Cross Country from New York to Arizona – Pennsylvania to Ohio

We left Fox Den Acres Campground in New Stanton PA this morning under cloudy skies and intermittent drizzle. We saw several wild turkey in the field next to our site, but I could not get a clear picture. Oh, how we love nature!

On Route 119, you cross the Connellsville Memorial Bridge. It is the structure that crosses the Youghiogheny River for vehicle traffic. The bridge was constructed in 1952 as part of a new routing of US Route 119 on a four-lane highway around the city center. The road was reconstructed again, to accommodate improved pedestrian walkways. The walkways were widened as part of a future plan to connect the Great Allegheny Passage to an extension of the small Coal & Coke Trail.

Friendship Hill National Historic Site, which once belonged to Albert Gallatin, a Swiss-American whose name is often overlooked in the history of our country, but whose accomplishments are celebrated at his estate. He was the Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Jefferson and Madison, made significant contributions in finance, politics, diplomacy and scholarship. The woodsy entrance to the estate soon clears to provide an ample, paved parking area (including space for buses and RVs) restrooms, hiking areas, a gazebo and a picnic areas.

We quietly crossed from Pennsylvania into West Virginia. No fanfare, no big sign naming the Governor of the state … just two small metal signs. One providing the history of West Virginia and the second providing information about the Mason – Dixon line. As Paul Harvey would say … “the rest of the story” … in 1767, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon complete their survey of the boundary between the colonies of Pennsylvania and Maryland as well as areas that would eventually become the states of Delaware and West Virginia. 

Once we entered West Virginia, US 50 winds and climbs through the mountain ranges. Many signs along the road show recommended speed limits of 20 mph and 30 mph. There were more switchbacks than we could count and Route 119 South in West Virginia reminds us of 219 South in New York …. thump, bump, thump, bump, thump … We decided to move onto a four lane for a bit. We picked up Interstate 68 South onto Interstate 79 West to avoid the very rough sections of 119 South.

Prickett's Fort State Park is a more than 20-acre West Virginia State Park near the meeting of Prickett's Creek and the Monongahela River. The park features a reconstructed refuge fort and commemorates life on the Virginia frontier during the late 18th century. The fort was built to defend early European settlers from raids by hostile Native Americans, a portion of whose territory the settlers appropriated after the Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768.  We have visited and blogged about Fort Stanwix, as it is a New York landmark!

We got back on Route 50 near Clarksburg and moved almost due west. We left West Virginia and crossed into Ohio on the bridge over the Ohio River, following Route 50. Route 32 intersects Route 50 and they run together for a while. 

It was along this route that we found the Healing Chapel, it is also known as the smallest Church in Ohio. It is only 10 feet x 14 feet. There are 4 pews that will seat 8 and room for 2 more to stand in the back. The red carpets welcomes quiet footsteps. There are no Sunday services nor does it have a pastor. The smallest church in Ohio, with its white steeple and bell at the top, is a non-denominational church open to all.

I have visited and researched mounds in the pan-handle of Florida, but never knew that they could be found in other locations! The Seip Mound State Memorial Park is located on Route 50. It is one of the five non-contiguous sites that make up the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. The other four sites are Hopeton Earthworks, Hopewell Mound Group, High Banks Works, and the Mound City Group. Native Americans belonging to the Hopewell tradition constructed this mound sometime between 100 B.C. – A.D. 400. At a number of sites in Ohio, Native Americans of this era constructed earthen walls in the shape of immense, geometric shapes, typically consisting of two circular figures and a square. Local farmers leveled most of the wall to create fields. However two huge, elliptical mounds remained intact until archaeologists excavated them in the 1920s. When I say that the mounds were excavated, I mean that archaeologist completely dug them up and sifted through the dirt to remove artifacts and skeletal remains. So the mound that you now see when visiting this site is actually a reconstruction of Seip Earthwork’s largest mound.

We happened to drive past a sign that said "Bainbridge Home of the First Dental School in the United States." It looks like it is located in a very small non-descriptive white brick house on a corner lot on Route 50. We did not stop or tour it. Research shows that it was an actual practice run by Dr John Harris in the early 1800's.

We stopped for the night at Shady Trails Family Campground in Hillsboro Ohio. It is a family run campground with 4 very nice and long pull-through sites for overnight stays. They also have 8 back-in overnight sites. There is a Dollar General store within walking distance to the campgrounds.

As for taking an RV on Route 50 in West Virginia ... I am not sure I would recommend that, the scenery is beautiful, but the thump, thump, thump does out weights that!