A long blast on a tin horn followed by the boatman's shout of "Hey-ey-ey! Lock! Aw, Lock!" summoned the lock-keeper to duty. Lock-keepers were hired to "attend constantly and diligently by day and night," during the nine month boating season. They operated their locks, helped the boats through, kept the canal clear of debris, and made minor repairs.

In the 1830's the wage for operating one lock was one hundred fifty dollars a year plus the use of a four room lockhouse and an acre of land for a vegetable garden. It was canal company policy to hire "stable" married men with large families, whose children could provide extra help. In 1835, the canal's Board of Directors ruled against hiring women as lock-keepers because of the strenuous work. An exception was Elizabeth Burgess who was made tender of Lock No. 11 "providing that she hire a capable assistant."

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Show me all markers in:  Cabin John, MD  |  Montgomery County  |  20818  |  Maryland  |  United States of America

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