Wabash and Erie Canals collection
Collection — Folder: S1495
Identifier: S1495
Scope and Contents
This collection includes texts from Noah Noble, D. Burr, James Whitcomb, John Henderson, and Dr. William N. Reser in Indiana ranging from 1835 to 1941 regarding the Wabash and Erie Canal, its workers, sale, and boats.
Dates
- 1835-1941
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Historical Note
The Wabash and Erie Canal, the longest canal in the United States, (464 miles) ran from Toledo, Ohio to Evansville, Indiana, the connection being finished by 1853. In 1876, the canal was auctioned off by the trustees.
The following marker was installed by the Indiana Historical Bureau.
"A canal from Terre Haute to Evansville authorized 1846. Maysville Division along White River was over 23 miles long from Newberry through Owl Prairie (now Elnora) to Maysville; part of it paralleled what is now S.R. 57. Contracts were let June 1849. Construction was delayed by cholera outbreaks among workers, many of whom were Irish immigrants. Navigation between Newberry and Maysville opened June 1852. By 1853, Wabash and Erie Canal, America's longest at approximately 460 miles, linked Lake Erie at Toledo, Ohio with Ohio River at Evansville. By 1860, most of southern section no longer used because of repair costs and railroad competition. Entire canal in Indiana sold at auction 1876."
Canal Society of Indiana. http://www.indcanal.org/canals-wabash-erie.html
Gray, Ralph D. (1994). “Overview:Transportation”. In The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. (p. 190). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. ISLI 977.201 M341Ien
The following marker was installed by the Indiana Historical Bureau.
"A canal from Terre Haute to Evansville authorized 1846. Maysville Division along White River was over 23 miles long from Newberry through Owl Prairie (now Elnora) to Maysville; part of it paralleled what is now S.R. 57. Contracts were let June 1849. Construction was delayed by cholera outbreaks among workers, many of whom were Irish immigrants. Navigation between Newberry and Maysville opened June 1852. By 1853, Wabash and Erie Canal, America's longest at approximately 460 miles, linked Lake Erie at Toledo, Ohio with Ohio River at Evansville. By 1860, most of southern section no longer used because of repair costs and railroad competition. Entire canal in Indiana sold at auction 1876."
Canal Society of Indiana. http://www.indcanal.org/canals-wabash-erie.html
Gray, Ralph D. (1994). “Overview:Transportation”. In The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. (p. 190). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. ISLI 977.201 M341Ien
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 1998/07 by Philip Williams. EAD finding aid revised 2013/09/10 by Edythe Huffman
- Title
- Wabash and Erie Canals collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
