Question for you long time residence of Union City! (Comment added June 6, 2013)

Earl Culyer sent me the email below ....does anyone have any idea regarding the history of the path marked in yellow on the 1880 map of Union City?  The path runs from the river just East of Broadway, then goes from the bottom of the hill on North Broadway on West to the river.  Have looked though all of the material I have on Union City, and find no mention of this. 

If you have ideas, please email me at rchard1960@gmail.com and I will forward to Earl, and re-post this item on the blog with your comments.

Ron Gibson wrote: Ron, I was told by Nick Spencer that the "path" that you refer to is a dried up river bed that includes dead man's hollow.  It ran through this property and behind the Rice's house and onward…, probably a dried up oxbow from centuries ago.  It runs right past the Villa.  Nick said that the old stream bed is still there - he only had to go down two feet to hit water on his back lot property.

Earl Cuyler wrote:  Ron,  I remember seeing an old map of the St Joe river running behind Dar Adams old house and Nick Spencers house.  Through Dead Man's Hollow and down Summit St back to the river. Thanks, Earl Cuyler

Bea Lake wrote:  Hi Ron: I saw your map inquiry from Earl Cuyler, and this is my theory:  The part in yellow, I believe is the natural drain area for the river.  Dad owned the west side of Park St. where the swamp is, and there is a drain pipe across division in the lowest area of  the street.  The drain goes to the south side of Division, and then there is a drain across Charlotte/Summit st area and eventually to the river.  There is also a drain pipe that joins the east and west side of Park St. also. There are natural depressions in the lay of the land, which leads me to believe that water may have flowed there many years before.

While my Dad lived there, Don Waite lived on Charlotte Street (where Mr. Knapp now lives), and he filled in the ditch on his property which backed up to Division St.   His filling that ditch, caused flooding  down to Bennets property on Summit St.  The drain commission, had to order Waite to clear out that ditch because it was declared a "Natural " drainage area and must be kept clear. 

Dad was told he could not do any filling in of the swamp nor could the owners on the east side of Park Street do the same.(by the zoning board).  If you own that property it must remain an area to be a natural drain.  I don't know if the same goes for the area across Broadway or not. 

I will be anxious to see if there are any other theories.  I have another place to check this out, and if I find anything, I will let you know.  

  

I can never tell you enough how much I enjoy your site, and Marty's articles in the paper,  continue the good work. 

Sincerely Bea Lake

If you would like to save a copy of the map below (without the yellow highlighted area), left click on it with your mouse and when the image appears in your browser, right click on your mouse and select save image.  You can do this with any of the pictures you find on the blog.