An Inquisitive Visitor's
Guide to the
Ohio & Erie Canal and Towpath Trail
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An Inquisitive Visitor's
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Lock 10 South (Portage Summit Level) - Mile Lock
Lock 10 looking southeast into the lock chamber
About the Lock: Lock 10 was built by the Society of Separatists of Zoar. There is nothing special about the design of the lock and the spillway tumble, which is connected to the lock wall, is intact. The section of the canal downstream of the lock shows the remains of a fish hatchery that was created after the end of canal operations. It was abandoned in 1935.
The Zoar Sidecut and Feeder
Gate of the Zoar Feeder (left) and east bank guard lock remains across the river (right)
The Zoar Sidecut was created by the Society of Separatists of Zoar so that their village could have direct access to the canal. After passing through the feeder gate, a boat could navigate across the river in a slackwater behind a dam that was built in the river to the guard lock on the opposite bank. It then could make its way a short distance into Zoar. The sidecut was originally a mill race that was converted into a canal when the Ohio and Erie Canal was constructed. After the canal ceased functioning, the sidecut canal was reconverted into a mill race. The stone guard lock on the east side of the river is thought to be the oldest of its kind in Ohio since the other locks in the state were resurfaced with concrete in the early 20th century rehabilitation of the canal.
Canal Lands Trailhead
Location: The Canal Lands Trailhead is located on Dover-Zoar Road in northern Tuscarawas County. It is accessible to southbound motorists on the CanalWay Ohio National Scenic Byway (Towpath Road) by turning north on Dover-Zoar Road at the east end of Towpath Road. Northbound motorists can reach the trailhead by continuing north on Dover-Zoar Road (Scenic Byway) past Towpath Road. It is located south of Mile Marker 83 on the Towpath Trail.
History: Zoar was settled in 1817 by the Society of Separatists of Zoar who were German emigrants who wanted religious freedom. The settlement was an experiment in communal living. The coming of the canal was a boon to the small village because the villagers were contracted to build the canal in this area. The money made from the contract allowed them to pay off the loan that they originally took to buy the land.
The Old Zoar Bridge (above) connected the village to places west of the Tuscarawas River. It has since been rehabilitated and serves as a pedestrian access to Zoar Village for hikers on the Towpath Trail. Zoar Village maintains its 19th century appeal and is run by the Ohio Historical Society. There is an Ohio & Erie Canal Museum in the village.
Canal Lands Trailhead is on the opposite side of the river from Zoar Village. An Ohio Historical Marker there details the existence of Zoar and the canal in this area
<< Continue North | Continue South >>
The Silliman Survey picture of the canal is courtesy of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water. I colored and labeled it for the explanation above. |
About
the area: Continuing down the Towpath Trail from Lock 10, you will
come across a number of remains of various structures from the canal era.
I have only been in this area twice and neither time with the benefit of
having looked at the Plat Maps beforehand, so I'm not 100% sure of what is
what. Off to the east of the trail is a stone structure (above left) that
is one of the feeder gates of the original stone outlet lock of the Zoar Feeder on the Plat Map (left). Just down
the trail from that, the Towpath rises up over a concrete structure and
embankment which is likely the remains of an old railroad bridge that
spanned the canal and river. The piers of this bridge can still be seen in
the river bed. Following an offshoot trail at the top of the embankment,
you can look across the river and see the remains of the stone guard lock
on the east bank that provided access to the Zoar Sidecut (above right).