ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi nˈaɪn, kənstɹˈʌkʃən bɪɡˈæn ˌɔn ɐ sˈɪstəm ʌv lˈɑːks ænd dˈæmz tə ɹˈɛndɚ ðə kɹˈiːk nˈævɪɡəbəl ˌʌp tə θɹˈiː lˈɑːɹdʒ mˈɪlz ɪnðə lˈaʊdaʊn vˈæli ɔnðə lˈɪɾəl ɹˈɪvɚ, nˈɔːɹθ fˈɔːɹk ænd mˈeɪn kɹˈiːk bˈɛd.
In 1849, construction began on a system of locks and dams to render the creek navigable up to three large mills in the Loudoun Valley on the Little River, North Fork and main creek bed.