| The Maumee River |
In the middle 1830 a small steamboat came up the Maumee river from Defiance during the high waters. She landed above the bridge that spans the river just above where the St Joe and St Marys form the Maumee. It was a sight to be seen on these rivers. The boat did not stay long only long enough to take a few excursionist up the river.
The above is from an article in the Ft. Wayne Sentinel in which the fact is lamented that there are no longer any small steamers operated on the rivers at Ft Wayne and that not even the christening of a launch is heard and that in days gone by there was a steamboat operated on the river in that city and that canoe races were very popular sport.
Bringing the subject back to Defiance, it wasn't so many years ago that steamboats operated on the rivers here. There was the steamer "Laurina" which made daily trips to the Island and Independence Dam and later the Dan W Miller and the big steamer Goldie, which gave the Maumee the appearance of the Ohio or Mississippi. The Laurina was loaded and shipped to Louisiana. The Goldie went to Finley where was used on the Blanchard river to Riverside Park and the Dan W Miller was doing tug service on the Maumee at Toledo
The motor launch has replace the steamboat and it is safe to say there are fifty or more launches on the Maumee,Auglaize and Tiffin rivers at Defiance. Still Defiance people do not take full advantage of these river. A steamboat operating between Defiance, Island Park and Independence Dam would be a treat today, and especially to visitors to Defiance, from towns where there are no rivers.
In the olden days there were many boats, and canoes races on the old Maumee here at Defiance. The Defiance canoeist, were leaders in the sport and won many trophies.
With three broad rivers and a stretch of six or eight miles of navigable water. It seems odd that the streams are not dotted with crafts, and that the cities of Toledo, Napoleon and Ft Wayne are not rivals in motor boat racing, canoe racing and other water sports that would make them popular to the people of the non river towns.
Bringing the subject back to Defiance, it wasn't so many years ago that steamboats operated on the rivers here. There was the steamer "Laurina" which made daily trips to the Island and Independence Dam and later the Dan W Miller and the big steamer Goldie, which gave the Maumee the appearance of the Ohio or Mississippi. The Laurina was loaded and shipped to Louisiana. The Goldie went to Finley where was used on the Blanchard river to Riverside Park and the Dan W Miller was doing tug service on the Maumee at Toledo
The motor launch has replace the steamboat and it is safe to say there are fifty or more launches on the Maumee,Auglaize and Tiffin rivers at Defiance. Still Defiance people do not take full advantage of these river. A steamboat operating between Defiance, Island Park and Independence Dam would be a treat today, and especially to visitors to Defiance, from towns where there are no rivers.
In the olden days there were many boats, and canoes races on the old Maumee here at Defiance. The Defiance canoeist, were leaders in the sport and won many trophies.
With three broad rivers and a stretch of six or eight miles of navigable water. It seems odd that the streams are not dotted with crafts, and that the cities of Toledo, Napoleon and Ft Wayne are not rivals in motor boat racing, canoe racing and other water sports that would make them popular to the people of the non river towns.
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