 The heyday of the canal was 1847 to 1866, but the canal ultimately closed in 1878 as both shippers and passengers demonstrated a preference for utilizing the Wabash railroad instead, which had been built parallel to the canal.Fairport ultimately foundered as the canal foundered; the settlement became defunct and the site quickly reverted to farmland.George Foxtater and John Irvin were the first tavern-keepers in the township, in Fairport.