The Maumee River is the largest of all the rivers feeding the Great Lakes. It is a river that not only played
a major role in the settling of Ohio, but also was instrumental in the devevopement of our nations history and culture.
Native American cultures flourished for 10,000 years along the Maumee before the Europeans first encountered
them. The Indians, French, British and Americans fought for control of this area for over 200 years. Names like Chief Blue
Jacket, Chief Little Turtle and Chief Tecumseh fought for their heritage.
"Mad" Anthony Wayne and William Henry Harrison waged war at Forts Wayne, Defiance, Miamis and Meigs. In August
1795 the chiefs signed the treaty of Fort Greenville ceding all of Ohio except the northwestern part and some of southeastern
Indiana. The last battle of the American Revolution was over, and settlers poured into the new lands.
Ohio became a state in 1803 . At that time only local Native Americans and a few trappers and explorers
knew the Maumee Valley area. Development of this corner of Northwestern Ohio was delayed nearly 100 years behind other parts
of the state due to the Great Black Swamp. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Black_Swamp Although some crude roads were built as early as 1825 through the swamp, overland travel was
still nearly impossible. This area was described as the most "forsaken", desolate, and inhospitable wilderness
in America. The pioneers faced sickness and death from Malaria, which was spread by the abundant mosquitoes.
By 1843 the Wabash and Erie canal was completed. It was the link between the Toledo area and
the Wabash River in Indiana . In 1845 the Miami and Erie Canal completed the link between Toledo to Cincinnati.
The coming of the canals meant easier travel, easier commerce,and an end to total isolation. This early
canal trade resulted in many towns to springing up along the river and it was the begining of a long history of meritime
commerce in our area.
Toledo has been a "port" since before its
founding as a city in 1837. However In 1959 the completion of the joint U.S.-Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway
navagation project joined our area to the world markets by sea. The improved access to international meritime trade routes
resulted in the shipment of more than 13 million tons of cargo a year out of Toledo alone.
We are proud of our Great Lakes which are known as America's Fourth Seacoast. We are also proud that
our mighty Maumee River for which our club is named is so important to this system.
We are proud of our Great Lakes which are known as America's Fourth Seacoast. We are also proud that
our mighty Maumee River for which our club is named is so important to this system.
