Lock 34 was known as Red Lock, but the reason why isn't known for sure. It is
thought that the gates may have been painted red at one time. The name may also
refer to the abundance of red clay in the area. The lock is unwatered today
except for the standing water in the lock chamber. The towpath, as it does
today, passed on the west side of the lock. The spillway tumble was upstream a
bit and led to a long spillway that ran along the east side of the lock to a
basin farther north. According to the Silliman Survey, Vaughn road passed over
the north end of the lock instead of south of it as it does today. The bridge
ends are still visible at the river. The Red Lock is located on Vaughn Road in
the area known as Jaite. The Jaite property was between the canal and river
south of the lock.
During the construction of the Ohio Canal a small mound was
excavated at the exact location at what was to be lock 34, the "Red Lock", They
came upon several burials and and the remains of an old French "trade gun"
bearing a metal plate carrying a very early inscribed date. This was one of the
few discoveries of trade goods of the early era.
More history on Red Lock is that of Jim Brown, a well known
Counterfeiter from Boston Township. His operations were confined largely to the
counterfeiting of gold coins. His exploits continued for a long period of time
and included some of the most daring escapes from the clutches of the law. His
death occurred on the Ohio Canal near the scene of many of his escapes. In
attempt to elude capture he jumped the gate beam of the lock to a deck of a
packet boat that had just reached the low level in the lock and died from the
injuries received from the jump. Although only hearsay, this lock is said to be
Red Lock.
