Lock No. 34
Also known as: Red Lock
Why it's listed
Lock No. 34, nicknamed the "Red Lock," is a canal lock on the Ohio & Erie Canal in Sagamore Hills, Summit County, Ohio. It sits on the north side of Highland Road, just east of the Cuyahoga River and near the Jaite Paper Mill. Built between 1825 and 1827, it is a standard mitered-gate lock of cut stone, with a chamber about 15 feet wide. The masonry was repaired with concrete around 1905. It belongs to the stretch of canal between Akron and Cleveland that opened on July 4, 1827, where 41 locks over 35 miles handled a 395-foot drop. One local history gives the name "Red Lock," though its origin is unexplained; another writer recorded that lock woodwork and sluices were painted Indian red. Today both gates are missing, the canal bed is dry, though water remains in the chamber, and the stonework is deteriorated. Thickets nearly hide the lock, and the surrounding land has been used for dumping.
Significance in brief: The lock is part of the section of the Ohio & Erie Canal between Akron and Cleveland, which opened July 4, 1827. That stretch dropped 395 feet through 41 locks in 35 miles. The inventory notes the canal's importance 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 79000310, listed December 17, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Highland Rd., Sagamore Hills |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | December 17, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000310 |
| 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) | Fair condition; both gates are missing, the canal is dry at this point though water stands in the chamber, stonework and concrete are deteriorated, and the site is overgrown and used as a dumping ground. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Jaite Mill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.28923, -81.56448 (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 79000310.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q97994458
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.