Have you noticed the first sign of spring near Earth Day - lots of people out enjoying Delphi's parks, the Wabash & Erie Canal and the many trails? If you appreciate and use these public facilities, come out to a workday and make them even better for broader enjoyment. The community is responding more and more through volunteerism to make Wabash & Erie Canal dreams come true.

Saturday, April 18th is an opportunity for volunteers of all ages to come for PROJECT W.E.E.D. or "Wabash & Erie Earth Day" beginning at Canal Park, 1030 North Washington Street in Delphi. If it rains, the alternate date is April 25. In the past these EARTH DAY workdays have attracted 50-75 volunteers of all ages. This year the goal is to top 100 workers. Groups like 4-H, Scouts, church groups, and individuals of all ages are invited. Children should work together with parents or teachers. Volunteer "captains" will be onsite to supervise specific jobs and a work list will be available.

Some of the work will be in Canal Park and relates to cleaning flower beds, landscaping associated with the development of an historic herb garden, etc. The big job will be out along Deer Creek east of Delphi. Work to remove trash and clear off an old small building down in the creek bottoms below the Monon High Bridge Trail on land owned by the preservation group NICHES. Also be work clearing brush and building trail on this unique site. For that effort the team gets to ride the Trolley out and back.

The Wabash & Erie Canal sponsors the event with support from the USDA/NRCS "EARTH TEAM." Those wearing Earth Team white hats are designated as "captains" and will direct work and answer questions at the various sites. A workday can be a "fun day" and a chance to help the environment.

Groups and individuals working that day should plan to arrive by 9 am at Canal Park for orientation before breaking into work groups. Work crews may be directed to other various locations on other trails that may require driving to the sites and then returning by noon for lunch. For the NICHES work crew the Trolley leaves the Park at 9:10 am and returns at noon. If you bring your own hand tools you will be given instructions and a map showing where to report for work. Mark your tools with your name before you come that day.

Dress appropriately -- everyone should wear work clothes and shoes, gloves and other protective wear. No pets please. An eager crew can accomplish much. Finishing some task and realizing how this may be helping this community is one of the best paybacks that volunteers feel.

Volunteers get a "free lunch" served at noon at the Canal Park's shelter by the local Psi Iota Xi sorority. As in the past this meal helps bring out many more workers. Check the CANAL HOTLINE for last minute weather cancellation notice by calling 765-564-6572.

Delphi Historic Trails volunteers will meet on March 5th from 7-9 pm in the Canal Center on North Washington Street. The purpose is to assess the possibilities for the newest trail development in Delphi since the Monon High Bridge Trail five years ago. This new potential trail route follows the old Fort Wayne and Wabash Valley Interurban electric transportation system.

In the early 1900s the Interurban route passed through Delphi with its ticket station beside Deer Creek at Washington Street. It ran along what now is mostly a utility right-of-way through town and the embankment that shields Water Street area from flooding. Work is being contemplated by the City to bolster the earthen fill. The Interurban exited the Deer Creek Valley on the northeast near the proposed exchange with the Hoosier Heartland Highway and on the southwest near Trailhead Park.

Landowners, interested citizens and volunteers of any age are welcome. Those persons in attendance that wish to volunteer will help assess the route, plan ahead for various activities and set workday priorities. Come join in and interact with other interested community leaders.

If you have wanted to get involved and didn't know where to start with trail activities, come and get acquainted. During good weather months there are Third Saturday Workdays-the next big one will be Earth Day Workday on April 18th. Later in the spring brings Flower Day in Canal Park on May 16th. Both of these special days offer "community service" credit hours for 4-H, Scout and school youth groups.

Personal commitment brings pride to the many volunteers. That good feeling comes every day you work and then hike Delphi's unique trails. The real recognition for this volunteerism comes once a year. The public is invited to National Trails Day at noon on June 6th to help honor volunteers that have worked at least one day during the year. Each will receive an Earth Team hat and shirt for their community efforts

Rising out of the banks of the original "turning basin" north of the Stone Arch Bridge this large building will house the new replica canal boat. The canal is currently drained to allow construction.

What looks like a porch is actually the "Dock" attached to the warehouse. The three doorways will have full mural paintings that illustrate loading of a canal boat indoors as one might have experienced in 1850.

This "slip" (dry today because the canal is drained) inside the warehouse will safely store the new boat. It will allow raising the boat above the water level in winter to protect the hull from ice damage.

Angle iron braces are being placed on the second Guard Lock gate by the M-W-F Volunteers

Volunteers Roy Patrick from Lafayette and Ron Dust, our volunteer "Engineer" that comes from Chicago, review the placement and operation of the pivot wicket that controls water flow through the gate.

Boats reminds us that kids love our playground (stationary) boat year 'round. On January 30th the arsonist that set fire to the boat last August was sentenced to 20 years. It was reported in the COMET, Journal & Courier and USA Today on Wednesday, February 4th.

Volunteer Dave Smith reviews plan for the guard lock gate being built in Ed Gruber's barn.

Previously cut mortise and tenons on lock beams are ready for assembly by the volunteer crew.

The guys winch the lock gate posts and horizontal timbers together for a snug fit.

Decking the gate calls for leaving an 18 inch square opening for the metal wicket (water flow valve).

After flipping the gate mortise joints need trimmed and angle brackets installed on that side.

Roy creates the metal bearing called a "GUDGEON" that allows the lock post (laying on its side) to pivot.

The M-W-F volunteers like working in Ed Gruber's barn in the winter because it has a big wood stove that keeps their backsides warm.

When spring weather comes, this stone guard lock chamber exhibit will be created at the south end of Delphi's Wabash & Erie Canal Park

This outdoor interactive gate exhibit will be placed at the southwestern end of Canal Park

But the project begins here--

Eight seasoned volunteers came together the first Monday in January to begin another exciting exhibit. This time the work is inside Ed Gruber's wood heated barn west of Delphi. Longtime volunteer Ron Dust (far left) now lives in Chicago but still comes monthly to volunteer his engineering talents. He moved back to be nearer his children/grandchildren but can't miss out on important beginnings like this beginning for the Guard Gate assembly. In the foreground are the "quoin post and the miter post" laying side by side while Al Auffart, a volunteer from Cutler, marks the position for the mortise and tenon joints. Vern Cripe also a talented volunteer from Delphi is ready to help cut the square holes in these massive timbers.

The first step in making a square hole is to remove some of the wood with a large drill. Then the hand work of shaping the hole with flat wide chisels and a special right angle square wood chisel will do the job. It just takes hours to make these mortices into the timbers but our patient volunteers regularly work M-W-F mornings throughout the year. This time the goal in mid-winter months is to complete two gates. Later these gates will be positioned inside the cut stone lined chamber yet to be placed in the canal near the southwest end of Canal Park next to the old Monon Railroad.

For over 10 years volunteer Roy Patrick (with grinder) has worked with the Canal Association on many intriguing projects. He and Bill Draper (left) have been instrumental in creating many of the museum exhibits in the Interpretive Center, moving, repairing, painting and erecting two historic iron bridges and now this work on making tenons in timbers to fit into the miter post and quoin post of the Guard Lock gates.

If there are retirees that have interest in volunteering and accomplishing this kind of work during the M-W-F weekday mornings we invite you to help us. Or if you own or have access to some of these special wood tools for making mortise and tenon joints and want to offer them call Dan McCain at 765-412-3208.

The picture below shows the foundation work ongoing by sub-contractor LaPorte Construction. Michiana Contratactors out of Plymouth has the prime contract with INDOT to build our Canal Boat Warehouse. This can be seen near Canal Park in Delphi north of the Stone Arch Bridge over the canal (Washington Street). The framing crew for this large historic looking warehouse building for storage of the new boat will begin by mid-January.

Get ready to try out those new boots, gloves, coats or whatever you unwrapped for Christmas. Delphi Historic Trails will treat you to a winter trek along a historic trail east of Delphi. Meet at the Canal Center at 1 pm. There is adequate parking at the Center, 1030 North Washington Street -- 11 blocks from the Court House stoplight.

Weather could cause cancellation or just to move indoors for a talk while looking at maps but the idea of a hike on that day brings out many with "cabin fever" at Christmas. Dress warm in layers and be ready to hike through snow on ungroomed landscape as the group will be treated to a choice of an easy and a difficult walk.

Hikers will board "The Trolley" at the Canal Center (weather permitting) and be shuttled to the east side of Delphi where the Monon High Bridge Trail begins. Similar hikes in the past were organized by the late Charles Gerard. Many people have attended after Christmas walks. Last year more than 100 attended--the weather was nice.

The mission is to first explore the developed old Monon rail trail that skirts the valley high up on the side north of Deer Creek. For those that wish to only walk the easier trail portion and then return to the Center, the Trolley will pick up at the Sherry Mears' farm lane that connects to this isolated scenic Monon High Bridge route.

The hearty hikers may go on to the old trestle and overview Deer Creek from the exhilarating height once experienced by the train travelers. Then on the return circuit the trek will show the remaining hikers the old farm access tunnel under the Monon tracks that was used for passage of livestock and two row equipment going to the lower field.

The area between Deer Creek and the NS Railroad will reveal the changes INDOT made in the past 6 months for the Hoosier Heartland Highway. These welcomed changes came from a concerted effort by local historical organizations and city leadership concerned with the highway's impact on the Deer Creek valley.

Narration along the hike will also illustrate how the addition of an historic bridge will enhance the Monon rail-trail as the old railbed will be permanently severed by the highway corridor. With greater public involvement it is hoped that a beautiful 300 foot long historic iron bridge can be placed for the hikers in the future to cross above the new four lane highway.

The trolley will pick up from various points making this a "short walk and a long walk" depending on how far the hiker wishes to go. Then back in the Canal Center will be hot coffee and cocoa for the hearty hikers. A response form will be offered for collecting public feelings about the proposed iron trail bridge being contemplated.

Harsh winter weather might cause the event to be cancelled but if you are interested in going and want to check up on the latest message (“go” or “no go”) call our information HOTLINE at 765-564-6572.

Seems like a long time ago when the early Directors of the Wabash & Erie Canal Association answered this question: "Will you ever have a canal boat"? And of course the answer was always "yes, but we just don't know when." Well now we begin the countdown to next June.

After a contract letting in September, Michiana Contractors, Inc. from Plymouth have completed digging a big, deep hole in the bottom of the canal. It's the site for the canal boat's "warehouse" and is in the 1850s turning basin. A "widewater" where boats would have docked and loaded or unloaded their cargo.

This big hole was needed to remove the poor underlying soil material and rebuild the base with crushed stone. That compacted base now is the bottom level for the massive "U" shaped concrete foundation being formed. The shape depicts the "slip" that the replica boat will ride into when being stored.

This warehouse which should be completed by next June will protect the boat from the weather and will be used for mooring daily after carrying passengers. In the winter the boat will be raised up and above the ice indoors. The building will look much like a canalside warehouse of the 1850s.

Concrete being poured into foundation forms in the dry canal bottom. Washington St. stone arch bridge in the background.

Michiana Contracting, Inc., working though their earth and concrete subcontractor LaPorte Excavators has begun with the first pour of 40 yards of concrete. A huge concrete 'pumper' was brought in to transfer the mix from the delivery trucks to the far out forms along the canal basin.

When completed the warehouse will look a bit like a "bank barn" whereby the delivery of goods to load could be brought in at a higher second floor level and dropped into the boat's cargo hold. The lower side of the warehouse next to the water will have a 1850s dock with big cargo doorways.

These doorways will be inoperative but can illustrate a busy period of shipping on the canal. The doorway panels will be painted with murals that depict the indoors where goods would have been loaded. These murals can be seen from the towpath trail across the canal or from the replica boat as it passes.

The warehouse is being built strictly under federal contract by INDOT and this doesn't utilize the volunteer crew normally associated with projects along the canal and trails. Canal volunteers can't let this outpace them in this season -- they are building a dock (a separate items not initially funded by INDOT).

So now comes the NEWEST NEWS! INDOT just announced that we will be awarded money to build the more detailed historic appearing dock but it can't be let until 2012. Also now to address the need for a dock the Community Foundation of Carroll County awarded money for a handicap accessible plank dock.

This wooded dock can be built by the volunteers. It will be lacated just offside of the main visitor towpath access to the waterfront. It will be put to the test of use when our "ship comes in" next June three years before the formal dock will be funded by INDOT's reimbursement program.

The wooden dock will allow handicap access and give shoreside access for fishermen. Both docks strung together will ultimately span 100+ feet along the glistening canal. Someday guests attending a wedding reception will be awaiting the boat's arrival and cheering as the couple approaches their "roaring" crowd.

Rich Markins, a retired mason from Valparaiso, came again to volunteer and help remove a giant lime kiln from north of Delphi last week. The Canal Association learned recently that this canal era piece of industrial history could be removed from land owned by Delphi Limestone Company.

With the cooperation of US Aggregates (the Stone Company's parent) an agreement involving the Canal thru the City was signed in September. It allowed the Canal Association to remove this last standing kiln. It represents a once prosperous period with 22 kilns. Local lime production operations ceased by 1917.

Back in the 1840s and 1850s the processing of limestone in north Delphi netted three primary lime products: plaster, mortar and whitewash. These first products were shipped by canal boats from docks beside the Wabash & Erie Canal in what is now called Canal Park Annex.

Hubbard and Harley were brother's-in-law and in 1857 they began operating six "Pot Kilns" along the canal right beside the Iron (Red) Bridge in Canal Park Annex. Those earliest kilns were not as efficient as the next generation would enjoy. Pot Kilns were not capable of being loaded with fuel day and night.

The more efficient kilns built in the 1870s and 80s were built from patented plans. These newer kilns could receive continuous feeding of wood fuel and fist size lumps of quarried limestone. Products from these kilns were shipped primarily on the Monon Railroad. By the 1870s the canal had ceased to operate.

Fuel for these kilns was harvested as logs from the surrounding lands being cleared to farm but as time went on the sources had to come from further out. In the case of the second generation, Harley's sons, their continuous kiln operation bought fuel from forest land six miles south along the Monon Railroad.

Now comes the big challenge! Moving this giant kiln with its multi sized faces of stone and fire brick making up the walls and firebox. Kiln structures were mostly made from the same roock as was being heated inside the brick lined chimney stacks. One patent used tall iron stacks lined inside with brick.

Measurements were made along with investigations as to where the firebox was located in the firebrick lining. Care is needed to gently remove the iron flume and make note of special flat and angled stone for re-creating the beautiful stone archways when it is reassembled in Canal Park Annex next summer.

Rich Markins an experienced mason, machine oparator Jack Cohee and a team of volunteers are completing the removal and storage of the arch, walls and metal flume. The quest for a kiln exhibit brought together this team. Now the only remaining challenge is to interpret this structure for the public to appreciate.

We are beginning a series of colorful outdoor interpretive panels with discriptive information and artwork to be placed along Delphi Historic Trails. Above is a beginning sketch of one of our most intriguing historic canal sites -- we call this area "Sunset Point". History records the last boat passing this narrow spot between the high bluff and the spillway in 1874 crashing into the dam. That happened just after the mules pulling it had fallen through the rotting spillway bridge boards. Since the forward momemtum was ceased with the demise of the mules the captain couldn't control the boat and it was swept by current into the aging wooden dam. Cargo, driver, mules and all were "dashed into the Wabash" and drowned.

Artist Terry Lacy is placing the completed interpretive panel on the wooden posts at Carrollton Bridge site. This panel illustrates where the Mentzer Tavern set and where canal boats crossed the Wabash River (then a slackwater lake). On the west side of the road was Lock #32 where another panel sign was placed. Many additional historic locations along the trails are available for sponsorship in this expanding program (call 765-412-4308 for details if you are interested in sponsorship).

Volunteer Jeff Seramur (topside) assisted by Kevin McNally started spray painting the playground boat just recently completed by the many volunteer carpenters. The arson fire destroyed the whole back half (note the difference in color) less than two months ago. This signals the end of construction for this popular outdoor exhibit. During reconstruction the crew doubled in size – usually 10-12 each day. The name to be painted on the back will be "Volunteer" to recognize the efforts of so many men and women helping this to completion on the M-W-F morning work schedule.

The playground "VOLUNTEER" boat will be outdoors in front of the Canal Center year-round while the newest boat coming to our fleet will be a replica craft that floats and takes passengers on rides along the mile long watered section of canal. It will be housed inside the protective “Warehouse” entering a slip at water level. Very recently a donor Richard Funkhouser stepped up to sponsor this full size “playground” freight/passenger boat. Thanks Mr. Funkhouser for the generous donation. And thanks to the many contributors, including children, that helped fund and provide materials to rebuild after the fire.

The operational boat shown below will be known as the "DELPHI" after it arrives from Scarano Boat Company in Albany, New York next June. Together the operational boat and warehouse comprise items of a project featuring historic transportation funded primarily by the Department of Transportation.

This is one for "Believe It Or Not" -- how this got rebuilt so quickly comes as a blessing because there are many new volunteers. We doubled our M-W-F work crew since the fire. Exactly four weeks to the day after the Canal Volunteers swept away the ashes of the arson fire that destroyed half of the playground boat we have the popular outdor gallery nearly completed again.

Sunlight brightens the sky and lights the nearly rebuilt playboat

Besides the many new volunteers thanks also go to many donors that provided money, food, support and love as we are back where we were just before the arsonist hit. Completing the rebuilding will now free up time for the next wave of construction activities coming this fall. INDOT contracting for the floating version replica canal boat and its 1850s warehouse upstream is now underway but those two products don't involve our volunteer's time.

Warehouse and replica boat are under contract and will be completed by June 2009

The new replica boat will be built in Albany, New York on an aluminum hull with wooden upper features, electric power and fifty four feet of length. It will be possible to tow with animal power for special events and it will feature charter options for use by groups, meals, club meetings, etc

This replica with hidden aluminum hull will be built to 2/3rds scale to clear the stone arch bridge

On the volunteer’s list of work activities are "BIG things" to complete in the next six months. Items like the replica boat's plank dock, an interactive full size guard lock (set of gates) at the south end of Canal Park, two turn-around basins and a railing under the stone arch bridge to keep the new boat on track straight through the tight space

In the coming months join with us in many ways to produce this exciting canal venture. We call this scene “OUR DREAM.” You are encouraged to just watch, become involved, or sponsor one of many varied exhibits. Ask for a list and it can be emailed to you.

WE SWEPT AWAY HALF THE PLAYGROUND BOAT

The cleanup started Friday and netted a bare spot behind the bow of our outdoor boat exhibit. Volunteers aided by a backhoe and dump truck supplied by the City made short work of this job. Perhaps at least another couple months and we will see the full scale boat back together. Volunteers are welcome M-W-F mornings 8-11 am.

The outpouring of support from many friends is astounding. We have received donations from children, adults, organizations and business. We will plow all this into the repairs and then any extra will be used for the next (of many) exciting outdoor exhibits. We have plans for 10 trailside sites with all the exciting experiences that this boat provided.

If you would like to contribute you may send tax deductible donations to:
Wabash & Erie Canal Association
C/O Annadell Lamb
50 Redwood Court
Lafayette, IN 47905

We appreciate all the support and we are getting stronger as we have face this adversity. Come to Delphi try us out -- walk the trails or visit the Interpretive Center and enjoy our 1850s experiences. DAN

The police have identified the culprit that did this to us.

Now join with us as we rebuild and expand in Delphi’s Canal Park. We have a dream -- it involves everyone enjoying .

We will rebuild and get stronger as progress comes and volunteers engage in completing our many projects. You ain't seen nothing yet. There are many more outdoor exhibits to come. Ask for details 765-412-4308

Pledge your support -- get involved by volunteering, donating money or supplying materials.

Wabash & Erie Canal Association, 1030 West Washington St., Delphi, IN 46923

A RUDE AWAKENING AT 6 AM

Early this morning vandals invaded our Canal Park and torched our "just completed" playground canal boat. By dawn's early light I was called out of bed by the Delphi Police saying that I better come to assess the damage to our boat.

Sometime around 5 am Sunday, August 31st the fire started on the rear deck of this beautiful full scale canal boat. Our many volunteers have worked hundreds of hours since February when we started the bow section. It was our "pride and joy" -- it was the kid's favorite outdoor venue.

We started construction last winter working at Ed Gruber's barn west of Delphi where we enjoyed a different kind of "heat". The kind that you back up to keep warm. Ed has a wood stove in the workshop where we began this tedious process of assembly.

As the frame grew in sections we brought them to Canal Park and began the on-site construction "one piece at a time" until last week when the volunteer crew declared it completed -- except for painting. This 72 foot long playground item literally represents "blood, sweat and tears" by dozens of volunteers.

Now for us it is kind of like getting thrown off a horse -- we will want to pick ourselves up and go at it again! Help us in any way you might with donations, labor or love for our canal endeavors. We are not sure at this time if it is covered by insurance.