Twin Arch Reserve Traditional Cache
Pinewood: I'm archiving some of my caches
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
The park includes a five acre pond,with fishing access on the east side of the pond. A contract was recently approved to shape the nature path that will run on the east side of the lake from the north to the south boundaries. The fishing is catch and release and a state fishing license is not required.
Features: 34.8 acres,Handicap accessible Port-o-john, picnic area,5 acre pond
History of Twin Arch Stone Culvert
The segment of the Miami-Erie Canal, which includes the twin arch stone culvert, began construction in the early 1830's to complete the link between the Ohio River and Lake Erie. This canal, one of the oldest artificial avenues of transportation, provided the needed access for the movement of goods throughout the state and the nation, and encouraged the development of many of today's significant communities in western Ohio. Much of the development occurred along the length of the canal between Cincinnati and Toledo.
The twin arch stone culvert was constructed in 1837 as part of the "extension" of the original M & E. canal which ran from Dayton to Cincinnati. The principal engineer for the extension was Samuel Forrer, a Dayton resident who was very significant in Ohio canal history. Beginning in 1818, Forrer was employed for fifty years as a canal rodman, surveyor, engineer, contractor and finally, a Commissioner. The resident engineer for the extension was David Bates, who had previously been a principal engineer on the Erie Canal in New York. One of the junior assistant engineers on this section of the extension (between Dayton and Piqua) was David H. Morrison, who later started the Dayton based Columbia Bridge Works which manufactured and erected metal truss bridges throughout the Midwest.
The original contract for the construction of the culvert was given to Loring R. Brownell and Norman Sumner, both from neighboring Darke County. They were to have completed the work by June of 1836, but continuing outbreaks of Cholera and a very wet spring delayed construction. Apparently, these men defaulted on their contract, for a John Kleine was paid for the completion of this section of the canal in April of 1837. Kleine utilized German immigrants as laborers for the project.
The culvert was constructed of limestone, with 2 spans of approximately 15 foot sides, with about 2 inches between the spans. The length of the arch barrels is approximately 96 feet. The arch barrels are made of roughly cut limestone, laid with lime mortar in 6-inch courses. The headwalls curve out slightly at the ends and are made with 18 inch think limestone, laid up dry. This masonry was constructed upon wood timbers. These timbers were then laid across wood piling foundations.
It is one of two twin arches remaining on the M & E. canal. The second arch is located near the small town of Texas in Henry County, Ohio, southwest of Toledo.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)