Historic Marker                                                               

HAGERSTOWN

Marker designating the Whitewater Canal’s northern terminus.

 Ref: Phyllis Mattheis 

Hagerstown in northwestern Wayne County in east-central Indiana, is the northern terminus of the Whitewater/Hagerstown Canal, which was completed in 1847. On SR 38 at the east end of the Main Street bridge is a stone marker, placed in 1947, telling about the canal. Looking south on the waterway, you see the feeder canal for the basin at the foot of South Perry Street, which is now a factory parking lot. Near the northwest side of this bridge stood two large wooden canal-era warehouses, until they were demolished in 1960. The feeder came off the Whitewater River at a southwest angle about ½ a mile above Main Street. Because of the warehouses being on Main Street, canal boats could have been loaded here.

Marker Photo Courtesy of PB

NETTLE CREEK MUSEUM                    Hagerstown                                

 Ref: Phyllis Mattheis

On the second floor of the IOOF building at the NW corner of Main and Perry, the Nettle Creek Valley Museum has a small exhibit about the canal and mills of the area. Open weekend evenings.

Ref: Indiana: A new Historic Guide, Tour 4, Page 101

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) building erected in 1880 at Main and Perry sts.  In 1974 Historic Hagerstown, Inc., purchased the three-story, iron front structure, renting the first floor to retailers and creating a museum on the second floor.  Originally it was an auditorium for opera, dramas, skating, dancing, and basketball.  The walls of the museum are decorated with murals painted in 1913 by local artist Charles Lucien Newcomb, the museum features a collection of historical artifacts related to the Perfect Circle Company, including a railroad pedal car.  Old dental tools of a local practitioner and items pertaining to the Whitewater Canal.

SCOUT LAKE   (Camp Wapi-Kamigi)                                             Hagerstown                   

Built prior to 1841, this old brick Federal-style house at the south entrance to Camp Wapi-Kamigi was a witness to the building and passing of the Hagerstown Canal and later the Whitewater Valley Railroad, which followed the abandoned towpath from Cambridge City to Hagerstown.

Ref: Jane Lacy, Hagerstown Exponent, April 8, 1981

In the summer of 1929 Mr. Teetor purchased land south of Hagerstown on which to build a lake and scout camp. By the fall the lake and camp were completed and was presented by the Wayne County Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Scout Lake, or Camp Wapi-Kamigi  was named by and previously owned by the Treaty Line Council of Girl Scouts of America.    At the end of South Washington Street in Hagerstown is the airport, turn east to see Scout Lake, only with permission, as it is on private property. At the south end of the lake below the dam is a small stone arch canal culvert, better seen from the east side.

 Ref: Doug Arthur

 Vinton House               Cambridge City  

At 22 West Main Street, at the intersection of the canal and the National Road (US 40), stands the three story Vinton House, which was a hotel to accommodate travelers on both the Whitewater Canal and the National Road. The canal basin was just a few feet from the rear door of the building.

 Vinton House Hotel was built in 1847-48, it derives its name from Elbridge Vinton the proprietor.  The Vinton Hotel functioned as a stagecoach and canal boat stop and earned a widespread reputation for warm hospitality. 

Photo from Waynet.org

Cambridge City Library                                       

 On the north side of the street is the public library which was built on canal right-of-way.  From this point canal boats passed through a stone arch tunnel under the National Road.  On the south side of the street in the parking lot west of Vinton House the keystone of this canal tunnel may be seen.  In the History Room of the library paintings of the huge four story brick mill that stood on North Foote Street may be seen.

 Overbeck Pottery Museum    

Located in the basement of the Cambridge City Library is the Overbeck Pottery Museum. The Overbeck Pottery was in production from 1911 until 1955. The creative art of the six Overbeck sisters, who lived in Cambridge City, is recognized as part of our national art heritage. The hours are Monday through Friday 10:00am until noon and 2:00pm to 5:00pm. The collection includes pottery, oil paintings and watercolors. Group tours can be arranged by calling (765) 478-3335.

Photo credit Cambridge City Web Site

Canal Tunnel             (backfilled)                                

The keystone of this arch can still be seen from the parking lot behind the Main Street buildings west of the Vinton House. The low parking area at this point was once a turning basin for canal boats. All this area has been filled, and the arch bridge tunnel under the road is blocked up to the keystone. 

 Note: Our Canal Research Group has proposed the excavation and then back filling of this arch to determine if it is indeed the Stone Arch Canal Tunnel under the National Road.  Our proposed canal related excavations Project Coordinator for Wayne Co. is Ron Morris, History Prof., Ball State Univ.  

Canal Boat Basin                     (backfilled)     

Photo Courtesy PB     
Stem Post of the canal boat Rover or Thomas Newby, housed in the Wayne County Museum collections.

Ref: Cambridge City,  Sanborn Map 1908

Color enhancement added by PB

Click on map to enlarge

Imperial Mills       (destroyed by fire 1945)            

 Historic Homes:

• residence of Buckskin Ben
• home and studio of the Overbeck Sisters Pottery
• the brick house that was formerly the office for the Hagerstown Canal Company is located at 119 West Maple St

BOYD RD. CANAL PRISM                       Cambridge City        

A remnant of the canal channel, towpath and berm bank, in Cambridge City.

CITY RUN CANAL CULVERT                      Milton           

On private property at the south edge of Milton is a fairly-well preserved stone arch canal culvert over City Run Creek and, a short distance south, the ruins of Milton Lock No.50.

 Note: In this area is a proposed hiking trail using the canal ditch that would link Milford Cemetery with a second Quaker cemetery near the center of town, close to the bridge on Mill St. crossing the canal.  It makes for a really pleasant small town afternoon hike. 

 LOCKPORT

 RUINS OF FEEDER DAM 6

Located on private property, at the end of Interstate Road east off SR1

 Feeder Dam 6 was rebuilt by the Connersville Hydraulic Co.  and was used to feed the canal from this point to the south end of Connersville. 

 Lockport was a paper town along the canal route that never materialized. It was the site of a boat yard and three canal locks.   Ruins of one of them can be seen from Interstate Road.