Historic Lockbourne

Anticipating a boom in canal commerce, Colonel James Kilbourne (1770-1850) platted Lockbourne in 1831 at the junction of the Ohio-Erie Canal and the Columbus Feeder, which was completed the same year. Lockbourne took its name from the numerous canal locks at the site and from Kilbourne's surname. During the height of the canal era, the town had the Canal House Hotel, several taverns, a stock yard, a distillery, a sawmill, and a gristmill powered by the head of water at Lock 30. For many years Lockbourne's largest industry was the Monypeny distillery at the east end of town, which produced 100 barrels of whiskey a day and owned two canal boats, the Magnolia and the Cruiser. At the intersection of the main canal and the Columbus Feeder stood a transfer warehouse for moving freight between boats. Howlett's Mill was built as a canal warehouse at the west end of Commerce Street in 1842 and converted to a gristmill in 1863. Construction of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad grade later obliterated Lock 28, the north canal basin, and the distillery site.

Lockbourne, Ohio · United States