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    The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
    The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
    The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
    Ebook178 pages41 minutes

    The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

    By Mary H. Rubin

    ()

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    About this ebook

    From the fights of founding fathers to those fought in the supreme court, the pivotal role of this unassuming canal comes to life with historic images and insider insights.


    With the founding of his Patowmack Company in 1785, George Washington first hoped to make the Potomac River a viable route to America's West. The skirting canals the company constructed around the Great Falls rapids at Harpers Ferry, Seneca, and Little Falls made the Potomac's rushing waters navigable. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company was chartered by Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania in 1828 to build a truly useful canal through to the Ohio Valley. President John Quincy Adams turned the first spadeful of dirt on Independence Day of 1828 for what was hailed as the "Great National Project" to connect Georgetown to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The canal created an entire community of people and a way of life different from any other. At the height of operations, over 500 boats plied the 184.5 miles of the canal's waters. After many financial difficulties, competition from railroads, and the devastating effects of the Civil War as well as a flood, the canal went into receivership and was closed in 1924. In 1954, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas brought attention back to the canal with a fight to preserve the natural beauty for local residents. Today, the canal-listed as a National Historical Park-provides thousands with recreational opportunities, scenic nature trails, and gorgeous views.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArcadia Publishing
    Release dateNov 19, 2003
    ISBN9781439612507
    The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
    Author

    Mary H. Rubin

    Join author Mary H. Rubin in a look back at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal as seen through the photographs of days gone by. Images from the C&O Canal National Historical Park Headquarters depict the canal's vital role in the growth of our nation. Take a walk through history in this retrospective and remember the days of the C&O Canal and the legacy it has left.

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      Book preview

      The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal - Mary H. Rubin

      past.

      INTRODUCTION

      The clip-clop of the mules’ feet along the towpath, calls of Hey-ey-ey Lock! at all hours of the day or night, the gentle lapping of the water against the boats—all of these sights and sounds from past days of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal are no longer part of everyday life but their legacy endures. Stretching from the mouth of Rock Creek in Georgetown west to Cumberland, Maryland, the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal runs parallel to the Potomac River for 184.5 miles. The story of the canal is not just the history of the waterway trade; it is inextricably tied to the histories of the people and places that grew up around and thrived because of the canal and its operations.

      George Washington first attempted to make the Potomac River a viable route to the west in 1785 with the founding of his Patowmack Company. The skirting canals that the company constructed around the Great Falls rapids at Harpers Ferry, Seneca, and Little Falls made 218 miles of the Potomac navigable. However, a great many hazards existed, and when work began on the Erie Canal in New York in 1817, discussions for a more dependable route west to the Ohio River that would link with the Mississippi began in earnest.

      The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company was chartered by Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania in 1828 to build a truly useful canal to the Ohio Valley. President John Quincy Adams turned the first spadeful of dirt on Independence Day, July 4, 1828, for what was hailed as the Great National Project to connect Georgetown to Pittsburgh. The canal would include locks, dams, and aqueducts, plus an engineering marvel tunnel that took 12 years to complete. The widest, deepest, and sixth longest canal in the nation was completed to Cumberland in 1850.

      The canal created a total community of people and a way of life different from any other. Entire canal families lived and worked on their boats, traveling back and forth along the length of the canal. Many communities grew up around the canal and the commerce that it brought. Construction of the canal brought labor jobs to the region. Raw materials such as stone, cement, and lumber were in high demand, and farmers found a ready market for their produce. Cumberland coal became a cargo mainstay, and at the height of operations, there were more than 500 boats plying the canal.

      After years of financial difficulties, competition from the railroads, and the Civil War, the canal went into receivership. In 1924, a flood finally brought the end of the canal, and it sat in neglect. The C&O came under the auspices of the United States government in 1938 and was placed under the control of the National Park Service. Plans developed to use the canal bed to build a parkway through the region, similar to Skyline Drive in Virginia. However, in 1954, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas brought the public’s attention back to the canal and the natural beauty of the region along the length of the towpath. His efforts saved the canal from imminent destruction and today the C&O enjoys status as a National Historical Park with many recreational and historical opportunities. Canal boat replicas ply the canal at Georgetown and Great Falls, all manner of outdoor enthusiasts find something special in the canal, and it is a treasure for history seekers.

      Join author Mary Rubin in a look back at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal as seen through photos of days gone by. Images from the C&O Canal National Historical Park Headquarters bring the canal back to life and illustrate the vital role it played in the growth of our nation. When experiencing the quiet towpaths and abandoned structures that remain today, take a moment to reflect on what a true marvel the canal really represents—it is doubtful that such an undertaking would even be considered in today’s world of environmental impact statements. Join us now in a walk through history in this retrospective and remember the days of the C&O Canal!

      One

      GEORGETOWN TO GREAT FALLS

      A father and his children watch their approach to Georgetown from the excellent vantage point of the top of their boat in this poignant photo. (Courtesy C&O Canal National Historical Park Headquarters.)

      This is a photograph of Lockhouse B, c. 1860, at 17th Street and Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., on the Washington Branch of the canal. The branch linked the C&O at Georgetown with the Washington City Canal. A woman is on the small porch and laundry is hanging on the lines to the right. (Courtesy C&O Canal National Historical Park Headquarters.)

      In the years after canal operations ended, dwellings along the canal continued to be occupied by private citizens. Louise Davis lived in this log cabin at 4519 Canal Road when this photo was taken on October 23, 1952. An area African-American church owned the private property. (Courtesy C&O Canal National Historical Park Headquarters.)

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