Presenter John Haney will share with us the “History of the El Paso Canal.”  General Palmer, Colorado Springs founder and first “developer” of Colorado Springs, sought to sell lots and create a lush resort on ground that was nothing more than dry desert.  To this end, he constructed the El Paso Canal.  The canal helped fulfill his dream and served our city for some 83 years.  The presentation will show how the canal contributed to the city’s early growth and development and what it is used for in today’s world.  The speaker was captivated by the canal and will share about how his life was affected by this historic waterway.

About John Haney

John is a Colorado Springs native; his family has been here since the 1890s.  He serves on the Historic Preservation Alliance Board of Directors, also chaired HPA’s committee that published Historic Homes of Colorado Springs and Vicinity.  He co-authored books on streetcar histories for Colorado Springs, Tucson, AZ and Pueblo, CO.  A Colorado College graduate, John also holds an MS degree in urban planning from the University of Arizona.  He founded and is a board member of the Pikes Peak Trolley Museum & Restoration Shop, volunteers at Visit COS, and retired from a career in commercial property management.  As a youngster growing up in the Old North End he played with boats in the ditchbox fed by water from the El Paso Canal along Cascade Avenue.  He enjoys public speaking, traveling, hiking, Nordic skiing, and being with his wife, two daughters and four grandchildren.