Canal Park boat replica dedicated at Lock 31 in Wayne County

Peter Becker, Tri-County Independent
·4 min read

It has been well over 120 years since a Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Canal Company boat was built to serve on the 108-mile canal between Honesdale, Pa., and Rondout, N.Y., on the Hudson River. Their builders, if they could return, might be amazed to see the full-scale boat replica sitting in the canal near Hawley, and the excitement around its dedication ceremony on June 17.

Though not a full replica, the canal boat representation appears so, as seen from Route 6 and the parking area at the Wayne County Historical Society's D&H Canal Park at Lock 31. The 90-foot representation comes complete with a rudder, cabin and holds for its principal cargo, anthracite coal. In keeping with the tradition of many of the D&H boat captains who named their hardy vessels, the ceremony included designating the boat replica as the Clinton Leet.

Applause and cheering went up as the name sign was unveiled. Presiding was Tom Colbert, WCHS trustee and chairperson of the Canal Park Committee, who has given years of his time and skills for this project and the park, accompanied by a team of other dedicated volunteers and WCHS staff. Congressman Matt Cartwright also offered remarks, as well as Rick Leet, nephew of the boat's namesake.

Tom Colbert, Canal Park Committee chairperson, at the ceremony June 17 naming the newly completed D&H canal boat replica for the late Clinton Leet, who urged the Wayne County Historical Society in 1995 to acquire the property a mile east of Hawley, to establish the D&H Canal Park at Lock 31. The park opened in 2013, and the boat replica was finished in the spring of 2023. The full-scale, 90-foot replica sits over a pavilion in the 19th century canal basin.

Clinton Leet, long-time WCHS trustee, first proposed to the board in 1995 to acquire the property and create a canal park, the only one celebrating the D&H on the Pennsylvania side of the canal. Leet lived to attend the first annual Canal Festival in August 2013; he died that November at age 91.

Leet is also credited for initiating the Stourbridge Line train excursions in 1979. He started the O&W snowmobile club with his father in Northern Wayne, utilizing an abandoned railroad bed.

His nephew said that Clinton had a passion for tourism. He sold insurance and real estate. He would take customers in his private plane to see properties from above. Clinton was not one to promote himself, but emphasized the benefit a project would be to the area.

Clinton Leet (1922-2013) attended the first annual Canal Festival in August 2013 hosted by Wayne County Historical Society at their newly opened D&H Canal Park at Lock 31. Leet, a former trustee, is credited with proposing in 1995 that the Society acquire the property and build a canal park, a mile west of Hawley, PA.
Clinton Leet (1922-2013) attended the first annual Canal Festival in August 2013 hosted by Wayne County Historical Society at their newly opened D&H Canal Park at Lock 31. Leet, a former trustee, is credited with proposing in 1995 that the Society acquire the property and build a canal park, a mile west of Hawley, PA.

The boat replica covers a pavilion resting in the historic canal basin, which was opened in 2020. The pavilion, available for rentals, contains a permanent exhibit of a typical canal boat cabin interior on one end. The partial, wooden hull of the boat replica was added in 2022 and completed this spring. 

The gathering toured the Daniels Farmhouse on Canal Park land to see the progress in restoring its interior. The building, alongside the canal lock, served part of its long history as an inn and canal store, catering to many canal boat crews.

After dinner under the pavilion, WCHS volunteer and former director Sally Talaga presented a slide show of the boat replica's progress. Talaga has been continually active with the park project and instrumental in obtaining grants. Alan Kehoe catered the dinner.

U.S. Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-8th), at right, presents a certificate of recognition to Tom Colbert for the Wayne County Historical Society on the occasion of the June 17 dedication of the full-scale canal boat replica at the Society's D&H Canal Park at Lock 31. The park is along Route 6 one mile west of Hawley and is open daily for walks on the trails.

Approximately 1,300 boats operated on the canal. from 1828 to 1898. On the Pennsylvania side there were boat yards in Texas Township, east of Honesdale; at Hawley next to the canal basin which became Bingham Park; and at Baisdenville on the canal, a couple of miles east of Hawley in Lackawaxen Township. 

Ever-larger boats were ordered by the D&H to transport more coal as business grew, requiring the expansion of the canal four times. The replica is built to scale of the largest boats, with could carry 125 to 145 tons of coal. Some boats were privately owned and operated by a family; others had a hired crew. Heavy boat traffic traveled the canal, boats going in opposite directions with barely enough room to pass. They lined up to pass through the 108 locks, such as Lock 31 where there was a wide basin.

The replica is tied with a rope around a stone snubbing post, just as if they would be in back in the day when crews stopped for the night.

The newly completed, full-scale canal boat replica at D&H Canal Park at Lock 31, is tied to a stone snubbing post alongside the 19th-century canal. The replica is named the "Clinton Leet." The park is owned and operated by Wayne County Historical Society in Honesdale. The 10th annual Canal Festival is planned here, Saturday, August 19, 2023.
The newly completed, full-scale canal boat replica at D&H Canal Park at Lock 31, is tied to a stone snubbing post alongside the 19th-century canal. The replica is named the "Clinton Leet." The park is owned and operated by Wayne County Historical Society in Honesdale. The 10th annual Canal Festival is planned here, Saturday, August 19, 2023.

The Canal Park is open daily from dawn to dusk, year-round for taking walks on the trail system, at no charge. Interpretative panels review the history of both the site and the D&H Canal. A looping trail off the towpath trail goes down along the Lackawaxen River. D&H Canal Park at Lock 31 is located on Route 6 a mile west of Hawley. It is the only public D&H canal section on the Pennsylvania side designated for preservation and interpretation of its history and the first with a full-scale boat replica. There also are D&H canal parks on the New York side.

Rick Leet, nephew of the late Clinton Leet, spoke about his uncle's life at the dedication ceremony June 17, 2023, naming the Wayne County Historical Society's newly completed canal boat replica for his uncle. Clinton Leet, who was a Society trustee, first proposed to the board in 1995 to acquire the property a mile west of Hawley to start the D&H Canal Park at Lock 31. The replica is full scale, at 90 feet long and sits in the old canal above a pavilion.

The 10th annual Canal Festival is set for Saturday, Aug. 19.

Anyone seeking information about the festival and other events, call and leave a message for WCHS Director Carol Dunn at 570-253-3240 or email Sally Talaga at sltalaga@gmail.com. Visit online at waynehistorypa.org.

D&H canal boats by the numbers:

  • 1828-1898: Years operated by D&H Canal Co.

  • 124 miles, gravity railroad and canal

  • 108-mile canal, 108 locks

  • 1,300: Approximate number, canal boats

  • 140 tons coal: Maximum capacity estimate for largest boats

  • 90 feet: Length, largest boats

  • 10 days: Average round-trip

  • 13 trips a year, at most

  • 4,097,218 tons of coal delivered, peak year 1883

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Boat replica dedicated in time for 10th annual Canal Festival