Beauchamp, Tanya. "Georgetown Pike History and Brochure." http://www.gfcitizens.com/

cagtpike.htm. January 10, 2000.

"Chesapeake and Ohio Canal." Encarta. CD-ROM. Redmond: Microsoft. 1996

Fairfax County Board of Education. "Great Falls National Park. http://www.eda.co.fairfax.va.us/

fceda/cvb/attractions/gfalls.htm. January 10, 2000.

"George Washington." Encarta. CD-ROM. Redmond: Microsoft. 1996

Great Falls Elementary School. "Patowmack Canal and Great Falls National Park." http://www.

fcps.k12.va.us/GreatFallsES/park.htm. January 10, 2000.

National Park Service. "Canal of the Great Falls." http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/grfa/pato.htm

National Park Service. "Great FallsPark." http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/grfa/index.htm. January

United States. Dept. of Interior. The Canals of the Potomac River. Washington, GPO, 1998

United States. Dept. of Interior. Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Washington, GPO, 1998

United States. Dept. of Interior. Great Falls Park. Washington, GPO, 1998

Construction on the Patowmack Canal (see picture #1) was a daunting task. Both here, at Great Falls, and at Little Falls (above Georgetown) required locks, a challenge for the engineers of the company. Swift currents, solid rock, and constant financial labor problems also delayed progress of the building of the canal. The construction of the canal began in 1786 and took sixteen years... six years longer than had been expected (NPS "Canals of the Great Falls"). Canal construction required engineering skills and a labor force uncommonly found in the 18th Century. Unskilled workers, skilled indentured servants, and slaves from nearby plantations made up the work force (Dpt. of Int. "The Patowmack Canal").

In 1790, an entire town grew up around the construction site of the canal to serve as headquarters for the Patowmack Company and home for the workers. The town of Matildaville was founded by "Lighthorse Harry" Lee, a Revolutionary War hero and friend of George Washington. Lee named the town for his first wife, Matilda (FCPS "Great Falls Park"). At it's height, the town consisted of the company superintendent's house (see picture #4), a market, gristmill (see picture #2), sawmill, foundry, inn (see picture #5), ice house (see picture #6), workers' barracks, boarding houses, and a dusting of small homes (Dpt. of Int. "Great Falls Park").

The opening of the canal required cooperation of both Virginia and Maryland. In 1784, George Washington convinced the Virginia and Maryland assemblies to establish a company to

HISTORY OF THE PATOWMACK CANAL AND MATILDAVILLE:

Some common words found in the essay are:
PATOWAMACK MATILDAVILLE, Guard Gate, C&O Canal, Patowmack Canal, Canals Falls, Falls Park, Potomac River, George Washington, Virginia Maryland, Patowmack Company, patowmack canal, george washington, dpt int, potomac river, chesapeake ohio canal, chesapeake ohio, ohio canal, c&o canal, int patowmack, 10 2000, virginia maryland, int patowmack canal, dpt int patowmack, washington gpo 1998, january 10 2000,
Approximate Word count = 2428
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)