Historic Morris Canal Restoration Completed in Roxbury Township
Published on May 07, 2025
Morris County Presents Historic Preservation Plaque During Pathways of History Weekend
New interpretive signs were unveiled as Morris County Commissioners presented a Historic Preservation plaque to Roxbury Township over the weekend, recognizing the completion of a major restoration at the historic Morris Canal Inclined Plane 2 East.
Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen and Commissioner John Krickus joined Roxbury Township officials, Morris County Historical Society Executive Director Amy Curry, Canal Society of New Jersey President Joseph Macasek and many others at Morris Canal Park in Ledgewood on Saturday to celebrate the milestone. The event was held during the 16th Annual Pathways of History Tour Weekend, when more than 30 historic sites and museums were opened to the public, allowing people to visit and learn about significant people, events and places in the county’s history.
"This restoration brings new life to a site that played a key role in shaping the economy of northern New Jersey. Since 2006, Morris County has awarded more than $400,000 in preservation grants to support this work. I want to thank Roxbury Township, Amy Curry and Joe Macasek for their dedication,” said Director Selen.
View More Photos from the Ceremony
The Morris Canal was responsible for the economic development of not only Morris County, but also much of northern New Jersey 175 years ago. The canal stretched 102 miles, linking Phillipsburg and Jersey City, and was a major trade route in its heyday.
Mayor Shawn Potillo and Deputy Mayor Mark Crowley accepted the plaque and welcomed visitors to join a walking tour and view the newly installed interpretive signage detailing the site's unique history and engineering.
“This project has been nearly two decades in the making and we’re proud to see it completed and shared with the public during this special weekend. The support from the county and the New Jersey Historic Trust made it possible for us to restore these unique structures,” said Amy Curry, a Roxbury resident who noted the project was especially close to her heart.
The Morris Canal Inclined Plane 2 East is a contributing feature of the Morris Canal Historic District, listed on both the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places.
A system of locks and inclined planes were developed along the uniquely engineered canal to help goods-ladened boats navigate the waterway, being elevated or lowered during their journey. The system overcame 1,674 feet of elevation -- more than any other canal in the world -- and transformed transportation across the region in the 19th century.
Since 2006, four Morris County Historic Preservation grants totaling $408,760 have supported stabilization of the Roxbury plane’s structures, restoration of the stone raceway and tow path, and protection of the turbine pit. The New Jersey Historic Trust awarded an additional $50,040 in 2019 for Phase II stabilization efforts.
Following the ceremony, guests were also invited to explore more of Roxbury’s heritage with tours of three nearby museums on Main Street: the King Homestead Museum, the King Canal Store and the Silas Riggs Saltbox House -- all within walking distance of Morris Canal Park.
The Morris Canal Plane 2 East restoration in Roxbury follows a similar celebration in 2022, when the Morris County Commissioners and Wharton Borough officials marked the completion of a 16-year restoration of the Morris Canal Lock 2 East at Hugh Force Canal Park in Wharton. That project, supported by more than $4.7 million in state and county grants, restored a quarter-mile segment of the canal, including the only operational canal lock remaining on the historic 102-mile waterway.
The Morris County Board of County Commissioners, with the Morris County Tourism Bureau and Morris County 250th Anniversary Steering Committee, will be highlighting the county’s rich history, particularly its significant roots in the American Revolution, throughout 2025 and 2026 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Please sign up for alerts about upcoming events and join us in the celebration by visiting morriscounty250.org.
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Photo 1: (l-r) Roxbury Councilwoman Jaki Albrecht, Canal Society of New Jersey President Joseph Macasek, Morris County Commissioner John Krickus, Morris County Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen, Morris County Historical Society Executive Director Amy Curry, Roxbury Deputy Mayor Mark Crowley and Roxbury Mayor Shawn Potillo.
Photo 2: Attendees read the interpretive sign as they approach the towpath at the Morris Canal Inclined Plane 2 East site.