Canal water was an important ingredient in the production of "C.F. Wenner's Choice Family Flour." Brunswick businessman Charles F. Wenner drew surplus water from the canal near Lock 30 to power the wheels and turbines of his flour mill. Wenner was one of several 19th century entrepreneurs who expanded the use of the C&O Canal beyond navigational purposes. Along the canal other businessmen built mills that processed items such as corn, wheat, cotton, and lime.
The mills served as the foundation of many communities that formed along the canal. Towns grew and prospered as other businesses including stores, warehouses, and lumber yards opened to provide services. Gradually people became attached to the way of life that evolved around the canal. Although some towns, like Brunswick, survived the demise of the canal in 1924, many people never regained the sense of community that the waterway forged. They mourned not only the loss of a convenient transportation route and power source, but also their dying heritage.