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    Recommended Reviews - Historic Metamora

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    4 months ago

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    Grave In The Middle of The Road - Kerlin Grave - in the middle of the road

    Grave In The Middle of The Road

    4.0(2 reviews)
    44.9 mi

    I was in the Franklin area for a work obligation and finally made it over to see the famed "Grave…read morein The Middle of The Road." One of the more unique graves around, this grave nearly always shows up on any list of Indiana's most unique roadside attractions. Of course, this isn't "roadside." It's in the middle of the road and serves as a sort of divider in the road. The grave is for Nancy Kerlin Barnett, married to William Barnett. Fun fact: William was the great great great grandson of Pocahontas and John Rolfe. Nancy passed away on 12/1/31. She was buried here - a place that used to be a hill overlooking Sugar Creek. Over the years, the area became a small cemetery. Eventually, a small footpath was made. Finally, they wanted to put a small county road here. While it's not certain, it's believed that most graves in the area were moved. However, Nancy's grave stuck around as one of the son's protested moving it. Eventually, they wanted to widen the road - this time around, per report, grandson Daniel showed up with a shotgun essentially saying "Over my dead body." So, she stayed again. They built the road around her and a concrete slab was placed over the grave. On August 8, 1912, a historical marker was also placed. To this day, the grave remains and is definitely considered an "attraction." Anyone who visits roadside attractions in Indiana will eventually make it here. It took me way too long. Surprisingly, it's also fairly accessible and the road is really fairly lightly traveled. It's not hard to stop and see it, though given it's a hill you do have to be a bit cautious even with slow traffic. Is this the best roadside attraction you'll ever see? Of course not. It is, however, a cool sort of cultural icon in Indiana and worth a stop for those in the area. It's definitely not what I'd call a destination attraction. Franklin is a great community to visit, however, I'd certainly not drive down just for this unless you're truly a gravesite person.

    This was on a list of unusual things to do/see in Indiana so I had to check it out. The story goes…read morelike this. They were developing the road and it was going right through where the grave is. So they decided to dig the grave up, to which the grandson of the deceased said, ohh heck nawww. It ain't going down like that, and he grabbed his shotgun and threatened the powers. to be so bad that they came up with the compromise of incorporating his gam gam's grave into the new road. So, here we are. Down the center line of the road you will find a tombstone covered with pennies and an occasional flower or two. There is also a historical road marker on the side of the road as well, detailing the significance of the spot. This stop is just or brief stop or drive by. There is really no good place to pull over. I had to be creative and pray. To my favor was that the street was not very busy. An occasional car would pass by. Well now, I can check off "seeing a grave in the middle of the road" off of my bucket list. On to the next adventure.

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    Grave In The Middle of The Road
    Grave In The Middle of The Road
    Grave In The Middle of The Road

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    Whitewater Canal State Historic Site

    Whitewater Canal State Historic Site

    4.1(7 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Whitewater Canal State Historic Site is one of the key attractions in the rather tiny town of…read moreMetamora, Indiana. Metamora is in Franklin County, a rural county that still feels mighty rural and lacks many of the many amenities that you'd find even in similar smaller towns or towns that are both historic and known for their "old timey" shops, antiques, and activities. For a couple years, fellow Yelpers Rick G. and Holly G. owned a shop in Metamora. I, in turn, owned a bookstore within that shop. As a result, I got to know Metamora fairly well and even officiated Rick and Holly's wedding out on the Whitewater Canal Trail. This is a historic site that falls under the umbrella of Indiana State Museum. It's a throwback to 19th century Indiana and was a key part of Indiana's commerce in the mid-19th century. The White Water Valley Canal Company was so big at one point that it had its own bank and printed its own currency in Connersville. The Whitewater Canal started in Lawrenceburg and originally ended in Cambridge City. Hagerstown, where I once pastored a church, got together and financed an extension to the canal. Ohio got into the action and built another 25-mile extension connecting the canal to Cincinnati. The Metamora Grist Mill, which is still here, is an example of the grist mills that found life because of the canal. You can take home a bag of cornmeal to this day! Visiting the historic site, you can visit the grist mill, see the nation's only wooden aqueduct, explore hiking trails, pick up some commemorative gifts, and visit the small town of Metamora. There is a canal boat here in Metamora, though it's not currently active. There's hope that the Ben Franklin III will see life again. It's a charming experience to be pulled down the canal by Joey and Jordan, two steeds who pull the boat at a gentle 3-4 miles per hour. Admission to the historic site is free for kids under 3, $3 for kids 3-17, $5 for adults aged 18-59, $4 for seniors (60+), and free for members. The site is open April-October, Wednesday through Sunday, from 10am - 5pm. The site is typically also open through the holiday season but only on weekends. You can rent the Whitewater Canal Gazebo for special events. It can accommodate up to 250. If you're expecting a lot of razzle dazzle here, you'll probably be disappointed. Metamora certainly can get crowds, especially during music festivals (almost always folk/Americana, but this is a town with a gentle pace, a friendly spirit, some old shops that generally open when they want, and accessibility that is incredibly hit-and-miss. However, I loved being here and I loved having a bookstore in the town. Rick and Holly still visit here just about monthly and there are a handful of overnight accommodation options for those who want to make it a weekend getaway.

    It's a very small Museum, but packed with a lot of history. We visited on a weekend during the…read moreChristmas walk in Metamora (it is free to visit the museum during the Christmas walk)! Bonus for us our family! We were immediately greeted when we entered by a friendly host who let us know that there was no admission for the event and gave us a brief overview of the museum. They have a small gift section where you can purchase freshly ground cornmeal, that is ground right there on site! In fact, upon entering that's the first thing I noticed - the old timey cornmeal. They were doing occasional demonstrations of it. When there isn't a pandemic, they have a children's area available for kids to play. Bathrooms are available on site for visitors. And there is a beautiful view from the outside of the canal. Masks required, if you forget yours they have some on hand.

    Photos
    Whitewater Canal State Historic Site
    Whitewater Canal State Historic Site
    Whitewater Canal State Historic Site - Stones from France that grind the corn

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    Stones from France that grind the corn

    Duck Creek Aqueduct - Duck Creek Aqueduct - the only surviving covered wood aqueduct in the United States

    Duck Creek Aqueduct

    5.0(1 review)
    0.1 mi

    It's virtually impossible to visit Metamora, Indiana without coming face-to-face with a historic…read morelandmark. The Duck Creek Aqueduct, which is also referred to by some as the Whitewater Canal Aqueduct, is a historic aqueduct carrying the Whitewater Canal over the Duck Creek in Metamora, Indiana. Metamora is a small town in Franklin County and is known for its historic landmarks along with a variety of antique shops and "old timey" music. The Duck Creek Aqueduct isn't necessarily a destination spot by itself. However, in conjunction with Whitewater Canal and Metamora, it's one of those "must stop" places. Built in 1846, the Duck Creek Aqueduct is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the only surviving covered wood aqueduct in the United States. While it is over water, the Duck Creek Aqueduct closely resembles an actual covered bridge. It is a single-span Burr through truss aqueduct and measures approximately 90 feet long and 25 feet wide, with a structural height of 25 feet. The trough carrying the canal is formed out of oak beams and panels, and carries water to a normal depth of 2-3 feet. Water management valves and a spillway at the western end of the structure permit regulation of the water level of the canal. The roof is a 20th-century metal standing seam roof. Covered wood aqueducts never really caught on in the U.S., though this aqueduct makes for a very cool feature in an already very cool town. While this aqueduct was built in 1846, it's actually not the original. The original was built between 1839-43 and was washed out in a flood. This structure was strengthened in 1868 and repaired in 1901. After abandonment and deterioration, the Duck Creek Aqueduct was restored to its present appearance in 1946-1949 and has since undergone regular maintenance, including a historically sensitive replacement of the trough in 2005. The Duck Creek Aqueduct is located on the South end of the canal and East end of Main Street in Metamora. While it's hard to imagine missing it, if you can't find it everyone in Metamora knows exactly where it is located. The entire Whitewater Canal area is worth a visit and there are several restaurants and shops worth visiting in Metamora. As an older town in an area that has economically struggled, I will note there are accessibility issues in Metamora. However, even folks in wheelchairs (and I am a wheelchair user) can find plenty to do here and most of the people I've encountered in Metamora are quite helpful. If you're here on a Sunday, visit Boundless Ways of Grace Church where Yelper Rick G. is pastor.

    Treasure Island Park - The Boathouse

    Treasure Island Park

    5.0(1 review)
    64.3 mi

    Here there is something for everyone. It is a nostalgic place for me and many others who are from…read moreTroy, Ohio. But for many, this is a new and booming place, but it's not exactly new. This is not just any park...here is a little history: In the early 1940's, several Troy residents began clearing the river and the banks of rubbish in hopes of using the area for water activates. They even cleared away the remains of an old wooden damn located just north of the Adams St. Bridge. Then, Edward Alvah (E. A.) and William Hobart took an interest in the park and provided the heavy equipment needed to assist in the process of clearing. That's right...E.A and William Hobart of the Hobart Brothers Corporation. The Hobart Corporation used to be based in Troy, Ohio. Yes, that's right...the ones that created and made Kitchenaid for the home and for commercial use...and they are still made today (just not here). Let us not forget the welders, generators and industrial equipment as well to name a few. They weren't always made in a foreign country. Indeed, Hobart was alive and well in Troy, Ohio and the surrounding area once upon a time. The Corporation put quite the thumbprint on Troy, this is one of them. The leaders of the Hobart Brothers Corporation wanted to provide a location for not only boating enthusiasts, but also for their employees to enjoy the Great Miami River and all activities related to water. So, they constructed a marina, a boathouse, and a launch area with a lighthouse all from the profits of the company. At one time there was a baseball diamond located here and playground equipment as well. The place boomed with boating activities, festivals and company picnics for many years. My grandparents and parents used to speak of the fun times here. In the 1960's, E.A. Hobart gave the boathouse and property to the city of Troy as a gift. Troy accepted and decided it had great recreational potential. It has been utilized in many ways over the years. It has even seen days of non-use and dilapidation as well sadly. Some of my fondest memories growing up were playing out on the island after crossing a bridge...and we always fed the ducks. I used to love to ride my bike down that steep hill coming in and lift my legs & feet off the peddles. We used to rent canoes and paddle boats below...sweet memories. But what was once old, is new again. It brings me tears of joy to see this place come alive again and alive it is indeed. This place not only has its own website now, but it has a Facebook page too! There is a fairly new restaurant in the building called "Smith's Boathouse". The Smith family has a history of their own. I went to school with one of the brothers and was able to enjoy the family restaurant in Maui (Yummy). It is a great addition to the Park. And if you get a chance, please check it out. But not only that, there is now an area for concerts in addition to the typical walks, playing, biking, picnicking or just hanging out and enjoying the view. There is quite the venue these days at Treasure Island. It makes me smile that it is alive again. Although people call it "new", please don't forget the history, how it started, why it's here and how it has evolved. When in Troy...stop down...a water activity may interest you, a stroll, a bike ride...or maybe just the view. These are only a few things you can do there...there is something for everyone...to include finding that special spot for peace and quiet. http://www.troyohio.gov/587/Treasure-Island-Park https://www.facebook.com/pages/Treasure-Island-Park/142286295802726

    Photos
    Treasure Island Park - Looking over to the island from the parking area

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    Looking over to the island from the parking area

    Historic Metamora - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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