Old Metamora, Indiana. An 1838 Canal Town

The village of Metamora is on land acquired from Native Americans as part of the Treaty of Fort Wayne and the 12 Mile Purchase. This was an 1809 treaty that obtained more than two million acres of American Indian land for the white settlers of Ohio and Indiana. The Indian tribes received about 2 cents per acre for their lands, larger than other treaties signed. The Indian tribes were: Delaware tribe, Eel River, Kickapoo, Miami tribe, Potawatomi, and the Wea. Governor William Henry Harrison negotiated the treaty with the Sachems and chief warriors of the Miami and Eel river tribes of Indians and their allies the Delawares and Putawatimie on September 30, 1809.

The town itself was founded by David Mount & William Holland.In the center of Metamora sits the Whitewater Canal, incorporated in 1826, work started on the canal in 1836 & completed in 1847. The canal ran from Lawrenceburg - Hagerstown. Stretching 76 miles with 56 locks & 7 feeder dams.

Building a half mile section of canal could cost between $500 to $2000. A lock cost between $5000 to $8000 based on the costs of the cross cut between Terre Haute & Point commerce in Worthington. Canal engineers had to make trade-offs between longer sections or more locks. The costs depended on obstacles & a path of construction in whether the canal prism had to be built above ground level, at ground level, were cut deep below ground level. In the case of a lock, it depended on the locks lift, the availability of materials & the type of lock cut stone, rough stone lined with wood, or timber frame/timber crib.

The canal operated for several years, but was beset with financial and natural woes. Whitewater Valley RR Company purchased the canal in 1866. Their laid their tracks atop the old towpath & allowed the canal to deteriorate.

Metamora did not die when the canal was closed. Without boat movement, the canal locks could now be used as a source of hydraulic power to operate the mill. Two of those locks, Morgan and Metamora were available. Though the railroad may have replaced the canal, there was now a railroad station in town and fast reliable transportation. And in 1821, the Brookville Road (now US 52) was established and mail service was available to Indianapolis and Cincinnati. In 1849 during the canal era, Metamora had a population of 200 and remained largely unchanged during the Civil War and the railroad era. By 1880, the population had grown to 450; it has declined to the present population of 125. The Brookville-Indianapolis road passed through the center of town (Main Street), continued west past the Pennington farm and crossed the Whitewater River over a covered bridge. South of the river, it formed a junction with the Oldenburg Road (IN #229) and a corresponding covered bridge over Salt Creek. The abutments are still visible on both sides of the river east of the US 52 bridge. In the early 1930's, the road was re-routed from Main Street to its existing location north of old Metamora. This decision contributed to the preservation of the original town.

In 1947, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) created a state historic site at the old canal. In the early 1960's, the DNR began taking passengers on short canal trips. The Grist Mill Museum was dedicated in 1973 & the Whitewater Valley RR began excursion passenger service in 1974.