This morning, Janet & I got out for a walk again. Janet did 2-miles and I did
4-miles. When I got back from my walk, Charlie was already packing things up.
We have a long drive today to get to our ½ point of meeting our friends, Craig
& Tracy in Indiana. It was a short, but great visit with Brian & Janet!
We will see them in Florida soon!
We departed
the Village Green Park & campground on OH Route 193. The north end of this
route is just north of the campground by Lake Erie. It runs almost 58 miles due
south along a rural course through Ashtabula County to the city of Youngstown
along the West River crossing northwest of Downtown.
Amish Country
Ohio is located in northeast-central Ohio and contains the largest community of
Amish in the world. The Amish community is over 40% of the county’s current
population being comprised of Amish people. The area is generally referred to
as Amish Country Ohio. There are many opportunities for delicious Amish country
meals, pastries or produce. And the beauty and simplicity of country life can
be found in the small farms and homesteads that dot the landscape. For those
interested in the history of the local people, be sure to stop at the Amish and
Mennonite Heritage Center & German Culture Museum.
Known for
scenic views and a simple lifestyle, Ohio Amish Country is the perfect road
trip destination. Their winding country lanes are a wonderful way to explore
the beautiful landscape that sets our area apart. One of the most popular
routes is the Amish Country Byway. As you travel this road through the hills and
beyond, you’ll gain an appreciation of the uncomplicated simple Amish way of
life.
We used US
Route 6 as a go between to catch a different “north-south” route. Along Route 6
is Cherry Valley. The Township of Cherry Valley became the property of Samuel
Mather, Jr., upon his acquiring title from The Connecticut Land Company on
November 8, 1798. The name "Cherry Valley" was suggested by Josiah
Creery, who came from Richfield, NY. He purchased land in the township in 1823,
but stopped first in Andover and did not move his family into the log cabin he
built in Cherry Valley. His family had many descendants in Ashtabula County,
many of whom were mill men and expert mechanics. John Fenn built both the first
frame barn and the first frame house, the former in 1818 and the latter 7 years
later. Both were situated on the Creek Road, on the farm which later became
that of Horace Lindsley. The family was interested in the anti-slavery movement
and helped many fleeing slaves. During one winter prior to the Harper's Ferry
raid, Brown secreted about 200 Sharpe's rifles in the King Brothers Cabinet
Shop in Cherry Valley. Later these weapons and other war material were moved to
Wayne, and in 1859 taken in four wagon loads to Hartstown, PA and shipped by
canal to Chambersburg, PA.
We took OH
Route 46 south of Ashtabula County to Cortland.
A six-story cross stands tall at God’s Country ATV Tours in Ashtabula County. Drivers may have seen it driving near Route 6 and 11. The steel cross costs $60,000 and took six months to put up. God’s Country ATV Tours has been developing and expanding for years, from bison on the land to this statement of faith. The owner, Mike Kromer, worked on this dream for years while working as a teacher. “There’s no doubt that this country is in need of God to recognize his sacrifice and what he did for us,” he said. “If anyone knows about sacrifice, it’s Jesus. Hopefully, it serves as a symbol to reflect inward.” Kromer said he wants the cross to be a reminder of Christ and his love.
Split in half
by Mosquito Lake, Mecca is a largely rural town with a handful of gems an
awesome lake views. Mecca Park offers a "Tree of Life" September 11
memorial. Who would ever want to live on a lake named after the pesky biting
bug, we all hate?!
The history
of Cortland really began with the purchase of land in 1804 and 1805 in Bazetta
Township by Edward Scoffield and John Budd who became the first permanent
settlers. With the impending railroad came more people, more money and more
commerce. One who came was a traveling minister, Orrin Gates, who formerly had
lived in Cortland, NY. Gates settled in Baconsburg where he became the regular
minister of the Disciple Church. The oldest church in Cortland, it had been
founded by members of the Baptist faith in 1818, and became a Disciple Church
in 1832. Baconsburg soon became a thriving town of 614 persons. There were
three churches, two newspapers, stores, mills, industries and a variety of
businesses. There were two livery stables, a smithy, and two hotels for the
accommodation of traveling salesmen, railroad workers and coach travelers. As
one result of the growth brought about by the coming of the railroad, the
village fathers set about the task of incorporation. After a four-year period,
the petitioners accomplished their goal on May 7, 1873. Minister Gates, who by
this time had acquired some influence in the community, managed to give the name
of his former home in NY State to the newly incorporated village which now
became officially known as Cortland. The incorporated portion contained a one
square mile area, and so it remained until the 1950's when annexation produced
the existing village limits.
Niles Ohio
was founded in 1806 by James Heaton, who owned one of the first iron-ore
processing plants in Ohio. The town originally went by the name of Heaton's
Furnace but was later renamed Nilestown, after Hezekiah Niles. In 1843, the
name was shortened to Niles. Never mind about those "old guys." How about the "Big Iron Guy" of Niles?
The big Iron Worker statue was made by the children of the Niles Iron & Metal scrap yard owners, and was given to their parents as a 40th anniversary gift. The current owners are the fourth generation for this family business.
Also located
in Niles is the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Library and Museum. It is
the national memorial to President William McKinley. The memorial is a marble
monument with two wings. One wing houses the public McKinley Memorial Library,
and the other features the McKinley Museum with exhibits about President
McKinley and an auditorium. The McKinley Birthplace Home and Research Center is
located near the Memorial at 40 South Main Street. The historic house museum
has been furnished for the period when President McKinley was in office.
I love the patriotism we have seen in Ohio, from the flags along the side of the road to the flags hanging on the memorial roads and bridges.
Also on the oil rigs!
Our overnight
stop is AW Marion State Park, just outside Circleville Ohio. It was right off US
22. It is a rural park offers rolling woodlands and the quiet waters of Hargus
Lake. Once part of the state's prairie peninsula, the park's 310 acres showcase
a variety of native landscapes and wildlife. A great way to see the park is to
hike the Hargus Lake Perimeter Loop. It’s a 4-mile trail with a self-guided
tour of 14 points of interest. Called the perimeter loop, because it traverses
the entire lake shoreline. Sadly, the campground is on one side of the park and
the trail was closed, so I could not walk it
L
Tomorrow, we
hook up with our friends and fellow land owners at ACPZ, in Florida!
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