His father had helped with the canal construction, and his grandson has lived in the house and operated an onsite concession stand into the 21st century.

[4] Portions of the canal (close to Georgetown) began operating in the 1830s, and construction ended in 1850 without reaching the Ohio River.

By 1859, about 83 canal boats per week were transporting coal, grain, flour, and farm products to Washington and Georgetown.

Starting in Baltimore and adding line westward, the B&O Railroad eventually reached the Ohio River and beyond, while the C&O Canal never went beyond Cumberland in Western Maryland.

[1] An economic depression during the mid-1870s, and major floods in 1877 and 1886, put a financial strain on the C&O Canal Company.

[12] The flood damage, combined with continued competition from railroads and trucks, caused the shutdown to be permanent.

[8] Work on Lock 21 began in July 1829 and was completed in October 1830 at a cost of $8,327.76 (equivalent to $238,278 in 2023).

[16] On August 7, 1830, an individual listed only as "Fuller" was recommended and approved as lock keeper (a.k.a.

His annual compensation was $50 (equivalent to $1,431 in 2023) with the additional benefits of the use of the lock house and the right to use the canal company's land, which was typically used for farming.

[17] By June 1832, a 22-mile (35 km) section of the canal was operating between Georgetown and Seneca, which included Lock 21.

Repairs to the house included an addition that had a main floor one foot (0.30 m) lower than the original portion.

[34] The C&O Canal Company eventually transitioned to canal-owned boats—forcing the Swains to leave the shipping business.

[37] A partial list of canal employees shows a dozen workers named Swain, and many of them were boat captains and a few were lock tenders.

[41] One of Jesse's sons, Otho Oliver Swain, was born on a boat, worked as a boatman, and is thought to be the author of a folk song about the canal.

Before the canal closed to boat traffic, it began transitioning to a place for outdoor recreation.

The Swain family continued living at the lock and carried on this transition after the closing by providing canoes for rent.

At that time Frederick "Bubba" Swain and his mother Virginia took over the family business at the lock.

[40] Family members continued to live at the lock and run the concession stand until 2006, when it was turned over to the National Park Service.

[52] The lock has restrooms, parking, picnic tables, and limited tent camping.