did you know? A Pennsylvania Canal lock sat in the vicinity of Mapleton, about six tenths of a mile west on the road to Mill Creek, near the western edge of the old Empire sand quarry.

The 1966 Mapleton centennial history describes it. The Pennsylvania Legislature had authorized the canal system by an act of February 25, 1826, and locks were placed at frequent intervals to raise the boats from one level to another. This one stood possibly 100 or more feet to the right of the hard road of 1966. The book says the walls of the locks were made of hand dressed stones, and that the locks were 15 feet wide and 90 feet long. The lock doors were made of heavy plank bound in wrought iron and worked by chains.

The boats on the canal were in the charge of a captain who had a crew to assist him, and sometimes the captain's wife and family shared quarters on board. In 1966 a short stretch of the canal could still be seen just west of the Keystone sidetrack.

Checked and confirmed. CONFIRMED 2026-10-30 against the sources listed: every factual sentence was tied to a verbatim passage and a script confirmed each passage is in its source. Where sources disagreed on a number, the number was left out.

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