 The "Payment Grounds" at the Forks of the
Wabash has the following legend associated with it and with the naming of Silver Creek. At
payment time officials would come to the "Payment Grounds" carrying boxes filled
with silver coin. They were closewly guarded. One day while stopping for lunch a
"hanger on" named Ferguson saw that they were not being watched. He seized one
of the boxes and hid it in Woodworth's Creek, covering it with a stone.
Almost immediately, the box was missed, and Ferguson accused of stealing
it. When he claimed innocence, they threatened to drown him. Finally realizing that they
meant it, he confessed, the box was found and returned. Ferguson was let go with the
understanding that he would leave the community. The creek was called Silver Creek in
reemberance of that time.
From The Forks To Paradise - Canal Society of Indiana
1996 Spring Tour guide
Culvert No. 45 A large structure for the passage of
Woodworth's Creek , four miles west of Huntington. This arch is a semicircle of 24 feet
chord, built of timber. With some repairs to the load walls, this structure will last
three or four years, when it must be rebuilt of cut stone.
Chief Engineers report to the Commissioners. Jesse L.
Williams. November 1, 1847
Charles Foster, 93, tells of
his early life in the county and changes. "In '62, I took the contract for building
of the stone arches under the canal at Silver Creek to take the place of those built of
timber."
Huntington Herald Oct. 6, 1923 (VM Collection)
1995
Looking down on top of the culvert, in 1995 there was still
a good covering of earth protecting the Salamonie limestone of which the culvert was
built.
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1997
With the 1997 Spring floods, the protective covering of
earth was being washed away. Unprotected in this manner, deterioration of the stone will
be significantly accelerated |
Culvert #45 over Silver Creek,
looking through the culvert towards the river.
Photograph by Terry Pepper - June 1995
|
Approximately the same shot as that on the left showing
driftwood piled up against the face of the structure by the 1997 Spring floods
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The preservation Group Huntington Alert is keeping its eye on Huntington County's
hustorical structures, and has just released its annual list of the county's five most
endangered structures.
New to the list this year are the Silver Creek aqueduct and
the Sunken Gardens bridge. Rounding out the five most endangered structures are the
Rangeline Road bridge, the D.A, Purviance House on Noryn Jefferson Street, and the
Crestview Middle School on Guilford Street, all of which are repeats on the list.
We look at the challenges that face them for restoration,
and their architectural significance, and their prominence in the community" Carender
said. "And we want to get people thinking about them."
......The Silver Creek aqueduct, on US 24 East of
Huntington, is threatened by the weather and water runoff, Carender said. "It's a
pretty significant piece," he said. "It's one of the few canal remnants left
here. It's very well made; it was built by hand out of limestone." The aqueduct,
built in the 1840's allowed Silver Creek to run under the canal.
Huntington Herald Press, Sunday May 11, 1997. Page 1.
Lock No. 11 is situated a few
rods west of the above described arch. It is upon the wooden crib plan, of six feet lift,
though the walls are of an equal height with an eight feet lift, as a guard against the
floods of Clear Creek. The upper courses of this lock, with the entire set of gates and
the hollow quoin posts, to require renewal during the ensuing winter. With this immediate
expenditure, the lock will last till, say 1850.
Jesse L. Williams - 1847 Chief Engineer's report to the
Canal Commissioners
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