Middletown in Butler County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Hydraulic Canal
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 7, 2025
1. Hydraulic Canal Marker
Inscription.
Hydraulic Canal. . , Served industry - Sorg Paper Co. - since 1852
Served industry - Sorg Paper Co. - since 1852
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.
Location. 39° 31.361′ N, 84° 23.741′ W. Marker is in Middletown, Ohio, in Butler County. It is at the intersection of North Verity Parkway (Ohio Route 4) and Tytus Avenue, on the right when traveling south on North Verity Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1605 N Verity Pkwy, Middletown OH 45042, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cincinnati and in the Miami Valley. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Miami-Erie Canal (a few steps from this marker); Remembrance Rock (a few steps
Also see . . . 1. Aerial photograph of the Sorg Paper Company, 901 Manchester Avenue, Middletown, Ohio, circa 1950. The Sorg Paper Company began in 1899 when Paul J. Sorg purchased the Jacoby Paper Mill Company, which had originally begun as the Hill & Peck Mill. Paul J. Sorg changed the name of the company to the Paul A. Sorg Paper Company, naming it after and appointing his son, Paul A. Sorg, as president. In 1917, the company purchased the Middletown mill of United States Playing Card Company which was previously the W. B. Oglesby Paper Company and its many predecessors, including the original J. W. Erwin and Brothers Mill. It was operated as the subsidiary W. B. Oglesby Paper Company. In 1931, the Paul
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 7, 2025
2. Hydraulic Canal Marker
A. Sorg Company combined with its three subsidiaries the Frank Smith Paper Company, the W. B. Oglesby Paper Company, and the Paul A. Sorg Realty Company to form the Sorg Paper Company. What were originally the Hill & Peck Mill and the Jacoby Paper Company mill became the Sorg Division. The mills under the W. B. Oglesby Paper Company subsidiary became the Oglesby Division. The mills under the Frank Smith Paper Company subsidiary became the Smith Division. In 1983, the Sorg Paper Company became a subsidiary of the Mosinee Paper Corporation of Wisconsin. In 1997, Mosinee Paper Corporation merged with Wausau Papers to become Wausau-Mosinee Paper Corporation. The Middletown plants eventually became the Wausau Paper Company. During the late 1990s, two of the old mills were shut down. In 2000, the main plant was closed and, in 2010, it was torn down. As of 2018, Wausau (now known as Essity) still operates a mill in Middletown. Prior to entering the paper industry, the Sorg family made its mark in the tobacco industry, running the Sorg Tobacco Company. (Submitted on June 18, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.)
Photograph of looking along the Middletown Hydraulic Canal, Middletown, Ohio from north of Central Avenue. Slide is dated July 1979. On the right is 812 Central Avenue.
In 1852, the Middletown Hydraulic Canal was an extension of the Miami and Erie Canal that supplied water and boat access to Middletowns paper mills and industry. It was originally built and operated by the Middletown Hydraulic Company. When finished, the canal was 2.5 miles long. When the canal was built, it supplied water to power Middletown and its various industrial needs. The construction of the Hydraulic helped give rise to Middletowns prominent paper industry. Eventually, electricity replaced the need for waterpower, diminishing the value of the hydraulic canal. In 1993, the state dam that provided water to the hydraulic canal broke, depriving it of water. At the time, the Sorg Paper Company and Aeronca were still using the canal for cooling purposes, while the City of Middletown was using it as a storm sewer. As of 2020, vestiges of the Hydraulic Canal still existed and were used for various sewer and wastewater purposes. (Submitted on June 18, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 157 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 18, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
