The Haunted Canals of Ohio

November 21, 8:24 PMCleveland Haunted Places ExaminerKaty Robinson

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The Ohio and Erie Canal in 1902.

Photo is public domain.

     Ohio’s canals are rich with history. The Ohio and Erie Canal, which runs through parts of northeast Ohio, is perhaps the most well known in the area. Built in the 1820s, the canal connected Lake Erie to the Ohio River. The waterway allowed Ohio’s industries to grow through trade.
     It didn’t take long for new technology to replace the historic canal. After the rise of railroads in the late 1800s, the waterway slowly began to fall into disuse. Many sections of the canal are now part of national parks and trails throughout northeast Ohio, including Cleveland and Akron.
     There is a popular saying about the canal. “For every mile of the canal, an Irishman is buried.” Many builders of the waterway were Irish immigrants. Disease was easily spread in the tough working conditions in the canal, and many workers perished during the canal’s construction. The workers are said to be buried around the canal in unmarked graves.
     The most famous canal haunting is Lock 4, located in Canal Fulton. A man is rumored to have killed workers by pouring acid on them before taking his own life. His vengeful spirit may roam the area around the canal. Paranormal activity at Lock 4 includes reports of cold spots and feeling watched. There is also a warehouse located along the bank of the canal that has its share of hauntings.
     There is a section of the Ohio and Erie Canal in Valley View, Ohio that is supposedly haunted by a soldier looking for his lost love. The woman he loves waits on the other side of the canal, waiting for him to come home.
     East Liverpool has a canal story as well. A child allegedly died near the canal in Beaver Creek State Park, and she can be seen and heard crying at night.
     Yet another haunted canal is Lusk’s Lock in Rogers, Ohio. A former canal builder haunts the historic lock, continuing on with his work that is long since complete.
     Every state has its historic aspects, and for Ohio, its extensive canal system remains slated in the history books. What the books don’t mention is the spirits that linger long after the history is over.