The State of Ohio promised the 6 men that leased the Lockville section of the canal good fortune. However, all that awaited them was costly canal repairs. This canal lock collapsed, causing the canal to run low and the canal boats to back up all the way to the Licking Reservoir. Although the Civil War was raging, money was short, and canal traffic was low, those 6 men managed to finance and rebuild this canal lock. Once repaired, the canal was re-opened, but canal boats were few and far between.

Samuel Rowe operated a small store near this canal lock. Rowe was hired as a captain and he operated several canal boats over the years. Seven of his ten children were actually born on canal boats. Rowe was well known by many people as "Rowdy". If taunted, he would immediately fight any man. Negotiations were not an option with him.

One frigid morning, the Rowe Family was eating breakfast aboard their canal boat. A man stopped outside to feed his horses their morning oats. While the horses were eating, a women rode by and spooked them. One of the horses kicked up a frozen piece of mud and it flew through the canal boat's window. Rowe's daughter, Maggie, was hit directly in the eye. Furious, Rowe got up without saying a word and rushed off after the man. Rowe quickly laid the man out after finding him.

Mr. Brown operated a shop near this canal lock. Brown built a large amount of barrels for Cunningham's mill and Mithoff's Distillery. The tailrace from Cunningham's mill emptied the water back into the canal at this location.