Feeder Dam: (Satellite, it is long gone)
This dam diverted water into the Wabash & Erie feeder canal that joined the main canal in Fort Wayne.
Like Dellwood Park near Chicago, Robison Park was built by an interurban railroad. In this case it was the Fort Wayne Consolidated Railway Company. But what caught my eye is the feeder canal lake that this park reused. Since the park closed in 1919 when the interurban was killed by the automobile and paved roads, it is hard to find the location of the dam. Actually, the dam itself was destroyed by a flood in 1905. The oldest topos and aerials I found were in the 1950s. Fortunately, I found this map because my speculation of where it was based on topo map contour lines was wrong.
A better exposure and description
Like Dellwood Park near Chicago, Robison Park was built by an interurban railroad. In this case it was the Fort Wayne Consolidated Railway Company. But what caught my eye is the feeder canal lake that this park reused. Since the park closed in 1919 when the interurban was killed by the automobile and paved roads, it is hard to find the location of the dam. Actually, the dam itself was destroyed by a flood in 1905. The oldest topos and aerials I found were in the 1950s. Fortunately, I found this map because my speculation of where it was based on topo map contour lines was wrong.
Sept. 2020 Update: Bruce Flohr commented on a post:
Dam was in middle of “S” curve (see an arial view) on St Joe River by former site of Swift-Goshorn mill at Paradise Lagoon, just downstream from feeder canal (Summit Point). The earthen dikes are on both sides of the river, if you know where to look. This area is undeveloped floodplain, just east of Northpointe Woods clubhouse. I believe some of that is now private property, but it used to belong to City of Ft Wayne, before that it was the old Kroemer farm. I used to go back there in the seventies. Interesting thing is that area was meant to be the originally proposed site of the Fort’s backup water supply. They had planned to dam the river again in the twenties/thirties, but instead opted for the Cedarville Reservoir further upstream.
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| OOcities-dam via an archive |
A better exposure and description
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| Canal Society of Indiana posted Groundbreaking for the Wabash & Erie Canal was begun in Fort Wayne, IN on Feb. 22, 1832. Soon a contract was signed with Valerius Armitage to construct a feeder dam on the St Joseph River 6 1/2 miles north of the city. Construction began in June for the dam that was 230 feet long & 16 1/2 high. Water from the dam pool was fed into the main canal at Rumsey & Wheeler streets in the city. The dam was destroyed by floods in early 1905. See Armitage - Biography at CSI website - indcanal.org Canal Society of Indiana posted The water for all canals is sourced from a river, creek, lake or reservoir. From its source water is fed into the main canal directly or via a feeder canal. Groundbreaking for the Wabash & Erie Canal was begun in Fort Wayne, IN on Feb. 22, 1832. Soon a contract was signed with Valerius Armitage to construct a feeder dam on the St Joseph River 6 1/2 miles north of the city. Construction began in June for the dam that was 230 feet long & 16 1/2 feet high. Water from the dam pool was fed into the main canal at Rumsey & Wheeler streets in the city. The dam was destroyed by floods in early 1905. See Armitage - Biography at CSI website - indcanal.org |
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| FortWayneReader |
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| Becky Osbun commented on a post Open electric trolley which ran to Robison Park, Fort Wayne 1896-1918. - ACPL Community Album |
Noting that river boating proved very successful at Centlivre Park, the trolley company bought what was known as the Swift Farm - a 250-acre spread just north of the old "feeder canal" dam near present-day Shoaff Park. It had been a popular rural picnic spot since Fort Wayne's canal days.Even though the canal (1843-1876) was closed, much of what is now Riverbend Golf Course was still under water when the park was built along the west side of the river. [FortWayneReader] But, like the Wabash & Erie Canal, the park never paid for itself. [OOcities-park; This page has details concerning the dates of the amusement rides and the replacement of the dam that was destroyed in 1905 by a flood. Unfortunately, the nine Allen County Library photos are broken.]
A 230-foot-long dam of heavy timbers and debris had been built there in 1834 to maintain proper water levels in the main channel of the great Wabash & Erie Canal. The 17-foot-deep dam also created a lagoon behind it and deepened the St. Joseph River for boating.
[egen]
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digital.library.in.govRobison Park at night, Fort Wayne, Indiana, circa 1911 |
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| IndianaAlbum Dance Pavilion, Robinson Park, Fort Wayne, Indiana, circa 1930 |
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| WorthPoint |
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| Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted Year? Entrance to Robison Park Figure 8 Rollercoaster |
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| Tommy Lee Fitzwater posted Dancing Pavilion Robison Park |
Thank you soon much for sharing! I love ft wayne history! These are great!
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