Canal Society visitors tour county sites

Submitted photo Carolyn Schmidt, at right, checks in members of the Canal Society of Indiana Friday night as they met for a cookout-registration at Pleasant Grove Farm, near Lyons. The Society hosted approximately 60 visitors for the weekend's activities.

The Canal Society of Indiana made a visit to Greene County this past weekend.

Carolyn Schmidt, editor of the group's monthly magazine, explained, "The Canal Society takes two tours every year of canals in Indiana and neighboring states."

This year the group decided on a cross-cut section of the Wabash and Erie Canal.

"We chose a portion of the canal from Terre Haute to Worthington," she said, noting it's a 42-mile stretch from the Wabash River to the White River.

"This is the first time we've ever done the cross-cut portion. We learned the canal opened the area up to settlers. Prior to the canal the settlers were coming up the river," she said.

The canal made the transportation of the goods so much easier, Schmidt explained.

"With a canal you have a constant level of water," she added.

Fifty-five members of the group toured local spots Friday and Saturday, she said. That number included members from all over the Hoosier state as well as six from Ohio and one from Washington D.C.

"Our tour started Friday with a picnic at Pleasant Grove (in Stafford Township)," she said.

While at Pleasant Grove, Marsha Cline gave a talk on the history of Goose Pond.

"She (Cline) talked about Greene County and the history of the area," Schmidt saidaq.

The group also toured the Bloomfield area.

While in Bloomfield, the group learned of Peter Cornelious Van Slyke.

"He was the man who gave a lot of the land to establish the courthouse and county seat," she said.

The group also got a bird's-eye view of the current crop damage from the 2008 flood.

"We had a wonderful weekend," she said "In eight to 10 years we'll be back. ... We rotate around and we're planning a trip to Iowa now."

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Canal Society of Indiana or just want additional information on the group contact Schmidt via e-mail at indcanal@aol.org