Efforts to create a deep channel up Put-In Creek to Mathews Court House went on for a long, long time. Depression-era workers dug a narrow channel by hand nearly 80 years ago, but it lacked an outlet to deep water and rather quickly shoaled again.

Even before the Great Depression, during the boom days of the 1920s, Congress authorized a channel study of the creek and that effort also stalled. But the Mathews Journal tried to light a fire under anyone who could carry it forward:

"The Mathews Journal and The Chamber of Commerce receive inquiries regarding the proposed Putin Creek channel almost daily. A good many people want to know what is being done about it. While the matter is in the hands of the U.S. Engineer for his approval, it is known that there is much data yet to be gotten, additional facts asked for by the Engineer himself. Many people are strongly in sympathy with this effort and are hoping that no stone will be left unturned in the dire desire for the completion of th...