The first thing we did was take a tour around Pennsylvania
side of Pymatuning State Park.
The Pennsylvania side of the state park covers just shy
of 22,000 acres. It is the largest state park in Pennsylvania and contains the
17,088 acres of Pymatuning Lake, three-quarters of which is in Pennsylvania and
one-quarter is in Ohio. A three-mile causeway extends between Pennsylvania and
Ohio near the center of the lake. There are two natural areas, 161 acre Clark
Island and Blackjack (725 acres) in the park. The park is also home to the University
of Pittsburgh's Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology. Like all Pennsylvania state
parks, admission to the Pymatuning is free. There are 3 active campgrounds and
a forth that is closed, but going to be renovated soon, with a grant. Almost
everything about Pymatuning State Park is big. At 16,892 acres, it is one of
the largest state parks in the commonwealth. The 17,088-acre Pymatuning
Reservoir is the largest lake in the commonwealth. Pymatuning is one of the
most visited state parks in Pennsylvania.
Lake Pymatuning Reservoir is a man-made lake in Crawford
County, Pennsylvania and Ashtabula County, Ohio in the United States, on land
that was once a very large swamp. The first known inhabitants were the Mound
builders. Two of their mounds were flooded by the creation of Pymatuning Lake.
The Lenape were living in the area when European settlers first came there. The
lake is named for the chief who lived in the area at the time, Pihmtomink. The
Lenape were pushed out of the area by the Seneca tribe, a member of the
Iroquois Confederacy. The Seneca were defeated by General Anthony Wayne's
forces during the Northwest Indian War and left the area under the terms of the
Treaty of Greenville. This treaty marked the end of Native Americans inhabiting
the area. The first settlers to the area were farmers, whose life was not easy,
as the land was very swampy and very difficult to reclaim. Farm animals that
wandered off were often lost in the quicksands of the swamp, or fell prey to
predators like foxes, bears and mountain lions. The swamps were infested with
mosquitoes that brought yellow fever to the settlers.
The lake holds 64.3 billion gallons of water, over a
length of 17 miles with a width of 1.6 miles at the widest and 70 miles of
shoreline, with a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake has served to provide a
water supply for the Shenango and Beaver valleys, it has lessened the damage
caused by floods, and provided recreation for the people of Ohio and
Pennsylvania. Two state parks, each named "Pymatuning State Park",
are on the lake in Ohio and Pennsylvania. A scenic 2-mile-long causeway bridge
spans the middle of the lake, connecting the towns of Espyville on the
Pennsylvania side of the lake and Andover on the Ohio side. The bridge is crowned
in the middle, with tall pillars and broad ducts underneath to allow lake water
to flow freely across the reservoir, and to permit the passage of sailboats and
other pleasure craft travelling from one half of the lake to the other. The
Pennsylvania portion also has a spillway separating the (higher) upstream-most
portion of the lake from the rest.
The gatehouse is a fixture on the lake in Pymatuning
State Park, it is the largest man-made lake in the state. It is a favorite spot
for outdoor enthusiasts and others who enjoy fishing, boating, swimming,
camping, and spotting wildlife among the lake’s picturesque vistas. It isn't
hard to understand why the reservoir at Pymatuning is a popular destination for
both visitors and wildlife. Along the south end of the lake is the dam and
gatehouse, which control flooding in the Shenango River basin.
Pennsylvania first approached the idea of constructing
a dam in 1911. Two years later, a flood resulted in several deaths and
approximately $3 million in damages. Funding issues pushed the dam’s
construction until the early 1930s, but it finally opened in 1934. The
stone-and-concrete gatehouse is almost medieval in appearance, with a main
tower and a smaller entrance capped with pyramidal-shaped roofs separated by a
footbridge.
We found the Bat Hotel in the park, but we did not see
any bats. Why a bat house in the State Park? Bats are constantly on the prowl
for suitable alternate roosts. If bats can be seen occasionally at dusk, then
likely the area will support a bat house. The box should be placed at least ten
feet above the ground in an open area orientated south-southeast where it
receives at least seven hours of direct sun. The box will be more attractive to
bats if it is within 1,500 feet of a permanent stream or pond. Bats need a
drink on very hot summer days, and the fresh water guarantees a nearby feeding
zone. Habitat diversity will also attract bats. A combination of forests,
clearings, and wetlands will produce different types of insect activity at
different times throughout the summer, assuring a constant supply of food. The
box should be within 10-30 yards of a tree line to provide quick cover from predators,
such as owls.
We traveled into Jamestown, but it is a pretty small
town with a Dollar General and a few restaurants. The biggest draw to Jamestown
is the tourist attraction Pymatuning Deer Park.
We drove to North Kingsville, Ohio to see where Brian
& Janet camp for the summer. We found it and it is truly steps from Lake
Erie. After we made our reservations for Wednesday night, we headed to Lake
Erie.
We were driving on Route 531, which is also part of
Lake Erie Circle Tour, Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail and the Great Lakes Circle
Tour. Lake Erie Circle Tour circles the second-smallest Great Lake for 629-mile,
spanning four US states and the Canadian province of Ontario in the process.
The Lake Erie Circle Tour is the most recent of the four designated Great Lakes
Circle Tours, being signed in 1990. The Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail is an
America’s scenic byway which weaves along the southern shore of Lake Erie for
293 miles, connecting many of these destinations between Toledo and Conneaut. Lake
Erie is Ohio’s greatest resource and Lake Erie Coastal Ohio supports providing
travelers with access to its beaches, parks, preserves, lighthouses, islands,
historical sites, adventure sites, quaint villages, and big cities.
The Great Lakes tour is a circle road trip route
through the United States and Canada to scenic destinations along Lakes
Superior, Michigan, Huron, Ontario, and Erie.
The Great Lakes Circle Tour is a total of four routes circling each of
the Great Lakes with the exception of Lake Ontario. These routes were conceived
as an aid for travelers who wished to stick close to the shorelines of the
lakes in their journeys. Since their creation, however, the Circle Tours have
seen varying levels of success and waning support from the Great Lakes
Commission has left their continued existence in the hands of the individual
jurisdictions. Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio still sign and maintain
their portions of the Circle Tour routes, while signage Minnesota, Ontario and
Pennsylvania is now less than complete or even missing in some areas.
Ashtabula Lighthouse is located near the northern end
of the west breakwater in Ashtabula Harbor. Though the current lighthouse is
more than a century old, it is not the first to stand watch over the harbor.
This honor belongs to the 1836 hexagonal tower, which sat atop a
forty-foot-square wooden crib that was connected to Ashtabula River’s east pier
by a ramp. The first light keeper on record was Samuel Miniger whose charge was
to keep the beacon’s eight lamps burning using sperm whale oil.
Ashtabula Lighthouse remained manned by the Coast Guard
until 1973. At that time, it was the last remaining manned light on Lake Erie.
That same year, the keeper’s residence, which was serving as Coast Guard
housing, was deeded over to the City of Ashtabula. The city’s original plan was
to convert the dwelling into a “Western Reserve and Marine History Museum,”
commemorating early Indian life. However, due to a lack of funds the property
defaulted back to the federal government in 1976. In 1982, the Ashtabula
Jaycees and the Ashtabula Marine Museum Committee were awarded the building from
the General Services Administration (GSA). The Ashtabula Maritime Museum was
officially dedicated on June 2, 1984, and was opened to the public later that
year. The museum features a pictorial history of the city, as well as a
collection of ship models and the pilothouse from the steamer Thomas Walters.
The town of Conneaut lies on an old Indian trail,
subsequently used by settlers seeking their fortunes on the western frontier.
Seneca Indians called the creek that empties into Lake Erie at this point
Konyiat, meaning place of many fish, from which the town’s name was derived. As
the town grew, the port became an important shipping point for grain, whiskey,
and forest products in the nineteenth century. Later, the products shipped from
the port included limestone and coal. In 1829, Congress appropriated $7,500 to
construct piers at the mouth of the Conneaut River, and in 1835 a lighthouse
was built atop the eastern pier. A keeper’s dwelling was finally built in 1872,
but this was not until after a new pierhead lighthouse had been constructed in
1859. Edward Pfister was appointed head keeper of Conneaut Lighthouse in 1894
and would spend over forty years at the station, by far more than any other
keeper. On January 10, 1922, the tug Oregon was towing the lighter T.F. Newman
when the cable snapped, and the lighter wrecked on the breakwater near the
lighthouse. Keeper Pfister lowered the station’s boat to the water, picked up
the seven men from the lighter, and took them back to the lighthouse, where
they were provided food and lodging. The Lighthouse Service awarded the
efficiency flag to Pfister for having the station with the “highest general
efficiency” in the district during 1925. As a result, Pfister was allowed to
fly the flag for all of 1926.
This modern lighthouse was nominated for inclusion on
the National Register of Historic Places by the Ohio State Historic
Preservation Office in 1992. The petition was reviewed by Patrick Andrews and
subsequently added to the list. Originally painted white, the tower was later
given a horizontal black band as a daymark. The lantern room from the prior
lighthouse was used atop the modern tower until 1972, when the light was
automated and a modern beacon replaced the lantern room. Today, the tower
produces alternating red and white flashes with a five second period. In May
2007, Conneaut West Breakwater Lighthouse, deemed excess by the Coast Guard,
was offered at no cost to eligible entities, including federal, state, and
local agencies, non-profit corporations, and educational organizations. When no
qualified owner was found, an online auction for the lighthouse was initiated
on September 9, 2008. No bids were received during September, but Gary Zaremba,
president of Artisan Restoration Group of New York, eventually submitted a
winning bid of $35,000. This wasn’t the first lighthouse purchased Zaremba, as
he also won the auction for Maine’s Lubec Channel Lighthouse in 2007. When
Zaremba did not pursue a lease from Ohio for the bottomlands on which the tower
stands, the lighthouse reverted to the General Services Administration. A new
auction was scheduled for October 2009, but it was called off at the last
minute and rescheduled for “spring 2010 or later.”
On June 1, 2011, the second auction opened for Conneaut
West Breakwater Lighthouse. Six bidders participated in the auction, which
concluded on July 31 with a winning bid of $46,000. Jerry Killilea Jr., a
businessman, UPS driver, and part-time farmer from Orient, Ohio was the winning
bidder. Killilea had to purchase a $1 million general liability insurance
policy to obtain an Army Corps of Engineers lease for the breakwater upon which
the light is constructed. In 2018, Jerry and Karen Killileas decided to sell
their lighthouse. After noting that they had made just one visit to Conneaut in
2017, Karen said the lighthouse deserves more visits than they are now able to
give it. The asking price for the lighthouse is $72,000.
We saw a very patriotic display of American Flags in
Conneaut, Ohio. We learned that a Conneaut man’s personal tribute to combat
casualties in Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan is what we see. It is there for the city’s
Memorial Day observance. For the past several years, Milton Luce has erected
miniature US flags, one for every American who died in the Middle East region
while in military service since the 1990s.
Embankments on either side of the busy Broad Street
underpass are brimming with red, white and blue for the holiday weekend, where
it can be appreciated by more passersby. The collection of more than 3,000
flags will festoon the roadside through the holiday weekend. They were placed
by Luce and many volunteers.
We saw our second Carnegie library in Ohio. The
citizens of Conneaut desired a permanent library building, and, in 1905, a tax
levy was passed to raise money for the endeavor. The library board of trustees
purchased a lot at Buffalo and State streets and requested a library grant from
Andrew Carnegie. In 1907, a $25,000 grant was received, and work began on the
Conneaut library. The building was opened in May of 1909 with a large
collection of 12,000 books. Over the years, the Conneaut Carnegie library
underwent very little modification. Some interior shelving changes were made to
increase storage area, and, in 1966, the oak front doors were replaced. No
expansions were made to the building, and by the 1990s, the library collection
had outgrown its building. A tax levy was passed in 1996 to fund a new library
building, which was opened in 1998. The old building has since sat vacant.
Plans were discussed for converting it to an office building, however, this has
not happened yet. The building appears in good shape, but lack of maintenance
is evident as the grounds are overgrown and the paint is peeling.
The Pymatuning Lake Flea Market continues strong
after almost 40 years, thanks to a wide selection of merchandise and vendors
that come in throughout the season. The flea market has only continued to
thrive because it is well-supported as it continues to attract people from all
over—including Canada, New York, West Virginia, as well as other locations. Since
becoming owner ten years ago Griffo said he has been able to expand the flea
market property from 13 acres to 37 acres to provide more space and options to
the public. Aside from expanding the market, Griffo has also been in the
process of getting the drive-in up and running. Anyone interested in checking
out Pymatuning Lake Flea Market can stop in April through October every
Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m., as well as a few special Mondays.
We enjoyed dinner at Covered Bridge Pizza in Andover,
with friends from Florida. I couldn't think of a better way to end a day of
touring and photographing Ashtabula County's covered bridges than having pizza
in the Covered Bridge Pizza Parlor, which is inside half of a restored covered
bridge in Andover OH. This cute little eatery is part of a three-restaurant
chain in this northeast Ohio County where owners established two of the three
pizza parlors in two halves of a restored covered bridge. The Forman Road
Covered Bridge, a Town lattice bridge built in 1862, spanned Mill Creek in
nearby Eagleville until county officials wanting to remove it put it up for
auction to the highest bidder in 1972. Owners of the Covered Bridge Pizza
Parlor successfully bid $5 for the old bridge, the oldest known existing bridge
in Ohio at that time according to the history printed on the restaurant's menu.
The new bridge owners carefully dismantled the 126-foot-long, 55-ton span.
Workers numbered each piece of lumber and took photographs before removing them
from the bridge as a guide for its eventual reconstruction. The pieces lay in
storage for several years, waiting for finalized plans to reconstruct it as two
pizza parlors and permit approvals to reassemble the bridge in two separate
Ashtabula County locations.
Harry & Judi took us for Ice Cream at Yorkie’s. Since
1993, Yorkie’s Grill and Custard has become part of a summer tradition of
relaxing over delicious treats both savory and sweet. Whether you’re in the
mood for homemade frozen custard, or ice cream, you can count on having a treat
that’ll satisfy your taste buds. They have an extensive selection of Perry’s
Ice Cream flavors will satisfy any craving, and the homemade, creamy frozen
custard will put a delicious spin on your go-to summer treats. They even offer
daily special flavors, like Peanut Butter, Strawberry, Banana, Raspberry and
Bubble Gum.
A lady at the Ohio Rally told me we had to “feed the
fish.” I said no, she said “yes you will.” And we did! We feed the Carp at the
Spillway. It is the best known locations in Pymatuning at the spillway. It is an
area where the fish are so plentiful that the "ducks walk on the fishes'
backs" to compete for the food fed by the visitors. I'll tell you more about this tomorrow!
