Volunteers working on their M-W-F schedule are moving outdoors now to take advantage of milder weather. Here the decking of the passenger dock is being done while the water level in the canal is down. This dock was given monetary assistance from the Carroll County Community Foundation.

An Amish crew from Grabill, Indiana, provides the craftsmanship for laying stone along the base of the new boat's storage house. The Canal Board is awaiting a major sponsor for this building but in the meantime a name will be painted on the blank plaque above the light. The name chosen is Hubbard & Harley Lime Company--since 1857. This identifies a business that might have used of a warehouse like this along the canal in the early days of Delphi. A single boat could enter the far end and float into the slip for loading indoors. Lime was "burned" in huge kilns nearby in the Canal Annex and then shipped to many clients in the east.

Contractor Jack Cohee is enlarging the "turning basin" at Washington Street beside the Stone Arch Bridge while waterlevel is down. Whenever the canal boat runs shorter jaunts just inside Canal Park it will turn around here and at the southwest end of the Park. Bedrock is evident in the shelf to the left of the excavator. Removal will require special equipment coming next in the creation of this basin. The replica boat will draft 21 inches with a full load. The rock will be removed to a depth 3 ft. below the normal water surface.

Seeded and mulched the same day of construction and a silt fence placed below the slope indicates the need for keeping the canal clean and attractive during and after construction. The rock ledge has yet to be removed thus allowing the canal boat to approach the arch bridge straight in line. In the canal's operating era this stone arch bridge wasn't here. Instead it was a higher wooden span that allowed the mules or horses under the far end pulling through on the towpath without unhooking the tow rope.

Once in awhile we sit down for a planning session. This one at the local Stone House Restaurant brings us together with Ron Dust’s engineering plans fresh from Chicago (that’s where he lives now). He still drives down monthly to volunteer with our regular M-W-F crew.

Ernest Avery called one day with a challenging message to come look at his old “weigh shed” and see if we might want it. He farmed for years in Clinton County (now retired) and has some of his old buildings to remove at Michigantown where the local library is expanding in his former farmstead. In the canal era (1850s) there was a City Scales on the Court House Square. We might relocate the old farm scale to our Canal Annex Park where we have the new replica warehouse. This building looks like 1850s ports where goods like lime and pork were brought in barrels to the canal and loaded in freight boats. Scales were important in marketing transactions.

Our new replica boat will reside inside this warehouse beside the historic turning basin. In winter months a lift will raise the boat above the ice. Part of the lifting system is represented by the white posts. Normally the indoor slip will be full of water.

A pesky beaver is creating a problem for us. As the water has been lowered all winter for construction of the boat’s warehouse, half mile to the north, beaver in this south end were busy building a dam in that section (note that the water surface is at maximum level). The trees and branches have been interwoven against the railroad bridge to complete their dam. Like “engineers” they seem to know what to do. We will return the entire canal length to this level when the boat arrives.

For hiking interests in this nation the first Saturday in June is called National Trails Day. For some very special people in Delphi, Saturday, June 6th is Volunteer Recognition Day. The Wabash & Erie Canal Association and Delphi Historic Trails volunteers involved in the past year's trail building and maintenance, park outdoor exhibit construction and serving as docents at the Canal Center will gather along with their families for the noon lunch and recognition ceremony. This includes the current focus on flower planting and completion of current projects in Canal Park.

For all the volunteers in the past year a free lunch begins the festivities at 12 noon at the Canal Park Shelter House, 1030 North Washington Street. The meal is provided by the local Psi Iota Xi sorority as they have done for many past workdays. After the many volunteers eat, they and any public interested in the Canal and Trails will observe the awarding of special recognition, certificates and clothing.

All canal and trails volunteers present will receive an Earth Team hat or shirt for their efforts. The Carroll County Soil & Water Conservation District and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service have sponsored these items. Some volunteers have amassed literally hundreds of hours of service. Special recognition will also be given to the youth groups, Scouts and 4-Hers that have been involved during this past year.

Immediately after the ceremony, at 1 pm, a narrated hike will begin. A special treat along the easy walk will be a visit to the site where the 1905 wrought iron Stearns Truss bridge has been placed behind Dairy Queen and Pizza Hut. For those wanting an additional longer jaunt the walk will progress south on the VanScoy Towpath to Sunset Point at the confluence of Deer Creek and the Wabash. This year focus of trail narration will be the 1839-40 wooden lock and nearby Irish canal construction camp.

"May becomes a time for volunteers to beautify Delphi's Historic Trails and Canal Park" according to Canal Board President Dan McCain. "Third Saturdays of most months are traditional canal and trails workdays but this month, May 16th beginning at 9 am, is designated as a fun day. There are flower planting activities and fun things for kids, parents and others to do." Groups and individuals of all ages are welcome. Canal Park is in Delphi, 12 blocks north of the Court House stoplight on Washington Street.

"Call them fun days if you like, but these volunteer workdays become a way for the community to show their love for these outdoor facilities while they beautify them" suggests Dan McCain, Canal Board President. "Accessing the trails provides physical exercise and brings out the spirit of friendliness found by the users of our community's 10 mile trail system."

Fun also comes in the form of hearing a report on the progress being made on the building of the replica Canal Boat and seeing the exciting new "warehouse" building that will house the new boat. Canal Park will have the 'replica canal boat' operating in June. The planning and construction process has been rather lengthy but the much launching of this authentic boat will herald a new era for Canal Park.

Concerning the need for community involvement this spring McCain says "If you use the trails and love the setting of some special place-consider adopting it for the season. If you pick a spot somewhere along the Delphi Trials, let us know and we will mark it with a 'Trail Treasurers' sign." Or if you just want to help others and spread color in Canal Park's open spaces, come out and try your hand at planting.

"The Canal Association will have some flowers for volunteers to plant but if you have perennials in beds that still need thinning or just want to go out and buy a flat of annuals, bring them with you and pick out your spot" suggests the project coordinator. Care should be exercised to avoid areas that may flood or where foot traffic would be excessive.

For more information: Dan McCain 765-412-4308