The Remains of the Wabash-Erie Canal through Allen County.
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The canal enters Allen County from the west through Aboite Township. This is the remains of the Aboite Creek Aqueduct that carried the boats over the water. Notice the timbers in the water. This is what remains of the actual aqueduct platform.
This picture shows the canal as it approaches the Vermilyea docks in Aboite Township. This section of the canal has been buried, however, you can see its outline between the road and telephone poles.
The Vermilyea docks or later known as the Ruffner's Basin, named for the later residents of the Vermilyea House, was a resting place for wary travelers. This basin also contained a warehouse used for the storage of goods west of Fort Wayne. The sign in the picture marks the possible location of the Vermilyea Lock. Most historians doubt such a lock existed at this location, because there is no written records of it.
About a 1/2 mile east of Ruffner's Basin was culvert no.31 near Redding Road. The timbers shown in this picture formed the base of the culvert that crossed this stream.
This picture is taken behind the GTE complex. The picture was taken in what is left of the old canal bed. Only half of the original width is left. The depth of the canal bed was 6 feet on average, and 50 feet across.
This section of the canal is near Engle Road. The outline shows the full width of the cross section.
This picture was taken where Covington road intersects the canal. This is one of the few pictures to show the canal intact with water.
This section of the canal runs through Rockhill Park, then continues along side Lindenwood Cemetery on Main Street. Most of the canal has been buried along this section so it is hard to visualize. Only a small "restored" section of towpath remains in Rockhill Park. The bikers use it as a jumping ramp.
This picture shows the aquaduct at St. Mary's River just before entering downtown Fort Wayne. The limestone abutment is all that remains of the aquaduct.
These aqueduct abutments near Moser Park in New Haven are similar to the ones found at Aboite Creek and the St. Mary's River. Limestone was seldom used on canal structures east of Logansport since timber was abundant in Fort Wayne and surrounding areas.
The canal ran through downtown New Haven near Main Street where this marker stands. It proceeded east near Canal Street then took a sharp turn north where it followed the present day route of U.S. 24 East. The canal bed is very apparent on the south side of U.S. 24 as you drive east.
This picture taken near the Indiana-Ohio State Line shows the width of the canal as it existed 150 years ago.