From Westfield, the canal intertwines between the old railroad bed and ‘on street’ bikeways for most of the distance in Southampton until the intersection of MA-10/College Hwy and Brickyard Rd. At this point, the canal follows the old rail bed crossing over MA-10/ College Hwy just before Glendale Rd and the Easthampton border. Near this juncture on Coleman Rd, the proposed Southampton Greenway connects to the existing Manhan Rail Trail. The canal leaves the railroad bed just south of Gunn Road and does not return to the railroad bed or rail-trail until near the intersection of MA-10/Easthampton Road and Lovefield Street in Northampton.

Canal water in the Southampton section of the canal comes from Salmon Falls, a natural waterfall in Woronoco’s section of Russell. Jarvis Hurd, a Civil Engineer in 1826, was expecting ‘water power’ revenue from canal water. This Southampton high point was known as ‘Timber Swamp Summit’ because it is 232 feet above sea level (thus the name Lockhouse Road). The other high point to the south is ‘Southwick Pond Summit’ on Congamond Lake and this part of the canal is 220 feet above sea level.

Southampton had nine locks (19-27) dropping the water level down about 90′ before leveling at Lock 27 at the Easthampton town line and into Northampton just before lock 28 near the Connecticut River. The masonry lock wall of Lock 22 still exists off College Highway (Brickyard Rd & MA-10/College Hwy), you can still see the circa 1832 Lyman & Elder Storehouse on this corner It took the lockkeeper about 5 minutes to fill up the lock with water so the canal boat could continue on its journey. The trip from Northampton to New Haven took about 24 hours.

Mr. Howland, who we actually met while out here lives in the original tavern along the canal. Read more about it in our good friend, Bob Madison’s book and on the Southampton Historical website!
https://www.amazon.com/New-Haven-Northampton-Canal-Greenway/dp/0997950803/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=ER53ZM4CPS6Y&keywords=robert+madison&qid=1667824295&sprefix=robert+madison%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-5

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