| Pike county
is to the North of the Patoka River and Gibson
County is to the South.
The meandering river is the natural Patoka river. The straight one is the historic (1917) dredged Patoka river. I have drawn in the I-69 centerline which I believe to be close. It is based on a 90º angle line at the midpoint of the one mile study area lines which we believe to be exact. |
The Wabash & Erie Canal appears on the USGS quad from the south west to just above Dongola. I have drawn in the rest from the I-69 DEIS which shows up as a unlabeled blue line that seems to be the old canal. This has been confirmed. Much of the Canal survives. From the south, the sections shown as wooded are in very good condition. It has been removed in the section of the two houses at the intersection of the lower of the two bridges. Just behind the northern most of these two houses the Canal survives beautifully to Highway 57. | This is the"summit"
and at the only area above ground level of the W&E Canal
system
Hwy. 57 was built
exactly on the canal north from the point that they converge until
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| Other interesting points:
Much of this region is mature forested wetlands. (The EPA presented strong objection to the destruction of this wetland in their DEIS comments.) The Blue Area to the North East that says "Pike", is the Pike Forest. Staffan's data did not show The DNR Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife Area at all and did not show as much Patoka Wild Life Refuge as the DEIS atlas showed. See the maps listed below. We will be adding plat information as available. Dikes are rather unique to farming in this Indiana region. The brown vertical hash marks around the white field on the northern boarder of this map surround a historic farm of the area. The "dike" is a quite distinctive feature of the area denoted by the brown hash marks. The lost city of Dongola which once flourished as a major canal stop and a rich underground railroad history. It was north of and including the existing Dongola. It had a 15 distinct street names, over 200 lots, a school, canal warehouse, sawmill, pork packing plant and was a major canal stop. The state highway was a cross over path for the canal in this region as well. |
Nearby:
Oakland City, 3 miles south, home of Oakland City (Baptist) University, Est. 1885. From Visit
Gibson County see attractions and history.
Wheeling covered bridge is 7 miles West and 2-1/2 miles North, crossing the Patoka River. Elsewhere in Gibson County:
Lyles
Station "Last Remaining African-American settlement in
Indiana".
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