Coal River Lockmaster's house

Coal River Locks and Dams and Log Booms (Historic District) - c.1855 (1997).  With the discovery of coal in Boone County in the 1850’s, a series of locks and dams were built on Coal River from Coalsmouth to Peytona. Cannel coal was shipped by steamboat to Cincinnati where the greasy coal was refined to make fuel oil for lamps (coal oil). Passengers also traveled the packet boats daily. The Coal River could be traveled nearly 30 miles up stream to Peytona. A record flood in 1861 nearly wiped out these stone and log locks. Today, only one complete dam remains at Tornado. It was rebuilt to operate a gristmill. The lockmaster’s house, built in 1855, remains in town near lock one, but the lock is now under water.The Coal River & Western R.R. once pasted near the home (1906-1927) and R.R. ties have been recovered. Another lockmaster's house is located in Tornado at Lock site #3.