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Lockington, Ohio: Abandoned Canal Locks of Lockington

A series of five big stone locks, now dry and empty, cut through the center of a formerly bustling canal town.

Address:
Museum Trail, Lockington, OH
Directions:
I-75 exit 82 (US Hwy 36) west into Piqua. Turn north on Main St. Cross the Great Miami River and turn left (northwest) on Piqua-Lockington Rd/CR-199 (At the Shelby County line its name changes to Miami Conservancy Rd). Continue north 4 mi. Lockington. Turn left (west) onto Museum Trail. The locks are two blocks ahead on the south side of the street, in the center of town.
Admission:
Free
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Locks.

Abandoned Canal Locks of Lockington

Historic portion of the old Miami & Erie Canal locks has been preserved in Lockington.

[Stephen Francia, 04/28/2020]

Abandoned locks.

Series of Five Canal Locks

There is a series of five abandoned but partially restored canal locks in the small town of Lockington. Placed at the beginning of the Loramie Summit, these locks helped canal boats rise a total of 67 feet. They were in use from 1845-1913. The Ohio and Erie Canal was built as a shortcut between Cincinnati and Toledo, but was made obsolete by the construction of the railroads. Today it is hard to believe that Lockington was once a bustling town with hotels, bars, and restaurants.

Even more amazing is that there was once water connecting all five locks to each other. Now the only time there is any water in them is after a heavy rain. The entire lock series is about a half-mile long, and at the far south end you can find the bridge abutments of the viaduct that carried the canal over Loramie Creek.

The locks reminded me of castle walls when I first saw them, especially when looking towards the south ends of them.

[signmanjoe, 03/31/2015]

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