South Columbus in Lockbourne in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Ohio-Erie Canal and Locks / The Columbus Feeder Canal
Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 8, 2018
1. Ohio-Erie Canal and Locks Side of Marker
Inscription.
Ohio-Erie Canal and Locks, also, The Columbus Feeder Canal. .
Ohio-Erie Canal and Locks. The Ohio-Erie Canal was built between 1825 and 1832 and extended 308 miles from Lake Erie at Cleveland to the Ohio River at Portsmouth. The greatest engineering achievement in Ohio up to that time, the canal gave the state's farmers and merchants much greater access to goods and markets and was instrumental in the young state's rapid growth. Lockbourne was a focal point of activity on the canal with its staircase of eight lift locks (numbered 23 through 30), two canal basins, and junction with the Columbus Feeder. Locke Meadow Park encompasses the remnants of Lock 30 and the Big Walnut Creek guard lock, which prevented flood water from entering the main canal. The Lock Tender's house was located adjacent to Lock 30.,
The Columbus Feeder Canal. In order to connect the state capital to the Ohio-Erie Canal and provide a dependable supply of water for this section, engineers began to survey an eleven-mile navigable feeder from the Scioto River in Columbus in 1824. Groundbreaking ceremonies took place in Columbus on April 30, 1827, with the Granville Company receiving the contract for all masonry work in the Lockbourne area on both the main canal and the feeder. The first canal boat arrived in Columbus on September 23, 1831. Boats ascending the Columbus Feeder crossed Big Walnut Creek through a slackwater pool above the "state dam," then traversed the lift lock. With a fourteen-foot difference in elevation between Columbus and Lockbourne, the canal required just two lift locks; the other was located four miles below the terminus. The last canal boat left Columbus in 1904.
Ohio-Erie Canal and Locks
The Ohio-Erie Canal was built between 1825 and 1832 and extended 308 miles from Lake Erie at Cleveland to the Ohio River at Portsmouth. The greatest engineering achievement in Ohio up to that time, the canal gave the state's farmers and merchants much greater access to goods and markets and was instrumental in the young state's rapid growth. Lockbourne was a focal point of activity on the canal with its staircase of eight lift locks (numbered 23 through 30), two canal basins, and junction with the Columbus Feeder. Locke Meadow Park encompasses the remnants of Lock 30 and the Big Walnut Creek guard lock, which prevented flood water from entering the main canal. The Lock Tender's house was located adjacent to Lock 30.
The Columbus Feeder Canal
In order to connect the state capital to the Ohio-Erie Canal and provide a dependable supply of water for this section, engineers began to survey an eleven-mile navigable feeder from the Scioto River in Columbus in 1824. Groundbreaking ceremonies took place in Columbus on April 30, 1827, with the Granville Company receiving the contract for all masonry work in the Lockbourne area on both the main canal and the feeder. The first canal boat arrived in Columbus on September 23, 1831. Boats ascending the Columbus Feeder
Click or scan to see this page online
crossed Big Walnut Creek through a slackwater pool above the "state dam," then traversed the lift lock. With a fourteen-foot difference in elevation between Columbus and Lockbourne, the canal required just two lift locks; the other was located four miles below the terminus. The last canal boat left Columbus in 1904.
Erected 2000 by Martin Marietta Aggregates, The Lockbourne Heritage Society, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 30-25.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is September 25, 1931.
Location. 39° 48.605′ N, 82° 58.292′ W. Marker is in Lockbourne, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in South Columbus. Marker is at the intersection of Commerce Street and Denny Street, on the right when traveling west on Commerce Street. This copy of the marker is in Lock Meadows Park next to the canal lock. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lockbourne OH 43137, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This marker is a duplicate of the one on the street at the entrance to the park. While it is numbered and dated the same, it was not present in 2008 when Contributing Editor William Fischer, Jr., documented the one on the street.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 8, 2018
3. Ohio-Erie Canal and Locks / The Columbus Feeder Canal Marker at the Lock
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 204 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 24, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
