"Twenty Five miles to nowhere". This is how a reporter described this canal, and it was quite accurate. This was because the proposed extensions to the canal never materialized. Construction of the canal was authorized in 1836. Extensions were under consideration in 1838.

Route

The Walhonding Canal followed the Walhonding River, first known as White Woman's River. It was formed by the junction of the Vernon and Mohican Rivers.Construction started in 1837 and the canal was opened in 1841 two years after the proposed opening of October 1839. Each year of construction costs continued to increase. The Board of Public Works continually lobbied for the extensions to be authorized. One was an extension of 23 miles along the Mohican, the other, an extension of 21 miles along the Vernon. All their efforts were to no avail and by 1844 all hope of an extension was given up.
The Walhonding Canal ran from Roscoe, at a junction with the Ohio & Erie Canal in the Lower Basin. The canal was of the same dimensions as the Ohio & Erie Canal and locks were 110 feet long by 15 feet wide. Locks on the Walhonding were called by name rather than their numbers as was the custom on the other Ohio canals. The practice was discouraged by the installation on the locks of number plates but the practice continued. Some of the locks were, Mohican Guard, # 13; Fry's. # 10; Gamble's, # 9; Warsaw, # 7; Crawford's, # 6; Walhonding River Crossing, # 5; Feeder Lock, # 4. Most were named after a community or mill close by.
The canal was supplied with water from a dam 6 miles above Roscoe. the dam also provided the tow path to cross from the right to the left bank of the river. This was called Six-Mile Dam. The head of the canal 23 1/2 miles above Roscoe was supplied from another dam across the Mohican River. This dam provided water for the canal stretch all the way to Six-Mile Dam and provided a slackwater navigation 1 1/2 miles up river to Rochester.
The full potential of the 90 foot drop in water was never realized or utilized by the businesses along the canal. There was potential to operate 95 pairs of mill stones but only a few mills operated along the canal.

Demise

Lack of traffic and the failure to build the extensions led to neglect of the canal. Several attempts were made by railroads to purchase the canal but all fell through and the canal was made navigable again for a time. Finally in 1889, the Pennsylvania Company, organized the " Walhonding Valley Railroad Company" to run from Coshocton to Loudonville. Later consolidated with "Northwestern Railroad Company" to form the "Toledo, Walhonding Valley & Ohio Railroad Company" the line was completed in 1893. The line used some canal property between Roscoe and Six- Mile Dam.
The Walhonding Canal was officially abandoned by the state in 1896, but the railroad continued operating until 1936 when part of it was disposed of to make room for the Mohawk Dam and the rest was abandoned.