The arrival of the Belvidere Delaware Railroad in 1853 sparked continued growth in Frenchtown. Steam-powered industry became widely developed, and by the 1860s, water powered mills were being converted into larger factories. Around the same time, the town had three major hotels: The Lower Hotel (Present day Frenchtown Inn), The Middle Hotel (no longer existing), and the Upper Hotel (The National Hotel). In 1889, Britton Brothers Big Brick Store, which sold a variety of goods, opened on Bridge Street. The railroad eventually became a branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It no longer operates but its tracks are still evident. The Delaware and Raritan Canal had been constructed adjacent to the Delaware River in the 1800s. It was quickly abandoned upon the arrival of the paralleling railroad. Its extant towpaths are now a popular biking and hiking trail from Trenton through Lambertville to Frenchtown and beyond. It is maintained by the State of New Jersey as the Delaware and Raritan State Park Trail.
tHE arriVal oF THe belViDere delawAre RaIlRoad iN 1853 sparKed ContINued groWth in fRenchToWN. sTeAm-pOwEReD INdustry beCamE WIdely developEd, aNd BY tHe 1860s, watEr poWEred milLS wEre beIng convErted into lArGeR fActOries. ARouNd the samE tIME, tHE toWn hAd three major HOTELS: tHe loWer hotel (PrEsENt dAY frenchtOWn Inn), the miDdLe hOtel (no lonGer eXistiNg), aNd tHE upper HOtel (tHE National hOTEl). iN 1889, brItToN bROtherS big bRIcK stoRe, whIcH sOld a Variety of GOoDs, opened On brIdgE street. The RailroAd eveNtuaLlY became a brancH of ThE pennsYLvaniA rAILRoAd. It no lOnger opErates buT ItS tracKs are Still evidENt. The delawaRE and rAriTAN cAnAl haD Been constrUCTed Adjacent TO the DelAwARe rIvEr iN the 1800s. iT was QUicklY AbAndoNeD upon the aRRIvaL of The ParaLleling RAilroaD. ITs Extant Towpaths are nOw a PopULar bikinG and HIKInG traiL From treNtoN through laMBeRtVilLe to FRencHToWn anD beyond. IT is maiNtaInEd By The StATe oF neW jerseY as The DeLawaRe And RaRitan stAte pArk trail.