Headwaters of the Maumee
February 3, 2010

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All Photographs Copyright © 2010 by Robert E Pence

Saint Joseph River

Saint Marys River

Now, I'm standing on the grounds of the water filtration plant looking downstream toward the Columbia Avenue Bridge, my vantage point for
the previous photos.

Father Julian Benoit was born in France in 1808, ordained in Baltimore in
1837, and came to Fort Wayne in 1840. He did much to advance the Roman
Catholic faith in Fort Wayne, and was a friend and protector of the Native
American people who lived in the area. His work in ministering to the sick and
his generosity with his own personal funds were important in advancing
civilization in a then-rough frontier settlement.

Local sculptor Hector Garcia created the bronze in 1976. Hector also was
influential in establishing Three Rivers Velo Sport cycling club and arousing
interest in a largely dormant activity in the 1960s. Note that the Rivergreenway
passes by this point.

The water filtration plant was built in 1931 as part of a program to replace an
outgrown and worn-out 1879 system using steam pumps and deep wells and
an open storage reservoir atop a man-made hill in what is now Reservoir Park
. The new plant was the first Fort Wayne public works project to use Federal
money.

Local officials have been conscientious when planning expansions to stay
consistent with the original exterior architectural designs.

Three Rivers Apartments, built in the 1960s. Still advertised as luxury apartments. Having not been in the buildings in more than thirty years, I wouldn't know.

Looking upstream from the Tecumseh Street Bridge, about a half mile from the confluence.

The 1913 Tecumseh Street bridge was terribly deteriorated and was closed for reconstruction. The restored bridge was reopened late last
year. As much of the original stonework was reused as was possible, but all the limestone balusters had to be replaced.

Hosey Dam stands about a mile downstream from the confluence, near the Anthony Boulevard bridge. It was completed in 1925 and once
included hydroelectric generating facilities. The last time I know of that the roller gates were raised was during the flood of 1982, and they
have since been disabled because in their deteriorated condition they were vulnerable to damage by raising and lowering.

Roller gates must be raised and lowered skilfully under any conditions in order to keep them from becoming buoyant and floating out of their
guide channels, a situation that would be difficult and expensive to remedy.

A study was commissioned in Autumn, 2009, to determine the feasibility of
generating hydroelectric power at the Maumee Dam, the St. Joseph River
Dam, and an outfall from the city sewage processing plant. I haven't yet heard
any results from that study.

The only active control device on the dam now is the small tainter gate next to the structure that once housed the generating equipment.

The Chicago-Buffalo mainline of the former New York Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate) Railroad, now Norfolk Southern, follows the
Maumee eastward out of downtown. This is looking toward downtown; on the left, the building that once housed Wayne Candy Company,
originator in the 1920s of the Wayne Bun. Bun bars now are made by Pearson Candy Company. They're a milk-chocolate-and-nut patty filled
with a vanilla or maple fondant or caramel.

The Wayne Home Equipment Company was founded in 1928 to produce oil burners for home furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, and
industrial boilers and ovens. In the 1940s they added water pumps to their product line. In 1978 Scott Fetzer Corporation bought the
business, and in 1991 they moved it to Harrison, Ohio.

Looking eastward, if you follow the tracks far enough you'll cross a loooong, high viaduct over the Cuyahoga Valley in Cleveland.

Looking downstream from the Anthony Boulevard Bridge, toward New Haven
and the Indiana-Ohio line.

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