Last updated: June 10, 2026
Place
Lock 25
NPS/Arrye Rosser
Quick Facts
Location:
Park at Botzum Trailhead, 2928 Riverview Road, Akron, Ohio 44067. Walk north on the Towpath Trail toward Beaver Marsh.
Significance:
Today the nearby Conrad Botzum Farmstead is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was home to five generations of family members until the last one moved away in 2024.
Designation:
Ohio and Erie Canal District; Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area; Ohio to Erie Trail; Industrial Heartland Trail Network; National Register of Historic Places (Botzum Farm)
Amenities
3 listed
Audio Description, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Wheelchair Accessible
Although Lock 25 is crumbling and only has one lock wall remaining, the stories here are still relevant. The closest business to Lock 25 was the nearby Botzum Farm, now on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1836, George and Katherine Botzum emigrated from Germany with seven children to avoid their sons being conscripted into the German army. They settled in Ohio after narrowly escaping being sold into slavery by a dishonest agent in New York City. By 1860, the extended family owned significant land in this area.
In 1876, John A. Botzum purchased what is now Botzum Farm from Richard Howe, chief construction engineer of the northern Ohio & Erie Canal. John A. Botzum was a man of multiple trades. In addition to the farm, he owned a canal boat, a sawmill, and a general store. Agricultural records from 1870 showed that John A. had a talent for raising livestock. His farm had 65 sheep and produced 500 pounds of wool, far above average. In 1883, the land transferred to Conrad Botzum. It stayed in the family until 1963. They returned when the national park leased the farmstead to Conrad’s great granddaughter, Maureen Winkleman, and her husband. From 1998 to 2024, the couple preserved and restored the farmstead as a popular wedding location.
In 1876, John A. Botzum purchased what is now Botzum Farm from Richard Howe, chief construction engineer of the northern Ohio & Erie Canal. John A. Botzum was a man of multiple trades. In addition to the farm, he owned a canal boat, a sawmill, and a general store. Agricultural records from 1870 showed that John A. had a talent for raising livestock. His farm had 65 sheep and produced 500 pounds of wool, far above average. In 1883, the land transferred to Conrad Botzum. It stayed in the family until 1963. They returned when the national park leased the farmstead to Conrad’s great granddaughter, Maureen Winkleman, and her husband. From 1998 to 2024, the couple preserved and restored the farmstead as a popular wedding location.