The Miami Erie Canal

Over the summer, I did some research on the various canals that went through Warren County.  This made me wonder about the canal and river transportation history of the Dayton area.  Why have a canal with the Miami River so close by?  According to a few sources, the Miami River tended to get very low in the summer.  This hindered steam boat travel, so canals became necessary for travel and shipping.  New York successfully finished the Erie Canal in 1825 and Daytonians took notice.  Work on the Miami Canal began in Middletown that same year and this section was completed in 1828.  This Middletown section connected to a Cincinnati canal that lead to the Ohio River. 

The canal empty near Cincinnati

The next 17 miles to Dayton was completed by 1830, though transportation on this section started before its completion.  The first canal boat was spotted in 1829 and encouraged canal boat building in Dayton, the first boat named The Alpha.  These boats carried farm goods to Cincinnati from Dayton, such as livestock and produce.   Dayton also used this canal to import goods from New York using the Erie Canal, Lake Erie, the Ohio Canal, and the Ohio River, making for a long trip.  Canal boats transported people as well, some with fine decor, food, and live entertainment aboard.

The canal near Lowe Bros. Paint and Delco in Dayton

Originally, the Miami Canal was not intended to connect to Lake Erie and the Erie Canal.  After success in the southern part of the valley, canal expansion began in 1833 to Troy. Contractors continued to extend the canal, reaching Lake Erie in 1845.  By 1855, the 250 mile canal system was booming.  Lake Loramie, Indian Lake, and Grand Lake were created to help maintain canal water levels.  As canals grew in popularity, so did railroads as they were typically cheaper and much faster.  Railroad and road travel decreased canal use significantly, but the 1913 flood ended it completely.  The flood destroyed many of the canal's raised banks and locks.  Today, less than 75 miles remain of the Miami-Erie Canal. 

The canal in 1900 

Sources:

http://www.libraries.wright.edu/special/ddn_archive/2013/03/04/miami-erie-canal/

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/dote/about-transportation-engineering/historical-information/the-cincinnati-subway/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmlhistory/5333917116

http://touringohio.com/day-trips/miami-erie-canal.html

http://www.daytonhistorybooks.com/miami_river_a_highway.html

http://www.daytonhistorybooks.com/the_miami__erie_canal.html

http://www.daytonhistorybooks.com/page/page/5701112.htm