THE Canal Society of Ohio
WARD'S CANAL
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maumee - canal sites
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The Canal Society of Ohio Inc.
Situated between the course of the old canal and the Maumee River is the Maumee Sidecut Park. The park follows the course of a branch that connected the Miami and Erie Canal to the River. This allowed Perrysburg, across the river, to benefit from the canal commerce. Six lift locks were required and much of this can be seen today. In Maumee the Sally Kleever Towpath follows the canal bed.
Facing the river is the Wolcott House built in 1827. The rear was adjacent to the canal. Today this is the Wolcott House Museum, containing many canal items.
Maumee Sidecut Park
Several miles due East of Toledo, Cedar Creek flowed to an end in a swampy marsh. In order to utilize the areas rich timber stand Detroit industrialist Eber Brock Ward built a canal around 1870 connecting the Creek eastward 2 3/4 miles to Lake Erie. Jurusalem Township was born from the creation of ship building industries there providing ships for use on the lake.
Over the years the area has seen many agricultural and fishing endeavors. Today, the canal still exists and is mainly in use to provide access to Lake Erie from a large marina and provide water to the re-created wildlife preserve Howard Marsh Metropark.