Ohio & Erie Canal Lock 22
7370 Groveport RoadGroveport, OH 43125
614-836-1000 | https://www.groveportrec.com
Ohio & Erie Canal Lock 22
The Ohio and Erie Canal Lock 22, constructed from 1830-1831, is the only canal lock in Groveport. Constructed by W.H. Richardson, the sandstone lock is 117 feet long (with a 90-foot chamber) and ten feet deep and has a sixteen foot wide channel. Its purpose was to raise and lower canal boats to meet the changing terrain. The canal's presence helped fuel commercial and population growth in Groveport in the 19th century by providing a fast and reliable form of transportation to move people, goods, and services to and from the Ohio frontier. It was also a source of recreation as residents used its waters for fishing, row boating, and ice skating. The canal basin at the western end of Lock 22 was a favorite spot for ice skating parties.
The Ohio and Erie Canal Lock 22, constructed from 1830-1831, is the only canal lock in Groveport. Constructed by W.H. Richardson, the sandstone lock is 117 feet long (with a 90-foot chamber) and ten feet deep and has a sixteen foot wide channel. Its purpose was to raise and lower canal boats to meet the changing terrain. The canal's presence helped fuel commercial and population growth in Groveport in the 19th century by providing a fast and reliable form of transportation to move people, goods, and services to and from the Ohio frontier. It was also a source of recreation as residents used its waters for fishing, row boating, and ice skating. The canal basin at the western end of Lock 22 was a favorite spot for ice skating parties.
The City of Groveport has preserved Ohio & Erie Canal Lock 22 and provides convenient public access to it. The lock was built between 1830 and 1831 by W.H. Richardson as part of his $2,937 contract to build Section 52 of the canal. In addition to its transportation role, the canal provided recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and ice skating. After abandonment, most of the locks and much of the canal itself silted up over time; many surviving locks still are filled with dirt. Lock 22, however, has been cleared of brush and debris. Standing on the gravel within the lock allows visitors see how large and deep a typical lock was. The city’s careful restoration made sure that the heavy timber foundation and floor, typical of all the canal’s locks, will always stay wet. This was part of the original design: as long as they stayed wet, these wood elements would not rot away, which would result in tilting or collapse of the stone walls. Wet timbers remained as strong as when they were laid down. During the restoration of Lock 22, Groveport was careful not to expose the wood floor and underlying timbers, and the gravel walking surface guarantees that water will trickle down to that all-important foundation.
This canal feature is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Ohio and Erie Canal Southern Descent Historic District.
Notes for Travelers
Lock 22 provides an excellent opportunity to walk through a restored canal lock allowing visitors to experience the size and the level of craftsmanship necessary to carve and install the massive stone walls.
A walking trail connects Blacklick Park with Lock 22 and Groveport’s Recreation and Aquatic Center Park. Portions of the interurban were built along the canal right-of-way. Today, walking along this trail, you can see the canal lock, the interurban route, a nearby railroad, and cargo and military planes flying into Rickenbacker Airport – two centuries of transportation innovation!
The historic Town Hall houses the Groveport Heritage Museum that includes photos, information and artifacts from both the canal and interurban eras. Visitor information is available at the website below.
https://www.groveport.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Heritage-Museum-4
https://www.facebook.com/GroveportHeritageSociety
Sharp’s Landing (separate website entry) is an historic canal building that was moved from its original location and reconstructed on a site across the street from Heritage Park (with its restored log building). Sharp’s Landing is staged to portray its original use along the canal as as an ice house, bakery and smokehouse.
https://www.columbusmessenger.com/marking-history.html
Other Ohio Historical Markers are located in Blacklick Park (separate website entry) and Heritage Park (551 Wirt Road). The marker at Blacklick Park is a separate site entry. A restored log house is located in Heritage Park, the site of a Nature Center with occasional programs. Check the website below for details.
https://www.groveport.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Groveport-Nature-Center-3
Credits
Jeff Darbee, Nancy Recchie, Dave MeyerAdditional Resources
Meyer, David. Life Along the Ohio Canal – Licking Reservoir to Lockbourne and Columbus FeederMeyer, David. Life Along the Ohio Canal in the Scioto River Valley
Palsgrove, Richard. The Changing Village.
Palsgrove, Richard. Groveport and Madison Township, Ohio.
Groveport Heritage Society created a documentary film, “Groveport: A Town and its People” which is available on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK5LkCDa3IY
WOSU-TV, Columbus Neighborhoods program had a short segment on preservation of the canal locks in Groveport and Lockbourne. The link is below.
https://columbusneighborhoods.org/video/preserving-the-locks-groveport-and-lockbourne/
The historic Town Hall houses the Groveport Heritage Museum that includes photos, information and artifacts from both the canal and interurban eras. Visitor information is available at the website below.
https://www.groveport.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Heritage-Museum-4
https://www.facebook.com/GroveportHeritageSociety
https://www.groveport.org/411/History
History of Groveport: https://www.groveport.org/DocumentCenter/View/158/History-of-Groveport-PDF?bidId=