The Morris Canal helped Phillipsburg grow in the 1800s, and hopes are a network of trails can help do it again. Watch video
The Morris Canal is intertwined not just with Phillipsburg's history, but that of Jim Lee Jr.'s family.
His great-grandfather piloted a boat on the state-spanning canal that accelerated the town's growth in the 1830s. His grandmother was born on a canal boat. A conch shell used by his ancestors to signal their approach to lock-tenders is his family's most cherished artifact, he said.
And on Friday, the name of his great-grandfather's boat -- Rachael 713 -- was added to the replica unveiled along a now-open section of the Morris Canal Greenway.
"I think that's a great honor for someone who was a very poor person," a man who lived in Phillipsburg's impoverished Dishwater Hill neighborhood and lost an eye working in a nearby soapstone quarry, Lee said after cutting the ribbon on the trail. "They were hardworking, blue-collar people."
The new section of trail is the first phase for Phillipsburg and starts in the 1000 block of South Main Street, near Dishwater Hill. It is part of an effort to preserve the canal -- which once spanned 102 miles from Phillipsburg to Jersey City -- and turn it into a statewide greenway.
The project has been led since 2012 by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority in partnership with the Morris Canal Working Group.
During a news conference preceding Friday's ribbon-cutting, town leaders thanked numerous individuals, sponsors and agencies that helped facilitate the project.
Consider this: An Easton-P'burg rail trail
In addition to some playful jabs at Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr., who was in attendance, Phillipsburg Mayor Stephen Ellis used the opportunity to describe other town projects in the works.
Councilman Randy Piazza said local efforts on developing trails began two or three years ago and will continue as the Morris Canal Greenway is linked with the Highlands Trail in Union Square and other paths in development.
"Everything joins here in Phillipsburg, just like it did back in the day," Piazza said.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.