Delphi Historic National Recreation Trail, Indiana

Trails have been integrated into this historic community using canal towpaths, stream corridors, and abandoned railroads.

Photos and text by Dan McCain

Here in Delphi we are happy that Governor Joe Kernan came August 26, 2004, to officially open Prophetstown State Park next to Battleground. Our little Carroll County town is nearly as close to the park as the much larger town of Lafayette. Many people that come to one point of interest may wish to visit nearby places as well. Delphi's Canal Park attendance has steadily increased as more find out about our exciting, interactive indoor/outdoor ways of depicting 19th century history of the Wabash & Erie Canal.

	The goal is to have operating canal boats on the historic Delphi waterway.

The Canal Conference and Interpretive Center has now been open more than a year. The development of our building took exactly four years from the time then Lt. Governor Kernan awarded the INDOT Transportation Enhancement Grant to Delphi. Our pride of working with this historic transportation program and the supplemental moneys from the Community Foundation, Department of Natural Resources continues to multiply with donors like you.

We have a "dream" to place a operative canal boat on the reconstructed one-mile section of this historic waterway. A grant request has been submitted for this project and all we need is the nod again from the Governor and continued support from private contributors. Plans for this boat would include operation with the traditional towing animals on special days and inboard power for lesser occasions to round out a full season. The multi-state attendance draw for this enterprise would be a tremendous boost to this region.

	The view of a historic bridge from the water

Volunteers have made the difference in Delphi with trail development, canal exhibit construction and landscape improvements just as at the new State Park's Museum at Prophetstown portion of the overall development. The Governor commended them as well. Both MAP and the Canal Association are "not for profit corporations" that work hand in hand with local and state governments. Some local volunteers have been involved in both efforts.

Years go by and it seems little change is made but looking back at both the historical and recreational projects there has been a tremendous change— now noticed by the public. If we are to continue to grow with these projects there must be a concerted push to fund and finish the plans. These public investments pay off in increased local economy.

Delphi is now attracted many history buffs interested in historic transportation. By next year when the camping sites are finished, Prophetstown will attract many that want to stay for days and even weeks. In the past two years there has been a regional tourism initiative with a theme "STAY ANOTHER DAY". When a family goes to places like Indiana Beach or Prophetstown for several days they may look to a next door community for other activities and then literally stay another day. Delphi welcomes bikers, hikers, shoppers and those that just want to come and look.

LOOK FOR A BOAT ON THE CANAL NEXT YEAR

The Wabash & Erie Canal Association has been blessed recently with the donations of three aging but promising pontoon boats. Each vessel had something special to offer or else the organization would not have accepted this many boats. The quest for water craft was to focus on the beautiful rewatered canal in Delphi, Indiana. In due time there will be an authentic replica of mid-ninteenth centrury canal boat design. The Canal Association is hoping for grants and public donations of cash to complete this endeavor.

Likely two of the pontoon boats will be refitted with seating and refurbished to look something like a passenger "packett" that might have been used by canal travelers of a bygone era. It may even be possible to hitch 'ole Sal (a mule) to the rope and tow the craft as they would have in 1850. The Canal volunteers also intend to retrofit the third pontoon to operate as an "Algae Scow" for collecting (pushing/herding) floating aquatic vegetation to a place for removal.

The results of a trial launching of the first boat resulted in great excitement for the crew. Canal Park and the towpath looks different from the water level. For the mile long route of reconstructed waterway, the two historic bridges posed no problems for cruising beneath their structure. As for water to float a boat there is adequate water supplied by the nearby quarry year around. Delphi Limestone Company discharges three million gallons of fresh water daily at the north end. Algae and duck week does accumulate however and plans are to control this sometimes floating mass next year.

As winter approaches plans are developing for the repairs and make ready details for public use of at least two of these donated craft. Volunteers will work on each pontoon and prepare it for its best adapted use. Likely the old gasoline burning engines will be replaced with much quieter electric trolling motors. The pace should be slow as a canal boat would have been. If anyone has such trolling gear or spare heavy duty batteries not being needed, consider donating them to the Canal group. Call 765-564-6297.

Audubon Center at the Francis Beidler Forest (photo: Mark Musselman)

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