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PLAINVILLE HISTORIC CENTER TO HOST FARMINGTON CANAL LECTURE JAN 18

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PLAINVILLE, CONN. — The Farmington Canal comes to life on Tuesday, January 18, at 7:30 pm, at the Plainville Historic Center. Speakers will be Ruth Sharp Hummel and Dr Carl Walter, who will use an interactive computer program as well as slides to tell the story of the 1828–48 waterway.

The canal was a great influence on the development of the Great Plain, as Plainville was known, until it broke away from Farmington in 1869. The canal encouraged the development of small factories by offering safe and smoother transport of goods from Northampton to New Haven. Carriages, farm products, tinware, clocks, all sorts of wood products and thousands of dozens of corn brooms went over the water highway.

Walter will present information on the building and running of the canal. He has walked the total route of the canal taking photos of what is left. Hummel will talk of the people, boats and horses with the occasional bit of humor interjected. Hummel and Walter spent three years compiling a map of the canal, and on the back is a collection of facts and photos of the canal.

The public is invited and may also view the holiday decorations that will still be in place. The Plainville Historic Center is at 29 Pierce Street. For information, 860-747-6577.