Valley View in Cuyahoga County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Hell's Half Acre

Courtesy of Thomas P. Martin, October 16, 2014

1. Hell's Half Acre Marker

Inscription. Built in the late 1820s, this structure served at various times as a tavern, general store, and residence. The house acquired a colorful reputation among canal travelers, who sometimes called it “Hell's Half Acre.”

The house doubled in size in 1853 and continued to be used as a general store. Although traditionally called the “Locktender's House,” there is no record that a lock master lived here.

Captions:
[Left] The house at Lock 38, sometime after 1853.
[Right] In 1982 National Park Service specialists restored the building's exterior and later adapted the interior as the Canal Visitor Center.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 41° 22.351′ N, 81° 36.778′ W. Marker is in Valley View, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County. Marker can be reached from Hillside Road west of Canal Road, on the left when traveling west. Marker is at the Canal Exploration Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7104 Canal Road, Cleveland OH 44125, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lock 38 (a few steps from this marker); Mule Power

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(within shouting distance of this marker); Valley View Veterans Honor Roll (approx. 0.6 miles away); Valley View Village Town Hall (approx. 0.6 miles away); South Park Village and the Whittlesley Tradition (approx. one mile away); Late Prehistoric Period (approx. one mile away); Lock 37 (approx. 1.4 miles away); Floods and Repairs (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Valley View.

Courtesy of Thomas P. Martin, October 16, 2014

2. Hell's Half Acre Marker

Marker is at left corner of the building.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 313 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 12, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.