METAMORA, Ind. – A community meeting of residents, business owners, and officials was held to discuss the future of the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site. The event, hosted by the nonprofit “I Love Metamora,” was organized in response to a June 12 announcement from the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites that it intended to close the site, which led to public concern and online discussion.
The stated purpose of the meeting was to address public questions and provide factual information. Alan Stenger, president of “I Love Metamora,” began by addressing information circulating online.
“When I see posts on Facebook that say that canal is getting filled in, there’s no more Canal Days and all the shops in Metamora closing, that’s fake news,” Stenger said. “I can tell you, shop owners down here are not closing. I can tell you the canal is not getting filled in, and Canal Days is happening.”
Stenger outlined the work of “I Love Metamora,” a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed three years ago. The group has facilitated the mapping of local streets by Uber, sponsored “Evening Stroll in Metamora” events, and is pursuing grants for a stormwater infrastructure study and business wayfinding.
Community Stakeholders and Official Responses
The range of community investment was shown by the introductions of those in attendance, which included Mary Pollitt, a 20-year resident who lives next to the aqueduct; Steve Dice of the regional media outlet Whitewater Valley Voice; representatives from the Whitewater Valley Railroad and Franklin County Tourism; and board members from the Canal Society of Indiana.
Eric Todd, the Chief Operating Officer for the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, attended to answer questions. He confirmed the board’s decision to plan for closure was based on the need for a major capital infusion for repairs.
The timing of the announcement was a subject of discussion. “What prompted this meeting and that reaction is what the state put out,” one shop owner said. “You’ve got to realize what’s happening to us now by putting that info out, and we’re trying to quell it.”
Another resident made a direct statement about future communications. “It affected everybody in this room… All I would ask is that, moving forward… please be careful about how you word things, because people can read information in many ways. That was a pretty nasty week around here.”
A Complex Funding Path
A central topic of the meeting was a “pre-commitment letter” for $7 million in READI funds, which Todd confirmed the museum had signed. This local funding is the required first step to unlock a matching $7 million fund the state legislature earmarked three years ago. The primary condition for the state’s match was that the initial funds be “locally raised and specifically, not state dollars, matching state dollars.”
Todd noted that the process is not complete. “It’s not a done deal that we have $7 million right now,” he stated. “We’re focusing on getting the $7 million.” The next step is a compliance review with the Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission to finalize the grant. This involves updating the cost analysis for the original $14.4 million project proposal, which covers work on the feeder dam, the historic wooden aqueduct, canal locks, and the construction of a new boat and dry dock.
A community member with knowledge of the grant process added clarification. “They pre-committed, and then they step back for a minute and they say, ‘Hey, this $14.4 million project, because that’s what the actual cost analysis was three years ago… is this real, or is it changed?'” He noted that if costs have increased, the project’s scope may need to be altered to fit the budget.
Future Operations and Remaining Questions
Questions from the audience covered a range of operational concerns. Todd clarified that if the project proceeds, the $14.4 million is for historic preservation and sustainability improvements—such as fixing the feeder dam gates to reduce dredging costs—and does not include ongoing operational funds or a specific marketing plan for a relaunch.
When asked about maintenance, Todd stated, “We will not walk away from the property as long as we own it. I can promise you that we have an obligation to take care of it, and we will.”
State Representative Lindsay Patterson also addressed the attendees, providing an update on legislative actions. “I’ve talked to Senator [Ryan] Mishler, who is the Chair of Appropriations, Chairman [Jeff] Thompson, through Ways and Means, and two legal teams within the state house, and they’ve all assured that that $7 million that was earmarked… is still there. It will remain there until that $7 million is matched,” Patterson said. “I also want to put you guys at ease that your legislators are working very hard. We are doing everything we can to keep this site going, [and] to encourage people to come out to Metamora. My door is always open. Any questions you guys have for me, I would be more than willing to answer.”
The museum’s board has tasked Todd and his team with presenting a path forward at their next meeting in early September. When asked what happens if the museum does not ultimately operate the site, Todd confirmed that multiple options exist, including the potential for the state to donate the property to another entity like a local non-profit.
Michael Fortunato of Creative Insight Community Development, who was involved in the formation of “I Love Metamora,” spoke about the role of the group. “This is a place to come to talk about what we [can] collectively do, to react to it, respond to it, to seek new opportunities and to get things going,” he said.
Attendees discussed how to manage public perception. “How do we change the narrative?” one person asked. The discussion centered on amplifying factual news. A local farmers market vendor stated her group had generated nearly 80,000 social media views in four weeks. “If you all as a group, work on getting that information out… those numbers will go up,” she said.
As the meeting concluded, the future of the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site remains dependent on the finalization of grants and the upcoming board meeting in September. The organized turnout and questions asked during the meeting indicated a community effort to advocate for the preservation of its central historic and economic asset.
Discover more from Whitewater Valley Voice
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.