I have a good ole' mule and her name is Sal, 15 years on the Erie Canal

Goods and Supplies where moved along a network of canals built, in this case between lake Erie and the Ohio River. The locks where built by man and beast at the cost of about one human life per mile, lost to the toil of digging a trench 30' wide and three feet deep. Lakes where also built to capture rain water to replenish water lost in the canals.
Here is a lock used to lower or raise canal boats in transit. It was hand operated by the boat crew. The mule toe path is on the far side.

OSHA and PETA never would have allowed this; not to mention the EPA and those noxious mule emmisions. Ah, progress. Thanks for reminding us of those who built this nation and gave us places to ride.

Have you considered a trip to Coshocton where you can see a living history tour of an 1800's era canal town called Roscoe Village? It is about 1.5 hours south of Akron and the same east of Columbus.

I have been to rocs village. They have a section of canal that you can take a ride on a canal boat. It was such a peaceful form of travel a 3MPH.