Boys Diving Off a Canal Boat

Two boys diving off a docked canal boat while secured mules feed from their portable feeding troughs on the towpath.

NPS Photo

Sometimes children would dive into the canal from canal boats to swim and play. The canal was only six-feet at its lowest depth, therefore, this wasn’t the smartest or safest way to jump into the canal. Cleanliness was also an issue as the canal was contaminated with animal waste, garbage, and other pollutants. Interestingly, there have been some oral histories that state the canal water being crystal clear at some point.