Have you ever visited the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park? Originally established as a National Monument by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1961, the site was later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 and officially designated a National Historical Park in 1971. Based primarily within the District of Columbia, the park largely borders the Potomac River, from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland. It is estimated to attract more than four million visitors annually, making it the most-visited National Historical Park within the National Park Service.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park provides the perfect representation of preservation efforts at work by those who care about local history and have no intention of seeing our past slip away into neglect and disarray. The site is rich in numerous regional artifacts and heritage callouts, including those that are unique, albeit often obscurely regarded. One such example of the latter is Riley’s Lock and its corresponding Lock House. Originally named “Lock 24,” when it was established, Riley’s Lock boasts a bountiful backstory that few even know about. That’s why this Flashback Friday Feature serves to shed a little light on the matter.
A Bit of Background Surrounding the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Alternately known as “the Grand Old Ditch” or the more commonly abbreviated “C&O Canal,” groundbreaking on the lofty construction project got started on July 4, 1828. Of course, plans for expanding and exploring more westward locations in the New World had been flirted with as far back as the colonial era. They only ramped up further following the American Revolution. These were, of course, the days predating the railroad.
It took several years to complete the canal, with the official end date being in 1850, when it reached Cumberland. One of the earlier plans was for it to serve as a connection link between the Chesapeake Bay and the Ohio River—the meaning behind its name. There were still occasional talks about expanding the canal further later on, including a proposal in 1874 to dig an 8.4-mile tunnel through the Allegheny Mountains, and there was even a tunnel built to connect with the Pennsylvania Canal.
One of the most unique attributes of the C&O Canal was that it contained many multifaceted kinds of locks. These included 74 lift locks, which were essential in handling the 605-foot difference in elevation between both ends of the canal. In addition to the many locks, another boasting right of the canal was the provision of 11 aqueducts.
While primarily used in the transportation of coal back and forth between the Allegheny Mountains and the District of Columbia, C&O Canal operations had a long and extensive run, up until 1924. Its fate was two-edged, in part due to financial problems resulting in severe flood damage. Keeping up with the competing, more lucrative locomotive industry also finally proved to be a losing battle and was the last proverbial nail in the coffin.
Plans and ideas for sparking new life were floated for several years following the canal’s official closure. This was especially true in 1938 when the United States Government purchased the abandoned canal from the B&O Railroad, intending to restore it as a recreational area and employment project for the jobless during the Great Depression.
By 1940, the first 22 miles of the canal were successfully restored and rewatered to continue operations, thanks to the African-American enrollees of the Civilian Conservation Corps. A year later, the first Canal Clipper boat began operating, later replaced by the John Quincy Adams in the 1960s.
Lock 24
As previously mentioned, the C&O boasted various locks. One of its most unique ones was none other than Lock 24. This is the lock that would eventually come to be known as Riley’s Lock.
Located at Towpath mile-marker 22.7, next to Seneca Creek, in Montgomery County, along with its corresponding lock house, Lock 24 is significant as the only lock to be connected to an aqueduct. Along with the Seneca Creek Aqueduct, both were established to operate together as an adjoined single unit. This was largely in part of the fact that one side of Seneca Creek features a higher elevation, and boats venturing downstream would need to cross the creek by way of the aqueduct, immediately entering the lock’s lower level of the east bank section of the canal. On that same note, upstream travelers would enter upward.
Groundbreaking work on Lock 24 began in March 1829 and took three years to complete. The corresponding Lock House was constructed between November 1829 and April 1830.
Civil War Significance
Throughout its tenured operation, Lock 24 was the site of more than a couple of significant historical events. During the American Civil War, for instance, it, along with Lock 23, attracted particular attention as a possible crossing point for a Confederate invasion over the Potomac.
It was on June 27, 1863, that 5,000 cavalry troops under the command of Confederate General Jeb Stuart crossed close to Lock 24. Set on disrupting Union supply lines, the Confederates seized control of Locks 23 and 24, causing significant damage to the lock gates, even going so far as to drain water from the canal in addition to burning canal boats. They then moved on to Rockville before rejoining General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia in the Battle of Gettysburg.
Lock Keepers Through the Years
The lock operated through 1924, just before the fate of the C&O Canal was sealed. Many associated lock keepers are on record for having run things onsite throughout its longstanding, nearly centennial operations. Charles H. Shanks was listed as the first one between 1839 and 1842. Then, John Wells served as lock keeper from 1845 to 1850. Charles Wood was believed to be the keeper circa 1865, and then William Benson sometime after that.
While records get a little hazy in some areas, the last and most famously associated keeper of the lock was none other than its namesake—John C. Riley. It was in 1849 when William H. Riley and his family arrived in the area from Ireland, going on to find work at the Seneca Quarry. His oldest son, John, joined him in working along the C&O Canal in 1880. During that time, John got married and replaced William Benson as lock tender for Lock 24.
John, his wife Roberta, and their children lived in the corresponding lock house during his time as tender up until 1905, when his young daughter drowned in the canal. After that, Roberta and the children moved further up the hill to River Road. The family still frequented the lock house by day, but returned to their second location each night. Sometimes the family even rented rooms in the lock house to campers and vacationers in the area.
John C. Riley served as lock keeper up until 1924, when the canal finally closed. He remained in the area thereafter until dying suddenly in April of 1931. He was buried at the Darnestown Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Following preservation efforts, and as a tribute to Riley, Lock 24 has since been renamed in his honor.
Visiting Today
Visiting any portion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park today can be a rewarding experience. Not only is it rich in history, but it also makes for an excellent get-out-and-go family-friendly nature outing. You’ll find plenty of picnicking areas throughout the park as well as restrooms, parking, and even a canoe ramp.
Birders also take note that Riley’s Lock and surrounding locations have been designated prime birdwatching hot spots by the Maryland Ornithological Society. Well over 200 documented species have been recorded here.
Today, local Girl Scouts operate a special Riley’s Lockhouse History Program on weekends during the spring and fall seasons. The program includes tours of the house in the afternoon.
Consider visiting Riley’s Lock at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park for yourself. Visit the website to learn more.