Elizabeth Deserves Better, They all do!

Mt. Union / Pleasant Valley cemetery.

On another day trip to explore the Ohio countryside we headed to another spot on the 'Haunted Ohio' map with an intriguing name, Elizabeth's Grave. It was supposed to be very difficult to find, we had no trouble at all. Of course the address is not quite correct, it is on Union Lane not Union Road which is off of Egypt Pike, northwest of Chillicothe, Ohio in Ross County. It is a dirt road and as long as you continue to go towards the left when the road forks you will come across it. This had to be one of the most heartbreaking spots we have ever visited and not because of the stories and haunting's but because of the vandalism and complete lack of respect for the cemetery and its occupants.

At least someone mows the grass but nearly all of the stones are vandalized, pushed over, painted on, smashed, or have been dragged to a far back corner of the field into the woods.

At the back of the cemetery is a large field with this beautiful tree. Apparently a church, the Union Presbyterian used to be on this site which was established in 1802. This is the supposed tree where Elizabeth either hanged herself or was murdered beneath over an inheritance her late husband left her. There were 13 Elizabeth's buried in this cemetery and other sites have narrowed it down to one Elizabeth Clark that is the likely namesake. However, I ask you do any of them deserve this vandalism?

This is a site towards the back where various monuments have been set up to be used as benches around a campfire.

Pieces of stone grave markers used to ring the fire, beer cans and trash litter the site. Mind you this also backs up to a nature reserve. Of course these people have no thought for the dead let alone nature or the homes of those who live nearby apparently.

We spent time walking among the graves and being empathic there is a very heavy feeling of sadness here but my impressions were that is because they do not understand the behavior of the people who have come to disturb them and ruin their final resting place. I felt the presence of an elderly gentleman who walks around the field. He would like some order and beauty re-established here.

We sent out prayers of love and light to all within the cemetery and as we were leaving 7 yellow butterflies lined up in the road in our path, it was like they didn't want us to leave. Butterflies are symbols of the soul or spirit, resurrection, and joy.

For those who feel the need to destroy ask yourself why? What gives you the right to destroy history?  Give a thought to the families of these passed on souls, the spirits themselves, to people like me who love history and may be searching for ancestors, to nature and our country. These people were pioneers; hardworking, many of them farmers, carving a life out of the wilderness so that someday down the road you, their descendant, could enjoy life and grow. Is this how you want to repay them?

Dedicated

To all of the Elizabeth's and their families in Mt. Union/ Pleasant Valley cemetery.

Love and Light.

Bear's Mill

Holly hocks outside the mill.

Last weekend we found ourselves in the car traversing the countryside once again. This time

traveling on the 671. We decided to head up to the 36 to visit a park we heard about and came across this mill instead.

Bear's Mill entrance.

 

This was a happy accident finding Bear's Mill.  Located in Darke County, outside of Greenville, Ohio on Arcanum-Bear's Mill road. The mill was built in 1849 by Gabriel Baer and is now a non-profit. It is one of the oldest water-powered working mills still in existence.

There are four floors to explore and it is a little dizzying for those of us with a problem of heights, especially the top most door that opens to air but it is well worth the climb. I loved the sloping wood floors, the antiques, the hand-hewn beams, just the feel of the building. There is also an art gallery with rotating exhibits and a gift store with all sorts of lovely kitchen and food items as well as stone ground products.

The gristmill is run by water from the Greenville creek just out back. There is a well maintained path that leads through the woods to the creek and to the dam pictured here. A separate millrace water way runs to the mill itself and is 800 feet long, 25 feet wide and 10 feet deep. It was hand dug by school children who were paid 50 cents a day.  A very nice deck overlook is here with a bench to look out over the water. There is also a memorial for the Vietnam vets who did not return from the war. It is located in a beautiful, tranquil spot in the woods.

They have a website and a calendar of events and artists that will be showing in the gallery. Just a lovely destination and one we will return to in the future. Perhaps when we go in search of that park on another day.

The Path

Woodland path, Wegerzyn gardens.

There is something about a beckoning path; One that you can't quite make out where it will lead.

Whether it is a gentle path beneath the trees, wildflowers growing by its side, birds singing overhead, a chipmunk scurrying across your path. Or...



Path to the Federal Garden, Wegerzyn.

a formal brick pathway that curves round to pass beneath an arbor that promises a neat and ordered space with box hedges and iron benches on which to sit and meditate. A well balanced

design, everything in its place and manicured. Or...

Path up from Charleston Falls.

perhaps you will meet with a steep, dirt path where you have to watch each foot fall because of the thick roots and rocks that jut out from the ground. The path sometimes narrow and becomes slippery from  previous nights rain fall. It can be a hard climb. Or...

sometimes unexpectedly you are faced with a choice and you stand in the circle of your power and contemplate the path ahead; one appears to have been favored by many before you  and the other a path less traveled. Not many have passed that way. What do you do? Which path beckons?

Each of us alone can answer that question but for myself I usually take the infamous "road less traveled". I enjoy the unexpected twists and turns, the places I have seen and the different people I have met. In the end there are really no such things as road blocks, yes perhaps detours, but in the end you find a way or make a decision to try another path. What did I find? Beauty, life, my Self... and

ultimately, I discovered that all paths lead back to my own heart.

Each journey I carry there still.

The Hunt for the William Ross Covered Bridge

We persevered and finally found it! The town of Sidney, Ohio does not make it easy, a sign stating that the bridge can be found within the Tawawa Park would be very helpful to out-of- towner's. We actually had given up the search and decided to go investigate the park instead which is quite lovely on its own and on our way out I spotted it. It's really a very pretty spot and a nice example of a covered bridge from the late 1800's though I could not find a definite date. It is named for a gentleman who served on the parks and recreation board.

I am confused as to whether or not it is attributed to pioneer bridge designer and builder, Rueben L. Partridge (1823-1900) or if it was constructed to look like one of his bridges.

Regardless it is a very picturesque site and a favorite with families taking pictures and walks.

The park has hiking trails, playgrounds, lakes and the Tawawa Creek. It serves as a natural preserve.

The "Beautiful Woman"

Gargoyle in front of Bonnyconnellan Castle, Sidney, Ohio.






On another one of our wanderings around the Ohio countryside we found ourselves in Sidney, Ohio and a couple of sites were noted on our Haunted Ohio map so we went in search. The first was this magnificent castle overlooking downtown. Depending upon the angle you come in from you can see its turrets as you approach. It must have been a grand home in its day and is still an imposing structure though it appears run down and gutted. The gates are locked so you can't get too close but from the street we could see a spiral iron staircase in the turret to the left. It is on Walnut Ave. There is a large brick carriage house in the back. Bonneyconnellan means the "beautiful woman."

The grand stair to the front door. Four gargoyle gaurdians.








The home was built in 1886 by John D. Loughlin, (1852-1902), supposedly patterned after a castle in County Cork, Ireland. John was the owner of the Sidney School Furniture Company and the Mary L. Poultry company. His furniture company manufactured school desks which at the height of production they were putting out 300 a day. The company also made blackboards and school bells amongst other things. 





His "Fashion Desk" was the first school desk produced.


He purchased the land in 1880, started construction in 1885 and it was completed in 1886. The front is stone and the back is brick. Interesting fact is that his father Timothy was a stone mason from Ireland.

On the Shelby County Historical Society site it states that the home had 22 rooms,

4 bathrooms and over 5,000 square feet of space. It had custom crafted hard wood floors in each room each out of a different wood, ornately carved bannisters, and a freestanding staircase that rose to the second floor. The interior sounded as if it was a typical Victorian over-the-top extravaganza of ornate features and decorations.

Unfortunately he sold the company in 1901 for a good profit but his chicken business led him to ruin and his castle and holdings were foreclosed upon by the German-American bank and he lost everything. He died in Philadelphia in 1902.  

The only mention of a ghost I could find was that it is haunted by a man in a blue uniform standing over a wedding dress. Ghosts aside hopefully someday someone will restore it to its former glory and fill its rooms and halls with life and laughter once again.

Bridging Time

Mound City.





Ohio has one of the largest concentrations of ancient burial mounds in the world and there are a number of parks and areas across the state that protect these precious and sacred sites. Mound City is just outside of Chillicothe, Ohio the original state capitol. It's full name is Mound City Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. The museum has a collection of artifacts found at the site including over 200 carved clay pipes in the shapes of birds, turtles, snakes and human heads all that had been ritually broken. There are 23 mounds enclosed within a low wall also of earth. It is an area of rolling green grass covered mounds surrounded by trees all around. It is very peaceful and calming to walk here, to imagine that people have been coming here for thousands of years.

I suggest seeing the wonderful movie within the museum as it really gives you an overview of the history and the research that has been done upon the mounds and the buildings that were here at one time. It also explains the dynamics of building this site and similar sites that all match identically in shapes and measurements.  The volunteers in the museum are quite gracious and helpful, obviously quite passionate about the park. You can also check out the website Ancient Ohio Trail for information on the whole trail that crosses the state. I can't wait to go to some of the other parks. It was also listed on the Haunted Ohio map as a sacred site.

Buckskin Bridge 1873.

On the way back we decided to drive the back country roads and visited this covered bridge, Buckskin, built in 1873 which has been beautifully restored. It is on Lower Twin Road in the
                                           Appalachian countryside of Ross County. 

Buckskin covered Bridge.

The little township over the rise is South Salem and is the home of the Salem Academy and a wonderful cemetery that we, of course, had to visit. The stone, Federal style academy was built in 1842 and was founded by a Presbyterian minister Hugh Fullerton. It is a historical site.

Salem Academy.

The cemetery has some beautiful carvings and a lot of graves with these rectangular stone bases that were built up. There is also the grave of Mary Morter, who was supposedly the daughter of  Queen Victoria's father, Prince Edward, but it was not proven. Her husband carved a simple stone for her when she died at the age of 34, weakened by her journey to the America in 1852. At the bottom of her stone it says "Think". Does make one think!

We also went looking for this bridge/tunnel which was on the Haunted Ohio map. A bit more difficult to find but we persevered and finally found it on the other side of Chillicothe. Schrader Road tunnel is supposedly haunted by a woman and her crying baby that you can hear if you drive through the tunnel with your windows down. Also reportedly by a woman who hanged herself from the north end of the tunnel. We didn't experience anything but one of the pictures I took did have orbs.

Schrader Road Tunnel.

We spent the better part of the day driving in and around the area and it is quite a lovely part of Ohio. Stopped at a wonderful barbecue restaurant in Chillicothe on East 7th St., called 7 Miles Smokehouse which was fantastic and reasonable. Everyone enjoyed their lunch and left with doggy bags. I had looked up suggestions before we went and I can honestly say that not one of us would have stopped at this restaurant if I hadn't seen they had gotten top ratings. It looks like a dive and has no atmosphere but the food well makes up for it. A little curb appeal would probably serve them well!

By water and Rail - Historic Metamora, Indiana

Log cabin.

 Metamora, Indiana is a lovely historic town and had all of the elements that make for a great day trip. I have to say too that the townspeople and volunteers that we encountered added to the overall nice feeling that we were left with as everyone was so pleasant, helpful and friendly. Located on Route 52 one must be careful to not fly on by as the sign to the historic town is small and does not stand out. We had to turn around. Worth the hunt though. There is an area with these wonderful old cabins, little shops to wander around in and some great restaurants. The town does appear to have been hit hard by the economy (lots of empty buildings) so get on out and support them as so many are so welcoming yet remain positive. There is plenty to do and see. Like the oldest working water powered Grist Mill in the state. The unincorporated town was established in 1838.

View of the park, railroad and Whitewater canal.

The Whitewater canal runs through Metamora and boats were pulled by draft horses. Boats ran from 1839-1865. At one time there were mills for processing cotton, grinding flour and making paper. Outside of the Grist Mill on the day we were there a Grist Mill Jam was going on with a group of wonderful musicians playing acoustic music. We took a half hour canal boat ride while our guide gave a history of the town and the canal. It was also fun to learn about the horses that pull the boats and who are so well taken care of down the line on a farm.  We also visited the horses at a small feeding area after the ride.

View of the town from the canal boat.

The original canal was 101 miles long. It is a pleasant ride down the waters with lovely scenery on both sides, large soft shell turtles lounging on the banks and ducks quacking along side. There were originally 56 locks to help move the boats along and now there are two of these which have been preserved and you can see these at the historic site. The canal boat is 75' long and 12' wide.

Our draft horses that pull the boat along side. Being moved to pull us back up the canal.

The view from inside the covered bridge at Duck Creek aqueduct. This bridge is 16' above the creek and believed to be the only one of its kind in the country. The old beams are original.

Inside the Duck Creek aqueduct covered bridge.

We also went on the Whiteriver Valley railroad for a half hour ride along the same path next to the canal. The depot is in the center of town where you buy the tickets and you can go on line to check their schedule. Our host on the train was quite knowledgeable and told us all about the history of the area. He was a volunteer from Ohio. Check out their website for year round events. It was a beautiful day so we sat outside on one of two outdoor seating areas.

Looking inside the passenger car.

There is a variety of antiques, we browsed through the Meeting House antique store located in an old church along the canal. Luna's garden in the Mount Holland House is an eclectic shop with beautiful jewelry, stones and Native American artwork. The Gem Mine is in the back and you can buy a bucket and experience sifting through the bucket looking for gems. There is a Museum of Oddities, carriage rides and a lovely park with a gazebo.

View of the town of Metamora.

You have to stop by the Old Fashioned candy shop for candy and fudge. Grannies Cookie jars and Ice Cream Parlor is a must see too. Over 2600 cookie jars line every inch of the interior. By the time we were ready for lunch it was late and many places were closed so we stopped at the Hearthstone Restaurant just a half mile down on route 52. It has been in business since 1930 and was very good, old fashioned hearty cooking. I read that parts of Rain Man were filmed here in the restaurant. Anyway it reminded me decor wise of a time when I was a kid in New England. A bit if a time warp but the open faced pot roast sandwiches with lots of mashed potato and gravy over white bread was a blast from the past and tasty.

So all in all a fun day and a scenic drive. You never know what is hidden on a back country road in the mid west.