Ohio and Erie Canal


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 remaining portions 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.

History

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.

Agitation for a canal system (1787–1822)

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. 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 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.

Survey and design (1822)

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 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Construction (1825–32)

On February 4, 1825, the Ohio Legislature passed "An Act to provide for the Internal Improvement of the State of Ohio by Navigable Canals". 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 at the top, at the bottom, and a depth of 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.
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.
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.
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 of canal, to arrive at Cleveland on July 4. While the average speed of may seem slow, canal boats could carry 10 tons of goods and were much more efficient than wagons over rutted trails.
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 long with 146 lift locks and a rise of. In addition, there were five feeder canals that added and 6 additional locks to the system consisting of:
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.

Operation (1833–1913)

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. 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, 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

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. On March 23, 1913, after a winter of record snowfall, storms 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.

Notable persons associated with the canal

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

The canal presently

The Ohio and Erie Canal Historic District, a historic district including part of the canal, was declared a National Historic Landmark during 1966. It is a four-mile section within the village of Valley View comprising three locks, the Tinkers Creek Aqueduct, and two other structures.
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.
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 Water in southern Summit is referred to as the watered section. This section runs from the north end of Summit Lake south to Barberton, a distance of about. Included in this section is the feeder canal from the Tuscarawas River and the hydraulics at the Portage Lakes.
The Ohio & Erie Canal is maintained from Akron by a staff of six Division of Water employees. 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.
A map showing the disposition of the canal lands is available on-line from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Points of interest

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.
Coordinates
Elevation
Name
Description
Columbus FeederLockbourne, Columbus, Franklin County
Granville FeederGranville, Licking County
Hocking ValleyCarroll, Lancaster, Fairfield County;
Logan, Hocking County;
Nelsonville, Athens, Athens County
Muskingum Side CutDresden, Zanesville, Muskingum County;
McConnelsville, Morgan County;
Marietta, Washington County
Pennsylvania and Ohio CanalAkron, Summit County;
Kent, Ravenna, Portage County;
Warren, Trumbull County;
Youngstown, Mahoning County; Ohio;;
Lawrence; Beaver, Beaver County; Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Sandy and Beaver Canal
a.k.a. Tuscarawas Feeder
Bolivar, Tuscarawas County;
Hanoverton, Lisbon, East Liverpool, Columbiana County;
Glasgow, Beaver County, Pennsylvania
Walhonding CanalRoscoe Village, Coshocton County;
Brinkhaven, Knox County

Towpath Trail landmarks

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. There are many connecting trails going to other points of interest throughout their park systems.
Mile
Post

ID
#
Coordinates
Elevation
Name
Type
Municipality
County
Description
044 NorthCuyahoga River SloopLockClevelandCuyahogaMerwin Street between James street and West street
43 NorthLockClevelandCuyahogaSherwin Williams, James and West, Merrwin and Vineyard
WeighLockClevelandCuyahogaSeneca a.k.a. West 3rd. street
342 NorthLockClevelandCuyahogarelocated to 42A,
342A NorthWeigh and GuardLockClevelandCuyahoganear Grasselli chemical company, Dille street and Independence road
541 NorthRathBunsLockCuyahoganear Austin Powder Works, Harvard Road, near Jennings Road
840 NorthWillowLockCuyahoga HeightsCuyahogaoff Canal Road, near I-77
Mill CreekAqueductCuyahoga HeightsCuyahogacarries canal over Mill Creek off Canal Road
GNISGNIS 17 Cleveland South topographic map
BridgeCuyahogaRockside Road
TrailHeadCuyahogaCVSR
11MilePost MarkerCuyahoga
1139 NorthLockIndependenceCuyahoga
GNISGNIS 16 Shaker Heights topographic map
12MilePost MarkerCuyahoga
BridgeCuyahogaHillside Road
TrailHeadCuyahogaCVSR-Canal Visitor Center, 7104 Canal Road and Hillside Road
1238 NorthLockValley ViewCuyahogaCanal Visitor Center
Cuyahoga CountyTinkers Creek Road
13MilePost MarkerCuyahoga
Tinkers CreekAqueductCuyahogacarries canal over Tinkers Creek
BridgeCuyahogaAlexander Road-Pleasant Valley Road
1437 NorthLockCuyahogaAlexander's Mill
MillCuyahogaAlexanders
14MilePost MarkerCuyahoga
TrailheadCuyahogaSagamore Road
15MilePost MarkerCuyahoga
16MilePost MarkerCuyahoga
GNISGNIS 15 Northfield topographic map
1736 NorthPinery Dam and FeederLockSummit
BridgeSummitSR-82
17MilePost MarkerSummit
TrailHeadSummitStation Road bridge to CVSR-Brecksville
1935 NorthKettlewell WhiskeyLockSummit
18MilePost MarkerSummit
TrailSummitOld Carriage
TrailSummitOld Carriage Connector
19MilePost MarkerSummit
2034 NorthRedLockSummitJaite in southwestern Northfield Township
TrailHeadRed Lock-
BridgeSummitHighland Road
20MilePost MarkerSummit
20.533 NorthWallaceLockSummitin Boston Township
21MilePost MarkerSummit
2132 NorthBostonLockSummitBoston Township
SummitBoston Mills Road
TrailHeadSummitCVSR-Boston Store
BridgeSummitI-271 Southbound
BridgeSummitI-271 Northbound
BridgeSummitI-80 Westbound
BridgeSummitI-80 Eastbound
22MilePost MarkerSummit
SummitStumpy Basin
2231 NorthLonesomeLockSummitwas in Boston Township
23MilePost MarkerSummit
2330 NorthPeninsula FeederLockPeninsulaSummit
PeninsulaTrailHeadPeninsulaSummitCVSR
2329 NorthPeninsulaLockPeninsulaSummit
PeninsulaAqueductPeninsulaSummitcarried canal over Cuyahoga River
BridgeSummitSR-303
24MilePost MarkerSummit
2528 NorthDeepLockPeninsulaSummitat the deepest lock along the canal
TrailHeadSummitDeep Lock Quarry
25MilePost MarkerSummit
26MilePost MarkerSummit
2727 NorthJohnny CakeLockSummit
Furnace RunAqueductSummitcarried canal over Furnace Run
27MilePost MarkerSummit
BridgeSummitBolanz Road
28MilePost MarkerSummit
SummitBeaver Marsh
2826 NorthPancakeLockSummit
IraTrailHeadSummitCVSR
29MilePost MarkerSummit
2825 NorthMudcatcherLockSummit
3024 NorthNilesLockSummit
BridgeSummitYellow Creek
30MilePost MarkerSummit
BridgeSummitBath Road
Indian MoundTrailHeadSummitCVSR
GNISGNIS 14 Akron West topographic map
3223 NorthBooth portLockSummitsewer pipe
3222 NorthBooth portLockSummitMerriman sewer pipe
3321 NorthLockSummitsewer over-flow
20 NorthLockSummittrain abutments
19 NorthBlack Dog CrossingLockSummitnear Hickory and Memorial
3518 NorthLockSummit
3617 NorthLockSummit
3616 NorthLockSummit
3615 NorthAkron Mustill StoreLockAkronSummit
3614 NorthLockAkronSummitNorth Street
3613 NorthLockAkronSummit
3612 NorthLockAkronSummit
3611 NorthLockAkronSummit
3610 NorthLockAkronSummit
9 NorthLockAkronSummitnorth of Market street
8 NorthLockAkronSummittunnel
377 NorthLockAkronSummitmiddle tunnel
376 NorthLockAkronSummittunnel below parking deck North of Mill street
375 NorthLockAkronSummittunnel
374 NorthLockAkronSummittunnel
373 NorthLockAkronSummitSouth Main street
382 NorthLockAkronSummitWater street
381 NorthLockAkronSummitWest Exchange street
0Portage landingLockAkronSummitPortage lakes, Manchester Road
1 SouthWolf creekLockBarbertonSummitSnyder avenue
Wolf creekAqueductBarbertonSummitSnyder avenue
GNISGNIS 13 Doylestown topographic map
2 SouthLockNew FranklinStarkCenter Road
3 SouthLockNew FranklinStarkCenter Road
GNISGNIS 12 Canal Fulton topographic map
4 SouthLockCanal FultonStark
GNISGNIS 11 Massillon topographic map
TrailheadMassillonStark
GNISGNIS 10 Bolivar topographic map
GNISGNIS 9 Thornville topographic map
GNISGNIS 8 Millersport topographic map
5 SouthLock
5A SouthLock
Lock
Lock
31 SouthLock
32 SouthLock
33 SouthLock
North 20Lock
North 19Lock
North 18Lock
Lock
Lock
North 1Lock
North 0MinthornLockNewarkLicking
South 0PughLock
South 1195King WatsonLockCanal Road
GNISGNIS 7 Baltimore topographic map
196South 2David Miller's White MillLockBaltimoreFairfield
197.4South 3Norris MillLockBaltimoreFairfield
South 4Short LevelLockBaltimoreFairfield
198South 5Dry DockLockBaltimoreFairfield
198.3South 6Mulnix MillLockBaltimoreFairfield
198.8South 7Wells MillLockBasil, Ohio
200South 839° 50' 11.5254"
-82° 37' 26.3994"
BiblerLockBaltimoreFairfieldPrevious town Basil, Ohio
Behind the water treatment plant.
208South 9LockCarrollFairfield
South 10LockCarroll, OhioFairfield
206South 11LockViolet TownshipFairfield County, OhioUpper Lockville
South 12Tennis/TennatLockLockville
South 13RoweLockLockville
South 14SmallwoodLock
South 15Fickle Mill Short LevelLockLockville
South 16Rover Short LevelLockLockville
South 17Swimmer'sLockLockville
South 18CreekLockLockvile
208Walnet Creek GuardLock
GNISGNIS 6 Canal Winchester topographic map
210South 19Chaney's MillLockCanal Winchester
210South 20WoolenLockCanal WinchesterGender Road
South 21LockCanal Winchesternear Glenarda Farms, Groveport Road
George's CulvertCanal Winchester
South 2239°51'16"N
82° 52' 21"W
GroveportLockGroveportFranklinBehind the Groveport Aquatic Recreation Center.
GNISGNIS 5 Lockbourne topographic map
217South 23LockLockbourneFranklinCanal Road
217South 24LockLockbourneFranklinCanal Road
217South 25LockLockbourneFranklinCanal Road
217.5South 26LockLockbourneFranklin
218South 27LockLockbourneFranklinCanal Road
218South 28LockLockbourneFranklinunder railroad track bed
South 29Lock
South 30LockLockbourneFranklinLockmeadows Park
GNISGNIS 4 Carroll topographic map
GNISGNIS 3 Amanda topographic map
GNISGNIS 2 Ashville topographic map
GNISGNIS 1 New Philadelphia topographic map
Columbus Feeder East GuardLock
Columbus Feeder West GuardLock
226South 31Ashville Campbells MillLock
237South 32AqueductLockScioto River, West of Circleville
237Circleville FeederLockSpunkytown
238South 33LockWayne Township
238South 34LockWayne Township
South 35LockChillicothe, Ohio
256South 36LockChillicothe, Ohio
258South 37LockChillicothe, Ohioparking lot
South 38Fifth StreetLockChillicothe, Ohio
261South 39Upper LunbeckLock
261South 40Lower LunbeckLockScioto TownshipPickawaynear Renick Lane 601
South 41TomlinsonsLock3 Locks Road, South of Chillicothe
South 42TomlinsonsLock
South 43TomlinsonsLock
Tomlinsons Dam and Feeder GuardLock
South 44WaverlyLock
280South 45U Pee PeeLock
280South 46L Pee PeeLock
291South 47HowardsLocknear Robers Lock Farm
South 48Herod'sLock
South 49Rushs Brush CreekLock
South 50Union MillsLock
South 51Union Mills MossLocknear Ohio State Route 239
South 52Union MillsLock
305South 53ElbowLock
South 54LockPortsmouthScioto County
308South 55
Ohio River TerminalLockWest PortsmouthScioto Countynear Old River Road, Portsmouth/Alexandria

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

General references

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