July 23rd, 2021 … Summer of Fun continues!

Today, we moved from Van Buren State Park in Ohio to Eel River Bison Ranch in Whitley Indiana. We headed south toward Findlay. Findlay, Ohio is a town with a storied history. It started with Colonel James Findlay, who built a road and stockade in the area to transport and shelter his troops during the War of 1812. This stockade was later named Fort Findlay in his honor, with the town of the same name sprouting up after the war. Decades later, the town of Findlay was a stop for slaves traveling along the Underground Railroad. From the 1880s until the early 20th century, the area was a booming center of oil and gas production.

Findlay becoming designated Flag City, USA began in 1968 when John B. Cooke moved to Findlay. As a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Cooke believed in the value of flying the American flag and went door-to-door in town asking residents and businesses alike to fly a flag on Flag Day, June 14, 1968. Cooke created a fund and purchased 14,000 small flags for the community. This project continued until 1974, when the Women’s Division of the Chamber of Commerce started a campaign to, once again, have flags fly and to have the city of Findlay become officially known as Flag City USA. The House of Representatives passed a resolution officially declaring Findlay Flag City, USA. Today, you may see a flag display in the Hancock Historical Museum, see the Flag City monument welcoming visitors to the town at I-75 and US 224, pass under the Flag City, USA distinction while driving on I-75 and pass by the mural on a Marathon Petroleum storage tank. Findlay is a place of great pride; both in its unique designation and patriotism.

We turned onto US 224 and headed west. US 224 eventually will cross US 30. These days, hundreds of cars a day drive past a solemn marker at the intersection of Ohio 637 and U.S. Route 224 in Van Wert County. A gentle summer breeze blows around the marker surrounded by an iron fence. The information on the marker details one of the worst murderous rampages in Ohio history. “One of Ohio’s greatest manhunts ended here on the morning of July 23, 1948,” states the sign. “Robert M. Daniels and John C. West, parolees from the state prison in Mansfield, had gone on a killing spree that had left six people dead. The victims were slain to their grave, including a family of three, before the killers were apprehended by Van Wert law enforcement.

We found a big steer along the road ... I hope he does not dart out into traffic!

We passed through Ottawa ... I thought we were in Ohio, not Canada! Residents named the town, which was founded in 1833, in honor of the Ottawa people, who once had a village at the site of modern-day Ottawa. 

We passed by a beautiful old armory and discovered it is home to a unique service that Ohio provides to all veterans! The Putnam County Veterans Service Commission is a county agency dedicated to providing assistance to Veterans, dependents and widows in time of need. We encourage all Veterans from every era to see what benefits they are entitled to. Some of the services that we provide are: financial assistance, burial benefits, widow benefits, Veterans ID cards, VA claims assistance, flag cases, and VA health care enrollment. Ohio is the only state that provides such comprehensive support and services to its veterans. Each of the 88 counties in Ohio has a board of five appointed commissioners who administer the program for their respective county​.

In Ottawa's downtown there was a set of murals that looked like store fronts, but they were all painted on!

Next town was Kalida, home to Pioneer Days. The festival is celebrating the 149th year in 2021, and still going strong! Pioneer Days is the oldest festival in Ohio. But, it’s more than just a festival that has been around awhile. It’s a time to visit with old friends and family in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Not to mention, it’s a great opportunity to meet and make new friends, too! As summer draws to a close, with vacations over and school back in session, it’s the one last HOORAH at the end of summer.

Ottoville was the next small town we passed through. In 1837 the Miami-Erie Extension Canal between Loramie Summit and Junction was contracted out for completion and was divided into one mile sections. The Northern Division was numbered with Section One at Spencerville, Section Ten at Ten Mile Woods later Delphos and Section Sixteen, originally the town was called Sixteen, later named Otto and then Ottoville. 

The Miami-Erie Extension Canal was completed and the first boat traversed the entire length in June 1845. The Locks on the extension canal were numbered north from Loramie Summit and the Village of Ottoville grew between Locks 27 and 28. Lock 27 was just north of Fifth Street and Lock 28 was located just north of the present site of Odenweller’s Mill. Those two locks, as most locks on this section of the canal, were built of wood. The Canal Commission built a Lock Tenders’ house at Lock Number 28 and that structure still stands as a home and is the oldest structure in Ottoville. Lock Number 30 was a stone lock built further north near the Putnam/Paulding County Line. You can see a prime example of a stone lock at Delphos, Lock Number 24.

            

On our way to the intersection of 224 and US 30, we followed these slow moving military vehicles. They are actually military vehicles from days gone by. We remember some of these in our military units! Not the jeep, I am not old enough for that one! But Charlie remembers!

We got on US 30 and just before we came into Indiana, we found Uncle Sam watching over us!

  

I will tell you more about US 30, in the next blog as we are on it a lot longer tomorrow! But know that US 30 is also called the Lincoln Highway.

We arrived at the Eel River Bison Ranch! What a beautiful place! Let me tell you a bit about it. Our hosts were Eric and Tonya. This bison ranch is their retirement plan! They have really put their hearts and souls into it!

They have a herd of 12, with 5 calves born this year. A bison herd is led by a female, their female lead is Storm. She is the mother of the youngest calf.

Aside from the bisons, they have a barn that doubles as an events center. Where they host weddings, parties and other events. Their grounds are beautiful. Our “camping site” faced the pond that is lined with wild flowers. One of the bison fields was just above it.

The best part of the evening was the time we spent hanging out with Eric and Tonya. They shared their home, lives and dreams with us over craft beers and mixed drinks! It was almost 10pm before we even knew it! They enjoy hearing about all the travels of the campers that stay at their place as part of the Harvest Host program.

It was a great evening! Stay tuned as we move westward!