Counties

Below is a complete listing of all Ohio Historical Markers. To find a detailed marker listing including text, photographs, and locations, click on a county below. Our listing is updated by the markers program as new markers are installed and older markers are reported damaged or missing.

29-25 Historic Lockbourne

Side A: Anticipating a boom in canal commerce, Colonel James Kilbourne (1770-1850) platted Lockbourne in 1831 at the junction of the Ohio-Erie Canal and the Columbus Feeder, which was completed the same year. Lockbourne derives its name from the numerous canal locks at this site and Kilbourne’s own surname. During the heyday of the canal era, Lockbourne boasted the Canal House Hotel, several taverns, a stock yard, a distillery, a sawmill, and a gristmill which used the head of water at Lock 30 for power. (continued on other side)
Side B: (continued from other side) The Monypeny distillery, for many years Lockbourne’s largest industry, produced 100 barrels of whiskey a day and was located at the east end of town. The distillery owned two canal boats, the Magnolia and the Cruiser. At the intersection of the main canal and the Columbus feeder stood a transfer warehouse for transshipping freight between boats. Howlett’s Mill was built as a canal warehouse at the west end of Commerce Street in 1842 and converted to a gristmill in 1863. Construction of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad grade obliterated Lock 28, the north canal basin, and the distillery site.
Sponsors: Martin Marietta Aggregates, The Lockbourne Heritage Society, and The Ohio Historical Society
Address: 85 Commerce Street, 
Lockbourne, 
OH, 
43217
Location: In a small playground beside the Village Police Department.
Latitude: 39.8091730
Longitude: -82.9683040