When the I&M Canal opened in 1848 it was too shallow at times during the year, by spring 1849 the Calumet Feeder canal remedied that, diverting water from the Calumet River ABOVE Blue Island westward through the valley of the Cal Sag to the Canal. There are remnants of this often forgotten part of the I&M Canal corridor. Alwurn Bridge (now closed) runs along the remains of the old dam (which was blown up in the 1870's by disgruntled farmers up river whose lands were flooded by the rerouting of the Calumet), A property line here and there traces the route of "the feeder"as it wends its way westward just south of Blue Island. An old stone house set back from Broadway Ave (west of Ashland approx 13100 South)is likely the "Canal House"...