C&O Canal Locks #21 (Swains), #22 (Pennyfield) & #23 (Violettes) and Dam #2

#21: (Satellite)

#22: (Satellite)

#23: (Satellite)

Inlet Lock: (Satellite)

Dam #2: (Satellite)

C&O Canal Overview

Lock #21 (Swains)

Metrotrails posted

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal at Swains Lock, lock 21, Montgomery County Maryland. The lock was also once known as Oak Spring Lock, for a spring in the hillside to the east. 

The stone lock house originally looked more similar to others in the area, but the upstream side was removed and extended upon, probably after one of the big floods.

Jesse Swain was lock tender here when the canal closed in 1924. Members of the Swain had worked on the canal from its early construction right up to its 21st century closure.

Lauren Hunter, Nov 2021

Lock #22 (Pennyfield)

Alex PennCove Tucker, Oct 2020

Mike Rafatjah, May 2024

Lock #23 (Violettes)

Metrotrails posted

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Inlet Lock 2, adjacent to Lock 23 (to the left), also known as Violette's Lock, Montgomery County Maryland.

The lock takes its name from Alfred "Alf" Violette, last lock tender in the operating period of the canal until 1924. His wife Kate was lock tender in 1938 when the property was in receivership, probably just as property caretaker.

This area was temporarily the head of navigation on the canal, and was named Rushville for Richard Rush, one time Secretary of Treasury, whose work helped the canal financially.

A frame lock house built in 1930 stood on the berm side but burned in 1930. There was another reportedly log lock house in 1939. Uncertain if it was another pre-existing structure perhaps for the inlet lock.

The canal below the lock was restored and rewatered by the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1938 to 42, although some sections have deteriorated.

 Also here was Dam #2, now just rubble remnants. It provided water to some 17 miles of canal downstream, as well as a river lock for smaller craft to navigate through this part of the river. 

Even though the dam is in ruins, it still creates a slack water pool about five feet deep upstream.

This shows the relationship between Lock #23 and the Inlet Lock. The Potomac River is in the lower-left corner.

Satellite

Sashi, Jun 2020