|
|
|
|
Home
Locations and
Trailheads
Canal Terminology
My Canal Journal
Links
Resources and Recom-mendations
|
Ft. Laurens State Memorial Trailhead
Location: West of Bolivar on Ft. Laurens Road NW (CanalWay Ohio National Scenic Byway). A bridge has been built to carry the Towpath over I-77 near Fort Laurens.
Construction of the bridge over I-77 at Ft. Laurens
Lock 7 South (Portage Summit Level) - (Upper) Zoar Lock
Lock 7 South looking southeast
About the Lock: Lock 7 is the first remaining lock in Tuscarawas County. Like the next three locks, it is in remarkably good condition. The spillway tumble is in excellent condition on the downstream end of the lock. I don't know of any particular industry associated with this lock or of any other name for it. Recently, all four locks in this section of the canal have been cleared of the growth around them so they can be seen easier. The canal between Locks 7 and 8 was widened into a small basin according to the Silliman Survey.
Lock 8 South (Portage Summit Level) - (Middle) Zoar Lock
Lock 8 looking southeast into the lock chamber
About the Lock: Only 2/10 of a mile from Lock 7 sits Lock 8, making it the shortest distance between any two locks in the county. It is almost identical to Lock 7 except that the lift was one foot less and is in excellent condition as well. In drier weather, you can walk into the lock chamber where the mitre sills can still be seen at both ends. The spillway tumble is also still intact and located at the southern end of the lock. The Silliman Plat Map shows a locktender's house located just upstream from the lock on the opposite side of the towpath. I am in the dark again about any history associated with this lock.
Unnamed Culvert
West face of small culvert under the canal
About the Structure: A small concrete culvert passes under the canal bed a short distance down the prism from Lock 8. I don't know what stream passes through it, but it did exist in the later days of the canal era. There is a inscription on the west facing that it was built in 1909 by the Daley Brothers who were contracted to improve the canal in the early 20th century.
Lock 9 South (Summit Portage Level) - (Lower) Zoar Lock
Lock 9 looking northwest from the downstream end of the lock
About the Lock: Another well preserved lock is Lock 9, located approximately 0.22 miles below Lock 8. The distinguishing feature of this lock is that its spillway tumble is a short distance below the lower lock walls. Supposedly, just south of the lock was a large turning basin, but it is not noted on the Silliman Survey of the canal. It does show an open area of the canal at the upstream end of the lock that resembles a dock area in shape, but with no means of emptying water for boat repairs. The train tracks border on the end of it, so perhaps it was a place where goods could be exchanged between train and canal boat.
A short distance below the lock is a towpath bridge over a small stream that I believe is Wolf Run. There was once a culvert at this location, but there doesn't appear to be any signs of it today.
<< Continue North | Continue South>> |
History:
Ft. Laurens was built in 1778 during the Revolutionary War for the
Continental Army's plans to attack the British at Fort Detroit. It was the
only fort built in Ohio for the war. Although
it was only in use for less than a year, it underwent many attacks by
Native Americans who sided with the British. Today, the site is a memorial
to the men who lost their lives in the pursuit of our country's freedom.
The original plan for the memorial was to reconstruct the fort for tourist
and educational purposes. Whether this ever happens or not remains to be
seen, but the presence of the Towpath Trail should help matters.
The
Fort had been in decay for many years when the Ohio & Erie Canal was
built through the area. The construction of the canal destroyed the
two eastern bastions of the fort. The area eventually became
farmland and wasn't made into a memorial until 1917 after the demise
of the canal. A footbridge (right) still exists over the canal bed
by the location of the fort. When the Towpath Trail is built in this
area, it will cross this bridge before crossing I-77 on a modern
bridge.
