In today’s column, we are going back 70 years to a familiar sight, dredging for reclaimed coal on the Lehigh River. A few weeks ago, Mrs. Cindy Beck Deppe sent this writer and Larry Oberly photographs on dredging of the Lehigh River. The photos were taken by her father, William Beck, founder of the landmark Becky’s Drive-In Theater.

The photographs take us back to an era when anthracite coal was king in Eastern Pennsylvania. The area contained one of the largest deposits of hard coal in the world. Mines and brakers dominated the landscape of the coal regions of Pennsylvania.

In processing the millions of tons of coal annually, some coal was washed into the Lehigh River.

The Lehigh River has an interesting history. The river as we know it today was once controlled by the Lehigh Navigation Company. In 1818, the Lehigh Navigation Company reached an agreement with the state of Pennsylvania for control of the Lehigh River. The state agreed Lehigh Navigation could control the river if they kept it navigable.

Two brilliant engineers, Josiah White and Erskine Howard, embarked on quite an engineering feat, constructing a canal from Mauch Chunk to Easton, following the river. Using primitive equipment like hand shovels, hardworking canal workers dug the canal and constructed more than 50 locks. The project was completed in 1829.

To keep the river clean, several companies decided to begin dredging the river to recover waste coal. Northwest of Treichlers is the village of Lockport, the center for local dredging operations. The village of Lockport is named for the canal locks that operated there.

At one time, Lockport was bustling with canalboat building and repair. They employed many local residents. The village was served by both the Lehigh Canal and a railroad. There was both a hotel and store in the village.

Mr. Wilson Putt Sr., a well-known Lehigh Township resident, started a successful dredging operation on the Lehigh River that lasted until 1957.

We will be speaking to the Putts in two weeks, so please join us.