middlesex canal

The Middlesex Canal was built in the late 18th century to connect the Merrimack River with the port of Boston. Thus opening up the vast interior of New England to its merchant capital. The canal ran from Middlesex Village in East Chelmsford, Massachusetts, later Lowell, Massachusetts through several Middlesex County towns terminating near Charlestown, Massachusetts. The water source for the canal was the Concord River at Billerica, Massachusetts. This was also the highest point of the canal. The Canal was one of the main thourough-fares in New England until the advent of the railroad. In fact the Boston and Lowell Railroad (now a part of the MBTA Commuter Rail System) was built using the plans from the original surveys for the Canal. It follows the Canal route very closely, and in fact theCanal was used to transport the construction materials for the railroad.

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