Lock No. 37 and Spillway
Also known as: 14 Mile Lock
Why it's listed
Lock No. 37, called the "14 Mile Lock," is a canal lock and spillway on the Ohio & Erie Canal at Fitzwater Road in Valley View, Ohio. It was built between 1825 and 1827, when the canal was routed through Independence township under resident engineer William H. Price and opened to travel two years later. The lock is a mitered-gate type, with a chamber 90 feet long and 15 feet wide. Its cut-stone construction was covered with concrete around 1905, and both gates remain intact. The setting is a rural valley, with Wilson's Mill just south of the lock. Locks 37 through 34 form the best preserved section of the canal between Akron and Cleveland, which is the main reason the site is valued. The property is in public ownership, the adjoining towpath is used for recreation, and its condition is recorded as very good. It is also recognized as a historic civil engineering landmark.
Significance in brief: The lock is one of Locks 37 to 34, which the inventory describes as the best preserved section of the canal between Akron and Cleveland. The canal itself is noted as important in regional development, and the lock is recognized as a historic civil engineering landmark by the Ohio Council of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79000290, listed December 11, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Fitzwater Rd., Valley View |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | December 11, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000290 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1825-1827 |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Engineering, Transportation, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as very good on the interior and exterior. The towpath is used for recreation, and both lock gates remain intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Ohio and Erie Canal |
| Coordinates | 41.35680, -81.59710 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79000290.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.