Ohio and Erie Canal

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Ohio and Erie Canal
A portion of the Ohio and Erie canal in 1902
Map
LocationIndependence and
Valley View,
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Specifications
Length308 miles (496 km)
Locks152
(originally 146)
Statusclosed
Geography
Start pointCleveland, Ohio on the Lake Erie
End pointPortsmouth, Ohio, U.S.
Ohio and Erie Canal Historic District
LocationIndependence and
Valley View,
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Area24.5 acres (99,000 m2)[1]
Built1825
NRHP reference No.66000607
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 13, 1966[2]
Designated NHLDNovember 13, 1966[3]
Map of a portion of the canal route in the Cuyahoga Valley

The Ohio and Erie Canal was a canal constructed during the 1820s and early 1830s in Ohio. It connected Akron with the Cuyahoga River near its outlet on Lake Erie in Cleveland, and a few years later, with the Ohio River near Portsmouth. It also had connections to other canal systems in Pennsylvania.

The canal carried freight traffic from 1827 to 1861, when the construction of railroads ended demand. From 1862 to 1913, the canal served as a water source for industries and towns. During 1913, much of the canal system was abandoned after important parts were flooded severely.

Most of the surviving portions in the Akron-Cleveland area are managed by the National Park Service or Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They are used for various recreational purposes by the public, and still provide water for some industries. Parts of the canal are preserved, including the Ohio and Erie Canal Historic District, a National Historic Landmark. Portions further south are less well preserved, and a discontiguous set of locks and other canal resources roughly between Columbus and the Ohio River are listed on the National Register as the Ohio and Erie Canal Southern Descent Historic District.

History[edit]

Ohio, which achieved statehood during 1803, remained a sparsely populated region of 50,000 people who were scattered throughout the state and who had no means of transporting goods economically out of the state. Without easy access to distant markets, agriculture served only local needs and large-scale manufacturing was nearly non-existent.[4]

Agitation for a canal system (1787–1822)[edit]

As early as 1787, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had discussed the desirability of a canal linking Lake Erie to the Ohio River as part of a national system of canals.[5] It wasn't until 1807 that Ohio's first Senator, Thomas Worthington offered a resolution in Congress asking Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin to report to the Senate. In 1810, DeWitt Clinton was appointed to manage the Erie Canal Commission. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to get national aid for the construction of a canal connecting Lake Erie to the Hudson River, so he enlisted the aid of state legislators and Ohio's congressional delegation. On January 15, 1812, the Ohio General Assembly passed a resolution expressing its opinion that the connection of the Great Lakes with the Hudson River was a project of "national concern". President Madison was against the proposal, however, and the War of 1812 ended official discussion.

On December 11, 1816, Clinton, by then the Governor of New York, sent a letter to the Ohio Legislature indicating his state's willingness to construct the Erie Canal without national help, and asking the State of Ohio to join the endeavor. On January 9, 1817, the Ohio Legislature directed Ohio's Governor (and former Senator) Thomas Worthington to negotiate a deal with Clinton. Due to the cost, however, the Ohio Legislature dallied, and nothing happened for three years. Finally, in January 1822, the Ohio Legislature passed acts to fund the canal system (and the state's public education obligations).

Survey and design (1822)[edit]

On January 31, 1822, the Ohio Legislature passed a resolution to employ an engineer and appoint commissioners to survey and design the canal system as soon as possible. A sum not to exceed $6,000 was reserved for this purpose.

James Geddes, an engineer who had worked on the New York canals, was hired. Since most of Ohio's population lived along a line from Cleveland to Cincinnati, the main trunk of the canal needed to serve these areas. But no single river followed this line — canals are more cheaply and easily built along river valleys — making it difficult to design a suitable system. Specifically, the bridging of the Scioto and Miami river valleys required raising the canal to such an elevation that water from neither river could be used as a source. As a result, the canal was divided into two sections: the Ohio and Erie Canal, which connected Cleveland to Portsmouth via the Licking Divide and the Scioto River Valley, and the Miami and Erie Canal, which connected Cincinnati to Dayton. This second canal would ultimately be extended to the Maumee River at Toledo.

Copies of the original survey plat maps for the construction of both Ohio canals are available on-line[6] from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Construction (1825–1832)[edit]

On February 4, 1825, the Ohio Legislature passed "An Act to provide for the Internal Improvement of the State of Ohio by Navigable Canals".[7] The Canal Commission was authorized to borrow $400,000 during 1825, and not more than $600,000 per year thereafter. The notes issued were to be redeemable between 1850 and 1875.

On July 4, 1825, ground was broken for the canal at Licking Summit near Newark, Ohio.

The canals were specified to have a minimum width of 40 feet (12 m) at the top, 26 feet (8 m) at the bottom, and a depth of 4 feet (1.2 m) feet minimum. These limits were often exceeded, and indeed it was cheaper to do so in most cases. For example, it might be cheaper to build one embankment and then let the water fill all the way to a hillside parallel, perhaps hundreds of feet away, rather than build two embankments. By damming the rivers, long stretches of slackwater could be created which, with the addition of towpaths, could serve as portions of the canal. Where it made economic sense to do so, such as lock widths or portions of the canal through narrow rock or across aqueducts, the minimum widths were adhered to.[citation needed]

Contracts were let for the following tasks: Grubbing and clearing, Mucking and ditching, Embankment and excavation, Locks and culverts, Puddling, and Protection.

Initially, contractors in general proved to be inexperienced and unreliable. It was common for one job to receive 50 bids, many of them local to where the work was being performed. The chosen contractor, having underbid the contract, often would abscond leaving his labor force unpaid and his contract unfulfilled. This problem was so bad that many laborers refused to perform canal work for fear of not being paid. As the bidding process was improved, and more reliable contractors engaged, the situation improved.[citation needed]

Workers were initially paid $0.30 per day and offered a jigger of whiskey. As work progressed, and where labor was in shortage, workers could make as much as $15 per month. At that time, cash money was scarce in Ohio forcing much bartering. Working on the canal was appealing and attracted many farmers from their land.[citation needed]

On July 3, 1827 the first canal boat on the Ohio and Erie Canal left Akron, traveled through 41 locks and over 3 aqueducts along 37 miles (60 km) of canal, to arrive at Cleveland on July 4. While the average speed of 3 mph (5 km/h) may seem slow, canal boats could carry 10 tons of goods and were much more efficient than wagons over rutted trails.

Graph showing the annual expenditures and revenues accrued to the State of Ohio by the Ohio and Erie Canal from 1827 to 1903.

During the next five years, more and more portions of the canal opened, with it finally being completed during 1832:

During 1832, the Ohio and Erie Canal was completed. The entire canal system was 308 miles (496 km) long with 146 lift locks and a rise of 1,206 feet (368 m). In addition, there were five feeder canals that added 24.8 miles (39.9 km) and 6 additional locks to the system consisting of:

  • Tuscarawas Feeder (3.2 miles)
  • Walhonding Feeder (1.3 miles)
  • Granville Feeder (6.1 miles)
  • Muskinghum Side Cut (2.6 miles)
  • Columbus Feeder (11.6 miles)

The canal's lock numbering system was oriented from the Lower Basin, near the southwest corner of the current Exchange and Main streets in Akron. North of the basin is Lock 1 North, and south of the basin is Lock 1 South. At this basin was the joining of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal.[8][9]

Operation (1833–1913)[edit]

The Columbus Feeder Canal c. 1881-1885

The canals enjoyed a period of prosperity from the 1830s to the early 1860s, with maximum revenue between 1852 and 1855. During the 1840s, Ohio was the third most prosperous state, owing much of that growth to the canal.[10] Immediately after the Civil War, it became apparent that railroads would take the canal's business. From 1861 until 1879, after the canal had been badly flooded,[10] Ohio leased its canals to private owners who earned revenue from dwindling boat operation and the sale of water to factories and towns. When the state resumed ownership of the canals during 1879, it discovered that they had not been maintained well, and that state lands surrounding the canals had been sold illegally to private owners. In many cases, canals were filled in for "health reasons", with a newly laid railroad track on their right of way. Much state land was given away for free to politically savvy private owners. Nevertheless, some revenue was accrued into the early twentieth century from the sale of water rights as well as recovery and sale of land surrounding the canals.

Abandonment[edit]

After the maximum of the 1850s and a cessation of revenue due to the Civil War during the early 1860s the canal's expenditures started to outgrow its revenues due to increasing maintenance costs. By 1911, most of the southern portion of the canal had been abandoned.[10] The Great Dayton Flood of 1913 dumped an abnormally heavy amount of rain on the state, causing extensive flooding. This caused the reservoirs to spill over into the canals, destroying aqueducts, washing out banks, and devastating most of the locks. In Akron, Lock 1 was dynamited to allow backed up floodwater to flow.[11]

Notable persons associated with the canal[edit]

As a teenager during 1847, James Garfield worked as a "hoggee", driving mules to pull barges along the canal.[12] After repeatedly falling into the canal on the job Garfield became ill and decided to go to college instead.[13]

The canal presently[edit]

Restored canal boat

The Ohio and Erie Canal Historic District, a 24.5-acre (9.9 ha) historic district including part of the canal, was declared a National Historic Landmark during 1966.[1][3] It is a four-mile (6 km) section within the village of Valley View comprising three locks, the Tinkers Creek Aqueduct, and two other structures.[1]

A remaining watered section of the Ohio & Erie Canal is located in Summit County, Ohio. The Ohio & Erie Canal is maintained, to this day, as a water supply for local industries. After the flood, a few sections of the canal continued in use hauling cargo to local industries. Another watered section extends from the Station Road Bridge in Brecksville northwards into Valley View and Independence, all Cleveland suburbs.

The section of the Ohio & Erie Canal from the Brecksville Dam to Rockside Road in Cuyahoga County was transferred to the National Park Service during 1989 as part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreational Area (now known as the Cuyahoga Valley National Park).

A lease on the canal lands from the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to the terminus of the canal has been executed with the Cleveland Metroparks. The Metroparks manage the adjacent real estate and the surrounding Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation.

The section of the Ohio & Erie Canal still owned and maintained by the Division of Parks in southern Summit is referred to as the watered section. This section runs from downtown Akron, through Summit Lake south to Barberton, a distance of about 12 miles (19 km). Included in this section is the feeder canal from the Tuscarawas River and the hydraulics (flood control) at the Portage Lakes.

The Ohio & Erie Canal and its feeder reservoirs are maintained from Akron by a staff of three O.D.N.R. Ohio State Parks, Canal Hydraulic Operators. Like its sister canal, the Ohio & Erie Canal carries a large amount of stormwater. The canals were not designed to accommodate this great influx of stormwater. Most of the siltation and erosion problems experienced presently are the result of stormwater inappropriately piped into the canals over the years.

During late 1996, the canal from Zoar to Cleveland was designated a National Heritage Corridor. This designation was brought about through the efforts of many communities, civic organizations, businesses and individuals working in partnership.

Another section still watered, approximately one mile in length, runs along Canal Road in Pickaway County southwest of Circleville.

A map showing the disposition of the canal lands[14] is available on-line from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Points of interest[edit]

Towpath bridge across the Innerbelt in downtown Akron.

Connecting canals[edit]

The Ohio and Erie Canal initially provided a connection between Akron and Lake Erie at Cleveland, then extending all the way to the Ohio River within a few years. Later, connecting canal systems were built connecting it with the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal and other parts of Eastern Ohio.[15]

Ohio and Erie Canal - Connecting canals
Coordinates
Elevation
Name
Description
Columbus Feeder Lockbourne, Columbus, Franklin County
Granville Feeder Granville, Licking County
Hocking Valley Carroll, Lancaster, Fairfield County;
Logan, Hocking County;
Nelsonville, Athens, Athens County
Muskingum Side Cut Dresden, Zanesville, Muskingum County;
McConnelsville, Morgan County;
Marietta, Washington County
Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal Akron, Summit County;
Kent, Ravenna, Portage County;
Warren, Trumbull County;
Youngstown, Mahoning County; Ohio;
Lawrence; Beaver, Beaver County; Allegheny, Pennsylvania[16]
40°44′27″N 80°53′37″W / 40.74083°N 80.89361°W / 40.74083; -80.89361 (Sandy Beaver Canal)[17][18] 1,112 feet (339 m)[17][18] Sandy and Beaver Canal
a.k.a. Tuscarawas Feeder
Bolivar, Tuscarawas County;
Hanoverton, Lisbon, East Liverpool, Columbiana County;
Glasgow, Beaver County, Pennsylvania
40°19′19″N 81°56′49″W / 40.32194°N 81.94694°W / 40.32194; -81.94694 (Walhonding Canal)[19] 774 feet (236 m)[19] Walhonding Canal Roscoe Village, Coshocton County;
Brinkhaven, Knox County

Towpath Trail landmarks[edit]

An all-purpose bicycle/pedestrian trail was constructed by Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Southern Cuyahoga County and Northern Summit County, Cleveland Metroparks in Northern Cuyahoga County, and Akron/Summit County Metroparks in Southern Summit County to roughly follow the original Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath route.[20] (The northernmost section in Cuyahoga County is still undergoing construction.) There are many connecting trails going to other points of interest throughout their park systems.

Ohio and Erie Canal is located in Ohio
44_North
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Massillon
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Bolivar
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Walhonding
Walhonding
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Baltimore
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Carroll
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Ohio Canal system
Drawing of the Ohio Canal System from early to mid 1900s
Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail Landmarks
Mile
Post
[B]
ID
#
Coordinates
Elevation
Name
Type
Municipality
County
Description
0 44 North 41°29′39.76″N 81°42′10.4″W / 41.4943778°N 81.702889°W / 41.4943778; -81.702889 ("Lock 44")[21] 0 feet (0 m) Cuyahoga River Sloop Lock Cleveland Cuyahoga Merwin Street between James street and West street
43 North 0 feet (0 m) Lock Cleveland Cuyahoga Sherwin Williams, James and West, Merrwin and Vineyard
0 feet (0 m) Weigh Lock Cleveland Cuyahoga Seneca a.k.a. West 3rd. street
3 42 North 0 feet (0 m) Lock Cleveland Cuyahoga relocated to 42A,
3 42A North 0 feet (0 m) Weigh and Guard Lock Cleveland Cuyahoga near Grasselli chemical company, Dille street and Independence road
5 41 North 41°26′49.38″N 81°40′56.88″W / 41.4470500°N 81.6824667°W / 41.4470500; -81.6824667 ("Five Mile Lock 41")[22] 0 feet (0 m) RathBuns Lock Cuyahoga near Austin Powder Works, Harvard Road, near Jennings Road
8 40 North 41°25′8.82″N 81°38′38.58″W / 41.4191167°N 81.6440500°W / 41.4191167; -81.6440500 ("Eight Mile Lock 40")[23] 0 feet (0 m) Willow Lock Cuyahoga Heights Cuyahoga off Canal Road, near I-77
41°25′2.53″N 81°38′18.88″W / 41.4173694°N 81.6385778°W / 41.4173694; -81.6385778 ("Mill Creek Aqueduct")[24] 0 feet (0 m) Mill Creek Aqueduct Cuyahoga Heights Cuyahoga carries canal over Mill Creek (Cuyahoga River) off Canal Road
41°24′57″N 81°38′2″W / 41.41583°N 81.63389°W / 41.41583; -81.63389 ("GNIS-OEC-17 Cleveland South topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 17 Cleveland South topographic map
Bridge Cuyahoga Rockside Road
TrailHead Cuyahoga CVSR
11 MilePost Marker Cuyahoga
11 39 North 41°23′24.22″N 81°37′28.95″W / 41.3900611°N 81.6247083°W / 41.3900611; -81.6247083 ("Eleven Mile Lock 39")[26] 590 feet (180 m)[27] Lock Independence Cuyahoga
41°23′4″N 81°37′7″W / 41.38444°N 81.61861°W / 41.38444; -81.61861 ("GNIS-OEC-16 Shaker Heights topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 16 Shaker Heights topographic map
12 MilePost Marker Cuyahoga
Bridge Cuyahoga Hillside Road
TrailHead Cuyahoga CVSR-Canal Visitor Center, 7104 Canal Road and Hillside Road
12 38 North 41°22′20.78″N 81°36′46.23″W / 41.3724389°N 81.6128417°W / 41.3724389; -81.6128417 ("Twelve Mile Lock 38")[28] 600 feet (180 m)[29] Lock Valley View Cuyahoga Canal Visitor Center
Cuyahoga County Tinkers Creek Road
13 MilePost Marker Cuyahoga
41°21′53″N 81°36′32″W / 41.36472°N 81.60889°W / 41.36472; -81.60889 ("Tinkers Creek Aqueduct")[30] 610 feet (190 m)[30] Tinkers Creek Aqueduct Cuyahoga carries canal over Tinkers Creek (Cuyahoga River)[A]
Bridge Cuyahoga Alexander Road-Pleasant Valley Road
14 37 North 41°21′24.06″N 81°35′49.02″W / 41.3566833°N 81.5969500°W / 41.3566833; -81.5969500 ("Fourteen Mile Lock 37")[31] 620 feet (190 m)[32] Lock Cuyahoga Alexander's Mill
Mill Cuyahoga Alexanders (a.k.a. Wilsons)
14 MilePost Marker Cuyahoga
Trailhead Cuyahoga Sagamore Road
15 MilePost Marker Cuyahoga
16 MilePost Marker Cuyahoga
41°21′20″N 81°35′46″W / 41.35556°N 81.59611°W / 41.35556; -81.59611 ("GNIS-OEC-15 Northfield topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 15 Northfield topographic map
17 36 North 41°19′23.06″N 81°35′11.9″W / 41.3230722°N 81.586639°W / 41.3230722; -81.586639 ("Pinery Dam and Feeder Lock 36")[33] 0 feet (0 m)[34] Pinery Dam and Feeder Lock Summit
Bridge Summit SR-82
17 MilePost Marker Summit
TrailHead Summit Station Road bridge to CVSR-Brecksville
19 35 North 41°18′45.43″N 81°34′59.89″W / 41.3126194°N 81.5833028°W / 41.3126194; -81.5833028 ("Kettlewell Whiskey Lock 35")[35] 0 feet (0 m)[36] Kettlewell Whiskey Lock Summit
18 MilePost Marker Summit
Trail Summit Old Carriage
Trail Summit Old Carriage Connector
19 MilePost Marker Summit
20 34 North 41°17′21.08″N 81°33′51.99″W / 41.2891889°N 81.5644417°W / 41.2891889; -81.5644417 ("Red Lock 34")[37] 0 feet (0 m)[38] Red Lock Summit Jaite in southwestern Northfield Township[39]
TrailHead Red Lock
Bridge Summit Highland Road
20 MilePost Marker Summit
20.5 33 North 41°16′33.52″N 81°33′38.14″W / 41.2759778°N 81.5605944°W / 41.2759778; -81.5605944 ("Wallace Lock 33")[40] 0 feet (0 m)[41] Wallace Lock Summit in Boston Township[42]
21 MilePost Marker Summit
21 32 North 41°15′56″N 81°33′31″W / 41.26556°N 81.55861°W / 41.26556; -81.55861 ("Boston Lock 32")[43] 659 feet (201 m)[43] Boston Lock Summit Boston Township
Summit Boston Mills Road
TrailHead Summit CVSR-Boston Store
Bridge Summit I-271 Southbound
Bridge Summit I-271 Northbound
Bridge Summit I-80 Westbound
Bridge Summit I-80 Eastbound
22 MilePost Marker Summit
Summit Stumpy Basin
22 31 North 41°15′5.93″N 81°32′45.36″W / 41.2516472°N 81.5459333°W / 41.2516472; -81.5459333 ("Lonesome Lock 31")[44] 670 feet (200 m)[45] Lonesome Lock Summit was in Boston Township[46]
23 MilePost Marker Summit
23 30 North 41°14′44.04″N 81°33′14.87″W / 41.2455667°N 81.5541306°W / 41.2455667; -81.5541306 ("Peninsula Feeder Lock 30")[47] 680 feet (210 m)[48] Peninsula Feeder Lock Peninsula Summit
Peninsula TrailHead Peninsula Summit CVSR
23 29 North 41°14′33.54″N 81°33′1.29″W / 41.2426500°N 81.5503583°W / 41.2426500; -81.5503583 ("Peninsula Lock 29")[49] 690 feet (210 m)[50] Peninsula Lock Peninsula Summit
41°14′33.01″N 81°33′0.86″W / 41.2425028°N 81.5502389°W / 41.2425028; -81.5502389 ("Peninsula Aqueduct")[51] 700 feet (210 m)[52] Peninsula Aqueduct Peninsula Summit carried canal over Cuyahoga River
Bridge Summit SR-303
24 MilePost Marker Summit
25 28 North 41°13′57.38″N 81°33′6.77″W / 41.2326056°N 81.5518806°W / 41.2326056; -81.5518806 ("Deep Lock 28")[53] 700 feet (210 m)[53][54] Deep Lock Peninsula Summit at 17 feet (5.2 m) the deepest lock along the canal
TrailHead Summit Deep Lock Quarry
25 MilePost Marker Summit
26 MilePost Marker Summit
27 27 North 41°12′16.25″N 81°34′15.43″W / 41.2045139°N 81.5709528°W / 41.2045139; -81.5709528 ("Johnny Cake Lock 27")[55] 710 feet (220 m)[56] Johnny Cake Lock Summit
41°12′7″N 81°34′21″W / 41.20194°N 81.57250°W / 41.20194; -81.57250 ("Furnace Run Aqueduct")[57] 718 feet (219 m)[57] Furnace Run Aqueduct Summit carried canal over Furnace Run (Cuyahoga River)
27 MilePost Marker Summit
Bridge Summit Bolanz Road
28 MilePost Marker Summit
Summit Beaver Marsh
28 26 North 41°11′7.74″N 81°34′52.05″W / 41.1854833°N 81.5811250°W / 41.1854833; -81.5811250 ("Pancake Lock 26")[58][59] 718 feet (219 m)[58] Pancake Lock Summit
Ira TrailHead Summit CVSR
29 MilePost Marker Summit
28 25 North 41°10′32.27″N 81°34′46.82″W / 41.1756306°N 81.5796722°W / 41.1756306; -81.5796722 ("Mudcatcher Lock 25")[60] 0 feet (0 m)[61] Mudcatcher Lock Summit
30 24 North 41°10′20.5″N 81°34′40.93″W / 41.172361°N 81.5780361°W / 41.172361; -81.5780361 ("Niles Lock 24")[62] 0 feet (0 m)[63] Niles Lock Summit
Bridge Summit Yellow Creek (Cuyahoga River)
30 MilePost Marker Summit
Bridge Summit Bath Road
Indian Mound TrailHead Summit CVSR
41°3′57″N 81°32′12″W / 41.06583°N 81.53667°W / 41.06583; -81.53667 ("GNIS-OEC-14 Akron West topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 14 Akron West topographic map
32 23 North 0 feet (0 m) Booth port Lock Summit sewer pipe
32 22 North Booth port Lock Summit Merriman sewer pipe
33 21 North Lock Summit sewer over-flow
20 North Lock Summit train abutments
19 North Black Dog Crossing Lock Summit near Hickory and Memorial
35 18 North Lock Summit
36 17 North Lock Summit
36 16 North Lock Summit
36 15 North Akron Mustill Store Lock Akron Summit
36 14 North Lock Akron Summit North Street
36 13 North Lock Akron Summit
36 12 North Lock Akron Summit
36 11 North Lock Akron Summit
36 10 North Lock Akron Summit
9 North Lock Akron Summit north of Market street
8 North Lock Akron Summit tunnel
37 7 North Lock Akron Summit middle tunnel
37 6 North Lock Akron Summit tunnel below parking deck North of Mill street
37 5 North Lock Akron Summit tunnel
37 4 North Lock Akron Summit tunnel
37 3 North Lock Akron Summit South Main street
38 2 North Lock Akron Summit Water street
38 1 North Lock Akron Summit West Exchange street
0 Portage landing Lock Akron Summit Portage lakes, Manchester Road
1 South Wolf creek Lock Barberton Summit Snyder avenue
Wolf creek Aqueduct Barberton Summit Snyder avenue
40°54′37″N 81°37′51″W / 40.91028°N 81.63083°W / 40.91028; -81.63083 ("GNIS-OEC-13 Doylestown topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 13 Doylestown topographic map
2 South Lock New Franklin Stark Center Road
3 South Lock New Franklin Stark Center Road
40°53′2″N 81°35′37″W / 40.88389°N 81.59361°W / 40.88389; -81.59361 ("GNIS-OEC-12 Canal Fulton topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 12 Canal Fulton topographic map
4 South Lock Canal Fulton Stark
40°47′43″N 81°31′22″W / 40.79528°N 81.52278°W / 40.79528; -81.52278 ("GNIS-OEC-11 Massillon topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 11 Massillon topographic map
Trailhead Massillon Stark
40°39′32″N 81°27′22″W / 40.65889°N 81.45611°W / 40.65889; -81.45611 ("GNIS-OEC-10 Bolivar topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 10 Bolivar topographic map
39°58′17″N 82°29′15″W / 39.97139°N 82.48750°W / 39.97139; -82.48750 ("GNIS-OEC-9 Thornville topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 9 Thornville topographic map
39°53′22″N 82°32′21″W / 39.88944°N 82.53917°W / 39.88944; -82.53917 ("GNIS-OEC-8 Millersport topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 8 Millersport topographic map
5 South Lock
5A South Lock
Lock
Lock
31 South Lock
32 South Lock
33 South Lock
North 20 Lock
North 19 Lock
North 18 Lock
Lock
Lock
North 1 Lock
North 0 Minthorn Lock Newark Licking
South 0 Pugh Lock
South 1 195 King Watson Lock Canal Road
39°51′41″N 82°33′38″W / 39.86139°N 82.56056°W / 39.86139; -82.56056 ("GNIS-OEC-7 Baltimore topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 7 Baltimore topographic map
196 South 2 David Miller's White Mill Lock Baltimore Fairfield
197.4 South 3 Norris Mill Lock Baltimore Fairfield
South 4 Short Level Lock Baltimore Fairfield
198 South 5 Dry Dock Lock Baltimore Fairfield
198.3 South 6 Mulnix Mill Lock Baltimore Fairfield
198.8 South 7 Wells Mill Lock Basil, Ohio
200 South 8 39° 50' 11.5254"

-82° 37' 26.3994"

Bibler Lock Baltimore Fairfield Previous town Basil, Ohio

Behind the water treatment plant.

208 South 9 Lock Carroll Fairfield
South 10 Lock Carroll, Ohio Fairfield
206 South 11 Lock Violet Township Fairfield County, Ohio Upper Lockville
South 12 Tennis/Tennat Lock Lockville
South 13 Rowe Lock Lockville
South 14 Smallwood Lock
South 15 Fickle Mill Short Level Lock Lockville
South 16 Rover Short Level Lock Lockville
South 17 Swimmer's Lock Lockville
South 18 Creek Lock Lockvile
208 Walnet Creek Guard Lock
39°51′16″N 82°52′19″W / 39.85444°N 82.87194°W / 39.85444; -82.87194 ("GNIS-OEC-6 Canal Winchester topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 6 Canal Winchester topographic map
210 South 19 Chaney's Mill Lock Canal Winchester
210 South 20 Woolen Lock Canal Winchester Gender Road
South 21 Lock Canal Winchester near Glenarda Farms, Groveport Road
George's Culvert Canal Winchester
South 22 39°51'16"N

82° 52' 21"W

Groveport Lock Groveport Franklin Behind the Groveport Aquatic Recreation Center.
39°51′14″N 82°52′34″W / 39.85389°N 82.87611°W / 39.85389; -82.87611 ("GNIS-OEC-5 Lockbourne topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 5 Lockbourne topographic map
217 South 23 Lock Lockbourne Franklin Canal Road
217 South 24 Lock Lockbourne Franklin Canal Road
217 South 25 Lock Lockbourne Franklin Canal Road
217.5 South 26 Lock Lockbourne Franklin
218 South 27 Lock Lockbourne Franklin Canal Road
218 South 28 Lock Lockbourne Franklin under railroad track bed
South 29 Lock
South 30 Lock Lockbourne Franklin Lockmeadows Park
39°48′45″N 82°43′37″W / 39.81250°N 82.72694°W / 39.81250; -82.72694 ("GNIS-OEC-4 Carroll topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 4 Carroll topographic map
39°45′0″N 82°39′49″W / 39.75000°N 82.66361°W / 39.75000; -82.66361 ("GNIS-OEC-3 Amanda topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 3 Amanda topographic map
39°39′55″N 82°58′8″W / 39.66528°N 82.96889°W / 39.66528; -82.96889 ("GNIS-OEC-2 Ashville topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 2 Ashville topographic map
40°25′20″N 81°24′17″W / 40.42222°N 81.40472°W / 40.42222; -81.40472 ("GNIS-OEC-1 New Philadelphia topo")[25] 0 feet (0 m) GNIS GNIS 1 New Philadelphia topographic map
Columbus Feeder East Guard Lock
Columbus Feeder West Guard Lock
226 South 31 Ashville Campbells Mill Lock
237 South 32 Aqueduct Lock Scioto River, West of Circleville
237 Circleville Feeder Lock Spunkytown
238 South 33 Lock Wayne Township
238 South 34 Lock Wayne Township
South 35 Lock Chillicothe, Ohio
256 South 36 Lock Chillicothe, Ohio
258 South 37 Lock Chillicothe, Ohio parking lot
South 38 Fifth Street Lock Chillicothe, Ohio
261 South 39 Upper Lunbeck Lock
261 South 40 Lower Lunbeck Lock Scioto Township Pickaway near Renick Lane 601
South 41 Tomlinsons Lock 3 Locks Road, South of Chillicothe
South 42 Tomlinsons Lock
South 43 Tomlinsons Lock
Tomlinsons Dam and Feeder Guard Lock
South 44 Waverly Lock
280 South 45 U Pee Pee Lock
280 South 46 L Pee Pee Lock
291 South 47 Howards Lock near Robers 18 mi (29 km) Lock Farm
South 48 Herod's Lock
South 49 Rushs Brush Creek Lock
South 50 Union Mills Lock
South 51 Union Mills Moss Lock near Ohio State Route 239
South 52 Union Mills Lock
305 South 53 Elbow Lock
South 54 Lock Portsmouth Scioto County
308 South 55 38°43'34.4172"N

83°01'52.9896"W

Ohio River Terminal Lock West Portsmouth Scioto County near Old River Road, Portsmouth/Alexandria

Travels through Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark, Licking, Franklin, Fairfield, Pickaway, and Scioto counties.[25]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

^ A: In 2007-2008-? Tinkers Creek Aqueduct is undergoing renovation following flood damage from Tinkers Creek (Cuyahoga River) and Cuyahoga River
^ B: Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail miles are measured from its original connection with Lake Erie at Lock 44, on the Cuyahoga River, and marked with a 3.3-foot-tall (1.0 m) sandstone obelisk at each mile mark.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Mendinghall, Joseph S. (February 28, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Ohio and Erie Canal". National Park Service.
  2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  3. ^ a b "Ohio and Erie Canal". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 19, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
  4. ^ "History Ohio's Canals". Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2008.
  5. ^ Hagerty, J.E., McClelland C.P. and Huntington, C.C., History of the Ohio Canals, Their construction, cost, use and partial abandonment, Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, Columbus, OH 1905
  6. ^ "Canal Maps". realestate.ohiodnr.gov.
  7. ^ Huntington, C.C.; McClelland, C.P. (1905). History of the Ohio Canals: Their Construction, Cost, Use and Partial Abandonment. Columbus, Ohio: Press of F.J. Heer. p. 18. OCLC 7004707.
  8. ^ "Ehmann P&O". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007.
  9. ^ Wendy J. Adkins (1997). "Penn. & Ohio". geocities. Archived from the original on October 20, 2009.[unreliable source?]
  10. ^ a b c "Captain Pearl R. Nye: Life on the Ohio and Erie Canal". Library of Congress. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
  11. ^ Jack Gieck (1988). A photo album of Ohio's canal era, 1825-1913. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press. ISBN 0-87338-353-2.
  12. ^ "Biography of James Garfield". whitehouse.gov. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2006 – via National Archives.
  13. ^ "Life Portrait of James Garfiled". c-span.org. C-SPAN. Retrieved September 3, 2016. HE FELL IN THE (CANAL) BY HIS ESTIMATE 16 TIMES AND WAS FISHED OUT EACH TIME. AFTER HE WAS ONLY ON THERE FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS, CAME HOME NOT SURPRISINGLY, WITH A TERRIBLE FEVER AND THE AGUE SHIVERED AND SHOOK FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS UNTIL HIS MOTHER GOT A HIM OFF THE CANAL AND INTO SCHOOL.
  14. ^ "Kids Fishing Pond in Natural Resources Park". www.dnr.state.oh.us.
  15. ^ "Canals of Ohio 1825-1913 map" (JPEG). The Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, Ohio; National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior.
  16. ^ "Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal (historical)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  17. ^ a b "Sandy Beaver Canal". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  18. ^ a b "Sandy Beaver Canal". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  19. ^ a b "Walhonding Canal". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  20. ^ "Ohio and Erie Canal". Cleveland Memory, Cleveland State University Libraries.
  21. ^ Lock 44 manually plotted in Google Earth
  22. ^ "Ohio and Erie Canal and Towpath Trail, Part 2". NorthEastOhio-RoadRunner.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ "Ohio and Erie Canal and Towpath Trail, Part 3". NorthEastOhio-RoadRunner. Archived from the original on March 8, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2008.
  24. ^ Mill Creek Aqueduct manually plotted in Google Earth
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Ohio Canal". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  26. ^ Eleven Mile Lock 39 manually plotted in Google Earth
  27. ^ "Eleven Mile Lock 39 topographic map". USGS via Microsoft Research Maps.
  28. ^ Twelve Mile Lock 38 manually plotted in Google Earth
  29. ^ "Twelve Mile Lock 38 topographic map". USGS via Microsoft Research Maps.
  30. ^ a b "Tinkers Creek Aqueduct". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  31. ^ Fourteen Mile Lock 37 manually plotted in Google Earth
  32. ^ "Fourteen Mile Lock 37 topographic map". USGS via Microsoft Research Maps.
  33. ^ Pinery Dam and Feeder Lock 36 manually plotted in Google Earth
  34. ^ Pinery Dam and Feeder Lock 36 topographic map
  35. ^ Kettlewell Whiskey Lock 35 manually plotted in Google Earth
  36. ^ Whiskey Lock 35 topographic map
  37. ^ Red Lock 34 manually plotted in Google Earth
  38. ^ Red Lock 34 topographic map
  39. ^ "Red Lock (historical)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  40. ^ Wallace Lock 33 manually plotted in Google Earth
  41. ^ Wallace Lock 33 topographic map
  42. ^ "Wallace Lock (historical)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  43. ^ a b "Boston Lock". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  44. ^ Lonesome Lock 31 manually plotted in Google Earth
  45. ^ "Lonesome Lock 31 topographic map". USGS via Microsoft Research Maps.
  46. ^ "Lonesome Lock (historical)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  47. ^ Peninsula Feeder Lock 30 manually plotted in Google Earth
  48. ^ "Peninsula Feeder Lock 30 topographic map". USGS via Microsoft Research Maps.
  49. ^ Peninsula Lock 29 manually plotted in Google Earth
  50. ^ "Peninsula Lock 29 topographic map". USGS via Microsoft Research Maps.
  51. ^ Peninsula Aqueduct manually plotted in Google Earth
  52. ^ "Peninsula Aqueduct topographic map". USGS via Microsoft Research Maps.
  53. ^ a b "Deep Lock (historical)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 3, 2009. Deep Lock manually plotted in Google Earth
  54. ^ "Deep Lock 28 topographic map". USGS via Microsoft Research Maps.
  55. ^ Johnny Cake Lock 27 manually plotted in Google Earth
  56. ^ "Johnny Cake Lock 27 topographic map". USGS via Microsoft Research Maps.
  57. ^ a b "Furnace Run Aqueduct". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  58. ^ a b "Pancake Lock (historical)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  59. ^ Pancake Lock 26 manually plotted in Google Earth
  60. ^ Mudcatcher Lock 25 manually plotted in Google Earth
  61. ^ Mudcatcher Lock 25 topographic map
  62. ^ Niles Lock 24 manually plotted in Google Earth
  63. ^ Niles Lock 24 topographic map

General references[edit]

External links[edit]