Buried Wharf?

Vincennes Sun Commercial April 25th 1931

Shovel Excavating for Bridge Abutment Strikes Stone Slab of Old River Landing

A buried story of riverfront activities, the date of which has not been determined, was unearthed while excavating for the abutment on the new Memorial Bridge when the power shovel dug into an old stone slab foundation, that in the early days of the city, had either been used as a Wharf for loading and unloading of boats, or the driveway to the river’s edge where the stream was forded. Those who have examined the formation of the platform of rock, express belief that at some early date a boat landing had been maintained at the place.

The platform was buried under 4 to 8 feet of cinders, brick and gravel. The shovel first encountered the formation of rock under about four feet of cinders and brick at a point near the eastern edge of the excavation for the abutment.

There was one thickness of limestone rock, laid together closely, presenting proof that at some time or another, the platform had served as a landing of some description. The slope was gradual, dropping approximately 4 feet in the distance of 20 feet toward the river side of the excavation.

The width of the foundation of this stone was between 30 and 40 feet, with a row of posts, still in good state of preservation, driven along the north edge of the layer of stone.

Attention of a number of older residents was called to the discovery Friday afternoon, but they were unable to recall any boat landing or ferry operated at that point. It was recalled that at one time two fords were in operation along the river, one at a point near the foot of Dubois St. and the other up river opposite or near Columbia Park where a sandbar extended far out into the river, making it possible to ford the river with wagons at low stage of the stream.

Use of these fords, it was recalled, continued even after construction of the present bridge, many of the farmers in those days objected to payment of the toll required to cross on the bridge, using the ford instead at low river stages.

The foundation was in existence long before any grain elevator occupied the site. The southern edge of the ledge of rock extended beyond the foundation walls of the Baltic Mills and under the mill foundation. The northern edge was not in complete line with the north side of Vigo St. indicating possibilities that the drive was constructed before Vigo St. was laid out in the platting of the downtown city streets.

Old timers recall days when the Wabash River was active with boat transportation. Grain and livestock were transported up and down river by flat boats in the early part of the last century, and even later, and in most recent years light packets were in operation on the river.

The fact that grain elevators had been located along the river since the recollection of the oldest inhabitants leads to the conclusion that in all probability there existed at some early date a stone Wharf at the river's edge where boats landed to load and unload their cargoes.

The Indiana bank of the river at that point has changed during the past century. This is demonstrated by the formation of sand in the excavation for the abatement. There is evidence that the Baltimore and Ohio switch tracks are located on fill and gravel and cinders far out over the old riverbed. The present water line of the river is practically 100 feet West of the indicated water line of the river.

When the waterfront line changed is not known by even the oldest inhabitants. The West edge of the excavation for the abutment extends probably 15 feet beyond the point indicating the old water line, another bit of evidence that the platform of rock was used as a Wharf or boat landing extending out into the river.

 There was some suggestion that the discovery might be of historic importance, the landing project probably having been constructed back in the days of the existence of Fort Sackville, located only a short distance south of the location for the new bridge. The discovery is expected to bring about a historical investigation that may add an important chapter to the story of the early history of Vincennes.