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32-656: The trail starts at Pennyfield Lock Road near the C&;O Canal's Pennyfield Lock , Crosses Muddy Branch and runs through Blockhouse Point Conservation Park, across River Road and on to Esworthy Road. From there, the trail crosses the road and enters Muddy Branch Stream Valley Park and continues in the park until the end at Darnestown Road There is also an "unofficial" Section 5 from Maryland Route 28 to Isaac Walton League headquarters for those that want to add another four miles to their hike. Need detailed information regarding volunteering or who to contact when trail maintenance

64-447: A boat ran aground between locks, they would sometimes ask a passing boat (going upstream) to tell the next lock keeper to give an extra heavy swell, by opening all the wickets on the upstream lock thus raising the water level temporarily, so that they could get unstuck. The Morris Canal had inclined planes as well as locks, and the former required keepers also, although one cannot exactly call them "lock keepers" since they did not tend

96-501: A creek known as the Muddy Branch . By June 1832, a 22-mile (35 km) section of the canal was operating between Georgetown and Seneca , which includes Lock 22. Another early keeper for Lock 22 was M. F. Harris, who was lock keeper (a.k.a. locktender) on July 1, 1839. John Fields is listed as lock keeper on July 1, 1841. Another locktender, R. Selby, is listed for 1865. A map of Montgomery County, Maryland , shows Selby as

128-501: A day during the boating season. On the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal , the lock keepers were required to remove the windlasses from all lock paddles at night, to prevent unauthorized use. But they had to get up and man the lock if a boat came through at night. Lock keepers had to enforce company rules against independent and wily boat captains. In some cases, they had to check waybills that the boats had. They also were responsible for

160-566: A fishing trip—staying at Pennifield's home near the lock house. Pennifield's son, Charles, eventually replaced him as lock keeper although the elder Pennifield continued to live at the Pennifield House near the lock house. George Pennifield died in 1911 and was buried at the Darnestown Presbyterian Church cemetery. Charles remained as lock keeper until the canal closed in 1924. He lived with his wife at

192-634: A lock west of Selby's Lock 22—probably Lock 23. In 1875, the Lock 22 keeper, unnamed in the report, was dismissed after he drunkenly "opened the lower gate paddles before the boat was in place", causing the boat to break apart and sink with its 113-ton cargo. George Washington Pennifield became lock keeper for Lock 22 sometime during the 1880s. Pennifield became well known in Montgomery County, especially among fishermen. Grover Cleveland , while president , spent several days at Pennifield's Lock for

224-468: A lock, but an inclined plane which did much of the same function as a lock, lifting or lowering boats from one level to another, albeit with a cradle which carried the boats. There were often conflicts between the boat captains and the lock keepers. In July 1874 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, there was a notorious incident, where the boat's tow line caught and tore the lock railing and the captain of

256-425: A rent free house. They often had small stores to sell groceries to passing boats and, among their duties, made minor repairs along the canal and at locks. On the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal the lock keeper had a rent free house, an acre of land for a garden, and was paid a base of $ 150 a year. If he kept more than one lock, it was $ 50 for each extra lock, with a maximum of 3 locks. Lockkeepers were on call 24 hours

288-552: A way to connect the Chesapeake Bay with the Ohio River . The canal has several types of locks , including 74 lift locks necessary to handle a 608-foot (185 m) difference in elevation between the two ends of the canal—an average of about 8 feet (2.4 m) per lock. From Georgetown to Harpers Ferry , which includes Lock 22 (Pennyfield Lock), the canal is 60 feet (18 m) wide at the surface, and 42 feet (13 m) at

320-595: Is required Pennyfield Lock The Pennyfield Lock (Lock #22) and lockhouse are part of the 184.5-mile (296.9 km) Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (a.k.a. C&O Canal) that operated in the United States along the Potomac River from the 1830s through 1923. The lock, located at towpath mile-marker 19.7, is near River Road in Montgomery County, Maryland . The original lock house

352-466: The "L.K." (lock keeper) and a nearby wharf owned by John L. DuFief. DuFief built a mill around 1850 on the Muddy Branch, and it had a road that connected to Lock 22. His mill had the capacity to manufacture 10–12,000 barrels of flour per year, and a network of roads grew that enabled farmers to get their crops to the mill and canal. The same 1865 map shows a lock keeper named G. W. Pennifield for

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384-524: The B&;O Railroad eventually reached the Ohio River and beyond. In 1889, a flood damaged the C&O Canal and caused the C&O Canal Company to enter bankruptcy. Operations stopped for about two years. Trustees nominated by the B&O Railroad took over receivership of the canal and began operating it under court supervision, but canal use had already peaked in the 1870s. The C&O Canal closed for

416-541: The C&O Canal available to the public for overnight stays as part of the Canal Quarters Program managed by the C&O Canal Trust. The Muddy Branch, a tributary to the Potomac River, is less than a half mile (0.8 km) walk on the canal towpath. The area has numerous birds and waterfowl and is a favorite of bird watchers . Additional bird watching is available nearby along the towpath at

448-453: The Canal company well into the 1870s. Locks on commercial canals are usually power operated. The lock keeper, who no longer lives on site, controls the whole process from a control room overlooking the lock. In the modern age the control of traffic and locks on canals is being centralised. A single control centre can remotely operate several locks and moveable bridges in a wide area, overseeing

480-495: The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. where the Salty Dog Tavern was known for its availability of liquor and easiness of women. To help a boat get out of a lock (going downstream) the lockkeeper would sometimes provide a swell , that is, opening the paddle valves (wickets) on the upstream gates so that the rush of water would flush the boat out. Some wily lock keepers would demand money from the boatmen for this "service". If

512-653: The Pennyfield Lock Neighborhood Conservation Area, a 1.9 acre (0.77 ha) park with boat ramp maintained by Montgomery County. The 40-acre (16 ha) Dierssen Waterfowl Sanctuary is also adjacent to the canal towpath and a favorite of bird watchers. Lock keeper A lock keeper , lock tender , or lock operator looks after a canal or river lock , operating it and if necessary maintaining it or organizing its maintenance. Traditionally, lock keepers lived on-site, often in small purpose-built cottages. A lock keeper may also be

544-414: The boat insisted on scrubbing the boat's sides with a broom while still in the lock. The lock keeper demanded that the captain remove the boat from the lock, which he refused. The lock keeper's son opened one of the gates pinning the captain's son against the boat. There was soon a fist fight, and the captain's wife knocked one of the keeper's sons off the boat. Things escalated to rock throwing, clubbing, and

576-478: The bottom. Including walls, lift locks are 100 feet (30 m) long and 15 feet (4.6 m) wide—usable lockage is less. Portions of the canal (close to Georgetown) began operating in the 1830s, and construction ended in 1850 without reaching the Ohio River. The canal ran from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland . Because portions of the Potomac can be shallow and rocky as well as subject to low water and floods,

608-479: The company. Many district superintendents of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal began as lock keepers, but because of their good reputation, were promoted. These included Elgin and John Y. Young in the 1830s and 1840s, John Lambie in the 1840s. A. K. Stake began at locks 41–41 from 1847 to 1848, Lewis G. Stanhop at locks 41–42 also in 1848, and Overton G. Lowe at Lock 56 when the canal opened to Cumberland — these three individuals were later promoted and continued working for

640-423: The level (canal pound) by their lock, to fix leaks and other minor repairs. Some lock keepers simply left the job and disappeared. In June 1848, when Asa Aud had taken French leave , William Elgin the district superintendent, appointed John Boozell as tender of Lock 25 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Often lock keepers sold alcohol on the side, one notable example being A. S. Adams of Lock 33 (Harpers Ferry) on

672-409: The lock and restored lock house are part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park . The area is a favorite of bird watchers , and the Pennyfield Lock Neighborhood Conservation Area and Dierssen Wildlife Management Area are both accessible using the lock's towpath. Ground was broken for construction of the C&O Canal on July 4, 1828. One of the early plans was for the canal to be

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704-605: The lock house for over 50 years. In 1938, they moved to Travilah, Maryland , and Charles died in 1941. Although the Pennyfield Lock House remains, the larger Pennifield House fell into disrepair and was torn down in 2009. Today's Pennyfield Lock is a misspelling of the Pennifield family name. The lock was described as "Pennifield's Lock" in George Pennifield's 1911 obituary. However, the name

736-460: The lock in advance, having boats wait for another coming from behind to handle them simultaneously, or decide whether to turn a lock empty for a boat going in one direction or to wait for one going in the other direction. On the River Thames , the traditional locks have been retained, though the majority are now motorised, using a hydraulic system to operate the gates; however, when unpowered,

768-414: The lock keeper's sons returned with a shotgun and revolver, which misfired. When the boat did resume its journey, the lock keeper followed on horseback, all the way to Cumberland (the end of the canal) with a club threatening to settle things. There were plenty of incidents with negligent lock keepers. On September 11, 1895 at Lock 22, the boat Excelsior arrived, and tried to lock through. The lock keeper

800-483: The operator for the lock's weir and, in many cases lock keepers play an important role in moderating and controlling water levels in response to drought and heavy rain. With the decline in commercial traffic the occupation is dying out on inland waterways, at least in Britain. Many previously staffed locks are now unstaffed. The Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company in 1900 paid their lock keepers US$ 18 per month, with

832-516: The process using CCTV . For example, the Tilburg control centre in the Netherlands will remotely control 18 locks and 28 moveable bridges from 2015 on. This allows for a reduction in manpower while still providing round-the-clock service to water traffic. As the controller now has overview over the traffic moving through one lock after another, he can anticipate the arrival of boats by turning

864-546: The river could not serve for reliable navigation and a continuous canal on land was necessary. The canal opened the region to important markets and lowered shipping costs. By 1859, about 83 boats per week were using the canal to transport coal, grain, flour, and farm products to Washington and Georgetown. The canal faced competition from other modes of transportation, especially the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O Railroad). Starting in Baltimore and adding line westward,

896-618: The season in November 1923, and damage from flooding prevented it from opening in spring 1924. The damage and continued competition from railroads and trucks led to the decision to close permanently later that year. Work on Lock 22 began in April 1829 and was completed in May 1831 at a cost of $ 7,969.29 (equivalent to $ 228,021 in 2023). Construction of the lock house began in October 1829, and

928-502: Was being misspelled as early as 1918. Today, the Pennyfield Lock and restored lock house are part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park . The C&O Canal Trust describes the lock as a good example of "the basic types of structures" built along the canal, and the furnishings in the lock house are representative of the mid-1830s to mid-1840s. The Pennyfield Lock House is one of seven restored lock houses on

960-402: Was built in 1830, and its lock was completed in 1831. The name "Pennyfield" is a misspelling of the family name of long-time lock keepers George and Charles Pennifield. George, and then his son Charlie, operated the lock from the 1880s until it was permanently closed. George was an avid fisherman, and once hosted President Grover Cleveland for several days of fishing near the lock. Today,

992-404: Was finished April 1830 at a cost of $ 853.20 (equivalent to $ 24,412 in 2023). On August 7, 1830, an individual listed only as "Wright" was recommended and approved as lock keeper . His annual compensation was $ 100 (equivalent to $ 2,861 in 2023) with the additional benefits of the use of the lock house and the right to use the canal company's land between the canal and the Potomac River below

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1024-566: Was so drunk, he opened the lower gate paddles too early. The boat hit the mitre sill, broke in half, and sank with its 113 tons of coal. Richard A. Moore, the owner of the boat, collected over $ 1,300 in damages, and the lock keeper was fired. In England, there has been recent controversy over the Environment Agency 's attempt to remove resident lock keepers on the River Thames . This has been met with widespread disapproval. Many people who began as lock keepers were later promoted in

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