History | Gypsy Road Trip

Places to go and things to see by Gypsy Bev

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Music City Trolley Hop Tour

Trolley Sign Waiting for the red trolley car to arrive, there was time to visit the Farmer’s Market in Nashville, Tennessee. Downtown parking seemed rather expensive at $20 for the afternoon but it was free to park at the Farmer’s Market and hop on the trolley at that point.

Trolley The driver and guide made the trip fun with a great assortment of historical facts, stories of businesses and some downright corny jokes. The Trolley Tour is a hop-on tour so you can get off at seventeen various stops and hop right back on later in the day. Sure saves fighting downtown traffic.

Trolley Capitol Getting on at this point, the first stop is the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Not sure if the guide was stretching the truth or not, but he said the fountain of water supported a large granite ball weighing 18,000 pounds!

The view of the capitol building brings out everyone’s cameras. The capitol building is framed by the 50 columns, representing the 50 states in the United States. The 95 bell carillon rings out on the hour and represents the 95 counties in Tennessee.

Trolley Piggly Wiggly Attention was given to the local Piggly Wiggly as this chain began in Memphis, Tennessee as the first self-service grocery store back in 1916 by Clarence Saunders. Previous to this time, shoppers gave their orders to the clerk and the clerk then gathered everything from the shelves. Saunders rearranged the stores to make shopping much faster for the customer and the clerk. Today there are 600 Piggly Wigglys in 17 states.

Trolley RCA RCA Studio B created Nashville magic for over 35,ooo songs, making it an international recording center known as one of the cradles of the “Nashville Sound”. Popular artists, such as Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Eddy Arnold recorded their songs here.

Trolley Columbia Nearby, the historic site of Columbia Records Studio A displays large guitars indicating the Carter Family and Johnny Cash recorded many of their songs here. Today both of these formerly popular studios are learning centers for Belmont University.

Trolley Station At Riverfront Train Station, the trolley takes a short break before continuing on the rest of the route. This site was previously the home of another train depot which was build in 1902. The present station was built in 2005 and they have attempted to capture the Old World flavor.

Trolly Honky Tonk Straight across the street from the station is Honky Tonk Row. This is where many stars and hopefuls play during the evening hours as entertainment in many local clubs. They provide encouragement, a stage, and a tip jar for musicians.

Trolley Stadium The beautiful Cumberland River flows behind the station and gives a grand view of the Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans football team, on the other side. You can actually walk across the river to the stadium on the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge. The Cumberland River is 688 miles long and eventually joins the Ohio River in Kentucky.

Trolley Sculpture A beautiful sculpture brightens the waters also. Ghost Ballet East Bank Machineworks received its name because as you look at the sculpture from different angels, it suggests movement, similar to that of a dancer. This gives a little time to watch the river flow by and gain a little peace from the busy day.

Trolley Art Center On our way back to Farmers Market, evidence appears that Nashville hosts more than country music. A glimmering bronze statue, The Recording Angel, stands at the corner of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, home of the Nashville Symphony, which provides classical music entertainment. But they are no snobs, as often country music favorites appear accompanied by the orchestra.

This tour will perhaps be taken again someday when there is more time to visit various stops along the way. It is the perfect way to see Nashville…without fighting downtown traffic or trying to find a parking place! Try the Hop-On Tour the next time you visit Nashville.

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History, Just for Fun, Music, Tennessee, Uncategorized

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WILE: The Early Days of Cambridge, Ohio Radio

WILE Beatty Ave

WILE moved into this beautiful old home on Beatty Avenue in 1948.

You’re listening to WILE, 1270 on your radio dial.

Thus a radio station began broadcasting in the hills of southeastern Ohio in Cambridge on April 9, 1948 after playing “Beautiful Ohio” as their sign-on song. Located at 917 Beatty Avenue in the old Orme home, this daytime-only radio station operated on 1000 watts.

Enthusiastic young locals began working at the station in various capacities. Several young ladies were continuity writers, who wrote those much needed commercials, while young men became announcers. They also had to keep things on schedule. Since everything was live at this time, that often became a difficult task.

WILE placed a temporary station on the courthouse lawn to get people interested in their new venture.

Howard Donahoe, founder, managing director, and co-owner, appears at the Sesquicentennial Court facing penalties for not having a beard.

1948 provided big excitement in downtown Cambridge as it celebrated the Sesquicentennial of Guernsey County. In order that area residents could learn more about this new radio station, WILE placed a temporary studio on the courthouse square for broadcasting. This perhaps began their popular remotes.

“Dallas Bond and the Musical Farmers” had a regular Saturday program.

Early programs featured locals in everything from music to ministry. Groups came to the station for live performances. A popular musical show, “Dallas Bond and the Musical Farmers”, combined several small groups of local performers in Studio A.

Ray and John Hosfelt, known as Oak and Ash, brightened everyone’s day.

Another of those local groups contained two young men from Indian Camp, Ray and John Hosfelt, better known as Oak & Ash, “The Forest Rangers”. They sang their way into the hearts of many listeners throughout the county.

On Saturday morning, boys and girls gathered around the radio to listen to “Story Time for Children”. In the afternoon, “Junior Talent Time” gave youngsters a chance to shine by singing or playing a musical instrument. A couple friends practiced singing with me “You Are My Sunshine”, in hopes that someday we would get the courage to go to the radio station. But we never did.

Announcers had a grand piano for backup in the studio.

Donna Lake Shafer, who started working as a continuity writer at WILE in the summer after she graduated from Cambridge High School in 1948, remembers Election Night being a very important event at the radio station. Election results came over the station’s Teletype machine, which printed messages from news wire services. Only a few local places received up-to-the-minute reports of the Truman – Dewey presidential election.

Even though the radio station was off the air, people crowded inside the Beatty Avenue headquarters to hear results coming in on the Teletype machine. Donna stayed busy that night keeping hot coffee and cookies ready at this big election party, which was attended by owners of the radio station, local officials and curious citizens. Remember, television sets in homes didn’t exist at this time.

These were not high paying jobs, according to Laura Bates, an early employee of WILE. When she started in 1952, her salary was $140 a month. But Laura recalls, “I loved to write and use my imagination. Working at WILE was enjoyable. You felt like you were a family.”

VelvetonesB were part of the WILE scene. Edgar Fisher on the right was later one of our city councilmen.

In those early days, the station manager banned certain music from the air. Sometimes it was too loud, or occasionally the lyrics might be offensive. The radio served as the voice of the community.

Many changes have been made over the years. The station is now located on College Hill, where its transmitter stood years ago. Almost everything is recorded these days and the station airs around the clock. From Land ‘O Lakes Broadcasting Corporation in 1948 to AVC Communications today, their community spirit still gets broadcast over the hills of Southeastern Ohio.

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Cambridge, History, Music, Uncategorized

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The Magic and Allure of Lynn Auto Theatre

Come as you are in the family car!

That’s the motto of Lynn Auto Theatre, where you can drive in to watch a family movie any evening after dark during the summer months, or on weekends in the spring. Many remember going to a drive-in movie, walking to the concession stand for snacks, and hanging the speaker on your car window.

Lynn Auto Theatre is one of the few grass drive-in theatres left in the world. There was actually patches of snow on the ground that evening.

You can still do this at Lynn’s near Strasburg. Here you’ll find a piece of Tuscarawas County history – the oldest drive-in theater in Ohio, and the second oldest continually operating in the world. When it opened its doors in 1937, it was called Boyers Auto Theatre.

This shows the entire complex as it was in 1937.

Boyers was more than a drive-in movie. They had a train ride, miniature golf, an arcade, restaurant and gasoline station. This family entertainment complex was one of four drive-ins built before WWII.

Concession stands for popcorn and hot dogs were on wheels.

Why would it be called Lynn Auto Theatre today? When Ward Franklin and Ray McComb purchased the drive-in, they named is after McComb’s daughter, Judy Lynn.

Dick Reding stands at the marquee in the late 1950s.

Then the Reding family entered the scene. Dick Reding always had a passion for movies. During the time of silent movies, he played the records for the musical accompaniment that went along with the films when a live musician was not available. In 1957, Dick managed a string of theaters in the Canton area, but drive-ins became very popular about then, so he decided to purchase Lynn’s.

Darla and cat, Gizmo, run the ticket booth.

Since that time, it has been passed down through the same family for 59 years from grandpa to son, and now run by the grandsons, Rich and Jamie Reding. This family affair continues at the ticket booth, where Rich’s wife, Darla, with cat, Gizmo, welcomes guests. Family members and their friends also manage the concession stand where prices are reasonable. Footlong coneys with cheese, and popcorn are their most popular items.

The soft yellow glow of the concession stand reminds one of buttery popcorn. Rich still proudly uses the 1962 C. Cretors & Co. Popcorn Marchine.

Rich reminisced that grandpa continued his love for the drive-in even after he and his wife moved to an assisted living facility. He recalled grandpa looking out the window at a large field and remarking, “That would be a nice place to build a drive-in.” Love of theater ran in his blood.

Those old speakers can still be used.

In the early days of the drive-in, sound for the movies came through speakers under the screen. These “Boom Speakers” could be heard over the sound of a roaring train. Next came the speakers to hang on the window of your car. Today you have a choice, you can still listen through the old speaker, or you can turn to a designated FM station on your radio dial to hear the movie in stereo sound.

Back in 1967, a second screen was added so patrons had a bigger choice of movies. Often during a summer weekend, both screens will be sold out and cars turned away. Space is limited to 390 vehicles.

The new digital projector makes life much easier for the Redings, and more enjoyable for those watching.

One of the big recent changes came about because of new technology. 33 mm films are no longer being made by the movie industry, so it was necessary to switch to a digital projector, which was very expensive costing $75,000. But it makes for a much clearer picture on the movie screen and fantastic sound.

This giant marquee announces two choices of double features each evening.

When driving down SR 250, you can’t miss Lynn Auto Theatre where you see the Mammoth Classic Neon Marquee, which displays the latest family films for summer enjoyment. Admission is very reasonable at $7.00 per adult with $3.00 per child 5-11. Under 5 are free.

In Rich’s opinion, success of the theater depends on two major factors: nice weather and Hollywood producing movies that everyone wants to see. With the new digital projectors, ‘prom posals’ and even wedding proposals are popular items to show on the screen.

Their menu lists reasonable prices.

Right now the theater is only open on the weekends, but what a great trip it would be to revisit the drive-in, get some popcorn from the concession stand, and relax in the comfort of your car while seeing a double feature. You even have a choice of two different double features happening on the same evening.

Lynn Auto Theatre is a great place to spend an evening, and see the stars under the stars.

Lynn Auto Theatre has easy access just north of Strasburg at 9735 SR 250, where State Route 250 and 21 split.

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History, Just for Fun, Ohio, Uncategorized

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Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park Nashville, TN

View of the Capitol building from Bicentennial State Park

An unexpected abundance of Tennessee history is located in Nashville just outside the Farmers’ Market near Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. This collection of strategically placed monuments appears in the historic French Lick, where Native Americans, trappers and settlers camped in those early days.

In 1997, Tennessee’s Bicentennial Celebration, planners noted that this was the best place to get an unobstructed view of the Tennessee Capitol Building. Then the planning began for preserving the state’s history in this nineteen acre park.

Its 95 Bell Carillon plays a song of Patsy Cline, a favorite Tennessee daughter. “Crazy” rings out every hour. The bells represent the 95 counties of Tennessee as well as its musical legacy. A 96th bell rings in answer from the Capitol building symbolizing the government answering to the people.

Granite walls along Pathway of History

The Pathway of History displays 1400′ of granite stones engraved with memorable events and pictures in chronological order so you can easily follow the development of history for the last two centuries in Tennessee. The tall columns to the right indicate the date so you can see the accurate timeline.

Civil War section of the wall

The wall breaks at the time of the Civil War to show the impact it had on the state.

WWII Memorial to Tennessee military

A World War II Memorial lists Tennessee men and women who lost their lives fighting for our country during WWII. A gigantic 18,000 pound granite ball with a map of the world is supported by the water of the fountain.

Centennial Memorial

The Centennial Memorial stands in the center of the park. Beautiful trees stand in its center, surrounded with the words of Governor Bob Taylor when he greeted President McKinley during the 1897 Centennial Exposition.

“Our honored guests shall see today the triumphs of our brain and brawn and the tangible evidence of our activity. And some of them who saw our ruined country thirty years ago will certainly appreciate the fact that we have wrought miracles.”

A large outdoor Tennessee Amphitheater seats 2,000. Keeping with the Greek heritage of the Parthenon nearby, the amphitheater was designed with terraced lawns replicating the theater in Epidaurus.

Sliced Tomato metal art outside Farmers’ Market

The Nashville Farmers’ Market is along the edge of Bicentennial Park. This metal sculpture of a sliced tomato draws everyone’s attention. Here you find a wide variety of popular local dishes as well as fresh fruits and vegetables in season. It’s a great place to visit for some real Tennessee treasures..

Tennessee History Walk

Every state has a story to tell and Tennessee history is certainly being kept alive along this Pathway of History in its capital, Nashville. It’s a great place to stroll through history.

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is less than two miles from I-24E in Nashville. Take Exit 47 for 1st Street South, which leads to Jefferson Avenue. After crossing over the beautiful Cumberland River, make a left turn on 6th Street. The park will be on your right. Enjoy a trip through Tennessee History.

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Granny Rides the Interurban

Imagine what it would’ve been like to take a Gypsy Road Trip a hundred years ago. At that time a modern means of transportation in Guernsey County was the Interurban, a type of electric railway with light, self-propelled, electric cars. Midland Power & Traction provided the electricity from their location on Foster Avenue at 2nd Street (recent home of Variety Glass) in Cambridge, Ohio.

Just for fun, let’s step on the Guernsey County Interurban and take a little road trip with Granny through Guernsey County on a summer day long ago. She has a special destination for her trip today, but will enjoy all the sights along the way.

All aboard for a ride into the past.

Tickets could be purchased at The Electric Shop across from the courthouse.

Having saved her pennies for weeks now, it’s time to purchase her round trip ticket for a quarter. The Electric Shop on the corner of South 8th Street across from the courthouse is a handy place to get a ticket.

Cambridge Glass Company Baseball Diamond

This aerial shot of the old Cambridge Glass Company shows the baseball diamond, a popular weekend form of entertainment.

At the first stop on the trestle by the Cambridge Glass Company on Morton Avenue, glass workers wait. Many employees use this for their ride home after work, even on a Saturday. Granny notices the baseball teams preparing to enjoy the summer day. Looks like the semi-pro teams of Cambridge Glass Clear Cuts and Byesville Bobcats are ready to “Play Ball”.

Today a stop will be made at the Byesville Driving Park along Chapman Creek. Many depart the train at Stop #7, called Marjorie or Springfield, and walk about a quarter of a mile to the grandstands at the park to watch the horse races.

Korte’s Park had perhaps the only swimming pool in Ohio back in the early 1900s.

Others get off at Stop #9 and visit the nicest picnic area around at Korte’s Park. This is said to have been the only swimming pool in the state of Ohio, so quite a popular spot during the summer months.

Interurban Car on Byesville Depot Street

The Interurban rolls down Depot Street (now Second Street) in Byesville.

This Saturday afternoon when all the coal miners are shopping in Byesville, the Interurban has to slow down a little because of the miners and their families flooding this main thoroughfare. Coal miners were not welcome to shop in Cambridge, so Byesville was a busy town.

Interurban passes over Rocky Bottom swimming hole, a popular summer hang-out.

Just outside of Byesville at Little Kate, the tracks lead over Wills Creek on a trestle. Granny’s eyes light up as she notices a sign on the cowcatcher that says “Haag Railroad Show”. That sounds like something she would like to see.

As you pass over “Rocky Bottom”, a favorite swimming hole for youngsters, watch out for skinny dippers. Sometimes they make people laugh, and other times cause embarrassment to those riding the rails. Granny has to cover her eyes!

Trail Run Mine is a busy town with over 1500 residents. You have to be quick as the interurban only stops here for seconds unless there are milk cans, ice, dynamite, or other freight to unload. They must keep on schedule.

Vacation Bible class of Lucasburg and Buckeyeville stops for a picnic at Ball’s Grove.

Up on the hillside, Granny spots families having a picnic under the trees. There is a spring nearby and she has heard that Ball’s Grove (today the northbound I-77 roadside rest) is a perfect place for a family to enjoy relaxing while the children play tag or kick-the-can.

Miners and mules line up outside Puritan Mine.

As the Interurban stops at Puritan Mine (Seneca Lane), coal miners get on board to head home for the evening. Granny fusses just a little to make sure they don’t get coal dust or grease on her best dress as she has almost reached her destination. The large cars have seats for forty-two, but often two hundred dirty miners will crowd on board, eager to head home for the day.

The Interurban can be seen on the other side of the covered bridge leaving Pleasant City to return to Cambridge.

By the time the cars have made it all the way to Pleasant City, the end of the line, there is reduced power for the trip back to Cambridge. Voltage is so low that cars leave at a crawl with their overhead lights no brighter than lightning bugs. Now you can see why they need that new substation on Morton Avenue to provide power to the stations at Pleasant City and Byesville.

Today’s a special day for Granny as it’s her birthday. Her sisters live in Pleasant City and greet her as she gets off the Interurban. They are amazed that she has come so far all by herself.

Granny is excited to tell them about the Haag Railroad Show that is coming next week. “Maybe we could all go see their trained bears, ponies and blue-faced monkeys. There’s always something exciting happening around Guernsey County these days.”

Wouldn’t it have been an adventure to take a Gypsy Road Trip with Granny on the Interurban?

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Cambridge, History, Ohio, Uncategorized

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Create a Basketful of Memories at Longaberger Homestead

Longaberger Homestead displays the world’s largest apple basket. measuring twenty-nine feet tall.

What’s your excuse for not following your dream? It better be a good one as Dave Longaberger had three big excuses not to be successful, and overcame them all.

Born in 1934, Dave arrived in a poor family, stuttered so much that people had trouble understanding him, and was afflicted with epilepsy. School was a difficult proposition and he was 21 years old before an adamant Dave graduated high school. After all, he spent three years in fifth grade.

During his school years, Dave always worked at some job to make extra money. He shoveled snow, mowed lawns, ran a movie projector at the theater, and delivered newspapers. Since he was always making money some way, his family called him “the twenty-five cent millionaire”.

J W Longaberger, Dave’s father, started his own basket company, The Ohio Ware Basket, whose baskets were basically used for carrying pottery.

Dave’s determination was stronger than his education, as he began early in life to try opening his own businesses – a small diner, a local grocery store, and a basket company to sell his father’s baskets.

This woven bell attracts attention in the museum area.

During this time he discovered three principles for success in business:

Listening to others
Having trust in others
Maintaining a sense of humor

Using these three principles, he started a small company making baskets like those his father had so successfully made in the past few years. That business, Longaberger Baskets, created a web of home consultants that promoted personal service and high quality.

Then came Longaberger Homestead, the company’s main retail hub. Here you can browse through a gigantic showroom filled with everything Longaberger.

These new baskets are created with an eye to the future.

One interesting feature is the Longaberger Museum, which shows its past, present and future. Beautiful handcrafted baskets of different shapes and sizes are on display. There are no two baskets alike as each one was hand made and thus has a special touch.

Their baskets of the future are shown in the Couture Collection, which started in 2014. These are not ordinary baskets, but works of art as each is handwoven with intricate patterns.

Longaberger Weaving Perhaps you would like to make your own basket. Knowledgeable weavers are present to guide you through the many steps and help you when it just doesn’t seem possible. Creating your own basket would be quite a treasure. One woman said, “My family wouldn’t believe it if they saw me making a basket.”

Statue of Dave Longaberger rests at the edge of a pond in Memorial Sculpture Garden, where he overlooks his dream come true.

The best way to make certain you see everything would be to take the Heritage Walk, which leads you to the museum, apple basket, workshop, reconstructed home, Crawford Barn, and the Dave Longaberger Memorial Garden.

This is a transition time for Longaberger after selling about a year ago to its new owner from Texas, but Dave always said that everything is subject to change. However, Longaberger Homestead is still a first class showcase. More vendors inside give more variety, thus attracting more visitors.

Longaberger Homestead would be a great place to have a little fun while picking up some beautiful gifts for springtime. Like Dave said, “Every day should be at least 25% fun.”

Longaberger Homestead, located between Newark and Coshocton, Ohio, can be reached off OH-16 north of I-70. Take the Old Riley Road Exit near Frazeysburg and you will be able to see the Homestead at 5563 Raiders Road.

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Parthenon Full-Scale Replica in Nashville, TN

The Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee attracts visitors from all over the world.

The Parthenon doesn’t seem to belong in Nashville, Tennessee, yet this full-scale replica was the centerpiece for Tennessee’s 1897 Centennial Exposition. For this special occasion, Nashville wanted to promote themselves as a cultural and educational “Athens of the South”. They were successful, as today there are twenty-one universities located there.

After the Centennial celebration, which nearly two million people attended, all the buildings were torn down except for the Parthenon. even though it was made of temporary materials. After the turn of the century, Centennial Park was created by the city of Nashville. By 1920, it was decided to make the Parthenon a permanent structure of aggregate concrete.

No straight lines exist in the original Parthenon or this full-scale replica.

Powerful and perfect describe it well. Built as the world’s only full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece, they were careful to use no straight lines in its construction – just like the original. Even the steps are curved.

When you step inside the Parthenon, the first floor is being used as was intended. An art gallery features many local and national artists.The collection of James Cowan is permanently housed here along with special, changing exhibits.

The appearance of Athena on the second floor is striking.

But be prepared to be stunned on the second floor. Here stands a dramatic figure of Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, Prudent War, and Useful Arts.

The addition of the statue of Athena Parthenos is rather recent. In 1990 it was decided to commission the figure while remodeling the building. The artist had everything he needed to commence work except the long pole to be part of her spear. While sitting at McDonald’s over a cup of coffee one day, he looked out the window and noticed their flagpole. It looked like it would be perfect. When he contacted McDonald’s, they agreed to provide one of their flagpoles, which is today her spear…covered in gold.

Athena’s shield has figures of Amazon women surrounding the head of Medusa.

This Goddess of Righteousness measures 42′ tall and is covered in gold…eight and a half pounds of gold leaf. She is protecting the snake, representing the people of Athens, with her shield, which has Amazon women on the outside of it and the head of Medusa at the center. At the time of the original statue, Athena was at peace as the shield is down, the flaps on her helmet are up, and the spear rests on her shoulder.

Athena holds Nike. Note that her wrists have bracelets of snakes.

In her right hand, she holds the 6’4″ figure of Nike, Goddess of Victory. Nike’s wing shape is today used for the symbol of speed and flight for Nike shoes.

Adena’s pedestal is rimmed with historic figures.

Along the bottom of the statue is a golden wall of drawings depicting life in those times. The artist included faces of several family members in the drawing: his father, mother, wife, best friend, and himself.

These 4′ tall Gryphons guard the gold statue.

On each side of the statue stand Gryphons for protection. With the head and wings of an eagle and the body and tail of a lion, these strange creatures were called the hounds of Zeus. They can also be found at the four corners of the Parthenon’s roof.

Each solid bronze door weighs 15,000 pounds – that’s 7.5 tons!

At each end of the upper chamber, bronze doors cover the opening to outside. While the original doors in the Athens Parthenon are believed to have been wooden, decorated in bronze, these solid bronze doors each weight 7.5 tons, measure 6.5 feet wide and 24 feet high, and are twelve inches in thickness. Yet even a child can open or shut them on their intricately designed ball-bearing collars.

Each piece has notation, in English and Braille, of where it appears on the pediment.

In the outer chamber of the temple, plaster replicas have been made from direct casts of the original sculptures adorning the pediments of the Athens’ Parthenon.The originals can be found today in the British Museum in London. Of course, all the figures were not available, so knowledge of Greek sculpture helped create the missing pieces.

The advanced scientific knowledge of 500 BC surprisingly had great understanding of astronomy. The opening to the temple was built facing east. At that time there was a reflecting pool in front of the statue. When the sun came in that east door, it hit the reflecting pool to light up the golden statue of Athena. No modern day lighting system could compare.

The beauty of the past lives on in Centennial Park today.

Centennial Park is located in Nashville, TN just west of I-40 at 2500 West End Ave. Admission to the Parthenon is very reasonable.

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Ohio Beginnings with Rufus Putnam

Campus Martius Museum in Marietta contains interesting early Ohio history.

How is The Bunch of Grapes Tavern in Boston, Massachusetts connected to Campus Martius Museum in Marietta, Ohio?

After the Revolutionary War, in March, 1786, a group of men met at The Bunch of Grapes Tavern in Boston to purchase land in the Northwest Territory. Rufus Putnam, Benjamin Tupper, Samuel Parsons, and Rev. Manasseh Cutler formed the Ohio Company of Associates, also known as The Ohio Company, and purchased what was to become about one-fifth of the state of Ohio.

Putnam Land Office

The Ohio Company Land Office, where Rufus Putnam and his partners worked, is the oldest known building in Ohio. Built in 1788, many hopeful land owners walked the path to its door.

These Revolutionary war soldiers were given land grants in lieu of payment for services rendered during the war. They purchased approximately 1,500,000 acres at roughly eight and a half cents per acre along the Ohio River in southeastern Ohio.

Provisions in this land grant were made for two sections in the center to be set aside for an educational institution. The first land grant college was to be called American Western University, but before opening changed its name to Ohio University.

Rufus Putnam served as a member of the Ohio Company, which laid out the plans for Marietta.

Even though Rufus Putnam. the leader of the Ohio Company, was a self-educated man and did not have any formal schooling after the age of nine, he promoted higher education by serving as a trustee at Ohio University. He also claims a connection to West Point. where he built a fort during the Revolutionary War. Fort Putnam is today being preserved and operated by the United States Army Garrison, West Point.

In his memoirs, which are today at Marietta College, he shared his wish for a better education. One line said, “hence neglecting Spelling and gramer when young I have suffered much through life on that account.” But that didn’t keep him from recording records of all his correspondence, while he also kept a daily journal.

An interesting item on the kitchen table was a cone of sugar wrapped in blue paper from the West Indies, with sugar nippers close by to get the perfect amount of sugar for a cup of coffee or tea. The blue paper had a second use as Persis could use it to dye her spun thread.

Rufus Putnam established the first Ohio Company settlement on the banks of the Ohio River in 1788. This became the first settlement in the Northwest Territory. Adelphia, meaning brotherhood, became its first name, but that was soon changed to Marietta in honor of Queen Marie Antoinette of France.

There the Ohio Company built a fortification to protect themselves from the Indians. They called their stockade, Campus Martius. Rufus Putman’s home was one of a row of plank houses inside this stockade.

A few years later, fortification was no longer needed, so the stockade was disassembled. However, the Putnam house remained at the original site, but with added rooms. He purchased the corner blockhouse for $70 and used its lumber for his house addition.

This is the original kitchen where the Putnam family prepared and ate their meals.

His wife, Persis and eight children, joined him in Ohio at their new home on the bluff of the Muskingum River. Their home here contained a kitchen, sewing/sitting room and two bedrooms upstairs. Now you can see the need for an addition.

Mrs. Putnam used the spinning wheel frequently as her seamstress abilities were well known. When Rufus was on his trips for the country, she often had to earn money for essentials by sewing.

Treasures of early Ohio can be found inside this building in Marietta.

What’s behind all those windows at Campus Martius Museum in Marietta, Ohio today? Inside is the full size house of Rufus Putnam and it still stands where it was built back in 1788. The museum was built around the house in 1931 after the Daughters of American Revolution with assistance from the state of Ohio saved it from destruction.

The house is pictured as it was in 1931 before preservation began.

Rufus Putnam served his country faithfully and was respected by his superiors, especially by his favorite leader, George Washington. It has been said that so long as the history of his country shall be written and read, the part Rufus Putnam played in that history will be found occupying one of its broadest and brightest pages.

Visit Campus Martius Museum to see where the Putnam family lived and learn more about their new life in Ohio. The museum overflows with Ohio history.

Campus Martius Museum is located at 601 Second Street, Marietta, Ohio, on Ohio State Route 7, and minutes from I-77. Plenty of free parking is available and cost of admission is very reasonable.

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A Stroll Through History Portsmouth Flood Wall Murals

Early life in Portsmouth can be seen in the Stagecoach Mural, Hanging Rock Iron Furnaces, and the Ohio and Erie Canal at its southernmost point.

2000 seems to be the magic number in Portsmouth. 2000 years of Scioto County History on 2000 feet of Portsmouth Flood Wall Murals.

The disastrous Ohio River Flood of 1937 led to the construction of this floodwall.

In 1937, a disastrous flood caused the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct a flood wall along the Ohio River to prevent the same thing from happening in the future.

While the flood wall served its purpose, it wasn’t very pleasing to the eye. Dr. Louis Chaboudy and his wife, Ava, had visited Steubenville, Ohio in 1992 and were pleased with the murals they saw there. They decided to begin the search for a person who might not only paint pictures of the history of Scioto County, but bring it to life so it would attract visitors to their city.

The Portsmouth Earthworks is a large mound complex constructed by the Ohio Hopewell Culture from 100 BCE to 500 CE.

Robert Dafford, an internationally known muralist, seemed the perfect person for that role and painting began on the largest mural, 20′ x 160′ in 1993. One artist created all 2000′ of the Flood Wall Murals by October of 2002. The remainder of the murals are 20′ x 40′. Whether you are an artist or have little appreciation for fine art, these murals will grab your attention and tell you the story of the changes that have taken place in Portsmouth over the years.

The Greyhound Bus Station was a popular place during WWII gas rationing. Or you could have joined local legend, Roy Rogers, riding Trigger.

The murals tell the story of the history of the area, and depict all the former factories, the great flood of 1937, sports history and much, much more. See detailed paintings of historical Portsmouth, which include local legends, such as Roy Rogers, Branch Rickey, and the Portsmouth Spartans NFL football team. The Spartans could not survive in the small town of Portsmouth during the depression, and in 1934 were sold to Detroit, where they became the Detroit Lions.

Sixteen churches established in the 1800s are featured in this stained glass motif.

Some surprises appear along the way whether you are walking for the best view, or driving along in your vehicle. Discover that the shoe industry had six factories here in the early 1800s employing over 6,000 people. Look carefully at the mural of the Portsmouth Motorcycle Club and see if you can spot the reflection of the muralist, Robert Dafford, in one of the hubcaps.

After the initial 2000′ were painted, there have been four murals added. One of them depicts famous baseball players from the area, while another shows a bicycle tour from Columbus to Portsmouth.

The Ohio River flows just outside the flood wall where the U.S. Grant Bridge crosses over to Kentucky.

The great thing is…it’s FREE! Take a leisurely stroll along the murals or view from them the sidewalk across the street for a different perspective. An amazing feature is that there are paintings on both sides of the wall so don’t forget to view the wall from the Ohio River side as well.

The Ohio River side of the flood wall was begun before the mural side. You can drive along most of the outside of the wall along the Ohio River.

Here the flood wall has been designated at the Portsmouth Wall of Fame, where accomplishments of area natives are recognized. Their name is placed beneath a star with an autograph of the person being honored in many cases – Don Gullett, Al Oliver, Roy Rogers, Dan Quayle, Larry Hisle and Gene Tenace being a few of those recognized.

Downtown Portsmouth in the 1900s is the cover of the Scioto County Visitors’ Guide. The Steel Industry played a major role in the town’s growth.

The Portsmouth Flood Wall serves as a great example of how something that serves a needed purpose doesn’t have to be dull or boring. With a little bit of talent, it can brighten up the world.

Portsmouth is located in the southern part of Ohio along back country roads. Your best bet for directions is using your GPS.

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Art, History, Ohio, Uncategorized

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SMART Centre Features Dinosaurs, Space, and Ice Cream

SMART Centre Market opened its doors in 2010 to encourage students’ interest in science.

A delightful Science Centre Market exists in downtown Wheeling, WV – right next door to their historic Centre Market District. This is no ordinary shop as it combines elements of hands-on experience, museum-like pieces, as well as a place to find some unusual gift ideas for those interested in science.

Libby and Robert Strong enjoy having fun as well as teaching.

Robert and Libby Strong, two former science teachers, created this special place several years ago. SMART stands for:

Science
Math
Art
Research
Technology

It seemed the natural thing to do for a physicist and a biologist!

This cast shows the armored skeleton of a German fish with teeth sharp enough to bite through the shells of squid.

A fossil is a snapshot in time, so they feel it important to have original fossils throughout the center. Since originals are hard to come by, some of the larger displays are casts of original fossils, so children can see their size and detail. It is important to keep past science discoveries alive.

This wooden singing tree produced a beautiful song as a marble, made at near-by Marble King, dropped from leaf to leaf.

Around every bend, there’s a spot for hands-on discovery. Robert pointed out that there are two kinds of people who enjoy their place: little kids and tall kids. Even adults need to keep their curiosity alive, and learn something new each day.

This Gravity Well lets children watch a coin go around at high speeds as the coins descend to the vortex tunnel.

This is the place to learn while you play. Children find interesting a line up of scales where they can discover their weight on earth, the moon, Mars, Jupiter, and Pluto. On Pluto, they would weigh the least, and on Jupiter the most – due to gravitational pull. A Gravity Well lets you watch different size coins make their way down the well at different speeds.

Books on every scientific subject fill the shelves along with science kits to ignite their imagination.

Besides all the activities in the center, the Strongs hold field trips, camps, workshops, and have special open evenings for star gazing. Their main desire is to create a place where kids can have fun learning about science. Robert and Libby bubble over with enthusiasm.

This 1955 game of Wooly Willy shows the magic of magnets as it creates “Magnetic Personalities”.

Everything in the center has an unusual quality. No matter where they sat or stood, the Strongs could point out unusual items such as dinosaur teeth, leaf fossils depicting global plate shifting, or pieces of k-t most likely from a million-year-old asteroid, which coincided with the extinction period of the dinosaurs. All this from one spot!

When Robert was asked about his favorite part of the center, he said, “When the door opens and people begin conversations about science, you are going to learn something.” Those people, who enter through the front door, teach him something from their questions and contributions. “It’s fabulous! It’s a perk being here – people and ice cream.”

Ice Cream Flavors

The day had to be finished with an ice cream cone, which Robert handed to me upside down…and it didn’t fall out!.That’s the first time a physicist ever made me an ice cream cone and it only cost a dollar. This ice cream comes from Kirke’s Homemade Ice Cream at near-by St. Clairsville.

With a visit to the SMART Centre Market, kids of any age can catch enthusiasm for the world of science. Robert and Libby are prepared to help you light the fire of exploration. Don’t forget the ice cream cone!

Hours for the SMART Centre are Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00 – 6:00. Check out their special events at http://www.smartcentremarket.com

Category:

History, Just for Fun, Uncategorized, West Virginia

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Places to go and things to see by Gypsy Bev

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A Stroll Through History Portsmouth Flood Wall Murals

SMART Centre Features Dinosaurs, Space, and Ice Cream

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