History & Pictures
By Lowell Jackson - 10/4/02
Metamora, Indiana an 1830's Canal Town located on the White Water
Canal
The village of Metamora, Indiana sits on land acquired from the Indians on September 30, 1809. This treaty, the third with the Native Americans, is known as the Twelve-Mile Purchase. On October 22, 1811, a government land grant for 160 acres was issued to Larkin Sims. The first Post Office was established in April, 1826, at which time the town was registered as "Duck Creek Crossing". On June 11, 1838, the town officially became known as "Metamora". In the center of Metamora sits the Whitewater Canal. The Whitewater Canal Company was incorporated in 1826 and work on the canal began in 1836. In 1847 the canal was completed. The canal ran from Laweranceburg to Hagerstown. It stretched for 76 miles, operated by 56 locks and 7 feeder! dams. Much of the canal was completed through the efforts of private citizens who organized into construction companies. After the Whitewater Canal ceased operations in 1865, it continued to serve a number of mills and, on the section between Milton and Connersville, to develop hydro-electric power for almost a century thereafter. Among the earliest in Indiana, the canal supporters of the Whitewater Valley were foremost in determination, in tenacity, and in blind courage. The Whitewater Valley Railroad Company purchased the canal in 1866. The railroad laid their tracks atop the old towpath and allowed the canal to deteriorate. Passenger trains were discontinued and U.S. highway 52 bypassed the town in the mid 1930’s. The bustle and prosperity of the village ceased. In 1947, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) created a state historic site at the old canal. In the early 1960’s, the DNR began taking passengers on short canal trips. The mill museum was dedicated in 1973 and the Whitewater Valley Railroad began excursion passenger service in 1974. In 1968, Metamora began attracting some "modern" pioneers. Artist opened galleries. Entrepreneurs sold antiques. Crafters demonstrated their skills. Currently there are over 100 shops, inns, and restaurants located along the historic canal. Old Metamora, next to the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site is a miniature version of a 19th century canal town, including a working aqueducts. The flags posted on buildings in Old Metamora indicate when an establishment is open for business. Joseph W. Jackson (1849-1925), son of Robert and Phebe (Watson) Jackson, founded the "Jackson Meat Market" in the 1880's along side of the Whitewater canal in Metamora. Canal Mania in Indiana: After 1841, Indiana could not pay the interest on its canal and internal improvements bonds; many of which had been purchased by people in foreign countries. A direct result of Indiana's inability to pay interest on its canal bonds was a change in the Indiana Constitution forbidding the State from going into debt. |
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