Cascade Valley in Akron in Summit County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Preserving "The Jewel of the Canal"

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 10, 2026

1. Preserving "The Jewel of the Canal" Marker

Inscription. In the nineteenth century, the scene in front of you would have been busy with canal travelers patronizing the Mustill Store to buy provisions. Three generations of the Mustill family operated the store, which held a prime commercial location across from Lock 15 on the Ohio & Erie Canal. Dating from the 1850s, the Mustill Store is one of Akron's oldest buildings and a rare canal-era structure. It took a concentrated effort to rescue the store from the ravages of time and neglect.

By the 1990s, over a century after the Mustills retired, the store was showing substantial structural problems. The restoration of the Mustill Store and Home was a partnership between the Cascade Locks Park Association, City of Akron, Summit Metro Parks and the National Park Service. Work crews removed and replaced rotten wood siding, repaired the roofs and rebuilt the porch and meat market addition. In July 2000, the Mustill Store was reopened as a museum and visitor center.

Erected by Ohio & Erie Canalway; Cascade Locks Park Association; The City Of Akron; Summit Metro Parks.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Ohio and Erie Canal series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 2000.

Location.

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41° 5.523′ N, 81° 31.087′ W. Marker is in Akron, Ohio, in Summit County. It is in Cascade Valley. It is at the intersection of West North Street and Hickory Street, on the right when traveling west on West North Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 57 W North St, Akron OH 44304, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cleveland

and in the Western Reserve.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lynn Rodeman Metzger (within shouting distance of this marker); Jack E. Gieck (within shouting distance of this marker); Freitag Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Robert Bruce Norton (within shouting distance of this marker); The Cascade Valley / The Mustill Site (within shouting distance of this marker); When Flour was Power (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dynamics of Change in Cascade Locks Park (about 500 feet away); The Canal Basin (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Akron.

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 10, 2026

2. Preserving "The Jewel of the Canal" Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 13, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.