Questions & Answers
THE JOHNNY APPLE SEED OF THE OHIO & ERIE CANAL
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WAS IT EXCITTING SLEEPING UNDER THE STARS?
YES! WORDS CAN'T DISCRIBE IT REALLY. THIS IS A FEELING ONE HAS TO EXPERIENCE. FOR INSTANCE, IN SOME
ARES WHERE IT WAS DRY, I PREFERRED TO BE INSIDE THE LOCK. I FELT PROTECTED BETWEEN THE WALLS.
BEFORE SETTLING IN AT NIGHT, A CLEARING WAS MADE. THEN I'D CUT VEGETATION FOR PADDING,LAID A PLASTIC
CANVAS OVER IT THEN SPRAYED BUG SPRAY IN A TEN FOOT CIRCLE ON THE GROUND AROUND ME. THIS ALWAYS
WORKED. USING A COLEMAN LATERN FOR LIGHTING, I WROTE DOWN THE DAY'S EVENTS. BECAUSE OF THE
MOSQUITOES THE LATTERN WAS POSITIONED AWAY FROM ME AND I ALWAYS BLOCKED THE LIGHT IN MY
DIRECTION-THE MOSQUITOES USUALLY SWARMED AROUND THE LATTERN. LISTING TO ALL OF THE NOISES OF THE
WOODS, IN THE DEEP DARKNESS OF THE WILDERNESS, SOUND TRAVELS. THERE WERE SO MANY CALLINGS OF
THE WILD, USALLY AT DUSK AND ON THROUGH TOWARDS MIDNIGHT. IT SEEMS TO QUITE AFTER THAT EXCEPT FOR
SOME NOISY CREATURES THAT I CAUGHT WITH MY FLASHLIGHT. I'VE SEEN RED EYES,BLUE EYES,GREEN EYES,
YELLOW AND WHITE. THE RED EYES BOTHERED ME A LITTLE. I NEVER SHOWED FEAR. AS FAR AS SLEEPING OUT, IT
WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
HOW ABOUT POISON IVY?
YOU CANNOT IMAGINE HOW MUCH POISON IVY ONE CAN ENDURE. THIS YEAR, I HAVE BEEN IN THE EMERGENCY
ROOM SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF IT DESPITE THE FACT THAT I ALWAYS WORE PROTECTIVE GEAR IN IVY-
INFESTED AREAS. IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS ON PREDNISONE ALL YEAR LONG. THIS WAS THE ONLY THING THAT TOOK
AWAY THE ITCH. BENADRYL MADE ME TIRED. BECAUSE OF THAT, I STAYED AWAY FROM IT. THE FUNNY THING IS
THAT I NEVER GOT POISON IVY ABLOVE MY WAIST. IT WAS ALWAYS BEHIND MY KNEES AND ON THE TOPS OF MY
FEET. I EDUCATED MYSELF ON ALL THE POISONOUS PLANTS. A LOT OF IVY RUNS ACROSS THE GROUND UNDER
THE GRASS. IT WAS A BIG HELP TO READ UP ON OHIO'S PLANTS AND VEGETATION AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU COME
IN CONTACT WITH IT. THE BEST PREVENTION IS TO STAY AWAY, THE NEXT-SOAP AND WATER. I USED BABY WIPES
IN LARGE NUMBERS.
CANALWAYMAN. WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT MASSILLON. IT’S IN A LOT OF YOUR WORK?
I LOVE MASSILLON. ALL OF MY RECENT WORK STARTED RIGHT THERE. IT WAS IN MASSILLON THAT I MADE MY
DECISION TO DEVOTE MY RESEARCH TO THE GREAT OHIO AND ERIE CANAL.
JOHNNY APPLESEED. YOU LOOK PRETTY DARN RUGGED IN THE
PICTURE UP IN THE FAR LEFT CORNER OF THAT MAP. YOUR HOW OLD - FIFTY, NO WAY?
I’M BUSTED YOU CAUGHT ME, THAT’S MY GRANDMA’S BODY WITH MY HEAD.
CANAL RESEARCHER . I’M FROM THE CIRCLEVILLE AREA. EVERY ONE LOVES YOUR WEBSITE. IT’S LIKE THE
SOAP OPERA OF THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL. I DO SOME CANAL RESEARCH. WHAT IS THE SPAN BETWEEN THE
BLOCKS ON THE SCIOTO AT LOCK 32?
IF YOU MEAN THE BLOCKS ON THE EAST AND WEST BANKS, THEY ARE 425 FEET APART.
EFF. HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE ABOUT THE LOCATION OF RIVER LOCK 42?
YOU KNOW A FEW YEARS BACK, I WOULD HAVE STAKED MY LIFE TO THAT CLAIM. I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION MANY
OLD MAPS BUT AFTER MANY MORE MONTH’S OF RESEARCH ON THE AREA,I HAVE MADE A DETERMINATION THAT MY
FINDINGS COULD BE AS MUCH AS A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET OFF. THE LATEST INFORMATION I HOLD WILL BE
RESEARCHED COMPLETELY. ANOTHER VERY STRONG POSSIBILITY EXISTS. WATCH THIS SITE. THE NEW FINDINGS
WILL BE POSTED WITHIN A MONTH.
CANALWAYMAN. WHAT IS THE LONGEST YOU HAVE EVER WALKED IN ONE DAY?
THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST DAY,AND I HAVEN’T MATCH IT SINCE THEN 37 MILES. I STARTED IN CLEVELAND AT THE
NORTHERN MOST POINT OF THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL ON SYCAMORE STR.ALL THE WAY THRU THE CUYAHOGA
VALLEY CLIMBING THE NORTH END OF THE PORTAGE SUMMIT
TO AKRON TO SLEEP AWAY MY FIRST NIGHT NEXT TO LOCK 14.
MR APPLE SEED. I LOVE THE STORIES WITHIN YOUR MAPS. I FIND IT UP FOR DEBATE WHETHER IT’S HUMANLY
POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO PICK 300 BUSHELS OF SQUASH IN A DAY. THAT NUMBER IS PROBABLY JUST A LITTLE
HIGH.
I’VE HAD A LOT OF CONTROVERSY OVER THIS. I’LL CERTAINLY NOT BEND HERE. THIS IS A TRUE STORY. THIS
WOMAN NAMED KATE PULLED IT OFF. KATE WAS A PIONEER WOMAN WITH A GREAT AMOUNT OF DETERMINATION.
NOT ONLY DID SHE FILL THOSE BASKETS IN THE HOT BLAZING SUN, SHE KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON HER YOUNG
ONES. IT’S HARD SOMETIMES FOR PEOPLE TO IMAGINE SUCH THINGS, BUT KATE FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK PUT
HERSELF THRU THE TEST OF ENDURANCE AND CAME OUT ON TOP. I’D BE CERTAIN THE STORY HOLDS WATER
AND FURTHER MORE, THIS PIONEER WOMAN SHOULD BE A GOOD INSPIRATION TO US ALL .
CANALWAYMAN JEFF. AS YOU WALKED THE GREAT CANAL, IT MUST HAVE BEEN PEACEFUL. CAN YOU GIVE ME
AN EXAMPLE OF THE SOLITUDE YOU EXPERIENCED?
EVERY THING IN SOME PARTS OF THE SOUTHERN END WAS EXACTLY THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE THE CANAL EVEN
COME ALONG, SO THIS ENABLED ME TO IMAGINE THE CONDITIONS THE DIGGERS WORKED IN. I’LL TRY TO RELAY
WHAT I WAS FEELING ALL ALONE ALONG THE FORGOTTEN TOWPATHS OF THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL. AS I MOVED
SOUTH, I COULD HEAR THE WOODS BUZZING WITH LIFE, AND THE BUGS FLYING AROUND REMINDED ME OF A RACE
TRACK, ONLY BECAUSE IN THE STILLNESS, YOU COULD HEAR EVERY THING. UP AHEAD, I WATCHED THE DEER.
THEY DIDN’T EVEN MOVE AS I APPROACHED. I COULD ACTUALLY ENVISION THE CANAL BOATS AND THE CREWS AS I
CAME ACROSS OLD FIRE PITTS WHICH WERE SO GROWN OVER . AND ALONG THE WAY, I ALSO STUMBLED ACROSS
A BRICK OVEN WHICH WAS ONLY 15 FEET FROM THE TOWPATH. THIS OBVIOUSLY WAS A CAMP FOR MANY ALONG
THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL. IT WAS SO QUIET SOMETIMES YOUR EARS WOULD RING
HELLO CANALWAY MAN. PLEASE HELP ME ALONG WITH SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE TUSC AND THE OHIO
AND ERIE CANAL. THE QUESTIONS ARE FOR MYSELF AND I’AM NOT INVOLVED WITH ANY CANAL GROUPS. THE
FIRST QUESTION - NEAR MASSILLON BACK IN THE CANAL ERA, WAS THE TUSCARAWAS RIVER HIGHER IN
ELEVATION THAN THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL? THE NEXT QUESTION -WHAT WAS THE DAM USED FOR NEAR
LAKE AVE. AND FINALLY, ALONG THE TOW PATH BETWEEN MASSILLON AND CANAL FULTON. THERE SEEMS TO
BE PORTS ON THE TOWPATHS. WERE THEY TO LET THE OVERFLOW OUT OF THE CANAL?
THESE ARE REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS. THE ANSWER TO THE FIRST IS SIMPLE. YES, DURING THE CANAL ERA, THE
TUSCARAWAS RIVER WAS HIGHER THROUGH THAT AREA. WHEN THE ZOAR DAM AND FEEDER WAS PUT IN TO
SUPPLY THE CANAL AND BOAT YARD, IT RAISED THE RIVER SEVERAL FEET WITH THE EFFECTS GOING NORTH AS
FAR AS MASSILLON. TO ANSWER YOUR SECOND QUESTION - THERE ARE TWO DAMS IN THE AREA OF LAKE STREET,
ONE OF WHICH IS ON THE RIVER AND THE OTHER WAS ON THE CANAL . THE ONE ON THE RIVER IS PART OF THE
FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT THAT WAS BUILT ALONG THE TIME OF THE STRAIGHTENING OF THE BIG BEND IN THE
RIVER THAT WENT INTO DOWNTOWN MASSILLON. IT ALSO SLOWS THE WATER DOWN AS FAR TO THE NORTH AS
THE TOWN OF CLINTON. THE OTHER DAM IN THE AREA SITS A HUNDRED OR SO YARDS TO THE NORTH OF LAKE
STR. THIS DAM WAS BUILT ACROSS THE CANAL YEARS AFTER IT HAD CLOSED AROUND 1937 TO 39. IT’S PURPOSE
WAS TO BACK WATER UP IN THE CANAL ALL THE WAY TO CANAL FULTON FOR BOAT RIDES IN THE AREA’S NEW
PARK. THIS DAM NOW STILL SITS NEAR NISH ST. AND KRACKER IN MASSILLON. AND THE FINAL ANSWER IS - THOSE
PORTS LET THE WATER IN THE CANAL OR AT LEAST THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. GO BACK TO THE FIRST
QUESTION. REMEMBER THE TUSCARAWAS ONCE WAS MUCH DEEPER.
YES! WORDS CAN'T DISCRIBE IT REALLY. THIS IS A FEELING ONE HAS TO EXPERIENCE. FOR INSTANCE, IN SOME
ARES WHERE IT WAS DRY, I PREFERRED TO BE INSIDE THE LOCK. I FELT PROTECTED BETWEEN THE WALLS.
BEFORE SETTLING IN AT NIGHT, A CLEARING WAS MADE. THEN I'D CUT VEGETATION FOR PADDING,LAID A PLASTIC
CANVAS OVER IT THEN SPRAYED BUG SPRAY IN A TEN FOOT CIRCLE ON THE GROUND AROUND ME. THIS ALWAYS
WORKED. USING A COLEMAN LATERN FOR LIGHTING, I WROTE DOWN THE DAY'S EVENTS. BECAUSE OF THE
MOSQUITOES THE LATTERN WAS POSITIONED AWAY FROM ME AND I ALWAYS BLOCKED THE LIGHT IN MY
DIRECTION-THE MOSQUITOES USUALLY SWARMED AROUND THE LATTERN. LISTING TO ALL OF THE NOISES OF THE
WOODS, IN THE DEEP DARKNESS OF THE WILDERNESS, SOUND TRAVELS. THERE WERE SO MANY CALLINGS OF
THE WILD, USALLY AT DUSK AND ON THROUGH TOWARDS MIDNIGHT. IT SEEMS TO QUITE AFTER THAT EXCEPT FOR
SOME NOISY CREATURES THAT I CAUGHT WITH MY FLASHLIGHT. I'VE SEEN RED EYES,BLUE EYES,GREEN EYES,
YELLOW AND WHITE. THE RED EYES BOTHERED ME A LITTLE. I NEVER SHOWED FEAR. AS FAR AS SLEEPING OUT, IT
WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
HOW ABOUT POISON IVY?
YOU CANNOT IMAGINE HOW MUCH POISON IVY ONE CAN ENDURE. THIS YEAR, I HAVE BEEN IN THE EMERGENCY
ROOM SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF IT DESPITE THE FACT THAT I ALWAYS WORE PROTECTIVE GEAR IN IVY-
INFESTED AREAS. IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS ON PREDNISONE ALL YEAR LONG. THIS WAS THE ONLY THING THAT TOOK
AWAY THE ITCH. BENADRYL MADE ME TIRED. BECAUSE OF THAT, I STAYED AWAY FROM IT. THE FUNNY THING IS
THAT I NEVER GOT POISON IVY ABLOVE MY WAIST. IT WAS ALWAYS BEHIND MY KNEES AND ON THE TOPS OF MY
FEET. I EDUCATED MYSELF ON ALL THE POISONOUS PLANTS. A LOT OF IVY RUNS ACROSS THE GROUND UNDER
THE GRASS. IT WAS A BIG HELP TO READ UP ON OHIO'S PLANTS AND VEGETATION AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU COME
IN CONTACT WITH IT. THE BEST PREVENTION IS TO STAY AWAY, THE NEXT-SOAP AND WATER. I USED BABY WIPES
IN LARGE NUMBERS.
CANALWAYMAN. WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT MASSILLON. IT’S IN A LOT OF YOUR WORK?
I LOVE MASSILLON. ALL OF MY RECENT WORK STARTED RIGHT THERE. IT WAS IN MASSILLON THAT I MADE MY
DECISION TO DEVOTE MY RESEARCH TO THE GREAT OHIO AND ERIE CANAL.
JOHNNY APPLESEED. YOU LOOK PRETTY DARN RUGGED IN THE
PICTURE UP IN THE FAR LEFT CORNER OF THAT MAP. YOUR HOW OLD - FIFTY, NO WAY?
I’M BUSTED YOU CAUGHT ME, THAT’S MY GRANDMA’S BODY WITH MY HEAD.
CANAL RESEARCHER . I’M FROM THE CIRCLEVILLE AREA. EVERY ONE LOVES YOUR WEBSITE. IT’S LIKE THE
SOAP OPERA OF THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL. I DO SOME CANAL RESEARCH. WHAT IS THE SPAN BETWEEN THE
BLOCKS ON THE SCIOTO AT LOCK 32?
IF YOU MEAN THE BLOCKS ON THE EAST AND WEST BANKS, THEY ARE 425 FEET APART.
EFF. HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE ABOUT THE LOCATION OF RIVER LOCK 42?
YOU KNOW A FEW YEARS BACK, I WOULD HAVE STAKED MY LIFE TO THAT CLAIM. I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION MANY
OLD MAPS BUT AFTER MANY MORE MONTH’S OF RESEARCH ON THE AREA,I HAVE MADE A DETERMINATION THAT MY
FINDINGS COULD BE AS MUCH AS A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET OFF. THE LATEST INFORMATION I HOLD WILL BE
RESEARCHED COMPLETELY. ANOTHER VERY STRONG POSSIBILITY EXISTS. WATCH THIS SITE. THE NEW FINDINGS
WILL BE POSTED WITHIN A MONTH.
CANALWAYMAN. WHAT IS THE LONGEST YOU HAVE EVER WALKED IN ONE DAY?
THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST DAY,AND I HAVEN’T MATCH IT SINCE THEN 37 MILES. I STARTED IN CLEVELAND AT THE
NORTHERN MOST POINT OF THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL ON SYCAMORE STR.ALL THE WAY THRU THE CUYAHOGA
VALLEY CLIMBING THE NORTH END OF THE PORTAGE SUMMIT
TO AKRON TO SLEEP AWAY MY FIRST NIGHT NEXT TO LOCK 14.
MR APPLE SEED. I LOVE THE STORIES WITHIN YOUR MAPS. I FIND IT UP FOR DEBATE WHETHER IT’S HUMANLY
POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO PICK 300 BUSHELS OF SQUASH IN A DAY. THAT NUMBER IS PROBABLY JUST A LITTLE
HIGH.
I’VE HAD A LOT OF CONTROVERSY OVER THIS. I’LL CERTAINLY NOT BEND HERE. THIS IS A TRUE STORY. THIS
WOMAN NAMED KATE PULLED IT OFF. KATE WAS A PIONEER WOMAN WITH A GREAT AMOUNT OF DETERMINATION.
NOT ONLY DID SHE FILL THOSE BASKETS IN THE HOT BLAZING SUN, SHE KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON HER YOUNG
ONES. IT’S HARD SOMETIMES FOR PEOPLE TO IMAGINE SUCH THINGS, BUT KATE FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK PUT
HERSELF THRU THE TEST OF ENDURANCE AND CAME OUT ON TOP. I’D BE CERTAIN THE STORY HOLDS WATER
AND FURTHER MORE, THIS PIONEER WOMAN SHOULD BE A GOOD INSPIRATION TO US ALL .
CANALWAYMAN JEFF. AS YOU WALKED THE GREAT CANAL, IT MUST HAVE BEEN PEACEFUL. CAN YOU GIVE ME
AN EXAMPLE OF THE SOLITUDE YOU EXPERIENCED?
EVERY THING IN SOME PARTS OF THE SOUTHERN END WAS EXACTLY THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE THE CANAL EVEN
COME ALONG, SO THIS ENABLED ME TO IMAGINE THE CONDITIONS THE DIGGERS WORKED IN. I’LL TRY TO RELAY
WHAT I WAS FEELING ALL ALONE ALONG THE FORGOTTEN TOWPATHS OF THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL. AS I MOVED
SOUTH, I COULD HEAR THE WOODS BUZZING WITH LIFE, AND THE BUGS FLYING AROUND REMINDED ME OF A RACE
TRACK, ONLY BECAUSE IN THE STILLNESS, YOU COULD HEAR EVERY THING. UP AHEAD, I WATCHED THE DEER.
THEY DIDN’T EVEN MOVE AS I APPROACHED. I COULD ACTUALLY ENVISION THE CANAL BOATS AND THE CREWS AS I
CAME ACROSS OLD FIRE PITTS WHICH WERE SO GROWN OVER . AND ALONG THE WAY, I ALSO STUMBLED ACROSS
A BRICK OVEN WHICH WAS ONLY 15 FEET FROM THE TOWPATH. THIS OBVIOUSLY WAS A CAMP FOR MANY ALONG
THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL. IT WAS SO QUIET SOMETIMES YOUR EARS WOULD RING
HELLO CANALWAY MAN. PLEASE HELP ME ALONG WITH SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE TUSC AND THE OHIO
AND ERIE CANAL. THE QUESTIONS ARE FOR MYSELF AND I’AM NOT INVOLVED WITH ANY CANAL GROUPS. THE
FIRST QUESTION - NEAR MASSILLON BACK IN THE CANAL ERA, WAS THE TUSCARAWAS RIVER HIGHER IN
ELEVATION THAN THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL? THE NEXT QUESTION -WHAT WAS THE DAM USED FOR NEAR
LAKE AVE. AND FINALLY, ALONG THE TOW PATH BETWEEN MASSILLON AND CANAL FULTON. THERE SEEMS TO
BE PORTS ON THE TOWPATHS. WERE THEY TO LET THE OVERFLOW OUT OF THE CANAL?
THESE ARE REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS. THE ANSWER TO THE FIRST IS SIMPLE. YES, DURING THE CANAL ERA, THE
TUSCARAWAS RIVER WAS HIGHER THROUGH THAT AREA. WHEN THE ZOAR DAM AND FEEDER WAS PUT IN TO
SUPPLY THE CANAL AND BOAT YARD, IT RAISED THE RIVER SEVERAL FEET WITH THE EFFECTS GOING NORTH AS
FAR AS MASSILLON. TO ANSWER YOUR SECOND QUESTION - THERE ARE TWO DAMS IN THE AREA OF LAKE STREET,
ONE OF WHICH IS ON THE RIVER AND THE OTHER WAS ON THE CANAL . THE ONE ON THE RIVER IS PART OF THE
FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT THAT WAS BUILT ALONG THE TIME OF THE STRAIGHTENING OF THE BIG BEND IN THE
RIVER THAT WENT INTO DOWNTOWN MASSILLON. IT ALSO SLOWS THE WATER DOWN AS FAR TO THE NORTH AS
THE TOWN OF CLINTON. THE OTHER DAM IN THE AREA SITS A HUNDRED OR SO YARDS TO THE NORTH OF LAKE
STR. THIS DAM WAS BUILT ACROSS THE CANAL YEARS AFTER IT HAD CLOSED AROUND 1937 TO 39. IT’S PURPOSE
WAS TO BACK WATER UP IN THE CANAL ALL THE WAY TO CANAL FULTON FOR BOAT RIDES IN THE AREA’S NEW
PARK. THIS DAM NOW STILL SITS NEAR NISH ST. AND KRACKER IN MASSILLON. AND THE FINAL ANSWER IS - THOSE
PORTS LET THE WATER IN THE CANAL OR AT LEAST THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. GO BACK TO THE FIRST
QUESTION. REMEMBER THE TUSCARAWAS ONCE WAS MUCH DEEPER.
CANALWAYMAN. WHO DID ALL OF THE ART WORK ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL MAPS?
I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THEM. ALL OF MY LIFE I ENJOYED PUTTING MY THOUGHTS ON PAPER.
JOHNNY APPLESEED. YOU’RE THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE EVER BROUGHT UP INDIAN RAIDS ALONG THE OHIO
AND ERIE CANAL. WERE THERE ACTUALLY WAR PARTIES IN OHIO?
THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL WAS THE FIRST LARGE SCALE PROJECT HERE IN THE STATE OF OHIO. WHEN THE
CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1825, THERE WERE MANY TRIBES OF INDIANS HERE. BY THAT TIME, THE INDIANS HAD
ALREADY BEEN HARDENED BY THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR AND DAY BY DAY, THEIR LAND WAS SHRINKING. THIS
ISN’T FACT BUT WOULD FALL UNDER ACCUMULATED INFORMATION. WHEN THE OHIO AND ERIE PROJECT BEGAN, IT
CUT THRU OHIO CLAIMING ANY LAND IN IT’S PATH. IN ITS WAKE, IT LEFT SOME ANGRY PEOPLE. IN SOME CASES, THE
LOCAL INDIANS AND THEIR HOMES WERE PUSHED ASIDE. ALL OF THIS WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF PROGRESS AND I’
D BE CERTAIN THE STATE OF OHIO WOULD HAVE AT LEAST TRIED TO BE FAIR IN DOING SO.
THIS NEXT PHRASE COMES FROM A LETTER THAT WAS SENT IN- 2004- ABOUT THE PATH OF THE OHIO AND ERIE
CANAL. THE WRITER SENT THIS - I’VE READ YOUR ARTICLE ABOUT SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE OHIO
AND ERIE CANAL MAY - BE SOME DAY YOU’LL USE THIS BIT OF TRUTH. AS THE NEW WATER WAY WAS BEING DUG,
THE LOCAL INDIANS “ NATIVE AMERICANS” OR WHAT WAS LEFT OF US, WERE PUSHED ASIDE AND IN SOME AREAS
COMPLETELY VIOLATED. IT WAS APPARENT THE PATH OF THE GREAT CANAL COULDN’T BE ALTERED AND IT WASN’T
UP FOR DEBATE EITHER. AS THE CANAL MOVED SLOWLY ACROSS THE WILDERNESS, MY PEOPLE WERE UPROOTED
AND JUST HAD TO PICK UP AND GO. THE MAJORITY OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS DWELLED ALONG THE RIVERS
WHICH ALL HAVE INDIAN NAMES ONLY BECAUSE WE NAMED THEM. SO, THE PEOPLE MOST AFFECTED BY THE
COMING OF THE GREAT WATER WAY WERE US (THE INDIANS , SIMPLY BECAUSE THE ROUTE OF THE WATER WAY
HAD TO STAY WITHIN FEET OF OHIO’S MAJOR RIVERS .
THAT WAS ONE OF THE FEW LETTERS I HAVE RECEIVED PERTAINING TO INDIAN AFFAIRS. I’LL GO AHEAD AND
ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT INDIAN ATTACKS ALONG THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL NOW. AS I MENTIONED,IN THE
FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS- THE NATIVE AMERICANS WERE ALREADY HARDENED AGAINST THE WHITE MAN . YES - IN
THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CANAL, THERE WERE CASES OF WAR PARTIES BOARDING CANAL BOATS . THESE
INCIDENTS FOR THE MOST PART, NEVER MADE IT TO LIGHT. IF SO, IT WOULD HAVE SLOWED THE PASSENGER
TRAVEL AND MADE A NEGATIVE DENT IN THE COMMERCE OF THE CANAL. PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIFIED TO
TRAVEL. THIS WILL CERTAINLY GO UP FOR DEBATE. BUT REMEMBER, IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE OHIO AND ERIE
CANAL AND ALL ACROSS THE LAND ESPESCIALLY OUT WEST, THE INDIAN WARS RAGED. WE ALL REMEMBER DAVEY
CROCKET AND HIS EXPERIENCES, AND TO THE SOUTH IN KENTUCKY, DANIEL BOONE HAD HIS HANDS FULL AND
EVEN LEAPED TO SAFETY BY JUMPING INTO THE OHIO RIVER. OHIO WASN’T EXEMPT FROM THE INDIAN WARS AT ALL,
AND AS FAR AS ATTACKS ON THE CANAL BOATS THAT WERE BARELY MOVING BY BEING PULLED ALONG SO SLOWLY,
THEY WERE EASY TARGETS. INDIAN RAIDS WERE A PROBABILITY.
CANALWAYMAN. HELLO. I’M IMPRESSED WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. IT’S AMAZING, THE RESPONSE
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN RECEIVING. IT’S SO INTERESTING. YOUR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SECTION IS TOTALLY
INFORMATIVE. I’M FROM AKRON. HERE IS MY QUESTION. NORTH OF SUMMIT LAKE ACROSS THE INTERSTATE, IS
THAT CALLED THE BLUE HOLE OR COULD IT HAVE BEEN A PART OF SUMMIT LAKE?
I KNOW THE AREA WELL. THIS IS AT RUSSEL AVENUE AND LAURA ST. IT WAS ONCE THE MOST NORTHERN END OF
SUMMIT LAKE. THERE IS A LOCATION UP IN THE EASTERN END OF AKRON THAT I’VE HEARD OF. IT’S CALLED BLUE
POND NEAR GOODYEAR BLVD.
CANALWAYMAN. IS ALL OF THE HISTORY WORK IN YOUR BOOK 100% CORRECT?
YOU KNOW NOTHING IS 100% CORRECT WHEN IT COMES TO HISTORY ONLY BECAUSE WE WEREN’T THERE AND
THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE 100 DIFFERENT OPINIONS. THE ONLY THINGS THAT I CAN BE 100% SURE OF ARE
THE LOCK SITES THAT STILL EXIST.
CANALWAYMAN. YOUR WRITING IS DONE SO WELL. AS I READ THROUGH THE PAGES OF YOUR BOOK, MY MIND
CAN PICTURE EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE RELAYING. THAT TAKES REAL TALENT. DID YOU KNOW YOUR BOOK IS
ON EVERY NETWORK ON THE ENTIRE GLOBE? HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU AND LAURA FEEL?
YOU KNOW, IT’S A GREAT FEELING. JUST THE OTHER DAY, STRANGERS CAME TO MY HOME FOR BOOK AUTOGRAPHS.
I SAT AT THE TRUCK STOP IN NORTH CANTON. A MAN WAS READING BY BOOK AT THE COUNTER. ANOTHER MAN RAN
IN AND HAD ME AUTOGRAPH TWO COPIES HE HAD JUST BOUGHT. LAURA AND I HAVE WORKED SO HARD AT THIS
BOOK AND IT IS REALLY STARTING TO PAY OFF.
MR. MAXIMOVICH. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY MUCH ABOUT THE GUY WHO IS ATTACKING YOUR WORK AS FAR
AS WRITING STYLES. IN COMPARISON TO YOURS, HE HAS ABSOLUTELY NONE AND WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON
THIS?
HE’S NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE. I HAVE READ SOME OF HIS WRITING AND THAT IS ALL I’M GOING TO SAY ABOUT
THAT. THERE IS AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT CAN BE MADE HERE. IF I CLIMBED MT. EVEREST AND GOT TO THE TOP
AND A FLAG WAS ALREADY THERE, I OBVIOUSLY WASN’T THE FIRST ONE UP THERE, BUT I’LL BET AS HE GOES
ALONG, YOU’LL FIND HIM CONSTANTLY POSTING NEGATIVE REPORTS ON ME. EVENTUALLY, HE WILL DO HIMSELF IN.
JOHNNY. I’M VERY PUZZLED. HOW CAN THERE CAN BE THREE LOCK 18S ON THE SOUTH END OF THE LICKING
SUMMIT?
TECHICALLY THERE IS ONLY ONE BUT IF THE YEAR WAS 1850 THERE WOULD BE 3 AND I’LL EXPLAIN HOW. BUT
FIRST, THE ORIGINAL LOCK 18 IS CALLED THE CREEK LOCK AND IT SITS ON WALNUT CREEK IN FAIRFEILD COUNTY
IN VIOLET TOWNSHIP. THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING LOCK. IT ALSO IS POSISTIONED NEXT TO A GUARD LOCK. LET’S
GET BACK TO 1850. IF I WERE IN FRENCH TOWN AT THE MARFEILD WORTHINGTON LOCKS 35 & 36, JUST NORTH OF
CHILLICOTHE, AND MY DESTINATION WAS LOCK 34 IN SPUNKYTOWN TO THE NORTH NEAR CIRCLEVILLE –I WOULD
CROSS THE LONGEST STRETCH ON THE OHIO AND ERIE WITHOUT ANY LOCKS. THIS OPEN STRETCH IS EIGHTEEN
MILES LONG. THIS IS HOW LOCK 34 TO THE NORTH GOT THE NAME 18 MILE LOCK. THE OTHER EIGHTEEN MILE LOCK
STORY IS SIMILAR BUT FURTHER SOUTH. UP UNTIL THE TERMINUS AT LOCK 54 IN PORTSMOUTH WAS REMOVED AND
THE NEW ONE WAS PLACED TO THE WEST IN ALEXANDRIA, LOCK I8 EXISTED IN NAME ONLY IN PIKE COUNTY. EVEN
WITH THE NEW TERMINUS ONE MILE FUTHER TO THE WEST, IT STILL KEPT IT’S NAME WHICH WAS LOCK 18. ITS
ACTUAL NAME WAS LOCK 47. ONCE A MILL SAT AT THAT LOCATION AND DURING IT’S STAY THERE BEFORE IT WAS
MOVED, IT WENT BY TWO DIFFERENT NAMES - THE FLOWERS MILL AND HOWARDS MILL . IT SIMPLY GOT ITS NAME
BECAUSE IT WAS EIGHTEEN MILES FROM THE TERMINUS ON THE SCIOTO RIVER.
CANALWAYMAN. PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THE BOATS GOT AROUND THE BLACK HAND ROCK ?
I WILL, BUT FIRST I’LL EXPLAIN TO THE READERS WHERE IT’S LOCATED. IN LICKING COUNTY IS A SMALL TOWN
CALLED TOBOSO. WITHIN IT’S REACH IS THE BLACK HAND GORGE STATE PARK. THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL RAN
ALONG SIDE THE LICKING RIVER THROUGH ITS CANYONS . AN OBSTACLE SAT IN IT’S PATH AND IT WAS CALLED THE
BLACK HAND ROCK. IT GOT THAT NAME YEARS BEFORE BECAUSE THE NATIVE INDIAN TRIBES CARVED A STONE
HAND INTO THIS LARGE ROCK. THROUGH TIME, IT TURNED BLACK; THUS, PICKING UP THE NAME BLACK HAND
ROCK. A LOT OF THE ROCK FACE WAS REMOVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS AND THE CARVED BLACK HAND
WAS DESTROYED .THE WHOLE AREA WAS SAID TO BE A SACRED BURIAL GROUND. TO GET THE CANAL BOATS PAST
THIS OBSTICAL TWO THINGS HAD TO BE DONE. THE FIRST WAS TO GO TO THE EAST A WAYS AND DRIVE WOODEN
LOGS IN THE SANDY BOTTOM OF THE LICKING RIVER DOWN STREAM MAKING A DAM. THE DAMS PURPOSE WAS TO
RAISE THE LICKING RIVER SEVERAL FEET. NOW THAT THE RIVER HAD BEEN RAISED, A PLATFORM WAS BUILT ALONG
THE FACE OF THE BLACKHAND ROCK AND STILL STANDS TODAY . THIS PLATFORM WAS FOR THE BEAST TO PULL
THE CANAL BOATS PAST THE BLACK HAND ROCK . ONCE LONG AGO DURING THE CANAL ERA, GUARD LOCKS
EXISTED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BLACK HAND ROCK, BUT NOW THE BLOCKS THAT ONCE MADE THEM UP, REST AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE LICKING RIVER.
CANALWAYMAN. COLUMBUS WAS THE ONLY CAPITOL OF OHIO, AND WHY DO YOU INSIST IT WAS THE FOURTH?
I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION AND IN SCHOOL THEY NEVER TAUGHT SUCH THINGS BUT IN THIS ANSWER I’M
NOT GOING TO LOOK UP DATES . IN THE YEAR 1803, OHIO ENTERED THE UNION. THE GREAT CEREMONY TOOK
PLACE IN CHILLICOTHE ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS THE CHOSEN TOWN AND THE GOVERNOR’S HOME. A FEW YEARS
LATER WITH A NEW GOVERNOR, HE LIVED IN ZANESVILLE AND THE GOVERNOR’S SEAT MOVED THERE . WHEN HIS
TERM WAS UP THE NEW GOVERNOR WAS FROM CHILLICOTHE AND THE SEAT MOVED BACK. NOW THAT IS THREE
TIMES. FINALLY, THE NEXT ONE LIVED IN COLUMBUS AND THE CAPITOL MOVED THERE . BY THIS TIME THE
POLITICIANS OF OHIO HAD HAD JUST ABOUT ENOUGH AND PUT A STOP TO ALL OF THE MOVING. BY PASSING A BILL
THROUGH THE STATE HOUSE TO STOP ALL OF THE MOVING, COLUMBUS TO THIS DAY REMAINS THE STATE CAPITOL.
I HOPE THIS CLEARS THINGS UP FOR YOU.
MR. CANALWAYMAN. I’M VERY INTERESTED IN CANAL TERMINOLOGY. COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT A SLACK
WATER WAS AND HOW DID IT ACQUIRE THAT NAME?
I CAN’T EXPLAIN HOW IT GOT ITS NAME, BUT I’LL MAKE THE UNDERSTANDING EASY. DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THE CANAL, THERE WERE MANY STREAMS THAT HAD TO BE CROSSED. IF THE SPAN WAS TOO HIGH ABOVE THE
RIVER OR STREAM OR TOO LONG, AN AQUEDUCT WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN ITS BANKS CONNECTING
THE CANAL. BUT IN SOME CASES, A SIMPLE DAM COULD BE BUILT TO RAISE THE WATER LEVEL CLOSE ENOUGH TO
THE CANAL. THAT WOULD USUALLY BE THE PREFERRED ROUTE AND WAS COST EFFECTIVE. THIS CONSTRUCTION
WAS SIMPLE. THEY BLOCKED THE WATERWAY BY DRIVING IN TIMBERS. THIS METHOD WOULD ONLY LAST A FEW
YEARS AND WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS FOR INTERRUPTIONS ON THE SYSTEM. THIS SIMILAR TYPE OF
WORK WAS ALSO USED AT SOME FEEDER SITES WITH THE SAME DEMISE. ONCE THE WATER WAS BACKED TO THE
DAM, IT WAS USUALLY FAR ENOUGH AWAY SO THERE WOULD NO EFFECTS FROM THE CURRENT IN WHICH THE
WATER ACTUALLY STOOD STILL, MAKING IT EASY TO PULL THE BOAT BETWEEN THE GUARD LOCKS WITHOUT BEING
DRAGGED DOWNSTREAM. ON EACH BANK OF THE WATERWAY, AS I JUST MENTIONED, SAT A GUARD LOCK. ITS
PURPOSE WAS TO KEEP THE CANAL FROM SPILLING INTO THE WATERWAY GUARDING THE CANAL. IF THE
WATERWAY WAS AT THE SAME LEVEL, ITS GATES WOULD BE KEPT IN THE OPEN POSITIO. IF NOT, THE CANAL BOATS
WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO GO THRU THE LOCKING UP AND DOWN PROCEDURES.
I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THEM. ALL OF MY LIFE I ENJOYED PUTTING MY THOUGHTS ON PAPER.
JOHNNY APPLESEED. YOU’RE THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE EVER BROUGHT UP INDIAN RAIDS ALONG THE OHIO
AND ERIE CANAL. WERE THERE ACTUALLY WAR PARTIES IN OHIO?
THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL WAS THE FIRST LARGE SCALE PROJECT HERE IN THE STATE OF OHIO. WHEN THE
CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1825, THERE WERE MANY TRIBES OF INDIANS HERE. BY THAT TIME, THE INDIANS HAD
ALREADY BEEN HARDENED BY THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR AND DAY BY DAY, THEIR LAND WAS SHRINKING. THIS
ISN’T FACT BUT WOULD FALL UNDER ACCUMULATED INFORMATION. WHEN THE OHIO AND ERIE PROJECT BEGAN, IT
CUT THRU OHIO CLAIMING ANY LAND IN IT’S PATH. IN ITS WAKE, IT LEFT SOME ANGRY PEOPLE. IN SOME CASES, THE
LOCAL INDIANS AND THEIR HOMES WERE PUSHED ASIDE. ALL OF THIS WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF PROGRESS AND I’
D BE CERTAIN THE STATE OF OHIO WOULD HAVE AT LEAST TRIED TO BE FAIR IN DOING SO.
THIS NEXT PHRASE COMES FROM A LETTER THAT WAS SENT IN- 2004- ABOUT THE PATH OF THE OHIO AND ERIE
CANAL. THE WRITER SENT THIS - I’VE READ YOUR ARTICLE ABOUT SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE OHIO
AND ERIE CANAL MAY - BE SOME DAY YOU’LL USE THIS BIT OF TRUTH. AS THE NEW WATER WAY WAS BEING DUG,
THE LOCAL INDIANS “ NATIVE AMERICANS” OR WHAT WAS LEFT OF US, WERE PUSHED ASIDE AND IN SOME AREAS
COMPLETELY VIOLATED. IT WAS APPARENT THE PATH OF THE GREAT CANAL COULDN’T BE ALTERED AND IT WASN’T
UP FOR DEBATE EITHER. AS THE CANAL MOVED SLOWLY ACROSS THE WILDERNESS, MY PEOPLE WERE UPROOTED
AND JUST HAD TO PICK UP AND GO. THE MAJORITY OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS DWELLED ALONG THE RIVERS
WHICH ALL HAVE INDIAN NAMES ONLY BECAUSE WE NAMED THEM. SO, THE PEOPLE MOST AFFECTED BY THE
COMING OF THE GREAT WATER WAY WERE US (THE INDIANS , SIMPLY BECAUSE THE ROUTE OF THE WATER WAY
HAD TO STAY WITHIN FEET OF OHIO’S MAJOR RIVERS .
THAT WAS ONE OF THE FEW LETTERS I HAVE RECEIVED PERTAINING TO INDIAN AFFAIRS. I’LL GO AHEAD AND
ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT INDIAN ATTACKS ALONG THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL NOW. AS I MENTIONED,IN THE
FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS- THE NATIVE AMERICANS WERE ALREADY HARDENED AGAINST THE WHITE MAN . YES - IN
THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CANAL, THERE WERE CASES OF WAR PARTIES BOARDING CANAL BOATS . THESE
INCIDENTS FOR THE MOST PART, NEVER MADE IT TO LIGHT. IF SO, IT WOULD HAVE SLOWED THE PASSENGER
TRAVEL AND MADE A NEGATIVE DENT IN THE COMMERCE OF THE CANAL. PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIFIED TO
TRAVEL. THIS WILL CERTAINLY GO UP FOR DEBATE. BUT REMEMBER, IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE OHIO AND ERIE
CANAL AND ALL ACROSS THE LAND ESPESCIALLY OUT WEST, THE INDIAN WARS RAGED. WE ALL REMEMBER DAVEY
CROCKET AND HIS EXPERIENCES, AND TO THE SOUTH IN KENTUCKY, DANIEL BOONE HAD HIS HANDS FULL AND
EVEN LEAPED TO SAFETY BY JUMPING INTO THE OHIO RIVER. OHIO WASN’T EXEMPT FROM THE INDIAN WARS AT ALL,
AND AS FAR AS ATTACKS ON THE CANAL BOATS THAT WERE BARELY MOVING BY BEING PULLED ALONG SO SLOWLY,
THEY WERE EASY TARGETS. INDIAN RAIDS WERE A PROBABILITY.
CANALWAYMAN. HELLO. I’M IMPRESSED WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. IT’S AMAZING, THE RESPONSE
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN RECEIVING. IT’S SO INTERESTING. YOUR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SECTION IS TOTALLY
INFORMATIVE. I’M FROM AKRON. HERE IS MY QUESTION. NORTH OF SUMMIT LAKE ACROSS THE INTERSTATE, IS
THAT CALLED THE BLUE HOLE OR COULD IT HAVE BEEN A PART OF SUMMIT LAKE?
I KNOW THE AREA WELL. THIS IS AT RUSSEL AVENUE AND LAURA ST. IT WAS ONCE THE MOST NORTHERN END OF
SUMMIT LAKE. THERE IS A LOCATION UP IN THE EASTERN END OF AKRON THAT I’VE HEARD OF. IT’S CALLED BLUE
POND NEAR GOODYEAR BLVD.
CANALWAYMAN. IS ALL OF THE HISTORY WORK IN YOUR BOOK 100% CORRECT?
YOU KNOW NOTHING IS 100% CORRECT WHEN IT COMES TO HISTORY ONLY BECAUSE WE WEREN’T THERE AND
THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE 100 DIFFERENT OPINIONS. THE ONLY THINGS THAT I CAN BE 100% SURE OF ARE
THE LOCK SITES THAT STILL EXIST.
CANALWAYMAN. YOUR WRITING IS DONE SO WELL. AS I READ THROUGH THE PAGES OF YOUR BOOK, MY MIND
CAN PICTURE EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE RELAYING. THAT TAKES REAL TALENT. DID YOU KNOW YOUR BOOK IS
ON EVERY NETWORK ON THE ENTIRE GLOBE? HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU AND LAURA FEEL?
YOU KNOW, IT’S A GREAT FEELING. JUST THE OTHER DAY, STRANGERS CAME TO MY HOME FOR BOOK AUTOGRAPHS.
I SAT AT THE TRUCK STOP IN NORTH CANTON. A MAN WAS READING BY BOOK AT THE COUNTER. ANOTHER MAN RAN
IN AND HAD ME AUTOGRAPH TWO COPIES HE HAD JUST BOUGHT. LAURA AND I HAVE WORKED SO HARD AT THIS
BOOK AND IT IS REALLY STARTING TO PAY OFF.
MR. MAXIMOVICH. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY MUCH ABOUT THE GUY WHO IS ATTACKING YOUR WORK AS FAR
AS WRITING STYLES. IN COMPARISON TO YOURS, HE HAS ABSOLUTELY NONE AND WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON
THIS?
HE’S NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE. I HAVE READ SOME OF HIS WRITING AND THAT IS ALL I’M GOING TO SAY ABOUT
THAT. THERE IS AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT CAN BE MADE HERE. IF I CLIMBED MT. EVEREST AND GOT TO THE TOP
AND A FLAG WAS ALREADY THERE, I OBVIOUSLY WASN’T THE FIRST ONE UP THERE, BUT I’LL BET AS HE GOES
ALONG, YOU’LL FIND HIM CONSTANTLY POSTING NEGATIVE REPORTS ON ME. EVENTUALLY, HE WILL DO HIMSELF IN.
JOHNNY. I’M VERY PUZZLED. HOW CAN THERE CAN BE THREE LOCK 18S ON THE SOUTH END OF THE LICKING
SUMMIT?
TECHICALLY THERE IS ONLY ONE BUT IF THE YEAR WAS 1850 THERE WOULD BE 3 AND I’LL EXPLAIN HOW. BUT
FIRST, THE ORIGINAL LOCK 18 IS CALLED THE CREEK LOCK AND IT SITS ON WALNUT CREEK IN FAIRFEILD COUNTY
IN VIOLET TOWNSHIP. THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING LOCK. IT ALSO IS POSISTIONED NEXT TO A GUARD LOCK. LET’S
GET BACK TO 1850. IF I WERE IN FRENCH TOWN AT THE MARFEILD WORTHINGTON LOCKS 35 & 36, JUST NORTH OF
CHILLICOTHE, AND MY DESTINATION WAS LOCK 34 IN SPUNKYTOWN TO THE NORTH NEAR CIRCLEVILLE –I WOULD
CROSS THE LONGEST STRETCH ON THE OHIO AND ERIE WITHOUT ANY LOCKS. THIS OPEN STRETCH IS EIGHTEEN
MILES LONG. THIS IS HOW LOCK 34 TO THE NORTH GOT THE NAME 18 MILE LOCK. THE OTHER EIGHTEEN MILE LOCK
STORY IS SIMILAR BUT FURTHER SOUTH. UP UNTIL THE TERMINUS AT LOCK 54 IN PORTSMOUTH WAS REMOVED AND
THE NEW ONE WAS PLACED TO THE WEST IN ALEXANDRIA, LOCK I8 EXISTED IN NAME ONLY IN PIKE COUNTY. EVEN
WITH THE NEW TERMINUS ONE MILE FUTHER TO THE WEST, IT STILL KEPT IT’S NAME WHICH WAS LOCK 18. ITS
ACTUAL NAME WAS LOCK 47. ONCE A MILL SAT AT THAT LOCATION AND DURING IT’S STAY THERE BEFORE IT WAS
MOVED, IT WENT BY TWO DIFFERENT NAMES - THE FLOWERS MILL AND HOWARDS MILL . IT SIMPLY GOT ITS NAME
BECAUSE IT WAS EIGHTEEN MILES FROM THE TERMINUS ON THE SCIOTO RIVER.
CANALWAYMAN. PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THE BOATS GOT AROUND THE BLACK HAND ROCK ?
I WILL, BUT FIRST I’LL EXPLAIN TO THE READERS WHERE IT’S LOCATED. IN LICKING COUNTY IS A SMALL TOWN
CALLED TOBOSO. WITHIN IT’S REACH IS THE BLACK HAND GORGE STATE PARK. THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL RAN
ALONG SIDE THE LICKING RIVER THROUGH ITS CANYONS . AN OBSTACLE SAT IN IT’S PATH AND IT WAS CALLED THE
BLACK HAND ROCK. IT GOT THAT NAME YEARS BEFORE BECAUSE THE NATIVE INDIAN TRIBES CARVED A STONE
HAND INTO THIS LARGE ROCK. THROUGH TIME, IT TURNED BLACK; THUS, PICKING UP THE NAME BLACK HAND
ROCK. A LOT OF THE ROCK FACE WAS REMOVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS AND THE CARVED BLACK HAND
WAS DESTROYED .THE WHOLE AREA WAS SAID TO BE A SACRED BURIAL GROUND. TO GET THE CANAL BOATS PAST
THIS OBSTICAL TWO THINGS HAD TO BE DONE. THE FIRST WAS TO GO TO THE EAST A WAYS AND DRIVE WOODEN
LOGS IN THE SANDY BOTTOM OF THE LICKING RIVER DOWN STREAM MAKING A DAM. THE DAMS PURPOSE WAS TO
RAISE THE LICKING RIVER SEVERAL FEET. NOW THAT THE RIVER HAD BEEN RAISED, A PLATFORM WAS BUILT ALONG
THE FACE OF THE BLACKHAND ROCK AND STILL STANDS TODAY . THIS PLATFORM WAS FOR THE BEAST TO PULL
THE CANAL BOATS PAST THE BLACK HAND ROCK . ONCE LONG AGO DURING THE CANAL ERA, GUARD LOCKS
EXISTED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BLACK HAND ROCK, BUT NOW THE BLOCKS THAT ONCE MADE THEM UP, REST AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE LICKING RIVER.
CANALWAYMAN. COLUMBUS WAS THE ONLY CAPITOL OF OHIO, AND WHY DO YOU INSIST IT WAS THE FOURTH?
I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION AND IN SCHOOL THEY NEVER TAUGHT SUCH THINGS BUT IN THIS ANSWER I’M
NOT GOING TO LOOK UP DATES . IN THE YEAR 1803, OHIO ENTERED THE UNION. THE GREAT CEREMONY TOOK
PLACE IN CHILLICOTHE ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS THE CHOSEN TOWN AND THE GOVERNOR’S HOME. A FEW YEARS
LATER WITH A NEW GOVERNOR, HE LIVED IN ZANESVILLE AND THE GOVERNOR’S SEAT MOVED THERE . WHEN HIS
TERM WAS UP THE NEW GOVERNOR WAS FROM CHILLICOTHE AND THE SEAT MOVED BACK. NOW THAT IS THREE
TIMES. FINALLY, THE NEXT ONE LIVED IN COLUMBUS AND THE CAPITOL MOVED THERE . BY THIS TIME THE
POLITICIANS OF OHIO HAD HAD JUST ABOUT ENOUGH AND PUT A STOP TO ALL OF THE MOVING. BY PASSING A BILL
THROUGH THE STATE HOUSE TO STOP ALL OF THE MOVING, COLUMBUS TO THIS DAY REMAINS THE STATE CAPITOL.
I HOPE THIS CLEARS THINGS UP FOR YOU.
MR. CANALWAYMAN. I’M VERY INTERESTED IN CANAL TERMINOLOGY. COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT A SLACK
WATER WAS AND HOW DID IT ACQUIRE THAT NAME?
I CAN’T EXPLAIN HOW IT GOT ITS NAME, BUT I’LL MAKE THE UNDERSTANDING EASY. DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THE CANAL, THERE WERE MANY STREAMS THAT HAD TO BE CROSSED. IF THE SPAN WAS TOO HIGH ABOVE THE
RIVER OR STREAM OR TOO LONG, AN AQUEDUCT WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN ITS BANKS CONNECTING
THE CANAL. BUT IN SOME CASES, A SIMPLE DAM COULD BE BUILT TO RAISE THE WATER LEVEL CLOSE ENOUGH TO
THE CANAL. THAT WOULD USUALLY BE THE PREFERRED ROUTE AND WAS COST EFFECTIVE. THIS CONSTRUCTION
WAS SIMPLE. THEY BLOCKED THE WATERWAY BY DRIVING IN TIMBERS. THIS METHOD WOULD ONLY LAST A FEW
YEARS AND WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS FOR INTERRUPTIONS ON THE SYSTEM. THIS SIMILAR TYPE OF
WORK WAS ALSO USED AT SOME FEEDER SITES WITH THE SAME DEMISE. ONCE THE WATER WAS BACKED TO THE
DAM, IT WAS USUALLY FAR ENOUGH AWAY SO THERE WOULD NO EFFECTS FROM THE CURRENT IN WHICH THE
WATER ACTUALLY STOOD STILL, MAKING IT EASY TO PULL THE BOAT BETWEEN THE GUARD LOCKS WITHOUT BEING
DRAGGED DOWNSTREAM. ON EACH BANK OF THE WATERWAY, AS I JUST MENTIONED, SAT A GUARD LOCK. ITS
PURPOSE WAS TO KEEP THE CANAL FROM SPILLING INTO THE WATERWAY GUARDING THE CANAL. IF THE
WATERWAY WAS AT THE SAME LEVEL, ITS GATES WOULD BE KEPT IN THE OPEN POSITIO. IF NOT, THE CANAL BOATS
WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO GO THRU THE LOCKING UP AND DOWN PROCEDURES.
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MR CITY BOY. I BOUGHT ME ONE OF YOUR BOOKS AND UP UNTIL YOU MADE IT ON DOWN IN SOUTHERN OHIO, I
SORTA LIKED YOU. NOT ALL OF US IS HILLBILLIES.
I DON’T REALLY REMEMBER MAKING THAT CLASSIFICATION ABOUT
ANYONE, BUT AROUND WHERE I LIVE, I DON’T THINK I’D HAVE A TOOTHLESS DOG AND HIS OWNER TRYING TO BITE
ME AT THE SAME TIME. HE STOOD ON HIS PORCH SCREAMING OBSCENITIES AT 6 AM IN HIS UNDERWEAR
SCRATCHING HIMSELF, DRINKING A BEER. IF YOU DON’T FIT INTO THAT CATEGORY, THEN DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT
. AND IF YOU’D PUT YOUR WIFE AND KIDS IN THE BACK OF THE PICK UP TRUCK ONLY TO KEEP YOUR DOGS DRY
DURING A RAINSTORM , WELL, IF YOUR NOT IN THAT CATEGORY, WELL THAT’S NOT YOU EITHER. BUT I DID RUN
INTO SOME STRANGE THINGS THAT I’VE NEVER EXPERIENCED UP NORTH. I’M SORRY.
Hello canalwayman. Your book was filled with so much adventure. My friend and I decided to go through the under
ground locks of Akron. As you did, we started at the lower end then worked our way up. We got as far as the water
fall where you can begin to see light. How did you manage to get over it? Your name is all over the place down there.
I never really expected any one would want to go thru there. I ran into the same situation so I went back out and came down
thru the top and right after the third small water fall on the lower left is a hook . I tied a 100 foot rope on to it and just thru it
over, then went back around. With the use of a ladder also, I was able to pull myself over. I’ll bet you’ve never seen darkness
like that before.
CANALWAYMAN. YOU CLAIMED THAT THE CIRCLEVILLE AQUEDUCT WAS THE LONGEST ON THE OHIO AND ERIE
CANAL. COULD THERE HAVE BEEN ONE SLIGHTLY LONGER?
I BELIEVE YOU WOULD BE REFERRING TO THE PAINT CREEK AQUEDUCT. ALTHOUGH IT’S VERY LONG AS FAR AS
THE DISTANCE OF THE OPPOSING BANKS, I STILL FEEL AS IF THE AQUEDUCT THAT CROSSES A MAJOR RIVER IS
LONGER THAN ONE THAT CROSSES A CREEK.
JOHNNY APPLESEED. WERE YOU AFRAID WHEN YOU STUMBLED INTO THAT PATCH OF WEED AND WAS
CONFRONTED WITH A LIFE & DEATH SITUATION?
NOT UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER. ,LATER THAT EVENING, THE REALITY OF IT TOOK HOLD. THAT GOOD O’LE BOY DOWN
THERE WOULDN’T HAVE THOUGHT TWICE ABOUT TAKING MY LIFE IF I WAS SOME BIG SISSY WEASEL BEGGING FOR
MY LIFE. I DEALT WITH IT LIKE A MAN WOULD AND ONLY BECAUSE OF THAT HE EASED UP SOME. HE KNEW I WASN’T
AFRAID AND WAS READY TO DEAL HIM. AFTER IT WAS CLEAR TO HIM THAT I HAD NO INTEREST IN HIS AFFAIRS, I
WALKED OUT UNHARMED. BOTH HE AND I MADE AN AGREEMENT AND I HAVE HELD UP MY END OF THE BARGIN.
OUR AGREEMENT WAS SIMPLE - IF I DON’T TELL ANYONE THE WEREABOUTS OF HIS LITTLE PLANTATION HE WONT
HAVE TO COME AND KILL ME , WHAT BETTER DEAL COULD ANY ONE GET? SO I HAVE TO MAKE THIS REAL CLEAR. I
RECEIVED MANY INQUIRIES ABOUT HIS LOCATION. I GAVE MY WORD, AND FUTHERMORE LIKE I’VE PUT IN PRINT
BEFORE, IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THAT PART OF THE STATE. I DID WARN HIM THAT IT’S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE
HIS OPERATION NEAR THE TOWPATH OF THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL, WHICH HE NEVER HEARD OF. I GAVE HIM AN
EXPLANATION AND TOLD HIM SOON THIS AREA WILL PROBABLY COME TO LIFE AGAIN WITH SO MUCH INTEREST IN
RESTORING THE TOWPATHS. HE TOLD ME HE’LL JUST PLANT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND DID, HE WAS GONE THIS
YEAR.
.
SORTA LIKED YOU. NOT ALL OF US IS HILLBILLIES.
I DON’T REALLY REMEMBER MAKING THAT CLASSIFICATION ABOUT
ANYONE, BUT AROUND WHERE I LIVE, I DON’T THINK I’D HAVE A TOOTHLESS DOG AND HIS OWNER TRYING TO BITE
ME AT THE SAME TIME. HE STOOD ON HIS PORCH SCREAMING OBSCENITIES AT 6 AM IN HIS UNDERWEAR
SCRATCHING HIMSELF, DRINKING A BEER. IF YOU DON’T FIT INTO THAT CATEGORY, THEN DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT
. AND IF YOU’D PUT YOUR WIFE AND KIDS IN THE BACK OF THE PICK UP TRUCK ONLY TO KEEP YOUR DOGS DRY
DURING A RAINSTORM , WELL, IF YOUR NOT IN THAT CATEGORY, WELL THAT’S NOT YOU EITHER. BUT I DID RUN
INTO SOME STRANGE THINGS THAT I’VE NEVER EXPERIENCED UP NORTH. I’M SORRY.
Hello canalwayman. Your book was filled with so much adventure. My friend and I decided to go through the under
ground locks of Akron. As you did, we started at the lower end then worked our way up. We got as far as the water
fall where you can begin to see light. How did you manage to get over it? Your name is all over the place down there.
I never really expected any one would want to go thru there. I ran into the same situation so I went back out and came down
thru the top and right after the third small water fall on the lower left is a hook . I tied a 100 foot rope on to it and just thru it
over, then went back around. With the use of a ladder also, I was able to pull myself over. I’ll bet you’ve never seen darkness
like that before.
CANALWAYMAN. YOU CLAIMED THAT THE CIRCLEVILLE AQUEDUCT WAS THE LONGEST ON THE OHIO AND ERIE
CANAL. COULD THERE HAVE BEEN ONE SLIGHTLY LONGER?
I BELIEVE YOU WOULD BE REFERRING TO THE PAINT CREEK AQUEDUCT. ALTHOUGH IT’S VERY LONG AS FAR AS
THE DISTANCE OF THE OPPOSING BANKS, I STILL FEEL AS IF THE AQUEDUCT THAT CROSSES A MAJOR RIVER IS
LONGER THAN ONE THAT CROSSES A CREEK.
JOHNNY APPLESEED. WERE YOU AFRAID WHEN YOU STUMBLED INTO THAT PATCH OF WEED AND WAS
CONFRONTED WITH A LIFE & DEATH SITUATION?
NOT UNTIL IT WAS ALL OVER. ,LATER THAT EVENING, THE REALITY OF IT TOOK HOLD. THAT GOOD O’LE BOY DOWN
THERE WOULDN’T HAVE THOUGHT TWICE ABOUT TAKING MY LIFE IF I WAS SOME BIG SISSY WEASEL BEGGING FOR
MY LIFE. I DEALT WITH IT LIKE A MAN WOULD AND ONLY BECAUSE OF THAT HE EASED UP SOME. HE KNEW I WASN’T
AFRAID AND WAS READY TO DEAL HIM. AFTER IT WAS CLEAR TO HIM THAT I HAD NO INTEREST IN HIS AFFAIRS, I
WALKED OUT UNHARMED. BOTH HE AND I MADE AN AGREEMENT AND I HAVE HELD UP MY END OF THE BARGIN.
OUR AGREEMENT WAS SIMPLE - IF I DON’T TELL ANYONE THE WEREABOUTS OF HIS LITTLE PLANTATION HE WONT
HAVE TO COME AND KILL ME , WHAT BETTER DEAL COULD ANY ONE GET? SO I HAVE TO MAKE THIS REAL CLEAR. I
RECEIVED MANY INQUIRIES ABOUT HIS LOCATION. I GAVE MY WORD, AND FUTHERMORE LIKE I’VE PUT IN PRINT
BEFORE, IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THAT PART OF THE STATE. I DID WARN HIM THAT IT’S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE
HIS OPERATION NEAR THE TOWPATH OF THE OHIO AND ERIE CANAL, WHICH HE NEVER HEARD OF. I GAVE HIM AN
EXPLANATION AND TOLD HIM SOON THIS AREA WILL PROBABLY COME TO LIFE AGAIN WITH SO MUCH INTEREST IN
RESTORING THE TOWPATHS. HE TOLD ME HE’LL JUST PLANT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND DID, HE WAS GONE THIS
YEAR.
.