Riverton Lock, also known as the Colbert Shoals Lock, was the entrance to Colbert Shoals Canal, a low water alternative route around Colbert and Bee Tree Shoals on the Tennessee River.
The first major upstream landing on the Tennessee River after leaving Paducah, Kentucky, was Riverton, a former town site in Colbert County, Alabama.[1] Riverton was located on the east side of the junction of the Tennessee River and Bear Creek, across Bear Creek from Eastport. Colbert and Bee Tree Shoals were immediately up river from Riverton and prevented major river traffic between Riverton and Florence, Alabama, for six months of the dry season.[2]
In the late 1890s Muscle Shoals Canal was nearing completion; this traversed the other major shoals above Florence, Alabama, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1891, George Washington Goethals, an engineer and US Army officer, was promoted to captain and was assigned the oversight of completing Muscle Shoals Canal. Goethals developed a design for a single high lift lock to be located at the downstream end of Colbert Shoals canal at Riverton. Goethals was successful in convincing the Army Corps of Engineers that the high lift lock was feasible and was eventually given the approval for its construction.[3]
Riverton Lock began operation on November 11, 1911, and at its completion was the highest lift lock in the world.[3] Completed dimensions are 80 feet (24 m) wide and 350 feet (110 m) inside the miter sills with a lift of 26 feet (7.9 m).[4]
After the success Goethals had with the design and construction of Riverton Lock, he was transferred to Panama and given the responsibility of designing and constructing the Panama Canal. Many of the principles developed at Riverton Lock were applied to the Panama Locks. Goethals later became the first Governor of the Panama Canal Zone.[3]
^ ab"Drowned towns: What traces of 'ghost' cities lie beneath Alabama's man-made lakes?" page at al.com
^Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, 1925
^ abcThe Panama Canal - an army's enterprise p14, Center of Military History, United States Army
^Congressional Series of United States Public Document, Volume 6206 page 107) (62D Congress:: 2nd Session:: December 4, 1911:: August 26, 1912 :: House Documents Volume 24
External linksedit
Map sources: . Google aerial photo shows some ruined buildings in the lake at this point which are very likely to be buildings associated with the lock.
Big Cat Man's page with map and several photos
January 01, 1970
riverton, lock, also, known, colbert, shoals, lock, entrance, colbert, shoals, canal, water, alternative, route, around, colbert, tree, shoals, tennessee, river, under, construction, november, 1895alternative, namescolbert, shoals, lockgeneral, informationtype. Riverton Lock also known as the Colbert Shoals Lock was the entrance to Colbert Shoals Canal a low water alternative route around Colbert and Bee Tree Shoals on the Tennessee River Riverton LockUnder construction November 8 1895Alternative namesColbert Shoals LockGeneral informationTypeLockCoordinates34 53 50 N 88 03 55 W 34 89719 N 88 06528 W 34 89719 88 06528OpenedNovember 11 1911DemolishedFebruary 8 1938Height350 feetDimensionsOther dimensions80 feet wideDesign and constructionEngineerGeorge Washington GoethalsHistory editThe first major upstream landing on the Tennessee River after leaving Paducah Kentucky was Riverton a former town site in Colbert County Alabama 1 Riverton was located on the east side of the junction of the Tennessee River and Bear Creek across Bear Creek from Eastport Colbert and Bee Tree Shoals were immediately up river from Riverton and prevented major river traffic between Riverton and Florence Alabama for six months of the dry season 2 In the late 1890s Muscle Shoals Canal was nearing completion this traversed the other major shoals above Florence Alabama and Chattanooga Tennessee In 1891 George Washington Goethals an engineer and US Army officer was promoted to captain and was assigned the oversight of completing Muscle Shoals Canal Goethals developed a design for a single high lift lock to be located at the downstream end of Colbert Shoals canal at Riverton Goethals was successful in convincing the Army Corps of Engineers that the high lift lock was feasible and was eventually given the approval for its construction 3 Riverton Lock began operation on November 11 1911 and at its completion was the highest lift lock in the world 3 Completed dimensions are 80 feet 24 m wide and 350 feet 110 m inside the miter sills with a lift of 26 feet 7 9 m 4 After the success Goethals had with the design and construction of Riverton Lock he was transferred to Panama and given the responsibility of designing and constructing the Panama Canal Many of the principles developed at Riverton Lock were applied to the Panama Locks Goethals later became the first Governor of the Panama Canal Zone 3 Riverton Lock was flooded when Pickwick Landing Dam was completed on February 8 1938 1 References edit a b Drowned towns What traces of ghost cities lie beneath Alabama s man made lakes page at al com Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers United States Army 1925 a b c The Panama Canal an army s enterprise p14 Center of Military History United States Army Congressional Series of United States Public Document Volume 6206 page 107 62D Congress 2nd Session December 4 1911 August 26 1912 House Documents Volume 24External links editMap sources Google aerial photo shows some ruined buildings in the lake at this point which are very likely to be buildings associated with the lock Big Cat Man s page with map and several photos Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Riverton Lock amp oldid 1144524987, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
