Lock No. 26
Also known as: Pancake Lock
Why it's listed
Lock No. 26, nicknamed the "Pancake Lock," is a canal lock on the Ohio and Erie Canal in Ira, Summit County, Ohio. Built between 1825 and 1827, it is a standard mitered-gate lock with a rectangular chamber 90 feet long and 15 feet wide, built of cut sandstone. Around 1905 the masonry was repaired with concrete, and some of that repair has since chipped away. Both gates are gone, though water still stands in the chamber. Thickets have almost hidden the lock in an overgrown stretch of the canal. It sits along a private road that follows the old towpath and leads to a recent private residence. The name probably comes from an incident similar to the one behind the "Johnny Cake Lock," about 1.5 miles north at Everett. The lock is part of the Ohio and Erie Canal, which reviewers described as important in regional development, and it has been recorded as a historic civil engineering landmark by the Ohio Council of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Significance in brief: The form treats the lock as part of the Ohio and Erie Canal, which it describes as important in regional development. It is a standard mitered-gate lock built of cut sandstone. The nickname likely comes from an incident similar to the one behind the nearby "Johnny Cake Lock."
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 79000302, listed December 11, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3.3 mi. N of Ira Rd., Ira |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | December 11, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000302 |
| 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 fair; sandstone chamber repaired with concrete around 1905, some now chipped away; both gates missing; water in the chamber; heavily overgrown with thickets. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Valley Railway Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.18555, -81.58123 (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 79000302.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q97994273
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.