Photos: IDNR conducts controlled burn at an historic lockhouse on the Hennepin Canal near Wyanet

An historic lockhouse on the Hennepin Canal at Lock 21 was burned down on Monday Feb. 7, 2022 about a mile west of Wyanet. Illinois Department of Natural Resources conducted the controlled burn. Wyanet and Princeton fire departments responded to the fire about 10:30a.m. to keep the blaze under control. While the canal was active, there were employed lock masters who lived in the on-site residence to open and close the locks and raise the bridges. Today, very few lockhouses exist on the canal. (Scott Anderson)