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 2 South (Portage Summit Level) - Upper Clinton Lock
Lock 2 looking north
About the Lock: Lock 2 was the first of two consecutive locks that serviced the Clinton area. The lock's spillway passed on the west side of the lock while the towpath was in its current location on the east side. Just below the lock was a basin that connected to a dry dock and the Messinger Coal Canal. The latter was also known as the Peacock Slip and was built in 1847 to connect the canal with the Peacock Coal Mines in Rogue's Hollow a short distance west of the canal. Coal mining was a major activity in Rogue's Hollow and the coal was brought to the canal at Lock 2 to be shipped to points north and south. There were over 100 mines operating in Rogue's Hollow during the mid 1800's. Some of the coal was brought to the canal via a tramway that ended at the Lock 2 basin as well. The Messinger Coal Canal was abandoned with the coming of the railroad to the area in the 1850's. The dry dock was located at the southern end of the basin.
Lock 3 South (Summit Portage Level) - Lower Clinton Lock
Lock 3 looking southwest from Towpath Trail
About the Lock: Lock 3, the second of the two lift locks associated with Clinton, is visible just south of Lock 2. Before arriving at Lock 3, the Towpath Trail passes over a small bridge of which the foundation was once the tumble for the lock's spillway. The spillway was on the east side of the canal and drained directly into the Tuscarawas River instead of back into the canal. This was because the canal entered a slackwater on the Tuscarawas River south of the lock. The spillway may have been used as a millrace. As it did in canal times, a bridge crosses the lock at the southern end. There was a general store located at the lock and its owner served as the locktender for both locks.
Clinton Guard Lock
Clinton Guard Lock looking northeast
About the Lock: The Clinton Guard Lock is the only one of its kind remaining on the northern section of the canal. Guard locks did not provide lift for the boats but rather protected the canal from flooding below its gates. The canal entered the Tuscarawas River in a slackwater behind a dam north of the guard lock and allowed the canal to cross from the west side to the east side of the lock. Because the river would be subject to flooding during high water times, the guard lock was put in the canal where it left the river bed to protect the canal from flooding. The guard lock is of typical construction - the two ends of the lock were made of stone while the middle section would be just an earthen embankment reinforced with brush instead of lock walls. Wooden gates would be located at the stone ends just like on a lift lock. Only one gate would be open at any time. There was also a spillway on the east side of the lock.
History: Clinton was laid out in 1816 by William Harvey before the coming of the canal. A sister community called Savannah was laid out nearby by David Harvey (probably a relative) that same year but failed to survive. After the canal came through the area, two other small communities came to be in the nearby vicinity - Orradeen and Pumroy. They were eventually incorporated into the present day Clinton as was a later settlement known as Warwick. Clinton was an important shipping town on the canal, dealing mostly in coal and grain. Several grain warehouses were located in Clinton and coal was shipped from the two locks just north of the town.
Today, Clinton retains its feel as a small canal town. One of the Ohio & Erie CanalWay's Canal Villages, the town is in the process of protecting some of its historical buildings. The canal is also partially watered in Clinton. For more on Clinton, including some nice canal photos, check out their website.
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Location: The Clinton Trailhead
is located on North Street in Clinton. It is accessible to travelers on
the CanalWay Ohio National Scenic Byway (Van Buren Road) by turning west
on North Street. It is located at Mile Marker 52 on the Ohio & Erie Canal
Towpath Trail.