Mule-Drawn Barge Could Come to Bristol

It’s been nearly 100 years since the sounds of mule-drawn barges could be heard around Bristol.

If Bristol Amish Market operator Benuel Stoltzfus vision becomes reality, the mules could soon return — and bring with them a huge financial boost to both the borough and surrounding neighborhoods.

Although still in its infancy, Stoltzfus’ plan have a mule-drawn barge offering half-hour rides along the Delaware Canal between Amish Market on Green Lane and the beautiful lagoon on Jefferson Avenue.

The rides would presumably offer music, sightseeing, and possibly refreshments — the same type of attraction they had on the canal in New Hope several years back.

“There’s still a lot of hoops we would have to jump through,” Stoltzfus said Thursday, as he watched a line of customers enjoy the delicious offerings at his place of business, the Amish Market on Green Lane.

To help navigate those hoops, Stoltzfus asked state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson to facilitate an informational meeting between himself and Bristol Borough leaders.

Among the issues to discuss: parking, canal availability, maintenance, and much more.

The canal is currently controlled by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.

Stoltzfus is hopeful he can arrange parking on property behind the Amish Market. Care for the mules could also be arranged, he said.

In the meantime, Stoltzfus has been talking with the former New Hope barge operator, who reportedly has the contract with the state to operate any barge ride on the 60 mile canal between Easton and Bristol. That operator could not be immediately reached.

The barge rides in New Hope stopped several years ago as the canal fell into disrepair. Those barges are currently in storage, and could be used in Bristol, Stoltzfus said.

“They had about 40,000 people each year (taking barge rides)” Stoltzfus said. “We could do the same thing here (in Bristol). People could go down into the borough and enjoy themselves.”

Tomlinson’s office is standing by. “Anything we can do to help economic development,” a Tomlinson spokesperson said.

No date has been set for a meeting with officials in Bristol Borough.

The barge ride would take about one-half hour to an hour, and could offer music or refreshments. It would shuttle people between Green Lane and the lagoon on Jefferson Avenue, where riders could then be free to see other historic sights in the borough

The canal is currently somewhat messy, and needs to be cleaned up some. Water would have to be pumped in to accommodate the barge, Stoltzfus added.

The Delaware Canal was built around 1829 with hand tools, and labor primarily imported from Ireland. It was used to bring coal from upstate down to Lower Bucks.

Pennsylvania sold the canal to the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company in 1858.

Competition from the railroad led to a decline in barge traffic back. The canal was last used commercially in October, 1931. The bankrupt Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company eventually sold the canal back to the state for a nominal fee.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story stated the DCNR maintained Washington Crossing Historic Park in Upper Makefield. The park is actually maintained by the state Historic and Museum Commission.