The lock helps boats get from one water level to another. The standard size lock is 90 feet long and 15 feet wide with a solid foundation. There are two doors made of heavy wood. When the doors close, they form a "V" shape. Heavy beams are attached to the top of each door to move the doors. Near the bottom of each door, was a small door with a whicket, or paddle gate. The paddle gate lets water in or out of the lock. CLICK HERE for a video on how a lock work. The first lock called flash lock originated from China in the 50 B.C.E. The flash lock only had one gate and was very dangerous. In A.D 984, the pond lock was invented. It had two gates and was a lot safer and easier. The term "Locking through" was the term for taking a boat through the lock. Going through a lock takes about 30 minutes. A lock keeper, usually someone who helped built the canal lived near the lock. The lock keeper would help boats get through the lock. Towns would spring up around a lock with shops for food and supplies.
Did You Know?
James A. Garfield
James A. Garfield was the 20th president of the United States. He was a driver of the canal boat "Evening Star" at the age of sixteen. The Ohio and Pennsylvania canal that he was on went through Youngstown, Ohio.