New Breman, Ohio

During my research of the area I found New Bremen, Ohio to be teaming with local history and interesting museums. The first stop is the Miami-Erie Canal. In 1795 Native Americans were removed from Ohio by the Treaty of Greenville. This allowed Europeans who sought an opportunity to flee the political unrest to make a new start. Ohio became a state in 1803. The town of New Bremen was founded in 1832 by German immigrants.   

In 1825 the Ohio Legislature approved the construction of an Ohio Canal system. It took more than 20 years(1825-1845) to complete the Miami-Erie Canal. The workers consisted of Irish, German, and French and made 30 cents a day, food, whiskey, and shelter.

The Miami-Erie Canal had 105 locks to raise and lower canal boats a distance of 250 miles. The canal was dug by hand with pick and shovels with the occasional team of horses used to pull wagons. The average canal boat was 78 feet long, 14 feet wide and cost $2,100.

The peak year of the canal, 1851 would see over 400 boats moving freight and passengers. With the increase use of the railroad the commercial use of the canal diminished. The Great flood of 1913 which destroyed portions of the canal was the final blow.

The original Lock One North was completed in 1845. The present concrete structure was rebuilt in 2006. It's appearance is like the original wooden lock.

The Miami-Erie Canal connected the Ohio River to Lake Erie. This allowed towns like New Bremen to prosper. Local farm boys would use their family mules to pull cargo boats along the towpath for several miles then switching off to another farm boy. These young boys were called "hoggees".

The Lockkeeper's House was the residence of the lockkeeper and his family. He would be on duty 7 days a week 24 hours a day and was responsible for operating the lock as needed.

Constructed in 1864 this bridge is the oldest cast iron bowstring girder in the state of Ohio. In 1984 the bridge was brought to New Bremen to span the Miami Erie Canal.

                               The local park beside the historic Miami Erie Canal had some fun sculptures for all ages.