Lock No. 27
Also known as: Johnny Cake Lock
Why it's listed
Lock No. 27, called the Johnny Cake Lock, is a canal lock on the Ohio and Erie Canal in the village of Everett, Summit County, Ohio. Built between 1825 and 1827, it is a standard mitered-gate lock with a chamber 90 feet long and 15 feet wide, built of cut sandstone and repaired with concrete around 1905. Both gates are now missing, and the chamber holds some water, though the canal is dry south of Peninsula. An original piece of hardware, probably the wrought iron collar bearing that held the oak gate post, remains in the east lock wall at the south end. The name comes from a local tradition that in spring 1828 a flood in Furnace Run swept into the canal and halted navigation. Crews and passengers were stranded at the stopover then known as Unionville and were reduced to a diet of johnnycake for several days. The lock is owned by a metropolitan park district and is included in the Ohio and Erie Canal thematic group.
Significance in brief: The lock is a surviving example of the canal's standard mitered-gate lock design, with original gate hardware still in the east wall. Its name comes from a local tradition about a flood in 1828 that stopped navigation and left stranded crews and passengers eating johnnycake. It is part of the Ohio and Erie Canal thematic group, which a reviewer noted as important in regional development.
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 79000303, listed December 11, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Approx. 400 ft. E of intersection of Riverview and Everett Rds., Everett |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | December 11, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000303 |
| 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 listed as fair; both gates are missing, there is some water in the chamber, and the canal is dry south of Peninsula. The lock was repaired with concrete around 1905. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Valley Railway Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.20308, -81.57065 (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 79000303.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q97994406
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.