Washington County Maryland--History

The stone for Lock 38 came from a quarry across the river. The lock was built between September 1832 and September 1833 by Gilson, Noonan, Midler and Fresh and Co. for $7,725.85. However the lockhouse that is partially visible on the left, was not begun until 1837 and not completed until September 1838 at a cost of $1,530.34. As the section of the canal from Dam 5 to Dam 3 opened in 1835, the lockkeeper here would have lived in a temporary structure or in a nearby building until the lockhouse was completed.

This incident occurred before the Civil War, but indicates the canal was known to some of those traveling north and may have been used by others.

James Curry, excerpt from Narrative of James Curry, A Fugitive Slave, published in The Liberator,
10 January 1840

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and the Underground Railroad

by Timothy R. Snyder

It has long been said that the C&O Canal was a part of the Underground Railroad used by slaves to escape from bondage during the American Antebellum Era. Take, for example, the below quote from a travel brochure issued to Baltimore & Ohio Railroad passengers, circa 1923:
 

COMMITTED,

TO the jail of Loudoun county, as a runaway, on the 3d inst. a negro man, who calls himself

ELIAS DOWLING.

He is supposed to be 25 years of age, is about 6 feet high, not very black, has a scar on his forehead, and a blemish on the sight of his left eye. —Says he belongs to Charles Dickinson, of Louisa county, Va. and has been hired to William Boxler, on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The owner of said negro is requested to come forward, prove property, pay charges, and take him away, otherwise he will be disposed of according to law.

First Division Second Residency
of the Chs & Ohio Canal 26th July 1830

Chs & Ohio Canal Company
TO Charles Wallace Dr

TO 6 days services of negro man Regin [?] axeman in the Employ of the Corps of Engineers at 87 1/2 cts per day including board being between the 1st and 20th July inst. - $5.25

Recd 26th July 1830 of Daniel VanShyke [?]
Resident Engineer five dollars and twenty five cents in full of the above accounting

Charles Wallace

First Division Second Residency
of the Chs & Ohio Canal 17th Nov. 1829

Chs & Ohio Canal Company

To Knox Hale & Co. Dr

To 7 days service of negro man Robert as axeman in the Employ of the Corps of Engineers from the 10th to the 17th of August last inclusive at 80 cts per day including board - $5.60

Recd 8th July 1830 of Daniel [?]
Resident Engineer five 60/100 dollars in full of the above account
Knox L. Holak & Co. [?]

Unique tin oil lamp. A wick would have been set inside the spout that connected with the oil that was held in the bottom of the lamp.

This lantern, 24 inches in height, was used on a canal boat. It is believed to be a bow lantern, and it could be hung with the light being reflected forwards. Some canal boats ran at night, particularly if they were attempting to reach a wharf before the competition.

Robert Luther Hebb (1873-1936) of Sharpsburg used this whip while boating on the canal. Captain Bob ran Boat # 28.

This bugle belonged to Robert Luther Hebb (1873 – 1936) of Sharpsburg. The bugle was used to alert the locktender that a boat was approaching the lock, so that the lock was ready to receive a boat. Some boatmen used horns, others shouted, but the purpose was the same - to have the tender at the lock ready to open and close gates and facilitate the passage of the boat on its way.