FORT LORAMIE — The Fort Loramie Chamber of Commerce and the German Heritage Days Committee are working together two create two plazas to bring visitors to Fort Loramie.
The Canal Plaza will be located on the corner of state Route 66 and state Route 705. It will have two major components: the Canal feature and the elevation wall. The Canal feature is at seated height to encourage guests with an interactive replica of the canal that once flowed through Fort Loramie. Guests are encouraged to seat down and learn about how the canal journeyed through Ohio.
The elevation wall will show the changes in elevation of the canal from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. It will highlight the Loramie Summit, the highest point in the canal. Both features will showcase the aspects of the Miami-Erie Canal, and the towns and locks along the way from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. They will be carved out of limestone to reminiscence the canal locks. The plaza will also have public water fountains.
The Heritage Plaza will be a symbol of community pride on the corner of state Route 66 and Elm Street. It will be a concrete wall with a wood grain texture. This is to resemble the log cabin across the street on the canal bank. Images showcasing the history of Fort Loramie will etched in stainless steel and attached to the wall. A clock tower will be installed in the plaza and dedication to Fort Loramie’s German heritage as a tribute to Munich’s Glockenspiel.
Both plazas are scheduled to be opening to the public during German Heritage Days on Sept. 21.
