Elkhart in Elkhart County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Power of Water in Elkhart

— J. C. Lane Hydraulics - 1890 —

Photographed By Lou Donkle, November 10, 2023

1. The Power of Water in Elkhart Marker

Inscription.
Here in Elkhart, raceways along the St. Joseph and Elkhart Rivers powered a series of early mills and factories in the 1800's. The last water-powered mill ran until 1955.

🅐 The headrace, formerly located on this site, ran parallel with the Elkhart River, starting above the present dam and ending within several feet of East Jackson Blvd.

🅑 At each building, gates were opened to allow water to flow into penstocks which housed the turbines. The flow of water through turbines produced power for the factories.

After traveling through the turbines the water returned to the Elkhart River by way of 🅒 tailraces.

Glossary Raceway: A canal for a current of water.
Penstock: A structure that houses one or more turbines. Built with an upper chamber in which the turbine is submerged and a lower chamber to allow water to channel to the tailrace.
Turbine: A rotary machine actuated by the flow of a current of water, steam or air.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.

Location. 41° 41.164′

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N, 85° 58.218′ W. Marker is in Elkhart, Indiana, in Elkhart County. Marker can be reached from Nibco Parkway just north of South Clark Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is on the River Walk Culture Trail on the east side of the Elkhart River and just south of the Nibco Water and Ice Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 Nibco Parkway, Elkhart IN 46516, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Elkhart's Early Industrial Power (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Elkhart River Dam Removal (about 700 feet away); Elkhart Carnegie Public Library (approx. 0.2 miles away); Charles Gordone (approx. 0.2 miles away); Elkhart County Revolutionary Soldiers Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); E. Hill Turnock (approx. 0.2 miles away); Elkhart High School (approx. 0.2 miles away); C.G. Conn Company (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elkhart.

Marker next to the Elkhart River image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lou Donkle

2. Marker next to the Elkhart River

Trail sign where marker is located image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lou Donkle

3. Trail sign where marker is located

Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2023, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 43 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 13, 2023, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.