It was a momentous day when a new boat was to be launched. There it stood, or rested, upon its supports as bright and clean as fresh paint could make it, the name artistically painted on a flat surface at the stern end, immediately over the rudder, which was manipulated by the man at the tiller above. The long skids, two or more, reaching from beneath the boat into deep water, and plentifully smeared with soft soap to make them slippery. When all was ready, the word was given to "heave - to," and the new boat slowly slid down the skids to the water, dashing the water over the opposite bank, as the boat displaced it.
The Huntington Herald. July 7, 1928 Mary M. Hawley recalls pioneer days

Near where First Street enters Tipton Street was a boatyard owned by Charles Thorn. Here new boats were built and others repaired in the dry dock.
The Huntington Herald. July 7, 1928 Mary M. Hawley recalls pioneer days

Boats were manufactured in Huntington in those days. The ship yards were at Flint Creek, about where the creek enters the sewer now at First Street. Here were turned-out the Nevada, The Amazon, the Seabird, and other craft.
The Huntington Press, Sunday Oct. 16, 1921 - Interview with A.A. Crandal

Charles Thorn was born in New York on April 27, 1830.......owned an immense dry dock. Industry was probably at maximum output in the '50s and '60's. Reached the age of 95. At the time of his death, he and his wife were living in Logansport.
Huntington Herald Press July 25, 1928 (VM Collection)

Just beyond the (Flint Creek) aqueduct was the dry dock, opening into the canal in two places, with plank walls built across the openings to separate the canal from the dock, each wall had two sluice gates with upright standards by which to operate the gates. On top of these plank walls was laid other planks about eight or ten inches wide, also for foot purposes.
Huntington Herald, Sat. July 7, 1928 Letter to J. Bippus from M. Hawley

Mr. Vanbeckler (sic) was also a boat builder. His boat yard was located on his farm North of town, now occupied by Arthur Fast, and operated by Warren Spoonhauer.
Roanoke History Dr. S. Koontz. Roanoke Review, 1921

Dry docks for building and repairing boats were located at Fort Wayne, Roanoke and Huntington. Lorenzo Van Becker operated a small boat yard 1 mile North of Roanoke.
Huntington Herald July 11, 1928 (VM Collection)

The "John Good" was built at Roanoke by Captain Van Becker....her machinery was made at the Fort Wayne Machine Works by W.T. McKean Esq."
Dawson's Daily Times & Union. May 2, 1863

The most of last Sabbath was occupied by the funeral obsequies of L.D. Van Becker, whose death took place Friday evening 25th inst. The deceased we are told was one of the first settlers of this part of Huntington County. Settling here nearly 30 years ago when quite a young man, commenced the battle of life with 37 cents in money, his only capital. Some time after he came to this country, he married a Miss Pence, sister of the wife of the noted Lewis Mellinger, who still resides in Roanoke, engaged in the manufacture of ax handles. The fruits of his marriage were one girl, now so but 12 years of age, and the one heir of Mr. Van Beckers estate, his wife having died some years since. His estate is variously estimated at from $15,000 to $20,000. The funeral discourse was delivered by the Rev. Baldwin, in the Methodist Church, and was largely attended. The deceased was not a member of any religious society.
Indiana Herald. May 1, 1873 - Obituary

The building of a canal boat was considered a summers work, as the logs for the lumber were full-length of the boat under construction, and 2 long scaffolds were erected about 7 feet high, the logs were placed on this, and 2 men, one on top of the log, the other underneath, with a long whipsaw made for this purpose. The men proceeded to convert it into 2" planks, and if they worked diligently, could cut a board, or a board and a half in a day.
Roanoke History Dr. S. Koontz. Roanoke Review, 1921
The McPherron drain, which winds under the town of Roanoke, is one of the few in the United States that is cut through a solid wood channel for 115 feet. It is probably the only ditch in the country where workmen were forced to cut through timbers, over a century old, which once formed the bottom of a canal dry-dock at Roanoke. The channel was cut through the heavy logs by two wood choppers, while a third man kept their tolls sharpened as fast as they struck stones and other hard objects that could not be scraped from the waterlogged wood.
The ditch at this point, near the Indiana Service Corporation right-of-way, runs directly across the old dry dock, by the side of which a loading dock had been constructed in canal days. The logs were so thick that workmen did not find it necessary to cut entirely through them to provide the necessary depth for the channel. That section of the drain, for over 115 feet, is solid wood.

Pieces of red elm, hickory elm, sugar and walnut wood were torn from the structure of pioneer days. The chips were soaked in water, but when dried, the wood was found to be as solid as the day the logs were laid and cemented together. The floor of the dock was still water tight, workmen said, when it was uncovered for the first time in little less than a century.
Workmen measured some of the logs used in the dry dock, and found them to be twenty-six inches across. The tops of the logs were hewn flat. Chips from the logs have been preserved by several officials as souvenirs.
Huntington Herald Press May 19, 1932

William Corkens, canal boat builder, was a proprietor of a boatyard on the east side of Commercial street near the crossing of Fourth street.....
Roanoke History Dr. S. Koontz. Roanoke Review, 1921

The undersigned is prepared to execute at work in his line entrusted to his care, on the shortest notice, in the most durable manner, and on as reasonable terms as any mechanic in the western country. Those who intend building, or have boats to repair, will please give him a call. He has on hand the best of material. He may be found near the Grocery of D. Myers, Huntington. - S. H. MUNSON
Indiana Herald Dec 6, 1848

The boat yard of Capt. Munson, on the north side of the canal, has presented quite a busy appearance during the past winter. Three new boats are nearly completed, and one of them - the Forest City - will be launched on Wednesday the 6th inst. These boats, when finished, will be models of mechanical skill and ingenuity, and we venture the assertion that for neatness, strength and general convenience, they will not be surpassed, if equaled, by any on the canal. The Capt. knows how to get up a boat, and his fame as a mechanic may safely rest on these latest specimens of his skill.
Huntington Herald Press May 19, 1932