Pogue's Run
Encyclopedia
Pogue's Run is a creek starting on the eastside of Indianapolis
, which eventually ends up running through aqueducts beneath the downtown area. It is named for George Pogue, who along with John Wesley McCormick
founded what would become the city of Indianapolis.
from Connersville, Indiana
. In 1819 he blazed a trail that corresponds with the present-day Brookville Road. On March 2, 1819 he built a cabin for his family of seven where Michigan Street currently crosses Pogue's Run. There is some disagreement among historians about these events, as Jacob Piatt Dunn
believed, as he wrote in his 1910 work Greater Indianapolis, that Pogue actually arrived on March 2, 1820 and moved into a cabin that was built in 1819 by a Ute Perkins, who left before Pogue arrived. Perkins reportedly left the area because of his loneliness, later settling in Rush County, Indiana
.
The creek became known as Pogue's Run after Pogue disappeared in April 1821; it was called Perkin's Run after Ute Perkins before that time.
When Indianapolis was built on a grid pattern only Pogue's Run disturbed this orderliness. Alexander Ralston
had to make contingencies due to its placement in the congressional donation lands given for the future Indianapolis. Before the state government could be moved to Indianapolis from Corydon
, fifty dollars was spent to rid swampy Pogue's Run of the mosquito
es that made it a "source of pestilence".
In the Battle of Pogue's Run
on May 20, 1863, several Democrats leaving the state party convention on the railroad running parallel to Pogue's Run threw various firearms and knives into the creek because Union troops were looking for contraband weapons. The Run flooded in 1882, killing at least ten people. A covered bridge
that once crossed Pogue's Run in Indianapolis was eventually destroyed. In 1914 Pogue's Run was rerouted into the storm sewers of downtown Indianapolis in order to allow for a perfect grid pattern for Indianapolis' roads. The stream goes underground at New York Street, east of I-70
, and eventually spills into the White River
near Kentucky Avenue.
On the section immediately to the northeast of where Pogue's Run enters downtown Indianapolis, Brookside Park
was built to take advantage of the creek as a recreation opportunity.
s, geese, and Red-winged Blackbird
s, with herons sometimes seen as well. Goose excrement is a particular problem for those who hike along Pogue's Run. A plan called "Charting Pogue's Run" intends to mark where the creek once ran in downtown Indianapolis. A blue line, made of thirty permanent steel medallions and a semi-permanent blue thermoplastic line, will "meander" across roads and parking lots. Of note is the fact that this blue line's location shows Pogue's Run now lies under Lucas Oil Stadium
and Conseco Fieldhouse
.
" terrorizing a city was partially shot in the underground portion of Pogue's Run between New York and Washington Streets.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, which eventually ends up running through aqueducts beneath the downtown area. It is named for George Pogue, who along with John Wesley McCormick
John Wesley McCormick
John Wesley McCormick, Sr. was a nineteenth century homesteader in Indiana in the United States. He was one of the first white settlers in the area, Indianapolis is sited near the log cabin he built, and McCormick's Creek State Park is named after him.-History:John Wesley McCormick was born near...
founded what would become the city of Indianapolis.
History
Prior to Pogue and McCormick, Indians and wildlife would often follow what would become Pogue's Run as a pathway. George Pogue (c.1763-1821) was a blacksmithBlacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
from Connersville, Indiana
Connersville, Indiana
At the 2000 census, there were 15,411 people, 6,382 households and 4,135 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,894.5 per square mile . There were 6,974 housing units at an average density of 857.3 per square mile...
. In 1819 he blazed a trail that corresponds with the present-day Brookville Road. On March 2, 1819 he built a cabin for his family of seven where Michigan Street currently crosses Pogue's Run. There is some disagreement among historians about these events, as Jacob Piatt Dunn
Jacob Piatt Dunn
Jacob Piatt Dunn was an American historian and author of several books. He was instrumental in making the Indiana Historical Society an effective group, serving as its secretary for decades. He was also instrumental in the Indiana Public Library Commission...
believed, as he wrote in his 1910 work Greater Indianapolis, that Pogue actually arrived on March 2, 1820 and moved into a cabin that was built in 1819 by a Ute Perkins, who left before Pogue arrived. Perkins reportedly left the area because of his loneliness, later settling in Rush County, Indiana
Rush County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,261 people, 6,923 households, and 5,046 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 7,337 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
.
The creek became known as Pogue's Run after Pogue disappeared in April 1821; it was called Perkin's Run after Ute Perkins before that time.
When Indianapolis was built on a grid pattern only Pogue's Run disturbed this orderliness. Alexander Ralston
Alexander Ralston
Alexander Ralston was one of two co-architects for the design of the city of Indianapolis, Indiana.-Life:Alexander Ralston was born in Scotland in 1771. In Britain he was engineer working for the Baron of Roslin on his estate before immigrating to the United States after the American Revolution...
had to make contingencies due to its placement in the congressional donation lands given for the future Indianapolis. Before the state government could be moved to Indianapolis from Corydon
Corydon, Indiana
Corydon is a town in Harrison Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States, founded in 1808, and is known as Indiana's First State Capital. After Vincennes, Corydon was the second capital of the Indiana Territory from May 1, 1813, until December 11, 1816. After statehood, the town was the...
, fifty dollars was spent to rid swampy Pogue's Run of the mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
es that made it a "source of pestilence".
In the Battle of Pogue's Run
Battle of Pogue's Run
The so-called Battle of Pogue's Run took place in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 20, 1863. It was believed that many of the delegates to the Democrat state convention had firearms, in the hope of inciting a rebellion. Union soldiers entered the hall that the convention took place, and found...
on May 20, 1863, several Democrats leaving the state party convention on the railroad running parallel to Pogue's Run threw various firearms and knives into the creek because Union troops were looking for contraband weapons. The Run flooded in 1882, killing at least ten people. A covered bridge
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
that once crossed Pogue's Run in Indianapolis was eventually destroyed. In 1914 Pogue's Run was rerouted into the storm sewers of downtown Indianapolis in order to allow for a perfect grid pattern for Indianapolis' roads. The stream goes underground at New York Street, east of I-70
Interstate 70 in Indiana
In the U.S. state of Indiana, Interstate 70 travels east–west across the state passing through Indianapolis. Interstate 70 crosses into Indiana near Terre Haute and crosses into Ohio in Richmond. It covers 156.60 miles in Indiana. It parallels U.S...
, and eventually spills into the White River
White River (Indiana)
The White River is a two-forked river that flows through central and southern Indiana and is the main tributary to the Wabash River. Via the west fork, considered to be the main stem of the river by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the White River is long.-West Fork:The West Fork, long, is...
near Kentucky Avenue.
On the section immediately to the northeast of where Pogue's Run enters downtown Indianapolis, Brookside Park
Brookside Park (Indianapolis)
Brookside Park is a municipal park in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is located at 3500 Brookside Parkway S. Drive on the near-eastside of Indianapolis, just north of the Rural-Sherman neighborhood...
was built to take advantage of the creek as a recreation opportunity.
Today
Indy Parks established a Pogues Run Trail alongside the creek bed on the section northeast of downtown. Wildlife found on the path include duckDuck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
s, geese, and Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
The Red-winged Blackbird is a passerine bird of the family Icteridae found in most of North and much of Central America. It breeds from Alaska and Newfoundland south to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and Guatemala, with isolated populations in western El Salvador, northwestern Honduras, and...
s, with herons sometimes seen as well. Goose excrement is a particular problem for those who hike along Pogue's Run. A plan called "Charting Pogue's Run" intends to mark where the creek once ran in downtown Indianapolis. A blue line, made of thirty permanent steel medallions and a semi-permanent blue thermoplastic line, will "meander" across roads and parking lots. Of note is the fact that this blue line's location shows Pogue's Run now lies under Lucas Oil Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium is a multi-purpose sports stadium in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The stadium celebrated its grand opening on August 24, 2008, and its ribbon-cutting ceremony August 16, 2008. It replaced the RCA Dome as the home field of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. The stadium was built to...
and Conseco Fieldhouse
Conseco Fieldhouse
Conseco Fieldhouse is a multi-purpose arena located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Opened in November 1999 to replace Market Square Arena, it is home to the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association and the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association...
.
In popular culture
The movie Twice Under (1987) about a Viet Nam veteran "Tunnel ratTunnel rat
The tunnel rats were American, Australian and New Zealand soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War. Later, similar teams were used by the Red Army during the Soviet war in Afghanistan.-Vietnam War:...
" terrorizing a city was partially shot in the underground portion of Pogue's Run between New York and Washington Streets.