The Towpath Trail

The Towpath Trail. Canal Park. , History Behind The Trail , A 10-foot-wide towpath fan between the canal and the Scioto River and was the place that the tow animals walked to pull the canal boat. Two types of animals were used to tow canal boats: horses and mules. Mules were the primary animal because they were better able to withstand the climate, were stronger and could better adapt to the trail. They were hitched in tandem so that they walked one behind the other, usually in teams of three for heavy loads and sometimes in smaller teams for lighter loads., What Traveled On The Canals? , The canal boats not only moved materials out of the interior parts of the state but also many items were transported into the interior for citizens to buy at their stores. People were transported on boats from about 1835 until about 1850 when the railroads took over most passenger traffic. Since the canals could transport many materials cheaper than railways, the canal traffic) continued until about 1900. Whiskey, grain, coal, furniture, livestock, salt pork, flour, sugar and furs were frequently transported using the canal system. The canals remained open until the March 1913 flood ruined them and they were legally closed by the State., Captions , Above: Canal travelers on the canal, Below: Tannery in Circleville- Supplies transported on the canal, Above: Young driver who led animals on towpath, Below: Mules pulling the canal boats on the canal, Circleville processing center, The John Groce and Son Pork Packer Company that stood beside the Ohio-Erie Canal on High Street. The factory shut down in 1889.