South Hadley Canal Park

From another plaque in the park "Finished in 1795,the inclined plane was used to draw boats through the lower portion of the canal.Built of solid stone,it was 230 long and 30 feet wide.Boats were floated onto a carriage for the ascent.It was replaced by a series of locks 1805.The canal was built to circumvent the rapids caused by a drop of 53 feet in two and a half miles.A financial success,the canal played an important role in early transportation system of our country."