-
Mid- 17th Century
The Miami People first established a settlement at the Maumee River, St. Joseph, and St.Marys River in the mid-17th century called Kekionga. Kekionga means "Blackberry Bush" -
New Fort
U.S. forces captured the Wabash–Erie portage from the Miami Confederacy and built a new fort at the three rivers, Fort Wayne, in honor of the general. -
Early 1800's
Early settlers and Native Americans referred to Fort Wayne as a crossroads because of its strategic location at the convergence of three rivers - the St. Mary's, the St. Joseph, and the Maumee Rivers. The city of Fort Wayne is named after General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, a bold military leader who established the first American fort at the confluence of the three rivers. -
Congress
Congress granted land to Indiana equal to one-half of five sections on each side of a canal route, every alternate section to be reserved to the United States. -
Declaration of Independence
Delphi was platted by Samuel Milroy and named in honor of Charles Carroll, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. -
Tradition has it
Tradition has it that in 1874 "Keystone State" was the last boat to cross the Deer Creek towpath bridge adjacent to the Deer Creek Dam southwest of Delphi. As the dam gave way causing the towpath bridge to collapse, both driver and mules plunged to their deaths. As the water escaped the confines of the Canal, watercraft heavy with merchandise were stranded in the resulting mire. -
Flood of 1913
1982 and 1913 FloodFlood of 1913: It ripped roofs off buildings, toppled chimneys, yanked up trees and smashed a stained glass window. It was Good Friday, but what happened turned out to be anything but good. A heavy rainstorm caused the city's rivers to rise nearly 20 feet in two days, burying much of Fort Wayne under a deadly wet cover. In all, the flood claimed six lives, including four orphans who drowned when their rescue boat capsized. -
Treaty of St.Marys
In 1819, three years after Indiana's statehood, the military garrison was discontinued and a federal land office opened to sell land ceded by local Native Americans by the Treaty of St.Marys. The accord contained seven articles. Based on the terms of the accord, the Miami ceded to the United States territories beginning at the Wabash River. In another tenet of the accord, the United States agreed to pay the Miami a perpetual annuity of fifteen thousand dollars. -
Wabash and Erie Canal
Wabash & Erie Canal was started in Fort Wayne, IN, on the anniversary of George Washington's birthday. Once completed, it connected Toledo, OH (Manhattan), and Evansville, IN. -
Flood of 1982
Flood of 1982: Thunderstorms dropped another inch of rain pushing the waters of the St. Mary’s river over its dikes, sending flood waters surging through the Nebraska neighborhood. 3000 residents fled their homes.
