Union Canal Towpath
The Union Canal Towpath was the scene of a tragic drowning on August 17, 1875. An expectant mother, along with her three small children, made her way to the area near Lock 49 of the Union Canal. She filled a basket with stones and tied it to her waist. She then held onto the children and jumped into the canal. Though a number of people were in the area, none could get to the mother and her children in time to prevent the tragedy.
The bodies were not identified until after they were transported back to town. A close acquaintance of the mother identified her as Mrs. Philip Bissinger, along with her three children, Mollie, Lillie and Philip. Later that evening, they were taken to the family home at 661 Penn street.
A followup article shortly after the tragedy provides many more details.1Lancaster Examiner and the Semi-Weekly New Era – 8/25/1875
The circumstances attending the death of the mother and children were such as to create the strongest interest, which partakes very largely of indignation. Philip Bissinger is the keeper of a saloon on Penn street, in this place, and his family consisted of himself, his wife, a woman of about thirty years, and three small children, a boy and two girls. Of late, it is said, there has been considerable unhappiness, caused, the neighbors say, by the treatment of Mrs. Bissinger by her husband and his mother. The report commonly accepted is that Bissinger had bestowed his affections upon an unmarried woman from Philadelphia, whom he frequently had at his house, and who was boldly accorded an authority denied his wife. On Monday, as is stated, a quarrel took place between husband and wife on this account, and he ordered her out of his sight.
He told her he would give her $2,000 to go away, and return no more, she to take the two girls, and he to keep the boy, and he threatened to kill her if she returned.
From an acquaintance and friend of Philip Bissinger’s, whom our reporter met upon the street, it was ascertained that Bissinger has formed a sudden intention of taking a trip to Germany, the land of his birth. He considers the Reading climate a little too hot for his health.
Five years later, Philip was married again, to Ida Rosenthal. She was, apparently, a noted musician, so maybe she was more his type than poor Louisa.
Over the years since the tragedy, people have sensed spirits near that part of the Union Canal Towpath.