HISTORY OF CASCADE LOCKS

1826

A historical black and white illustration of a small town with roads, houses, trees, industrial buildings, and hilly terrain.

Built during 1826 and 27, the Cascade Locks became the site of the city's first industrial valley. The same topography that presented an obstacle for the canal builders provided waterpower for a string of industries that soon lined the canal. This new village, founded by Dr. Eliakim Crosby, with help from Simon Perkins, was called Cascade.

The Cascade Locks were constructed of huge blocks of sandstone, sawed and chiseled to shape. The locks have a width of 15 feet, and they are up to 90 feet long. The source of canal water is the Portage Lakes.

1832

A colorful painting of a small town with a waterway, where several boats are docked along the river. There are buildings with red-tiled roofs, a factory with a tall chimney, and a lush green landscape with trees and rolling hills surrounding the town.

Parallel to the canal, was the Cascade Race, built in 1832 by Eliakim Crosby. It was this separate mill race which turned the water wheels of the Cascade Mills along with several other flour mills, a woolen mill, a furniture factory, five iron furnaces, a distillery, and other early Akron industries.

1840

Black and white photo of historic industrial buildings with a large sign reading "F. Schumacher Mfg. Co. Cascade Mills."

The first building constructed on the project site was The Cascade Grist Mill, it was built by in 1840 by William Mitchell.

1861

A man wearing a hat and suit standing outdoors next to a large machine or piece of equipment, possibly historical or industrial, with a stone wall and metal staircase in the background.

Ferdinand Schumacher secured a contract to supply rolled oats to the Union Army which launched his career as a cereal entrepreneur.

1868

Historic black and white photo of industrial buildings including a mill labeled 'Cascade Mills' and a Schumacher Milling Company building, with a tall smokestack and surrounding trees.

Ferdinand Schumacher purchased the Cascade Grist Mill in 1868. By 1876 he had invested heavily in the structure by constructing a state-of-the-art water power system, including a 36 foot "overshot" wheel.

1879

A train traveling on a bridge over a river with trees and a blue sky in the background.

A wooden trestle was constructed by the Valley Line Railroad and is currently traveled by the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

1881

Black and white photo of Aetna Mills, a large brick mill building, with smoke coming from a chimney, surrounded by horses, carts, and people.

Aetna Mills sat on Lock 10 at the southern end of the Cascade Locks. The mill was operated on waterpower until it converted to steam power in 1881.

1900

A peaceful river scene with trees, a boat docked near the shore, and two women walking along the riverbank with a horse-drawn carriage.

By the end of the century, the only common freight traffic on the Ohio & Erie was coal for the boilers of Lake Erie steamboats. Nevertheless, there arose a move to restore the canal for excursion trade; and in 1906 and 07, a contract was let to the Daley Brothers to accomplish the project. To preserve the 15-foot width of the channel, the Daley workers chipped back the sandstone blocks about a foot deep and then cast a heavy waterproofing barrier of concrete into this wall cavity They also built many new gates.

1913

Old black-and-white photo of a construction site with uneven ground, a trench, and some buildings in the background.

The Great Flood of 1913 was one of the worst natural disasters in Ohio history. The Akron area received over 9 inches of rain during the week of March 23, 1913. Falling on still frozen ground, the rain could not be absorbed, causing flooding of lakes, rivers, and streams. The Cascade Locks area suffered severe damage to businesses, roads, and bridges. Many homes washed completely away. To relieve the pressure from backed up water, some of the locks were dynamited. The damage was beyond repair. The Conservancy Act of Ohio in 1914 set up conservancy districts to promote construction of water control systems and prevent the type of destruction that occurred in the flood.

1923

Old black and white photo of a building with a chimney, damaged staircase with a large wheel, and a person walking nearby.

Schumacher Mills in ruins after the flood and the ravages of time.

1989

Black and white photo of an old, weathered wooden house with broken and boarded-up windows.

The City of Akron procured the Mustill home and store property for $24,350 under Mayor Don Plusquellic’s leadership.

Cascade Locks Park Association was founded by Virginia Wojno-Forney, Douglas Hausknecht, Progress for Preservation among other dedicated community supporters.

Congressman John Seiberling, the primary driving force behind the creation of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, suggested the organization’s name.

1990

A small stone arch bridge built over a shallow waterway, with bricks and stones around it, possibly under construction or in a rustic setting.

Stone Arch at Lock 14 discovered and saved through the efforts of local canal and preservations groups, including Cascade Locks Park Association, Ohio Canal Society, Progress Through Preservation, Summit County Historical Society and the OCCC. The arch was carefully numbered and dismantled for relocation in the Cascade Locks Park.

1992

Construction site with a concrete bridge over a creek, a large electrical transmission tower, and lush green trees in the background.

The Cascade Locks Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the Department of the Interior.

1996

Map of northern Ohio showing Cleveland and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park extending southward through Akron, with highways and Lake Erie to the north.

The Ohio & Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor was designated by Congress in 1996, guided by the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition and partners like CLPA. Today, the corridor fuels a shared sense of place and regional revitalization, supported by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and county park districts working together to steward the cultural and natural resources that tell our collective story.

2000

White building with a porch, signs reading "GROCERIES & PROVISIONS" and "MEAT MARKET," American flags, and two people standing on the porch, surrounded by greenery.

 The two-year restoration of Fred and Emma Mustill’s home and store was completed and a grand re-opening celebration was held on July 2.

2002

Sign about the Mustill Site in Ohio, detailing its history and significance.

Historical marker for the Mustill Site and Cascade Valley installed in celebration of Ohio’s 2003 bicentennial.

2005

Site plan for the Schumacher Cascade Mills Project, dated September 28, 2006, showing a park with walking paths, a pond, a playground, wooded areas, parking lot, and surrounding streets North Street and Foord Street.

The Master Plan for Cascade Locks Park was completed, paving the way for major improvements across the district. Local artist and cartoonist Chuck Ayers began designing the Schumacher Wheel interpretation, adding a signature artistic element to the plan. These efforts contributed to more than $100 million in city, park, and community investment, largely from 2000-2007.

2006

Construction machinery working on a muddy area in a forested landscape with trees showing fall colors.

Construction begins on Cascade Locks Park, instrumental to Cascade Valley and Howard Street revitalization efforts. What was rocky, unpassable terrain was morphed into a usable public space.

2009

A large red Ferris wheel model with white buildings in the center, displayed outdoors on a brick and concrete base, with informational plaques, a park bench, green grass, trees, a bridge, and power lines in the background.

The $1.5 million project at Cascade Locks Park was completed, opening public access to a new stretch of the Towpath Trail and unveiling the Schumacher Wheel interpretation.

Cascade Locks Park Association celebrates 30 years.

2018

A man in a black jacket and gray pants standing next to a colorful metal sculpture of abstract plant shapes, situated in a park with brick pathways and a picnic area.

The Mustill Store is recognized as Akron’s Hottest Hidden Treasure at the ASCVB Zenith Awards.

Sculptor Mike Marras’ piece, Together We Grow, is installed, adding a new artistic landmark to the site.

Major investments in the former Swinehart Tire Factory were completed, and the Trailhead and Lock 15 Brewery opened—bringing weddings to the Mustill Store.

The Cascade Locks Memorial Garden was established to honor Lynn Metzger, Jack Gieck, and Bruce Norton for their lasting contributions to CLPA.

2023

Paintings of historical figures and scenes from American history displayed in a window of a white wooden building with a gabled roof, surrounded by trees and greenery.

Michael Gearhart’s portrait of Akron’s leaders is seasonally installed on the Mustill Store’s exterior for the first time.

2025

Poster for an oatmeal festival featuring live music and good food, scheduled for October 11 from 12 to 5 PM at Cascade Locks Park. The poster has a green background with pink lettering and depicts a man wearing a crown.

The inaugural Oatmeal Festival brings over 1,200 people to Cascade Valley and inspires street calming techniques on West North Street, improving safety and more connectivity between the north and south sides of the park.