200@200 : April - Traveling the Crossroads
Date:
1838-1840
Title:
Gronauer Lock Remnant
Description:
The Gronauer Lock was built between 1838 and 1840 and was named for its lockkeeper Joseph Gro-nauer. The canal had a constant depth of four feet. A wooden chamber called a lock, with gates at each end, let water in and out to raise or lower a canal boat each time it passed through different elevation levels. In 1991, the Gronauer Lock received national attention when highway workers uncovered timbers while working on the construction of I-469 just east of New Haven. About two-thirds of the lock was excavated, including this piece. Although wood is not a desirable building material for water structures, because it speeds up the natural decaying process, it was a readily available material. As long as the wood remained submerged, the timbers would not decay. The accompanying sketches are from the excavation and show the locations of remnants #372 and #393.
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Gronauer Lock Remnant 372Gronauer Lock Remnant 372
Gronauer Lock Remnant 372Gronauer Lock Remnant 372
Gronauer Lock Remnant 372Gronauer Lock Remnant 372
Gronauer Lock Remnant 372Gronauer Lock Remnant 372
Gronauer Lock Excavation DrawingGronauer Lock Excavation Drawing
Gronauer Lock Excavation DrawingGronauer Lock Excavation Drawing
Gronauer Lock Excavation DrawingGronauer Lock Excavation Drawing
Gronauer Lock Remnant 393Gronauer Lock Remnant 393