Off the Beaten Path

Fort Ancient Trading Post.

 

This was just a lucky accident this past Sunday as we drove through Oregonia, Ohio just to see what was out in this direction, that we came across this cute little place.  I always brake for a good antique store and the fact that right next door is the Bethel Burial grounds didn't hurt. Another interest which some people do not understand is that I have a passion for cemeteries. History, art and family come together thus I have been  "haunting"  graveyards since I was kid. Anyway nothing can prepare you for the inside of the Fort Ancient Trading Post. If you do not enjoy a good dig than perhaps this place is not for you. Walls, floor and rafters full of you name it; antiques, license plates, tools, glass bottles, Indian relics, rocks, fossils, shells, books, Civil War, kitchen tools, brick-a-brac, it just goes on and on. It's great fun and under two boxes and an old pot I found a box of horn coral fossils of which one came home with me for the reasonable price of $1.25.
The man in charge was very pleasant and knowledgeable and a great musician to boot!

From there we walked next door to the Bethel Burial Ground a local cemetery established in 
1813. We entered the gate and were met by a lovely resident kitty (had tags) who was warming herself in the sun on top of a fallen stone. Quite friendly she followed us in our exploration.




Kitty in charge.

 

As I mentioned before I have been exploring graveyards since I was a kid growing up in New England. I find the carving and symbols on the monuments interesting, the family history, the poetry and sayings upon the stones all a glimpse into a different time. Changing times, changing styles and changing beliefs down through the centuries. As our country grew more prosperous and successful so did the cemeteries. More ornate carvings, metal work fences and monuments would come into fashion. I will be posting soon about Woodlawn Cemetery here in Dayton soon. It is a lovely example of a garden cemetery. This cemetery does have a lot of broken stones and many unable to be read because of a thick black fungus. I have noticed this in other local cemeteries and it seems to effect certain types of stone.




Willow tree carving on a broken stone.

 

              The willow tree is a symbol of mourning and sadness when used upon a gravestone.
I find walking through a cemetery to not be a sad affair but rather an exercise in appreciating life and living. I like to think they, the inhabitants,  rather enjoy a visit occasionally too from the living.



Bethel Burial Ground.  Oregonia, Ohio.



If one continues down route 350 from here the road descends quite steeply and sharply into a narrow valley where once we were told was a town. A flood swept all away. The Little Miami River flows through it. At the top of the next hill is the Fort Ancient museum and burial mound area. It was too late in the day for us to partake of this historical site so another day will be for that exploration.