The Garage and Maintenance Shed
— Chilo: Living and Working with the Ohio River —
A community garage was equipped with eight parking spaces - one for each of the eight houses.
The garage's parking spaces were narrow (built for 1920s era vehicles). Additionally, the garage hugged the road, making parking difficult.
1930s Driving
Cars were not needed for commuting
to work when you lived at the dam.
Driving outside the reservation could
be hazardous. Road conditions were
poor, especially in the winter. Drivers
carried a box of cinders, gathered from
the nearby coal pit, to provide traction
on ice.
The coal pit behind the garage stored the coal that heated the powerhouse. Although coal storage space was designed into the powerhouse, some lockmasters did not want it in the building. Lockmasters were frequently former steamboat captains, notorious for cleanliness. Rather than store dirty coal in the powerhouse, they required workers to haul it from the coal pit by wheelbarrow.
Stories
One lockmaster, Wayne Buckley, had a car he named
Liesy which he didn't have to drive because "it knew
the way".
From Dorothy Cann Owen interview
Maintenance
this page online
The maintenance shed, still standing, was used for
repairing and maintaining equipment from the dam
site. During off hours, workers could use the space
and equipment for their own projects.
Erected by Clermont County Park District. (Marker Number 5.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Roads & Vehicles.
Location. 38° 47.421′ N, 84° 7.918′ W. Marker is in Chilo, Ohio, in Clermont County. Marker is on County Park Road, 0.2 miles south of Ohio River Scenic Byway (U.S. 52), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 521 County Park Rd, Felicity OH 45120, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Wakerobin (a few steps from this marker); The “Rye” Field and Water Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Chilo Lock & Dam #34 Powerhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); The Wood Frame Houses (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Chilo Lock and Dam #34 Walking Tour (about 300 feet away); The Assistant Lockmaster’s House (about 300 feet away); Water Highways (about 300 feet away); The Flood of 1937 (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chilo.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 14, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 120 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 14, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
