Around 1833, Francis Cunningham founded the small village of Lockville. Cunningham also built the first store in Lockville. Canal boat passengers would regularly visit the saloon that he operated out of the store. In 1834, Cunningham built a grist/flour mill next to this canal lock. It was called the Lockville Mill. Water from the canal was channeled into a millrace and used to turn a waterwheel. A tailrace emptied the water back into the canal at Lock # 13.

A locktender's house was built near this canal lock. The locktender was responsible for Lock's # 11-17. The house still stands today.