Lock No. 31
Also known as: Lonesome Lock
Why it's listed
Lock No. 31, nicknamed "Lonesome Lock," is a canal lock on the Ohio & Erie Canal in Boston Township near Peninsula, Summit County, Ohio. Built between 1825 and 1827, it sits about 100 feet east of the Cuyahoga River in a secluded stretch between the former canal villages of Boston and Peninsula. The lock is a standard mitered-gate type with a chamber roughly 15 feet wide, built of cut stone and load-bearing masonry, and partly covered with concrete applied around 1905. Both gates are gone, though water remains in the chamber, and traces of a probable spillway lie close by to the southeast. Visitors can reach it only on foot after a considerable hike, and the main sound is Ohio Turnpike traffic half a mile north. Nearby Stumpy Basin, once a canal boat turnaround, is now used by Kent State University as an outdoor classroom for ecology students. The lock was listed as part of the Ohio & Erie Canal's regional importance.
Significance in brief: The lock is a surviving piece of the Ohio & Erie Canal, which reviewers described as important in regional development. It is a standard mitered-gate lock in a secluded stretch of canal between the canal villages of Boston and Peninsula. The form lists it under historic civil engineering landmark surveys.
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 79000307, listed December 11, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 200 ft. E of Cuyahoga River and approx. 0.5 mi. S of Ohio Turnpike, Peninsula |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | December 11, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000307 |
| 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) | Both gates are missing and there is water in the lock chamber. Condition is listed as good; the site is state-owned and open to the public, though reachable only on foot. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.25184, -81.54601 (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 79000307.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q97994444
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.