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 27 North (Portage Summit Level) - Johnnycake Lock
Lock 27 looking south with locktender's house in background
About the Lock: In the Spring of 1828, a storm caused a large of amount of soil to get deposited in the canal from Furnace Run just south of the lock. Canal boats were stranded at the lock for several days while the state boats made repairs to get the canal functioning again. The only food source in abundance was a cornmeal being carried on the canal boats which was made into johnnycakes. Lock 27 has carried the name ever since. Like the other locks in this area, the spillway passed the lock to the west. The tumble for Lock 27's spillway is still intact south of the lock. The towpath passed on the east as it does today. Between the lock and the spillway was a building that served as a store, inn, and quite possibly a locktender's house at one time. The immediate area around the lock became the town of Everett which was a booming little village during late canal days. Just south of the lock on the eastern side of the Towpath is a stone structure that may have been the abutment for a bridge that crossed the canal there.
Furnace Run Aqueduct
Abutment of Furnace Run Aqueduct on the northwest side of the Towpath Trail looking north
About the Structure: When spring rains flooded the canal in 1828, it became obvious that an aqueduct had to be built over the stream. It was the fourth and last aqueduct on the section of the canal north of the Portage Summit in Akron. It no longer exists but like its counterpart in Peninsula, the abutments remain. The Towpath Trail passes over Furnace Run on a bridge in the same location as the one that carried the mules across when the aqueduct was functioning.
Hunt Farm Trailhead
Location: The Hunt Farm Trailhead is located on Bolanz Road between Riverview Road (CanalWay Ohio National Scenic Byway) and Akron-Peninsula Road. It is located near mile post 27 on the Towpath Trail.
History: The Hunt Farm was built by Norman Hunt in the 1860's and is typical of a farmhouse in that era. The National Park Service bought the house and lands in 1977 and opened it as a visitor and information center in 1993. Inside the house, visitors will find information about the area and the canal with displays and photographs. It is open year round, but with limited hours. For more on the Visitor Center, check out the Cuyahoga Valley National Park site.
The farm is close to the little village of Everett which features the historic Everett Road Covered Bridge. Everett was once known as Johnnycake, named after the incident at Lock 27 in 1828. It was also known as Unionville at one time but was changed to Everett when the Valley Railway built its train depot there in 1880 and named it in honor of its vice president and treasurer, Sylvester T. Everett. There was at one time or another a store, tavern, stable, restaurant, pool hall, and post office serving the area. The stable, owned by Alanson Swan and later Alexander Stewart, was well known and boats often changed horses there in the days when the canal became more of a recreational device than a method for carrying goods. This allowed Everett to become quite busy and prosperous in the late 1800's. The Church in the Valley on Everett Road was built in 1909 and still holds services today.
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