Unusual Structure

View of the Maumee River from the
Buckeye Trail in Napoleon, Oho

You can be alerted by email every time a new article is posted on this web site. Enter your email address under the phrase, " Follow us by Email" to the right of this article. Also join us on Facebook and share you photos taken while walking the Buckeye Trail through Henry County, Ohio. Clicking on, "Like us on Facebook" at the top right side of this web site I spotted an unusual structure while walking the Buckeye Trail between Meyerholtz Park and Ritter Park in Napoleon, Ohio.

 

Top View from the Buckeye Trail
Structure includes stone, cement,
nuts, bolts, and washers

The stone and cement structure is on the canal side of the trail. When was it constructed?  What purpose did this serve?  Who built it? The canal was in use from 1843 until 1913.  Wabash and Erie Canal began operation from the Ohio River (through Indiana and Ohio) to Lake Erie in the summer of 1843.  In 1828 the Indiana General  Assembly approved the borrowing of $200,000 to begin construction. Construction on this canal began in 1832.

 

The Erie Canal, running through the state of New York, created the first demand for cement to be imported to the US.  The first recorded shipment of Portland Cement to the US was in 1886.  In 1871 the first Portland Cement Plant was established in Coplay, Pennsylvania.  Cement was used to construct a lock near Defiance, Ohio in 1906. Before that time many of the locks were constructed of stone or wood.

Note the indentation down the right side

I can not find pictures or articles about this structure in books and    articles discussing canal construction. The Miami and Erie Canal joined the joined the Wabash and Erie Canal  at Junction, Ohio (just south of Defiance, Ohio) after the Wabash and  Erie canal was in operation.

The e-Book, Canal Fever, by Lynn Metzger described how the, "Ohio 

State Legislature had secured permission to link up with (and essentially appropriate) a segment of Indiana's existing "Wabash and Erie Canal" from Junction, Ohio to Toledo.

A good look at the bolt, washer, and nut assembly.

The last eighty-six miles completed the Miami and Erie Canal without digging more dirt.  The Ohio Board of Public Works proclaimed, "for the sake of convenience," the resulting composite waterway would be call the Miami and Erie Canal." The Miami and Erie Canal was completed thirteen years after  the completion of the Ohio and Erie Canal in Eastern Ohio. Looking across the canal.  No such structure can be seen on the other  side of the canal.

I find it interesting that formal education for civilian engineers  was unknown in the United States when the canals were built in Ohio. People in charge of building the Ohio canals prepared themselves by apprenticing on New York’s Erie Canal.

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Article and Photos submitted by Bob Morrison, Napoleon, Ohio.

 

A Winter Odyssey on the Trail

Today I venture out walking after the heavy snows from last week. As cabin fever sets in, I love to get outdoors to chase it away! The snow is abundant from two major storms last week… one was expected, and one surprised us all – even the weather forecasters. I am bundled up in winter attire and walking down onto the Miami & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Western Henry County, just east of the Village of Florida. The trail is part of the US National Park Service’s “North Country Trail”. Arriving on the trail I am completely intrigued. As often as I frequent the trail in other seasons, I am seldom here in Winter. The setting takes on a completely new and refreshing ambiance. The giant trees and dense underbrush-once teeming with growth and leaves now stand naked yet draped with snow in their silent slumber. On one side of me is the Maumee River- frozen solid with ice nearly two feet thick, on the other side is the Miami & Erie Canal. The sky overhead looms with grey and is heavily overcast. The air is still and weighs heavy with dampness. From indoors it may seem dreary, but outdoors on the trail, the grayness takes on a magical and mystical quality. I am standing in snow up to my knees. I am the first to walk on this trail through all this snow, as I trudge through the knee deep virgin powder. It’s refreshing how quiet and serine it is here. There is nearly complete silence. All the snow on the ground and the trees acts like a giant sponge, absorbing and muffling all the sounds. Occasionally I hear a dog bark in the distance, but that too is muted and silenced by the abundant snow. It is difficult as I continue walking through the deep powder. I must lift my feet very high with each step to overcome the depth of the snow. As I stop to catch my breath and snap some photos, I begin to feel the cold settle in. Winter’s Chill is invigorating, yet I must respect this force of Nature. I must keep moving to generate warmth for my body so it does not succumb to the forces of the ambient cold. If I were to stay down on the trail for any length of time, I would scout a place out of the wind to start a fire for warmth. Knowing I will return home shortly, I dismiss that notion and keep moving. As I strain sinking in this knee-deep powder, I can immediately see how snow-shoeing here would enable me to walk farther. The oversized shoes would prevent me from sinking into the snow, Next time I will bring snow shoes, but as I return to my world off the trail, I am re-invigorated, and my cabin fever is no more.

Autumn along the Trail

Hiking on the North Country/Buckeye Trail
in Henry County, Ohio

I love to hike on the trail in the Fall ! The Kaleidoscope of fall colors is all around and seems to be more vivid when the sun's rays illuminate the beautiful gold, amber, orange and red hues. As each day passes, it becomes a new and different spectacle to behold. As I walk along, my skin beeks in the warming yet waning sun of this fine October afternoon. It warms the morning chill off the crisp air, as it continues its perennial journey closer to the the southern horizon. Leaves crunch under foot as I walk, and the gentle afternoon breezes swirl among the trees, cascading many leaves through the air as they float to the ground.

Florida Spillway

The cooler temperatures make hiking enjoyable, and the small animals are more active. Squirrels scurry about with their Herkey-Jerkey movements as they work to gather food for their long winter's rest. The flocks of Canadian Geese gather in the wetlands along the canal as they take a brief respite from their long journey south for winter. Listening to their honking as they fly south in their V-Shaped formation overhead is a special treat I love to watch. 

Beautifull Fall Foilage

I enjoy my hike, for I know that it won't be long until all the leaves have fallen, and the giant trees have yielded to Winter's Silent Slumber. Occasionally the scent of burning leaves drifts by. It is a familiar scent this time of year. It makes me think of crisp juicy apples and fresh-squeezed cider for which their was ample bounty this year! I will remember this day as a gem, and as the days continue to get shorter as we coast into the holiday season, I will have this day to remember throughout the long cold winter ahead.

Hovercrafts along the trail

The other day while walking on the Miami, Wabash and Erie Canal towpath I saw three hovercrafts coming up the Maumee River. 



Two Hovercrafts waiting for a friend

Eight hovercrafts from Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio explored the Maumee July 21@22. The club members first went from Waterville to Grand Rapids. Got out at Grand Rapids. The next day they put in at the Mary Jane Thurston State Park boat ramp and sped up the Maumee to Napoleon's Ritter Park boat ramp.




Mike McFarrlane of Adrian Michigan worked three nights a week for

eight months to build his hovercraft.

Mike McFarrlane came up the Maumee at speeds as high as 60 miles per hour. Each hovercraft has two motors
These are pleasure crafts. 

Just drive your hovercraft up the ramp when want to go on land. 
This hovercraft is owned by Steve Wilkins of Celina Ohio.

Other members, Dave and Mary Ann Alexander of Temperance Michigan, said this years Hoverally 2012 is being held at Vincennes, Indiana Friday August 31st through Sunday September 2nd.

Scott Hull of Kentucky takes two local boys on the ride
of their lives while Mom and Dad look on.

Scott Hull of Crestview Hill Kentucky purchased his hovercraft. Scott is the President of Hovercrafts of America. You can see more about hovercrafts at
hoverclubofamerica.org


Article and photos submitted by Bob Morrison.

Bicycling Along The Trail

Bicycling in Northwest Ohio is becoming more and more popular. There are many places to ride- both on road, and off.  Off road riding along the Old Towpath Trail is enjoyable and scenic. The section of trail going through Meyerholtz State Wildlife Area offers a groomed trail which makes for a smooth ride. It is located on Napoleon's west side along the Maumee River. It is a brief ride, but leads into downtown Napoleon if you're going East, or out to the Buckeye Trail if you're going West. Continue your ride anywhere beyond that. See you there!

New Foot Bridge Constructed on The Trail

Volunteers Construct a Foot Bridge
on the Trail. (Photo provided by Bob Morrison)

On an un-seasonable chilly April morning, fifteen committed volunteers came out to lend a hand and construct yet another foot bridge on the Miami & Erie Canal Old Tow Path Trail, now known as the Buckeye Trail and the North Country Trail. On Saturday, April 21, 2012 the newest foot bridge was constructed just East of the CSX Railroad Overpass in Henry County on the trail between US 6 and State Route 109 in Liberty Township.

Volunteers Construct a Foot Bridge
on the Trail. (Photo provided by Bob Morrison)

Thanks to their efforts, the new bridge crosses the canal and enables Hikers/Bikers to cross the canal, and enable them to go under the Rail Viadock the back to the trail without having to break their stride. On that frosty morning, the terrific efforts of the volunteers helped to make the trail a continuous Walking/Biking experience. The addition of this bridge brings the number of foot bridges built on the trail to Seven. (Information provided by Bob Morrison)

Volunteers Construct a Foot Bridge
on the Trail. (Photo provided by Bob Morrison)

Volunteers Construct a Foot Bridge
on the Trail. (Photo provided by Bob Morrison)