Junction in Paulding County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Miami-Erie and Wabash-Erie Canals

Junction, Ohio

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, May 3, 2009

1. Miami – Erie and Wabash – Erie Canals Marker

Inscription. On this site, the Miami and Erie Canal, that came north from Cincinnati and the Ohio River, intersected with the Wabash and Erie Canal that came from Fort Wayne and Evansville, Indiana. From this point, which became the town of Junction, the canals proceeded as one to Defiance, Toledo, and Lake Erie. From the 1830s to the 1870s, the canals played a key role in the settling of Paulding County, an area that was once part of the Great Black Swamp. They held the promise of easier and quicker passenger transportation and commodity shipping and Junction became a landmark for fugitive slaves escaping to Canada. Once a thriving and growing community, the village of Junction became a forgotten historical note with the passing of the canal era and the coming of the railroads. Today, the Buckeye Trail and North County Trail follow the canal path through Paulding County.

Erected 2008 by John Paulding Historical Society and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 4-63.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection, the The Miami & Erie Canal, and the Wabash & Erie Canal series lists.

Location.

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41° 11.665′ N, 84° 27.422′ W. Marker is in Junction, Ohio, in Paulding County. Marker is at the intersection of County Road 111 and County Road 163, on the left when traveling west on County Road 111. This historical marker is located about 8 miles southwest of downtown Defiance, Ohio, in what is left of the canal town of Junction, Ohio. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Defiance OH 43512, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Joshua A. Ramsey Memorial (approx. 4 miles away); Imaginary Likeness Of Chief Charloe Peter (approx. 4½ miles away); Charloe Community Park (approx. 4½ miles away); Charloe (approx. 4½ miles away); Sawmill Shanty (approx. 4.8 miles away); Kieffer Log Cabin (approx. 4.8 miles away); Mollasses Produced Since 1850's (approx. 4.9 miles away); Mollasses Production (approx. 4.9 miles away).

More about this marker. This marker is located where what is left of the Miami & Erie Canal comes up from the south and meets up with what is left of the Wabash & Erie Canal coming in from the west. Then, from where this marker is situated, the two canals become one canal and proceed northeast for Toledo and Lake Erie.

Additional commentary.
1. Miami Erie Canal Lock

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, May 3, 2009

2. Miami – Erie and Wabash – Erie Canals Marker

View of historical marker situated to the right of the picture and to the left of the picture a sign pole, indicating the end destination and the distance, of each of the communities located at the end of each canal (and what is left of the canal situated behind the historical marker).

21
The remains of lock 21 can be seen by going 2 miles south of Junction on Paulding County Road 163. The lock has a pull off area and is the site of a geo-cache box. Warning: The portion of the county road that has access to the lock is dirt road and cannot be traversed when wet. The site is also covered in poison ivy! BUT it is really worth the trip.

— Submitted April 10, 2011, by Tanya S. Brunner of Evansport, Ohio.

Sign pole near the Miami-Erie and Wabash-Erie Canals Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Robert Baughman, July 16, 2021

3. Sign pole near the Miami-Erie and Wabash-Erie Canals Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,643 times since then and 72 times this year. Last updated on February 7, 2010, by Tracy Hahn of Defiance, Ohio. Photos: 1. submitted on May 27, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 2. submitted on May 28, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 3. submitted on July 18, 2021, by Robert Baughman of Bellefontaine, Ohio. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.