Better Homes And Gardens Children's Cookbook 1979

Adena Mansion & Gardens

Admission to Adena Mansion & Gardens Historic Site is  $10/adult, $9/senior and $5/child age 6-12.

• Open: April – October Wednesday thru Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 12pm to 5pm.
• Location: (Map It) 847 Adena Road in Chillicothe, Ohio
• Phone:  740-772-1500 or 800-319-7248
• Web: click here

Adena Mansion & Gardens Historic Site was the 2000-acre estate of Thomas Worthington (1773-1827), sixth governor of Ohio and one of the state's first United States Senators. The mansion house, completed in 1806-1807, has been restored to look much as it did when the Worthington family lived there, including many original Worthington family furnishings. The house is one of only three houses designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe still standing in the country. Latrobe is considered the first professional American architect and served as architect of the U.S. capitol under President Thomas Jefferson.

Situated on the 300 remaining acres of the original home place are five outbuildings and formal gardens. The gardens have undergone major renovation. Visitors may stroll through three terraces of flowers and vegetables, as well as the shrubs and trees in the grove. Looking east from the north lawn of the mansion, one can see across the Scioto River Valley to the Logan Range. This view was the inspiration for the Great Seal of the State of Ohio.

Blue Rock Station

Blue Rock Station in Philo, Ohio requires reservations.

• Call for hours
• Location: (Map It) 1190 Virginia Ridge Rd., Philo, Ohio
• Phone: 740-674-4300
• Web: www.bluerockstation.com

Blue Rock Station in Philo, Ohio:  This 38-acre sustainability project is home to Ohio's first "Earthship", a unique 2200 sq. ft. "living" home, built from used auto tires, cans, bottles, and strawbales. Farm buildings incorporate time-honored building techniques such as thermal mass (using the earth to help heat the house), passive solar (the sun's rays), and adobe construction (using mud and straw) to create a comfortable and attractive place to live. In addition, visitors can take a tour of the buildings, sign up for a workshop, walk with the llamas (trekking) or enjoy high tea in a peaceful setting.  Tour themes include sustainable agriculture practices, cooking with the sun, and alternative building techniques.  Call for hours or to set up a tour. Blue Rock Station is located just 20 minutes south of I-70 Zanesville.

Carillon Historical Park

Admission to Carillon Historical Park is $12/adult 18-59, $10/Senior 60+, $8/child 3-17 years old (Parking is free).

• Open Monday thru Saturday 9:30am to 5pm, Sunday from Noon to 5pm.
• Location: (Map It) 1000 Carillon Blvd. in Dayton, Ohio
• Phone: 937-293-2841
• Web: click here

Carillon Historical Park in Dayton is a 65-acre campus with dozens of museums and countless artifacts showcasing the power of Dayton's ingenuity and impact on the world in areas of mechanical flight and other industrial innovations.

One of the stops in Carillon Historical Park is the Wright Brothers Aviation Center where more Wright artifacts are on display than in any place in the world. It features the 1905 Wright Flyer III —the only airplane designated a National Historic Landmark, the world's first practical flying machine, and what the Wright brothers considered their most important aircraft.

Learn how Dayton earned its reputation as a city of creativity and innovation.

Century Village Museum

Admission to the Century Village Museum is approximately $10/adult, $5/child ages 6-16, and free for children under 6.

• Open: Weekends from April 15 to November 15
• Location: (Map It) 14653 East Park St. in Burton, Ohio
• Phone: 440-834-1492
• Web: click here

The Century Village Museum:  An engaging museum depicting a Western Reserve Village with over twenty-two historically authentic buildings that house over 20,000 museum artifacts.  On the museum, grounds are a general store for purchases, a one-room schoolhouse, Marshall's Office, library, church, train depot, and many more fascinating historical experiences! Open for public and private tours as well as a myriad of festivals and events.

Ebenezer Buckingham Inn

Tours of the Ebenezer Buckingham Inn cost $3 per person.

• Open year-round. Tours are by appointment only. It is an active bed and breakfast.
• Location: (Map It) 438 Putnam Ave. in Zanesville, Ohio
• Phone: 740-452-6217

Ebenezer Buckingham Inn in Zanesville:  You will love visiting this beautiful 5,222 sq. ft. brick home (circa 1820), featuring stained glass windows, ornate fireplaces, lots of original woodwork, and a nineteenth-century chandelier made to use both gas and electricity. Steeped in history the former occupants of this house had ties to Presidents Monroe and Lincoln, General Rufus Putnam, and Harriet Beecher-Stowe, just to mention a few.  CP Buckingham was the officer President Lincoln choose to deliver the orders to General McCellan relieving him of his command after the battle of Antietam.  The history goes on and on. They also offer space for meetings, reunions, and small weddings.  They have a large library and a living room with a grand piano.

Edison Birthplace Museum

Admission to Edison Birthplace Museum is  $15/adult, $10/senior, and $10 for kids 5-17 years old.

• Open: Hours and days vary throughout the week and year. Closed January, Mondays, and major holidays
• Location: (Map It) 9 Edison Drive in Milan, Ohio (near Exit 118 of the Ohio Turnpike)
• Phone: 419-499-2135
• Web: https://tomedison.org/

The Edison Birthplace and Museum in Milan, Ohio:  Thomas Alva Edison was one of America's most famous inventors. He is most renowned for the invention of the incandescent light bulb, but his shop is also responsible for creating the phonograph and many other inventions. Edison's story began with his birth in Milan, Ohio in 1847. This birthplace/museum has many artifacts on display along with inventions, precious documents, and other mementos. Guided tours may be arranged. The Edison Birthplace Museum provides insight to the historic inventor's life.

Grant's Boyhood Home & Schoolhouse

Admission to President Grant's Boyhood Home & Schoolhouse is $5/adult and $3/student or children 6-12 years old.

• Open: Wednesday through Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day and Saturday & Sunday in September and October. Hours are 12:00 -5:00 pm.
• Location: (Map It) Boyhood Home is located at 219 East Grant Ave. in Georgetown, Ohio
• Phone: 937-378-3087 or 877-372-8177
• Web: click here

President Grant's Boyhood Home & Schoolhouse:  See the humble beginnings of Ulysses S. Grant. Jesse Grant (Ulysses' father) built the home in 1823. Ulysses lived in Georgetown longer than anywhere else in his life.  He was born at Point Pleasant, Ohio in 1822 and the family moved to Georgetown when he was less than a year old. The schoolhouse was originally a one-room structure built in 1829. And the home is a restored white colonial.

Hale Farm & Village

Admission to Hale Farm & Village is $12/adult and $6/child ages 3-12.

• Open: June to August from Wednesday to Sunday from 10am – 4pm
• Location: (Map It) 2686 Oak Hill Road in Bath, Ohio
  (May need to use Peninsula, Ohio for GPS)
• Phone: 877-HALE-FARM or 330-666-3711
• Web: click here

Hale Farm & Village, located in the Cuyahoga Valley, is an outdoor living history museum. Mid-19th century life is depicted through 32 historic structures, farm animals, heritage gardens, cooking, and early American craft and trade demonstrations such as blacksmithing, pottery, and glassblowing. Shop for handcrafted at Hale and Ohio-made items in the MarketPlace or online in our Etsy store. Visit for a signature event or workshop or plan your own special event on our property. Take the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic railroad to the farm and enjoy a day in the National Park. More information at www.halefarm.org

Hanby House

Admission to the Hanby House is about $3/adult (18-59), $1/child (5-17), $2.50/senior, and kids 4 and under are free.

• Open Saturdays and Sundays 1-4pm, May through September. Groups year-round by appointment.
• Location:(Map It) 160 W. Main St., Westerville, Ohio
• Phone: 614-891-6289 or 1-800-600-6843
• Web: click here

The Hanby House in Westerville:  Benjamin Hanby left Westerville a rich tradition in music. The Hanby House is Ohio's first memorial to a composer. Hanby wrote more than 80 folk songs and hymns, including "Darling Nelly Grey," a popular song of the Civil War, and "Up on the Housetop," still sung by children worldwide. The Hanby House contains five rooms of original antiques from the Civil War era, including some of Ben's original instruments, musical scores and artifacts. The Hanby House was also a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Harding Presidential Sites

Admission to Harding Presidential Sites is $16/adult, $15/senior, $8/student (6-17 years).

• Open: Typically early May to early November from 12-5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday
• Location: (Map It) 380 Mt. Vernon Ave., Marion, Ohio
• Phone: 800-600-6894
• Web: click here

The Warren G. Harding Presidential Sites features the home and Presidential Library of Warren G. Harding. Collections encompass more than 5,000 original items, including 300 from the White House. Because most of what you'll see in the home is original, you'll get the feeling that Warren G. and Florence Harding have just stepped into the next room.

The Harding Home, the residence of Warren G. and Florence Harding from 1891 to 1921, has been open continuously as a museum since 1926. The museum opened just three years after President Harding died from a heart attack in 1923. Mrs. Harding died 15 months later from kidney disease. In her will, she made arrangements for the home and the bulk of the contents to go into the hands of the Harding Memorial Association (HMA).

The HMA formed just after President Harding's death on Aug. 2, 1923 to oversee fundraising to construct the Harding Memorial. They owned the 10-acre Memorial site and the Harding Home until 1978, when both sites were turned over to the State of Ohio. The sites today are administered by the Ohio History Connection with the help of local manager Marion Technical College.

When the museum opened in February 1926, visitors could view just the first four rooms of the residence – the reception hall, parlor, library and dining room. The rooms were not presented as they were when the Hardings lived there; instead, all of the rooms featured glass display cases of objects. Photos and framed documents covered the walls. The on-site caretakers lived upstairs.

In 1965, the HMA completed a restoration of the Home, showcasing it for the first time as a house museum. The group chose 1900 as the year it wanted to depict, choosing wallpapers that reflected that year. The caretakers continued to perform the maintenance and lead tours but now lived off-site.

Hayes Presidential Library & Museums

Admission to the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums is approximate $10-20/person.

• Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays and holidays, Noon to 5 p.m.
• Location: (Map It) Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio
• Phone: 419-332-2081
• Web: https://www.rbhayes.org/

The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums consists of two buildings, the Hayes Home and Hayes Museum/Library. Visitors can opt to tour one building or both. There is a reduced rate for both. The museum was started by the president's second son, Col. Webb Cook Hayes, and his siblings shortly after the turn of the last century. Major additions in 1922 and 1968 increased the galleries and library to 52,640 square feet. In keeping with the museum's mission, there are 13,000 artifacts depicting the Hayes family. As president, Hayes contended with the aftermath of Reconstruction in the South especially as related to Black citizens, and the plight of the Native Americans. He fought against the controversial Chinese Immigration Exclusion Act and promoted Civil Service Reform. The Hayes Library at the Center is impressive offering Hayes' 12,000 volume personal library along with material from his military and political careers. The Hayes Presidential Center is open Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays and holidays from Noon to 5 p.m. (The library is closed on Sundays.)

Hawthorn Hill – Orville Wright's Mansion

Admission to Orville Wright's Hawthorn Hill Mansion is $14/person.

• Open: Call in advance to schedule a tour for Monday – Saturday from 9:30am – 5:00pm or Sunday from 12:00 – 5:00pm.
• Location: (Map It) 1000 Carillon Blvd. in Dayton, Ohio
• Phone: 937-293-2841
• Web: click here

Orville Wright's Hawthorn Hill Mansion in Dayton, Ohio has only in recent years been opened for public tours. Inside you'll see the various inventions Orville Wright made from his reading chair to his shower. The sprawling grounds once had droves of people chanting outside for Orville's house guest, Charles Lindbergh. The house was to be a joint residence of both Wilbur and Orville but Wilbur died before its completion. However, Orville's sister and father lived in the residence. The estate was nicknamed Hawthorn Hill because it has over a hundred Hawthorn trees and the mansion sits on top of a hill. Tours last approximately one and a half hours long (limit of 10 people per tour).

Historic Lyme Village

Admission to the Historic Lyme Village is $10/adult, $9/senior and $5/child ages 6-12.

• Open: June – August on Wednesday – Saturday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Location: (Map It) 5001 State Route 4 in Bellevue, Ohio (four miles south of Ohio Turnpike Exit 110)
• Phone: 419-483-4949
• Web: https://lymevillage.org/

Historic Lyme Village In Bellevue:  Relive the past as you tour this 19th-century village.  Historic Lyme Village includes the John Wright Mansion an 1880 Second Empire Victorian Mansion, an 1824 post office, an 1836 family home, log homes, a one-room school, log church, general store, and 10 other 19th century buildings.  The village is also home to the National Postmark Museum and Research Center, which has limited hours.  Be sure to visit our Gift Shop in the Visitors Center for your gifts and souvenirs.  Sunday services are held at 8:00 am in the log church during the summer months.

Historic Schoenbrunn Village

Admission to Historic Schoenbrunn Village is $7/adult; $5/senior and $4/child ages 7-17 and under 7 is free.

• Open: June through October, Tuesday – Saturday from 9:30am – 5:00pm, and Sunday from 12pm – 5pm.
• Location: (Map It) 1984 E. High St. in New Philadelphia, Ohio
• Phone: 330-339-3636 or 330-663-6610
• Web: click here

Historic Schoenbrunn Village became the first white settlement in Ohio and west of the Ohio River at the start of the American Revolution when Ohio was the Western frontier of the colonies. It was a unique meeting of two cultures: the Moravian Missionaries and the Delaware Native Americans. Today, Schoenbrunn offers 16 reconstructed log cabins, a museum, and a gift shop.

Hubbard House

Admission to the Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum is $5/adult, $4/senior, $3/child 6-16).

• Open Memorial Day through September on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 – 5pm (other times by appointment)
• Location: (Map It) 1603 Walnut Blvd.in Ashtabula, Ohio
• Phone: 440-964-8168
• Web: click here

Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum in Ashtabula:  Once a stop along the Underground Railroad, this 1840's house was built by William and Catherine Hubbard and served as a refuge for escaped slaves. Its displays include old maps and photographs and Civil War items. It is furnished according to the appropriate period and style to reflect the history of the home. And the home itself is listed in the Department of Interior's National Historic Register.

Jefferson Depot Village

The Jefferson Depot Village admission is a requested donation of $10/person.

• Open from June thru September (Tour guides in period attire on Saturday &Sunday from1- 4pm,Monday &Thursday10 – 4pm.  Group Tours any day by appointment (Interpreters in buildings for 12 or more).
• Location: (Map It) Jefferson Depot Village at 147 E. Jefferson St. in Jefferson, Ohio
• Phone: 440-344-0167
• Web: click here

Jefferson Depot Village is the best-kept secret in Ashtabula County. This hidden 19th Century preserved "living history" village is in Jefferson, Ohio. Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Ohio, the Jefferson Depot Village volunteers saved and restored the 1872 Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Station (on the National Register of Historic Places) just 2 weeks before its scheduled demolition.  Then they moved 15 original 19th-century buildings, all from Ashtabula County to the depot.  Each contains original artifacts and furnishings.

As you tour through the restored buildings, "Live a day in the 1890's", work at the train station, attend church in the 1848 "Church in the Wildwood", go to school in the 1838 Spafford One-Room Schoolhouse with its original music staff painted on the blackboard, pick up your mail at the 1845 Sheffield Post Office, get medicines from the 1860 Ashtabula Pharmacy or stroll thru the medicinal herb garden.  Everyone meets at Hohn's General Store with its marble-topped cabinets stocked full of goods.  The 1888 Victorian House is filled with authentic antiques.  Don't miss the Church Barn, Blacksmith Shop, Girl's and Boy's Outhouses, the Carriage House, Old Tavern, PRR Caboose, and the Library/Welcome Center.

Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum

Admission to the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum is $5/adult, $4/child, and $15/family ticket.

• Open: Daily 12pm – 4pm from Memorial to Labor Day and Tuesday – Sunday the rest of the year except January & February (Fri – Sun)
  
• Location: (Map It) 300 North Whitewoman Street in Coshocton, Ohio  43812 (Located in Historic Roscoe Village)
• Phone: 740-622-8710
• Web: click here

Click to Read
COLLECTING A LEGACY …AND CONTROVERSY

The Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum is a nationally accredited museum. It will dispel any notions of a "small town" museum as you behold their remarkable collections.  Four of their galleries house permanent displays of American Indian (pre-historic Tools and Points and one of the finest collections of Indian basketry in the US), Historic Ohio, Euro-American Decorative Arts(Textiles, lacework, porcelain, glassware, sculpture, china, and dolls) and Asian (Chinese and Japanese artifacts, lacquer, jade, theater masks, and Samurai armor and swords).  A fifth gallery offers temporary exhibits from fine art and craft to local history and world culture.

Visitors travel from all parts of the world to the JHM to see their collections of national significance, including its Chinese lacquerware, carvings, and ceramics, and its American Indian basketry and beadwork.  The museum is also well known for its collection of Ohio prehistoric Indian points and tools. A popular exhibit is the Newark Holy Stones which are controversial artifacts that were uncovered in prehistoric Indian Mounds in the 1860s that are inscribed in Hebrew.

JHM is handicapped accessible and also offers a gift shop that offers collection-related books, fine craft, jewelry, and decorative items.

John Rankin House

Admission to the John Rankin House is $6/adult and $3/child.

• Open: May through October from Wednesday through Sunday from 10am – 5pm. Tours on the hour.
• Location: (Map It) 6152 Rankin Hill Road in Ripley, Ohio
• Phone: 800-752-2705
• Web: Click here

The John Rankin House in Ripley, Ohio is a National Historic Landmark and famous station on the Underground Railroad.

The brick home was built in 1825 by Reverand John Rankin and sits high atop Freedom Hill overlooking the small river town of Ripley, Ohio. It features extraordinary tales of bravery and fantastic views of the Ohio River and its meandering bends between the Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio and northern Kentucky.

Rankin began his 44-year ministry of Ripley's Presbyterian church in 1822. He and his wife and 13 children were ardent abolitionists. They dedicated their lives to helping their fellow human beings. Reverend John Rankin was one of the most active "conductors" on the Underground Railroad. His family never lost a "passenger" along their trek of the line. It is estimated that more than 2,000 "passengers" stayed at the Rankin House over the years. At times, up to a dozen runaway slaves lived in the humble brick home in addition to the 15 family members. It only took one encounter for slave owners and hunters to learn not to try and seize escaped slaves from the Rankin's. Family members always stood armed and watchful.

The Harriet Beecher Stowe novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, cites a true story of a lady pushing her child across the thin ice on the Ohio River, desperate to cross to the Rankin House. When a slave hunter met her on the other side, he was so moved by watching her determination that he let her pass through to the home on the hill shining its candle in the window at night to guide her and so many other escaped slaves to potential freedom.

Merely crossing the Ohio River didn't bring freedom even though Ohio was a free state. The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 meant runaway slaves could be apprehended in free states and returned to slavery. The Underground Railroad had to get its "passengers" into Canada. Making it to the Rankin House was a milestone to be sure but the final trek from southern Ohio to northern Ohio and ultimately out of the United States still had many obstacles to maneuver.

The modest home has received more than $1 million in renovations to return it to an authentic representation of how it was when the Rankin family lived there. It is quite a time capsule.

The floorboards are original and in great shape. Several original family items remain, too, such as the family's Bible. Tours are given by well-informed guides. They learn important information to share but are encouraged to do some of their own research to come up with additional points of interest to further make the Rankin House story come alive for its visitors. A young tour guide named Niya found in her personal research that her fourth-generation grandfather was at the Rankin's house in the 1840s.

This little place in the middle of nowhere attracts many visitors and has a large parking lot. The tour takes about 30 minutes. Another 30 minutes can be spent taking in the incredible scenery of the forested hills and Ohio River stretching east and west as far as the eyes can see.

The John Rankin House is one of those little stops you always remember.

Johnston Farm & Indian Agency

Johnston Farm & Indian Agency admission is $9/adult, $8/senior, and $4/child.

• Open: April, May, September, & October: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. For Groups By Appointment June, July, and August: Thursday & Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturday & Sunday Noon – 5:00 p.m.
• Location: ( Map It ) 9845 North Hardin Road in Piqua, Ohio (Miami County)
• Phone: (937) 773-2522 or 1-800-752-2619
• Web: click here

Johnston Farm & Indian Agency in Piqua, Ohio:  See how it was in the early 1800s when Colonel John Johnston lived here as a working farmer, a Federal Indian Agent, and a community leader who facilitated the building of the canal. See the oldest log barn in Ohio, learn about Woodland Indians, and ride the "General Harrison" on a restored segment of the canal. Costumed interpreters and craft demonstrators combine for a realistic visit to the first half of the 19 ^th century.

Lake Metroparks Farmpark

Admission to Lake Metroparks Farmpark is $8 for ages 12-59, $7 for seniors, and $6 for children 2-11.

• Open: 9am – 5pm Tuesday – Sunday
• Location: (Map It) 8800 Chardon Road in Kirtland, Ohio
• Phone: 800-366-FARM (3276) or 440-256-2122
• Web: Click here

Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Kirtland houses a wide range of farm animals and offers visitors a chance to gain hands-on experience with those animals.  Visitors can take part in the daily activities that occur on a farm such as learning how to milk animals both by hand or machine, feeding livestock, sorting grain, and making syrups and jams.  The park also features a cornfield maze that visitors can enter.  There also demonstrations on how to do other farm activities such as herding sheep.  The farmhouses over fifty breeds of livestock with a dozen of them being endangered.  The farm also holds many gardens, orchards, and vineyards that can be visited.

Loveland Castle

Admission to the Historic Loveland Castle & Museum is $5/person.

• Open: Daily from 11am to 5pm
• Location: (Map It) 12025 Shore Rd. in Loveland, Ohio
• Phone: 513-683-4686
• Web: https://lovelandcastle.com/

Historic Loveland Castle & Museum is a real castle much as you'd see in the old country. It is a smaller replica (5,000 sq. ft.) of France's 10th Century Chateau La Roche. It comes complete with a princess room, towers and terraces, and of course – a dungeon! It is open daily for tours and can be rented for weddings. In addition, overnight stays and group parties are available. Don't miss the haunted tours around Halloween.

Little Cities of Black Diamonds

Little Cities
of Black Diamonds
By Robert Carpenter

Excerpt from a past edition of OhioTraveler

Have you ever wanted to go down into a coal mine—not to work—just for the adventure?  The lives of the hard-working men who slog like moles hundreds of feet beneath, and sometimes miles back under the earth's surface have always seemed intriguing as well as personifying the American spirit.

So, you would think that a material equated to gemstones would be applauded for its key role in the industrialization that made this the greatest nation on the planet. Instead, coal and mining, which currently gain news prominence only after a disaster, are almost viewed as antisocial.

Although more than half of the power consumed in our country is still generated by coal, the "greenies" would like to eliminate its use altogether. And due to nearly complete removal from home use, knowledge by later generations of the fossil fuel known as "black diamonds" is limited to its extraction by hazardous, gritty labor, far removed from, and seemingly unrelated to the sanitized information age.

But there is an organization that does not want you to forget the vital function that coal has played in one of the most inventive and ingenious chapters of our history.

The nonprofit organization labeled "Little Cities of Black Diamonds" refers to the old "played out" coal mining communities in Hocking, Perry, and Athens counties of southeast Ohio. "Cities" denotes that during the boom years when coal was king (approximately 1850 to 1925) these communities, although small—were indeed city-like, providing every amenity that society had to offer.

And it wasn't just coal that created prosperity in the region. There was oil, clay and iron ore, but the production and use of those resources was only possible due to energy from coal and its derivative coke that created power and fired the kilns and furnaces.

The Black Diamonds' organization feels that the story of coal and its influence should not be forgotten because it so accurately defines an era and the character of this part of the country.

One of my warmest memories of childhood is of those winter mornings hearing my father rattle the grate in the furnace and bank the fire. The expanding cast-iron jacket would soon begin to crackle and pop, echoing up through the ducts, and heat from the coal flames boiling through the registers would transform a cold house to comfort within minutes.

When snow and ice turned our inclined driveway into a sled run, my father would spread the ashes and clinkers (incompletely burned impurities) in the tire tracks, and then drive up the hill like it was summer.

But coal furnaces, like steam locomotives, were not destined for the modern age.  Although, even with the glory days gone, coal heat extended its popularity into the '70's, and current industrial use persists because compared to alternatives, it is cheap, plentiful and reliable.

Of course coal has its drawbacks, as anyone old enough to remember hosing the soot off a porch floor would know.  Then we became aware of black lung disease, and acid rain due to the high sulfur content of coal found in the Appalachian basin. It was the latter that put a kink in the pipeline of southeastern Ohio coal production that it has never recovered from, even following the implementation of scrubbers on smoke stacks that clean up most of the pollution.

Considering coal's demise, there is still much to be celebrated in the southern tri-county region and more history than you may be able to absorb in one trip.  There are literally dozens of worked-out mines and related hamlets in the "black diamonds" area—some with little reason for existing other than displaying remnants of a vaunted past. But the organization has plotted thirteen specific destinations with enough varied interests to satisfy most anyone.

There are group tours for organized parties of 12-15 people. For $50 per person per day, one or two-day excursions are available that include transportation by van, lunch and a professional guide. But most people will probably prefer to tour at their own pace and curiosity since there is enough interest at single sites to hold you for an entire day.

The best starting point is at the Wayne Forest Visitors Center located on Rt. 33 between Nelsonville and Athens. The coal tipple-style building is headquarters for Ohio's only national forest and they provide a driving tour map and brochure of the little cities and other novelties of the region.  Some examples are:

Robinson's Cave (mine) in New Straitsville is the unofficial birthplace of United Mine Workers Union, and the nearby museum relates the history of the town and mining in general.

Shawnee is the best original example of boomtowns still standing in Ohio, and some say in the eastern U. S.  Its Victorian architecture presents shopping, restaurants, museums and two opera houses. It's one of the places where you'll want a camera.

Haydenville is billed as Ohio's last company-owned town. Industrialist Peter Hayden who dealt in iron, clay and coal, built the town using houses, stores and churches to display his products. One of the houses is now a museum.

Nelsonville was at one time the gateway to the "little cities" area due to its location on both the Columbus and Hocking Valley Railroad and the Hocking Canal. It was, and remains the most prosperous of the rollicking cities that sprung up in the mining period, cresting at more than 8,000 residents. It's also the present boarding point for the Hocking Valley Scenic Railroad that runs passenger cars up and down the valley during summer and fall. Call them at 800-967-7834 for more details.

Rendville stands out because it was a social experiment. Founder William P. Rend recruited blacks to work his mines, but with his blessings they also held the leadership positions of the town such as mayor, postmaster, physician, ministers, and labor union bosses. The original Baptist Church is now The Rendville Art Works, which is open every day but Sunday.

In addition to the historical sites, the area offers hiking trails, swimming, boating and fishing. Burr Oak State Park is said to be Ohio's most remote and picturesque state park. Another bonus is the drive up SR 78 East from Bishopville. It's known as the "Rim of The World." The views are spectacular—especially at this time of the year.

But whatever you're viewing, you'll be aware that it was coal that developed this area, and its decline, perhaps, that has let it down—a useful cue that nothing is forever—that change is inevitable, and hopefully for the best.

The house I grew up in was eventually converted to electric, but regardless of the cleanliness, convenience and thermometer reading, we all agreed that it was somehow never as comfortable as coal-fired heat.

In recent times there are mornings when in that semi-conscious state, I hear that old coal furnace crackling and popping. At first the ghostly quality was frightening. There is nothing in my present house that can possible make that noise, yet I clearly hear it even when I'm awake enough to know I'm not dreaming. But I've learned to welcome the sound because when it ceases I get up; I'm warm, I'm comforted, and all seems to be right with the world.

Go to LittleCitiesofBlackDiamonds.org or call 800-394-3011 or (local) 740-394-3011 for more information.

Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics

Welcome to the Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics.

• Open: Year-round
• Location: (Map It) 2291 St. Johns Road in Maria Stein, Ohio
• Web: https://mariasteinshrine.org/

The Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics is situated on nearly 30 acres of beautifully landscaped, peaceful rolling grounds in rural Maria Stein, Ohio. The grounds of the Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics include many unique opportunities for walking, reflection, and prayer in a peaceful environment. The Shrine's religious, genealogical, cultural and architectural history is of interest to visitors from around the world.

Pilgrims are encouraged to explore the grounds, appreciate the beautiful architecture, stroll along sacred paths and enjoy an environment of serenity and solitude. Prayers are available to accompany your journey. There is no better place than the Shrine, rich in holiness and history, to deepen your spirituality.

Some of the Shrine's notable features include a beautiful courtyard featuring Stations of the Cross, an Angel Garden, a Statue Garden, the original tower entrance and the original bell from the former Convent built in 1860, a spring-fed, hand-dug well, Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, the Chapel in the Woods, and so much more!

Marietta Castle

Admission to the Marietta Castle is $10/adult, $9.50/senior and $7/student and ages 5-18.

• Open: Monday, Thursday, & Friday 10am – 4pm and Saturday & Sunday 1 -4pm.
• Location: (Map It) 418 Fourth Street in Marietta, Ohio
• Phone: 740-373-4180
• Web: https://mariettacastle.org/

The Marietta Castle is an 1855 home of several cities and state notables. The Castle is an outstanding example of Gothic Revival architecture open for regular guided tours, periodic exhibits of art and artifacts important to the region as well as concerts, workshops, children's programs, teas, and other special activities.

McCook House Civil War Museum

Admission to the McCook House Civil War Museum is $3 for adults, $1 for children age 6-12, and free for those under age 6.

• Open: Memorial Day through Labor Day Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p. m. From Labor Day through the first weekend in October it is open Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 1-5.
• Location: (Map It) 15 South Lisbon Street in Carrollton, Ohio
• Phone: 1-800-600-7172 or 330-627-3345
• Web: click here

Welcome to the McCook House Civil War Museum.
Excerpt from a past edition of OhioTraveler

The Fighting McCooks

The McCook clan was not known as a cantankerous bunch, but no one questioned their courage or their fierce defense of the Union cause. When the War Between the States broke out, they volunteered. All fifteen of them.

The Civil War was personal. What kind of men rush into a conflict knowing they might have to fight their own neighbors or relatives? What goes through the mind of a man who encourages his brother and sons to join the fight knowing the odds are that some, maybe all of them will fail to return? It has been said that it is "the passion of fools and the most foolish of passions." Patriotism.

To whatever instincts that were embedded in the genetic code, it was definitely a passionate response by the McCooks—the fighting McCooks, as they became known.

Recollection of American history frequently summons heroic names from both sides such as Sherman, Grant, Jackson and Lee. However, from schoolbooks, the McCook name barely jingles a distant bell, but it should chime with clarity—there was hardly a Civil War battle, north or south of the Mason Dixon line, without the participation of a McCook.

But now you can discover what academia left out. The saga of the McCooks is related through chronicled accounts and memorabilia displayed at the antebellum McCook House Museum in Carrollton. The house is owned by the Ohio Historical Society and managed by the Carroll County Historical Society.

The house recently reopened after a $300,000 renovation kept it shuttered the past six months. It's easy to recognize. It's the large building on the southwest corner of the Carrollton town square, notable for its Federalist architecture—meaning a two-story red-brick box-like structure with prominent chimneys on either side, no porch or portico, and numerous windows.  The house was built by Daniel McCook, a Carrollton attorney, in 1837 and occupied by his family that included eight sons and three daughters until 1848.  The other part of the clan was Daniel's brother John and his five sons, hailing from Steubenville (as did President Lincoln's Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton.)

You may explore the house at your leisure, but guided tours are more rewarding, especially for Civil War buffs. Downstairs you will see the parlor, Daniel's law office, dining room (now a Civil War display) and the original small kitchen. Then head upstairs to view the four large bedrooms.

Manager and tour guide Shirley Anderson says, "People are always surprised at the number of items displayed here." There are five Civil War swords belonging to the McCook sons; Daniel's Henry rifle; GAR medals, period furniture; and a large set of china purchased in Paris in the 1860s. There's also a large painting of Daniel and his sons (it is a copy of the original hanging in the Statehouse in Columbus).

When the war began Daniel McCook was 63 years old—elderly by the standards of that era—but he volunteered as a nurse. Early in the conflict, he was present at the battle of Bull Run where his son Alexander commanded the 1^st Ohio regiment, and his eighteen-year-old son Charles fought in another regiment.

Outnumbered, it was a humiliating defeat for the Union and Charles joined his father who was tending the wounded. When the field hospital was overrun by Johnny-Rebs, Charles set off to rejoin his company, dispatching the first Reb with a well- placed shot, but was quickly surrounded and ordered to surrender. Seeing the futility, Daniel called upon the boy to submit, but Charles refused, calling back, "Father, I can never surrender to a Rebel. I will never surrender to a traitor." At that point he was shot in the back.

Word of the young man's brave resistance traveled fast—told and retold hundreds, possibly thousands of times, plus the various accounts in print, but the premise never deviated.  Charles McCook became the cause celebre—his death the resulting harmony among those irrational impulses driving the war.

John McCook and his five sons, all of whom were officers, were in for the duration, fighting every battle that came their way, and safely returned home. Daniel and his sons—five of whom were generals—possibly because of displaying extraordinary valor, did not fare as well.

Daniel's son, General Robert McCook was seriously wounded but returned to the battlefield while still debilitated and issued orders from an ambulance wagon. When Rebels attacked the ambulance he was unable to defend himself and was killed.

In 1863 Daniel who was not a cavalryman, but by then an aged paymaster, spontaneously seized a vacant command and led an advance party in an attempt to intercept marauders who had crossed the river near Cincinnati, and died in the skirmish.

A quote by an unknown officer of the time exemplifies the McCooks: "They were born leaders; they were all men of noble bearing, such man as would naturally be selected in conflict requiring valor, judgment, and influence with men."

Nothing more epitomizes that statement than the actions of Dan McCook Jr. Perhaps in a lapse of judgment, General William Tecumseh Sherman in his march across Georgia, ordered a near-suicidal assault on a Confederate stronghold atop Kennesaw Mountain. Colonel McCook, leading one of the three prongs of attack, quoted to his men inspirational historic verse about "how better to die than against fearful odds," before making the charge up the mountain where he fell.

Displayed in the museum are two original military commissions for Alexander McDowell McCook. One has the signature of Abraham Lincoln—the other usually found more interesting—is signed in 1854 by Jefferson Davis, at the time Secretary of War. Of course, later, Davis was President of the Confederacy against which commissioned officers were sworn to fight. It was a deliberative and confusing time.

Much has been said about the present understanding of honor and responsibility, compared with the concept a century and a half ago. Willingness to fight one's neighbors and relatives, even over the most serious of disagreements, seems today, a distortion of duty. But through all the mistakes, it can be said that they did what they thought was right. Where the McCooks were concerned, the simplest explanation may be that they just didn't know when to quit.

By Robert A. Carpenter

Amish Country in Southwest Ohio

Southwest Ohio Amish Country's heart is the Wheat Ridge Amish Community in Adams County.  It features two authentic Amish stores:  Keim Family Market, and Miller's Furniture, Bakery & Bulk Foods.

Keim Family Market
(Map It) 2621 Burnt Cabin Road in Seaman, Ohio
Phone: 937-386-9995
Web: keimfamilymarket.com/

Miller's Furniture,
Miller's Bakery
& Miller's Bulk Foods
(Map It) 960 Wheat Ridge Road in West Union, Ohio
Phone: 937-544-4520
Web: www.wheatridgeamish.com

Southwestern Ohio Amish Country was first settled in 1975. Amish families moved from the heart of Ohio's Amish Country in Holmes County and settled in rural Adams County. Amish began selling baked goods alongside Route 32. From there, the Miller and Keim family businesses grew from their humble beginnings to Amish superstores selling baked goods, bulk foods, full line delis with meat and cheese selections, and almost anything you can imagine being made from wood. full line deli with cheese and meat selections, and bulk food selection that includes spices and baking ingredients plus an enormous variety of canned goods, sugar-free foods, and candies. Their indoor and outdoor furniture lines include hutches, bedroom sets, chairs, and gliders. In addition, they hand-build gazebos, children's playsets, footbridges, and even buildings.

The Amish merchants are very friendly but do not like their pictures to be taken. They provide credit card processing, UPS delivery, catalogs for their products, and superb customer service.

Bob Evans Farm

Admission to the original Bob Evans Farm, Restaurant, and Homestead is free (Fee for additional activities).

• Open daily from April 1 through December 23 from 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Location: (Map It) 791 Farmview Road in Rio Grande, Ohio
• Phone: 740-245-5304
• Web: click here

The original Bob Evans Farm, Restaurant, Homestead, and Museum are in Rio Grande, Ohio. Make your pilgrimage to where it all began "down on the farm." Yes, the original 1,000 acre Bob Evans farm, including dozens of horses.  Begin your tour with Bob's first restaurant named, The Sausage Shop, and continue to the Homestead Museum, log cabin village, small animal barnyard, quilt barn, and much more. For a fee, you can also take part in many weekend events such as the annual Bob Evans Farm Festival. The "Homestead" is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is where Bob and his wife, Jewell, raised their six children. It used to be a stagecoach stop and inn.

Carriage Hill Farm

Admission to Carriage Hill Farm and Metropark is free.

• Open April – October Tuesday through Saturday from 10am – 5pm and Sunday from Noon – 5pm. And November – March Tuesday – Sunday from Noon – 4:45pm
• Location: (Map It) 7800 East Shull Road in Dayton, Ohio
• Phone: 937-278-2609
• Web: click here

The Historical Farm at Carriage Hill MetroPark is part of the Dayton Metroparks. Visitors will see what it was like to work on a farm in the 1880s. It has restored buildings that include a blacksmith shop, summer kitchen, woodshop, and barns with a variety of animals. There are also hands-on displays for children. Household chores and farming are demonstrated as they were more than 100 years ago. There are also scenic views of woodlands, meadows, a lake, and a pond.

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption

Admission to Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption is free.

• Open: The Cathedral is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, for visitors. On weekends, the Cathedral is open for regularly scheduled Masses and confessions, and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 on Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 4: 30 p.m. on Sunday.
• Location: (Map It) 1140 Madison Avenue (near downtown Cincinnati, Ohio) in Covington, KY
• Phone: 859-431-2060
• Web: www.covcathedral.com

The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption:  See the largest stained glass window in the world and only one of 31 basilicas in the U.S. The window measures 67 feet by 24 feet. The cathedral also touches the senses with more than 80 additional stained glass windows and its French Gothic design complete with gargoyles and flying buttresses.

Follett House Museum

Admission to the Follett House Museum is free.

• Open: by appointment
• Location: (Map It) 404 Wayne Street in Sandusky, Ohio
• Phone: 419-625-3834
• Web: Click here

The Follett House Museum has an extensive collection of archival materials chronicling the Sandusky and Erie County region. It includes several artifacts from the Underground Railroad. The museum is a branch of the Sandusky Library. The 1827 mansion was built by Oran Follett in Greek-Revival style. Follett was a businessman and one of the founders of the Republican Party. The museum's Civil War collection includes items from the Confederate officers' prison on Johnson Island. Other fine artifacts in the museum's possession are diaries, letters, drawings and photographs from the Johnson Island Prison. It also displays books, maps and manuscripts. When you visit, take in the panoramic view of Sandusky, Cedar Point and Johnson's Island from the mansion's widow's walk. The Follett House Museum is listed in the National Register of Historic Landmarks.

Frazee House

Admission to the Frazee House is free.

• Open weekdays only May 1 through October 31 from 10am – 5pm and closed the rest of the year
• Location: (Map It) 7733 Canal Road in Valley View, Ohio
• Phone: 216-524-1497
• Web: click here

The Stephen Frazee House was built in the mid-1820s. This was the time of the construction of the northern portion of the Ohio and Erie Canals. The home exhibits excellent examples of Western Reserve architectural style and construction techniques used at the time.

Freshwater Farms of Ohio

Admission to Freshwater Farms of Ohio is free except for group tours.

• Open year-round Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Closed Sunday)
• Location: (Map It) 2624 U.S. 68 in Urbana, Ohio
• Phone: 800-634-7434 or 937-652-3701
• Web: https://fwfarms.com/

Freshwater Farms of Ohio is the state's largest indoor fish hatchery. The fish farm is open for public self-guided tours as well as for-fee large group tours and includes family activities such as trout-feeding, displays of native fishes and a sturgeon petting zoo. The Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival is held at the farm every third Saturday in September. Producer of wholesome rainbow trout fillets and smoked trout, the fish are raised from egg to adult in solar-heated barns using clean water and feeds.  Their products are made with all natural ingredients and contain no artificial preservatives, specializing in hand-cut boneless fillets as well as smoked trout products, seasoned trout patties, marinated and pre-seasoned fillets, and bulk seasonings made from scratch.

Frostville Museum

Admission to the Frostville Museum is free.

• Open Memorial Day through October on Sundays from 1 – 4pm.
• Location: (Map It) 24101 Cedar Point Rd. at Rocky River Reservation in North Olmsted, Ohio
• Phone: 440 779-0280 or email frostvillecindy@gmail.com
• Web: click here

The Frostville Museum highlights the local 19th Century history and features several landmarks. The Brigg's Homestead built in 1836, the Jenkin's Cabin built in the early 1800s, the John Carpenter House built in 1840 and the Prechtel House built in 1874 are some of the featured buildings at this site. Each structure displays museum items that reflect the day and times of pioneer life, rural Victorian American life and other historic artifacts.

Garfield Birth Site, Monument & Historic Site

Admission to the President James A. Garfield Memorial Cabin and Birth Site, Monument, and Historic Site is free.

• Open June – September on Saturdays from 10am – 1pm.
• Location: (Map It) Moreland Hills, Ohio
• Phone: 440-248-1188

Please note that this is President James A. Garfield's birth site, not the historic site, which is in Mentor, Ohio. Here, you will see a replica memorial cabin like that which was built by Garfield's father in 1829.

James A. Garfield Monument:

• Open April 1 – November 19 from 9am – 4pm daily
• Location: (Map It) Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio
• Phone: 216-421-2665

President Garfield is buried in Lake View Cemetery, located in University Circle east of downtown Cleveland. As you enter Lake View Cemetery at the Euclid or Mayfield Gate, follow the signs leading to the monument.  Garfield (1831-1881) was the 20th President of the United States and was elected to office in 1880.  He was assassinated in 1881 four months after his inauguration by Charles Guiteau.

James A. Garfield National Historic Site National Park Service:

• Open May 1 – October 31 from 10am – 5pm (closed Sun & Mon) and open Nov 1 – Apr 30 from 12-5pm on Saturday
• Location: (Map It) 8095 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, OH 44060
• Phone: 440-255-8722
• Web: click here

James A. Garfield National Historic Site commemorates and interprets the life, family, and career of James Abram Garfield, college professor and principal, Civil War general, member of Congress, and 20th President of the United States.  This eight-acre property includes the Garfield home (purchased in 1876; expanded in 1880 and 1885-86), memorial library, 1880 presidential campaign office, and several outbuildings.  The grounds are free; access to museum exhibits, film, and guided house tours is $5.00 /person for anyone 16 and older.  The site regularly hosts several expanded tours, including a "Behind the Scenes" tour and a special tour for kids. Numerous programs and special events throughout the year further interpret James A. Garfield's legacy and important role in American history.

Hardin County Historical Museums

Admission to the Hardin County Historical Museums is Free. Donations accepted.

• Open: Tuesday – Thursday from 1 – 4pm or by appointment
• Location: (Map It) 223 N. Main in Kenton, Ohio
• Phone: 419-673-7147
  
• Web: click here

The Hardin County Historical Museums: Also known as the Sullivan-Johnson Museum, exhibits include the world-famous Kenton Cast Iron Toys, Fred Machetanz gallery, Jacob Parrott, and much more. Kenton Toy Collectors meet at the museum every other month. The Toy Collectors are available for appraisal of toys.  They also buy, sell, and trade. The Hardin Historic Village and  Farm is open by appointment only.

Hardin County Heritage Farm

Admission to the Hardin County Heritage Farm is free.

• Open by appointment from May – September
• Location: (Map It) 223 N. Main St. in Kenton, Ohio
• Phone: 419-673-7147
• Web: click here

Hardin County Heritage Farm:  This turn-of-the-century farmstead features many farming instruments and pioneer architecture. Highlights of the museum/village include the Stadt Log House and Dunkirk Jailhouse.

Harriet Beecher Stowe House

Admission to the Harriet Beecher Stowe House is free.

• Open:  Saturday 10am – 4pm, Sunday 12-4pm, and by appointment on Thursday and Friday
• Location: (Map It) 2950 Gilbert Avenue (State Route 3, U.S. 22) in Cincinnati, Ohio
• Phone: 513-751-0651
• Web: click here

The Harriet Beecher Stowe House:  Harriet Beecher Stowe is the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Stowe was inspired to write this historic book when she learned of the evils of slavery.  Built in 1833 by Lane Seminary, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House served as the residence for the institution's president. In 1832, Harriet Beecher moved to Cincinnati from Connecticut with her father, Dr. Lyman Beecher who was appointed president of the seminary.

Land of the Cross Tipped Churches

Welcome to the Land of the Cross Tipped Churches in western Ohio.

• Location: Auglaize and Mercer Counties, as well as portions of northern Darke and Shelby Counties
• Phone: 800-860-4726

Land of the Cross Tipped Churches:  In July 1979, over sixty buildings representing the German Catholic settlements of southern Auglaize and Mercer Counties, as well as portions of northern Darke and Shelby Counties, were placed on a National Register of Historic Places. Named The Land of the Cross Tipped Churches, these buildings consist of churches, schools, rectories and convents, this grouping is symbolic of the culture and historic uniqueness of the region. Today, most of these structures remain to remind us of the hard work and dedication of these early settlers as they built the Miami-Erie Canal and forged a new life on the area's rich and productive farmland. A drive along this Ohio Scenic Byway through the rural countryside follows the quaint churches with their cross tipped "spires to heaven" and includes stops at the focal points of the region: the former convent at Maria Stein, St. Augustine Church – the original Mother Church of the area, and the magnificent and impressive former seminary at Carthagena.

Lane Hooven House

Admission to the Lane Hooven House is free.

• Open Mondays through Fridays from 9am – 4pm.
• Location: (Map It) 319 N. 3rd St. in Hamilton, Ohio
• Phone: 513-863-1389
• Web: click here

The Lane Hooven House was built in 1863 by industrialist Clark Lane and later restored. This octagonal Victorian Gothic Revival style brick home has a unique spiral staircase running up to the third-floor turret, a stain-glass entrance and some period furnishings throughout. The main floor is enriched with butternut and white walnut woodwork.

Log House Museum

Admission to the Log House Museum is free.

• Open Memorial Day through September on Saturdays and Sundays from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Closed holidays
• Location: (Map It) 10 East Park Avenue in Columbiana, Ohio
• Phone: 330-482-0946

The Log House Museum was built in the 1820s by Jacob Nessly and is now used by The Historical Society of Columbiana-Fairfield Township. The museum features quilts and coverlets from the 1830s, pioneer items and on a more interesting note: a set of 10,000 year-old Mastodon bones found by a nearby farm. Also, you will see Civil War artifacts and more. Please note that photos are allowed, even with a flash. You can park for free on an adjacent church property.

Manor House

Admission to the Manor House in the Toledo Wildwood Preserve Metroparks is free.

• Open: Tours are on Sundays from 11am – 5pm
• Location: (Map It) 5100 W. Central Ave. in Toledo, Ohio at Wildwood Preserve Metroparks
• Phone: 419-407-9790
• Web: click here

The Manor House in the Toledo Wildwood Preserve Metroparks is a Georgian colonial mansion built in 1938 for Robert Stranahan, cofounder of the Champion Spark Plug Company. The Manor House has 35 primary rooms, 17 bathrooms, and 16 fireplaces. Most of the rooms are refurbished with period-appropriate pieces. The estate grounds also have the former riding stables, limousine garage, and symmetrical formal gardens next to brick walls with wrought iron gazebos.

Marmon Valley Farm

Admission to Marmon Valley Farm is free! See the website for details on paid activities.

• Open: daily from 9am – 5pm (Sunday 1:30 – 5pm)
• Location: (Map It) 7754 State Route 292 South in Zanesfield, Ohio
• Phone: 937-356-3124
• Web: https://marmonvalley.com/

Marmon Valley Farm offers a farm experience to the public. Gentle farm animals and cuddly barn cats will gladly be your tour guides as you explore the grounds. It won't take long for the kids to find the Playbarn, a one-of-a-kind playground styled after a big red barn. They'll love the twisty silo slide and the John Deere tractor for little farmers to climb on. The outdoor farm fun is practically endless.

With 150 gentle horses and ponies on hand, The Farm specializes in trail rides through the wooded hills and ravines surrounding their many barns and animal pens. Experienced trail guides take riders of all sizes (starting at age 6) and abilities out on the scenic trails for riders. For the youngest cowhands in your gang, we offer pony rides in the riding arena!

McGuffey Museum

Admission to the William Holmes McGuffey Museum is free. Parking meters are approx. $1.

• Open: Thursday – Saturday from 1-5pm
• Location: (Map It) 401 East Spring Street at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio
• Phone: 513-529-8380
• Web: click here

The William Holmes McGuffey Museum is on the campus of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.  It is registered as a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as a house museum that includes campus and community history.  This was the home of William Holmes McGuffey, Professor of Ancient Languages and Moral Philosophy at Miami University from 1826 to 1836.  The museum/home honors McGuffey and his Eclectic Readers, a series of books that educated five generations of Americans and are said to be the most widely published books in the U.S., second to the Holy Bible.

Millionaires Row

Free self-guided tour of Cleveland's Millionaires Row on Euclid Avenue.

• Location: Euclid Avenue near downtown Cleveland, Ohio
• Web: click here

Millionaires Row on Cleveland's Euclid Avenue:  What was once known as "the most beautiful street in America" is now a distant memory over a century later. Cleveland's Euclid Avenue, otherwise known as Millionaires Row, was once the residential street of some of the most influential families in American history and their lavish estates. These monstrous mansions with broad sweeping lawns, ornate architecture and wondrous landscapes used to be home to industrial tycoons and celebrated philanthropists like Rockefeller, Mather, Wade, Severance, Gund, Stone, Brush and Everett and political figures such as John Hay, Tom Johnson and Leonard Hanna. Now, only 10 homes remain on the once famed avenue. And most of those are hidden from view by the byproduct of their industrial architects – buildings.  However, you can still take a stroll down memory lane and see what's left but do so at your own risk because this isn't exactly Rockefeller's neighborhood anymore.

The homes that remain in whole or in part include the following:

1. Luther Allen House (7609 Euclid Avenue)
2. Morris Bradley Carriage House  (7217 Euclid Avenue)
3. John Henry Devereaux (3226 Euclid Avenue)
4. Francis Drury House (8625 Euclid Avenue)
5. Hall-Sullivan House (7218 Euclid Avenue)
6. Howe Residence (2248 Euclid Avenue)
7. Samuel Mather Residence (2605 Euclid Avenue)
8. Stager-Beckwith House (3813 Euclid Avenue)
9. Lyman Treadway House (8917 Euclid Avenue)
10. H.W. White Residence (8937 Euclid Avenue)

These homes were once stunning monuments to America's growing prosperity. Those remaining sit like relics releasing a hint of what once was "the most beautiful street in America."

Source: The Ohio Preservation Alliance

Old Stone House Museum

Admission to the Old Stone House Museum in Lakewood is free.

• Open: Monday – Friday from 10am – 4pm
• Location: (Map It) 14710 Lake Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio
• Phone: 216-221-7343
• Web: click here

The Old Stone House Museum in Lakewood:  This 1838 "old stone house" was originally the residence of a Scottish immigrant and later served as a post office, shoe repair shop, grocery store, doctors office, and barbershop. Now, as a museum, it provides a look at the city's pioneer past with displays of furniture, household items, clothing, tools, books, toys, dolls and a spinning wheel. The home comes complete with a sickroom with old-fashioned equipment to care for the ill. Also on display are roped beds, cooking fireplace, four-harness loom, furnished parlor, handmade linens and more. The Old Stone House has a cousin linked to it – Nicholson House. This 1835 home is an example of early Western Reserve architecture. Both homes are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Quailcrest Farm

Welcome to Quailcrest Farm in Wooster, Ohio.

• Open: April thru June  Monday – Saturday from 9am – 5pm and Sunday from 11am – 4pm
• Location: (Map It) 2810 Armstrong Rd. in Wooster, Ohio
• Phone: 330-345-6722
• Web: http://quailcrest.com/

Quailcrest Farm in Wooster is a magical place in the countryside. Located just on the edge of Ohio's Amish country, this family business was begun as a perennial nursery in 1975. Quailcrest is well known throughout the state for its herbs, perennials, old roses, flowering shrubs, and scented geraniums for the serious and hobby gardener. It offers a wealth of gardening information and ideas as well as eclectic shopping in the gift shop, 25 relaxing display gardens, woods to wander, an assortment of dogs and cats, sunshine, and fresh air!

Robbins-Hunter Museum

Admission to Robbins-Hunter Museum is free.

• Open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (garden open daily dawn to dusk)
• Location: (Map It) 221 E. Broadway in Granville, Ohio
• Phone: 740-587-0430
• Web: www.robbinshunter.org/

The Robbins-Hunter Museum in Granville:  This museum house was built in 1842 and has 27 rooms. The rooms are furnished with fine examples of 19th-century American antiques, with a special emphasis on Ohio. Antiques at Avery House currently operates in the shop that Robbins Hunter ran. The museum hosts special exhibitions and programs.

Historic Roscoe Village

Admission to Historic Roscoe Village is free. However, living history tours are approx. $10/adult and $5/student.

• Hours of operation and tours vary by season, type, and days of the week
• Location: (Map It) 600 North Whitewoman Street, Coshocton, Ohio
• Phone: 740-622-9310
• Web: www.roscoevillage.com

Feature Stories about Historic Roscoe Village
The Hub of the 1800'sToday
and
Life on the Tow Path

Historic Roscoe Village is a restored 1800s canal town. Guests experience life during the Canal Era on the Canal Town Journey tour, during which they are guided through historical buildings staffed with costumed interpreters, and enjoy hands-on activities at the Visitor Center. Afterward, they may choose to stroll the lush gardens, take a horse-drawn canal boat ride, browse the numerous quaint shops and enjoy casual family dining.

Excerpt from a past edition of OhioTraveler

Roscoe Village was a vibrant center of commerce along the legendary Ohio & Erie Canal. Forty years ago, it was brought back to life. Today, visitors can ride the canal just like their traveling counterparts back in the 1830s on their way to the streets of a vibrant canal town and all its dressings.

The famous port town is now known as Historic Roscoe Village. As soon as its guests step foot onto the red brick ways, they are pulled in different directions. Some come just to relax in the many beautiful gardens, some enjoy the living history journey back in time, others thrive on the original shops, and everyone marvels at the dining atmospheres and specialty dishes. Roscoe Village is a fully functional town that basks in its history, yet entertains the interests of today. Special events fill the calendar, hands-on activities abound, and for those that really want to get lost in relaxation and Yesteryear, there's a variety of lodging accommodations.

Throughout the town, you see trendy shoppers and costumed canal era interpreters mingling along the streets and in the shops. Bicyclists frequent the streetscapes stopping for ice cream or a shade tree. Tour groups snake in and out of historic buildings for hands-on experiences. Roscoe Village has always had a charm about it that attracts children, seniors and young women on a girls' day out. There's that much to see, do and enjoy.

The journey begins for most at the visitors' center. It is there that sleeves are rolled up and work begins. All ages are welcome to try their hand at candle dipping, making rope, punching tin and crafting other bygone creations. A guide in period dress provides insight to the forgotten lifestyles of the town during the era long past. They demonstrate their skill at the workstations and provide punchy presentations filled with information, wit and personality.

Through the gardens and down the road past a few historical homes, is a blacksmith's shop. The rather large, rickety, old, red barn is dark inside but the tools of the blacksmith and his work station are strangely illuminated perfectly by the window light. Let the pounding begin. The blacksmith on duty will hammer and bend iron into just about anything the mind can imagine.

A few shops down, there's a building where brooms are made. A demonstration shows the strange old machines and techniques for making one of the most used tools of the 1800s. The tour guide may have a little-known tale or two such as coaxing a spectator to jump over the broomstick on the floor followed by a bellowing – "Now we're married." Details are explained on site.

Moving on, all aspects of life are explored including the doctor's office where an exam is given, another stop is made to make a bucket, and a little house with huge looms go into action weaving. One of the more fun, interactive moments comes in the old schoolhouse where kids of all ages get to experience something they know – school. Don't misbehave or you'll experience something unknown in today's classrooms – a ruler on the knuckles!

Around lunchtime and dinner too, the streets lure the hungry into the historic brick and stone eateries and fine dining houses. One of which is The Warehouse Steak n Stein. This architectural gem is smack in the middle of the village and, in the 1830s, was the Mill Store and main docking point for the village along the canal. Its lower level is P.R. Nyes Lock Twenty-Seven, which is accented by the canal's original stone walls.

An after-dinner glass of wine or cup of coffee can be had at Uncorked Wine & Coffee Bar. With more than 200 different types of wine, it's a full-service bar and features hot and cold gourmet coffees. Many find a great place to relax is on the patio, in shade, listening to jazz or blues music.

Walking off a bite to eat is an easy thing to do in Roscoe Village. The charming shops are diverse and unique. Visitors often hit them all because it's so convenient to walk from one to the next marveling at the façade and gazing at the merchandise.

The wares made by the village blacksmith, broom squire, weaver and woodworker are available at the Village Crafter's Shop, located in the Visitor Center.

The Roscoe General Store is a throwback to historic community general stores. It offers everything from antiques to collectible bears and pottery to unusual toys for kids. Its candy bouquet temps with Lindt's truffles, jelly beans, lollipops and gourmet chocolates.

The shopping list goes on. River Ridge Leather tans leather the old-fashioned way and hand stitches leather handbags, belts, harnesses and more. Visitors are invited to see a live demonstration of the old art and see the original tools of the trade dating back to the 1800s.

Over at Garden Gate, visitors find novel gardening gifts, herbs, flowers, fountains and other accessories. The House of G.A. Fisher is known for one-of-a-kind jewels and keepsakes, Lenox, clocks and watches. Liberty House has a fashionable collection of purses, scarves, wraps and whimsical styles of women's clothing. Wildwood Music is happy to hook you up with a handmade stringed instrument like a dulcimer, mandolin, banjo, or guitar. And the Village Soap & Candle Shop has lotions, soaps and powders that are primitive and homespun.

Although walking around town may be like a living history museum outdoors and in, there is an actual museum to boot – The Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum. This nationally accredited museum has incredible collections in several galleries, including the American Indian Gallery, Historical Ohio Gallery, Decorative Arts Gallery, Oriental Gallery and a Special Exhibits Gallery that features a variety of collections throughout the year.

Roscoe Village is never more alive than during its special events. Annual favorites include the October Apple Butter Stirrin' Festival and December annual Christmas Candlelighting.

When the day winds down, Historic Roscoe Village offers several gardens beautifully landscaped to take a load off and melt into the scene on a park bench. Perhaps the favorite leisure-time activity is a 45-minute canal boat ride tugged by horses walking along the tow path along the canal banks. Instead of packing the plentiful activities into one day, an overnight stay may be better. A variety of lodging options are nearby and include bed and breakfasts, inns, cabins, guest houses, motels, campgrounds and a lodge.

For more information to plan a trip to Historic Roscoe Village and learn about its operating schedule, fees and admissions, different tours, canal boat rides, lodging and special events, visit www.roscoevillage.com or call 1-800-877-1830.

Rose Hill Museum

Admission to Rose Hill Museum is free.

• Open Sundays from 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. only.
• Location: (Map It) 27715 Lake Road in Bay Village, Ohio
• Phone: 440-871-7338
• Web: click here

The Rose Hill Museum in Bay Village:  This museum home was built in 1818 as a private residence and once served as the town's library. The three-story structure has furnishings from the Colonial and Victorian periods. The grounds also house a cabin replica and Smoke House.

Slate Run Historical Farm

Admission to Slate Run Historical Farm is free.

• Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 9am – 6pm. Friday and Saturday from 9am – 7pm.
• Location: (Map It) 1375 Winchester Southern Rd in Canal Winchester, Ohio
• Phone: 614-833-1880
• Web: click here

The Slate Run Historical Farm: Hey kids, are you afraid to get your hands dirty? I didn't think so. Well, roll up your sleeves and join in the farm life – 1800's style at Slate Run Historical Farm. It's in full operation year-round as a living historical farm – not just a museum. Chores change with the seasons just like real life and the staff dresses the part. So, step back into early farm and family life and watch chores carried out with the tools, equipment and methods used in the old-fashioned days without electricity and other modern conveniences.

Squire's Castle

Admission to Squire's Castle is free.

• Open from Dawn – Dusk.
• Location: (Map It) 2844 River Road in Willoughby Hills, Ohio at North Chagrin Reservation of Cleveland Metroparks
• Phone: 216-635-3200
• Web: click here

Squire's Castle at Cleveland Metroparks in Willoughby Hills:  This stone building was known as Squire's Castle" isn't a castle. Rather, it is the caretaker's house for a lavish mansion that was never built. The stone castle-like home was built in the 1890s by Feargus Squire, one of the founders of Standard Oil Company. He had planned a summer estate in the Cleveland countryside. His plans changed when his wife died. And the mansion never left the drawing board.  However, the Squire Castle is still a nice place to visit although it has been stripped of its glass windows, interior walls and furnishings and had the basement filled for fear of vandals. Still, wandering this stone home is interesting. It will leave the mind to wonder what if… Bring a picnic basket and spend the afternoon in the forest by this century-old architecture.

Stearns Homestead

Admission to Stearns Homestead is free.

• Open: mid-May to mid-October from 11am – 2pm
• Location: (Map It) 6975 Ridge Road in Parma, Ohio
• Phone: email stearnshomestead@gmail.com  or call 440-845-9770
• Web: click here

Stearns Homestead in Parma:  This 48-acre historical farm includes the 1855 Stearns House, 1920 Gibbs House, country store, meeting cabin, outbuildings, barn, and farm animals. Both of the houses are museums with period-appropriate displays and furnishings.

The 1810 House

Admission to The 1810 House is free.

• Open: Sunday 2 – 4pm or by appointment
• Location: (Map It) 1926 Waller Street in Portsmouth, Ohio
• Phone: 740-353-1116
• Web: www.1810house.org/

The 1810 House in Portsmouth is the Aaron and Mary Kinney Homestead:  This former two-story brick farm homestead turned museum houses many pioneer artifacts. There are eight rooms that visitors may tour and view 19th and 20th-century furnishings, house-wares, and clothing. See what families did in their living rooms for activities and entertainment as well as what sort of items children of the time played with. Teachers will want to see the Old Schoolroom and its desks, books, and teaching tools of the past. The kitchen is well stocked with china, utensils, and more, including a cast iron.

Thurber House

Admission to Thurber House in Columbus is free for self-guided tours anytime while open. Guided tours are offered on Sundays for $4/adult and $2/student or senior.

• Open:  Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1 – 4pm
• Location: (Map It) 77 Jefferson Avenue in Columbus, Ohio
• Phone: 614-464-1032
• Web: www.thurberhouse.org

Thurber House in Columbus is a restored nineteenth-century home where author, humorist, cartoonist, and playwright James Thurber lived during his college days with his parents.

James Thurber used this home's characteristics in many of his stories. The home has since been restored to represent the early teens of the 20th century. And of course, visitors will see Thurber memorabilia, including original drawings, manuscripts and first editions of his books. In addition, his typewriter, briefcase, family photographs and more are on display.

Excerpt from a past edition of OhioTraveler

The Night The Ghost Got In

The Ohio Lunatic Asylum burned down killing seven people on November 17, 1868. Those grounds in downtown Columbus later included a house at 77 Jefferson Avenue. And from 1913-1917, the Thurber family rented it. On the 47th anniversary of the fire, two Thurber brothers were home alone upstairs when they heard footsteps circling the dining table below. When they investigated, standing at the top of the stairs, the sound faded. Until a rushing, the pounding of feet leaped the steps two at a time with a dead bead for the two young men. But the young men did not see anybody there. Nonetheless, they frantically scurried into nearby rooms slamming doors behind.

Later, James Thurber, one of the two brothers (attending Ohio State University at the time of the incident), penned, "The Night the Ghost Got In." Thurber went on to become a famous author, humorist and cartoonist. As for the house at 77 Jefferson Avenue, it's still there. And open for tours as a living museum.

Visitors and residents at Thurber House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, have also reported strange encounters with the unknown. The dining footsteps have reoccurred over the years, as have opening and closing doors, books flying off shelves, and a citing of a mysterious silhouette of a hefty, stooped figure moving about near a window. Another figure was reported in someone's bedroom sitting in a rocking chair in the corner of the room, hunched, watching and then disappeared.

In 1984, the house opened as a literary arts center and museum of Thurber remnants. It is furnished in the style of the 1913-1917 period in which James Thurber lived there with his parents and two brothers. The first two floors are open daily for tours. At the direction of the Thurber family, unlike typical museums, visitors are encouraged to sit on chairs, play the piano, and otherwise act as guests to the home. Tours are daily (except holidays). Self-guided tours are free Monday through Saturday. Guided tours are offered on Sunday.

In addition, The Thurber House hosts many writing workshops, special events, a conference center next door, Reading Garden (between the historic house and conference center), a gallery, and a museum shop. More information is available at www.thurberhouse.org, including detailed accounts of haunting witnessed over the decades.

James Thurber died from pneumonia on November 2, 1961. He is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.

"I have lived in the East for nearly thirty years now, but many of my books prove that I am never very far from Ohio in my thoughts and that the clocks that strike in my dreams are often the clocks of Columbus."
– James Thurber

Toledo Historic Old West End

Free self-guided tours of the Old West End in Toledo's Historic District.

• Location: See addresses below … (Map It) Toledo, Ohio
• Phone: 567-698-7969
• Web: http://www.toledooldwestend.com/

Old West End in Toledo's Historic District is a vintage neighborhood that features one of the oldest and largest collections of Victorian and Edwardian homes in the nation. Visit Toledo and take a walk through this well-kept time capsule that showcases a myriad of architectural beauty. The homes are found at the following addresses:

• The Edward Drummond Libbey House (2008 Scottwood)
• The Julius G. Lamson House (2056 Scottwood)
• John Barber Home (2271 Scottwood)
• Moses G. Block House (2272 Scottwood)
• The Wright – Wilmington House (2320 Scottwood)
• Edward F. Brucker House (2055 Robinwood)
• Michael Henahan House (2052 Robinwood)
• Albin B. Tillighast House (2210 Robinwood)
• Frederick O. Paddock House (2233 Robinwood)
• The Julius H. Tyler House (2251 Robinwood)
• The William H. Currier House (2611 Robinwood)
• The Stranahan-Rothschild House (2104 Parkwood)
• The Leeper-Geddes House (2116 Parkwood)
• John Waite House (2256 Collingwood)

William Howard Taft National Historic Site

Admission to the William Howard Taft National Historic Site is free.

• Open: daily from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Location: (Map It) 2038 Auburn Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio
• Phone: 513-684-3262
• Web: click here

The William Howard Taft National Historic Site:  President William Howard Taft (1857 – 1930) was elected the 27th President of the United States in 1909. Visitors to his birthplace and boyhood home can play with old-fashioned toys, as did the former President. Also, visitors can play dress-up with clothes of the time.

Yesteryear is Here

By Rocco Satullo, your tour guide to fun!

All history is local. If you are traveling the modern streets of Rome, look to one side or another and you may see over a railing down to an excavation revealing what the community looked like thousands of years ago. The contrast is such that you lose yourself for a moment in wonder. So too is it – albeit on a smaller scale – when you drive through a small town in America and suddenly there's a downtown within a downtown, both hundreds of years apart.

With globalization we have learned so much about so many things on a grand scale, we yearn for new discoveries. Adventurous minds have made remarkable finds in the nooks and crannies of history, often unearthing a vein of gold in the form of fascinating stories that capture the imagination at a local level.   ….Read More….

Click here to read the rest of the story

Yoder's Amish Home

Admission to Yoder's Amish Home is $13/adult's package and $9/kid's package.

• Open: Monday through Saturday 10am – 5pm from Spring to Fall
  
• Location: (Map It) 6050 State Route 515 in Millersburg, Ohio
• Phone: 330-893-2541
• Web: https://yodersamishhome.com/

Yoders Amish Home is an authentic Amish farm.  The farm includes 116 acres of land.  While touring the farm visitors have a chance to see two houses, a barn that was built in 1885, and also a one-room schoolhouse.  Visitors can also take buggy rides, and see and pet the animals living on the farm.  Guests can also purchase freshly baked goods, and presents such as dolls and quilts.

Young's Jersey Dairy

Welcome to Young's Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs.

• Hours vary depending on season and attractions at Young's (call ahead)
• Location: (Map It) 6880 Springfield Xenia Road in Yellow Springs, Ohio
• Phone: 937-325-0629
• Web: https://youngsdairy.com/

Young's Jersey Dairy features homemade cheese and ice cream in their ice cream shop, and cheese store. Get a full meal in their restaurant. For dessert, check out the bakery.

Before or after filling your tummy with deliciousness, enjoy all of the entertainment featuring miniature golf, driving range, batting cages, kiddie corral, fast slide, barrel train rides, and petting farm area.

Visit their website above to see the calendar of special events offered every season throughout the year.

Oh, and there are plenty of cows, goats, and other farm animals:  The farm was started in 1869 and is still owned and operated by the Young Family!  Young's hosts over one million guests each year.

Young's Jersey Dairy is a working dairy farm with two restaurants (one is a large dairy bar and quick-serve food restaurant, the other is a sit-down, home-cooked, table service restaurant), two gift shops, two miniature golf courses, batting cages, golf driving range, the best homemade ice cream in the region,  friendly service, great food, family fun activities, group & company picnics, off-site catering, and FUN!

Moore House Museum

Admission to the Moore House Museum is $5/adult, $3/student (ages 6-21), and children under 6 free.

• Open: Tours are Tuesday from 10am – 3pm
• Location: (Map It) 309 West 5th St. in Lorain, Ohio
• Phone: 440-245-2563
• Web: click here

The Moore House Museum and Lorain County Historical Society illustrate history from the early nineteenth century through the twentieth century. Its many displays and exhibits feature items such as maps, clocks, time saving devices, tools, clothing, toys, jewelry, photographs, historical documents, and many other artifacts of local interest.

Niederman Family Farm

Admission to the Niederman Family Farm varies according to the event. Some are Free.

• Open: April – December
• Location: (Map It) 5110 LeSourdsville-WestChester Drive in Liberty Township, Ohio
• Phone: 513-779-6184
• Web: click here

The Niederman family planted hybrid crops of
tradition and tourism to save their rural culture

Ever-expanding suburbs have been squeezing farmland out for generations. Mostly gone are the amber waves of grain that used to grow in vast seas just outside of major population centers. Where seeds once soaked up the sun and rain are now streets named for what they paved over: Strawberry Fields Avenue, Hunting Meadows Road, Vineyard Circle, and so on. Since this transformation of America's heartland, there's now a generation of children who can't think past their local grocer when it comes to where food originates.

Much like mom's apple pie, the American farm is fast becoming more fable than reality. But the Niederman family is trying to change that! …READ MORE…

Click here for the rest of the story

Ohio Village

Admission to the Ohio Village is $13/adult, $11/senior and $7/child age 6-12.

• Open: Wednesday – Sunday from  10am – 5pm in summer and fall.
• Location: (Map It) 800 E 17th Ave in Columbus, Ohio adjacent to the Ohio History Center
• Phone: 800-686-6124 or 614-297-2300 for museum and 614-297-2663 for group tours
• Web: click here

The Ohio Village at Ohio History Center in Columbus, Ohio:  Step back in time to a 19th century county-seat town in Ohio about the time of the Civil War. Meet the villagers and learn their stories. Tour the buildings and homes. Partake in activities from the 1890s. Perhaps even see the Ohio Village Muffins play base ball by 19th-century rules.

Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm

Admission to Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm is $20/person and includes one you-pick lavender bundle.

• Open Saturday from 9am – 4pm, Sunday from 11am – 4pm, and Wednesday from 10am – 4pm
• Location: (Map It) 2387 County Road 80 in Martinsville, Ohio
• Phone: 513-322-2415
• Web: peacefulacreslavenderfarm.com/

Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm:  Make your way to the farm while traveling through the Historical Martinsville Road Covered Bridge located just seconds away. Here on the farm not only will you be surprised but many will be enthused by the new Biotecture Earthship built from recycled materials. Begin your tour wandering through an acre of Lavender fields where the butterfly's swarm hand-picking your favorite flowers or hiking on many trails. Don't forget to visit the gift shop on the way out and enjoy some hand-made Natural products. Finish the day by exploring Earthship and learn the possibilities of sustainable life and living green while taking it easy on your feet. You can also schedule ahead and receive your Reflexology session during your visit here and treat your feet!

Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek

Admission to the Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek is $13/adult, $11/senior and $7/child ages 5-15.

• Open: Late April through October from 10am – 4pm
• Location: (Map It) 10051 Twp Rd 47, West Liberty, Ohio 43357
• Phone: 937-465-2821
• Web: https://piattcastle.org/

Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek in West Liberty, Ohio provides self-guided tours of this remarkable 19th-century residence. Its a glimpse into the past life of wealth in Ohio featuring great architecture, a secret tunnel, a rather large dog house, exhibits, photographs and more. It's a stunning place to host a wedding.

Punderson Manor

Welcome to haunted Punderson Manor in Northeast Ohio.
This is an excerpt from a past edition of OhioTraveler

Some people avoid "haunted" hotels and lodges. Others flock to them. Those in the latter category will find esoteric thrills galore at the Punderson Manor State Park Lodge in northeast Ohio's Punderson State Park. And it doesn't have to be Halloween, or even a dark and stormy night, to bring on the action.

Some employees have heard the sound of children's laughter when there are no children around. Fires go out. Pencils fly across a room. Doors open and shut of their own volition. Faucets turn off and on with no one near. Televisions turn on by themselves – or off. Usually at inconvenient times.

It's enough to make a housekeeper cry, "Stop!" and sometimes these strange occurrences do. For example, guests sometimes hear loud noises coming from rooms next to them, which are in fact unoccupied or, in one case, from the room above (except that guest was on the top floor).  Most of these happenings are just annoying – or entertaining, depending on how open the guest is to experiencing such strange events.

But at least one event was pretty grisly: The specter of a lumberjack was seen hanging from a beam in the lounge for nearly three hours. Many staff members saw it. This was the only really scary event of dozens reported since the elegant 31-room manor opened in northern Ohio in the 1950s.

The land was originally settled by Lemuel Punderson and his wife, Sybal who operated a grist mill and distillery. After their deaths, the family sold it to W.B. Cleveland, whose heirs sold it to Detroit millionaire Karl Long in 1929.

Historians believe the 29-room mansion (with 14 baths) was being built for Long's wife.  Rumor has it, she disliked Detroit while others say it was just a vacation home for the Longs. But Long never completed the home as he lost his fortune during the Great Depression and died before the home was completed. The property reverted back to its original owners, the Cleveland family, and eventually to the state of Ohio.

The state finally completed construction on the mansion in 1956, turning it into a resort with both lodging and dining. It added 26 two-bedroom cabins and by the 1970s it was a popular getaway for Clevelanders as well as a stop for other travelers. It was about then that resort employees began reporting the strange goings-on.

A self-proclaimed psychic spent some time on the property and says she spoke with a ghost who said he would continue to haunt the manor "until his rocking chair was returned." Some think that the chair to which he refers is the rocking chair that belonged to Sybal Punderson, which was inherited by Cleveland and ended up in a historic collection.

Few clues can be found to explain the other happenings. No children ever lived at the manor, and there were no suspicious or tragic deaths there, as far as anyone can tell. The manor, however, was built across the lake from the old Wales Hotel, which burned in 1885 and where some children died in the fire.

Most guests don't experience, or even seek out, these ghostly occurrences. They're too busy playing golf on an 18-hole championship course, playing tennis or basketball, swimming in the pool, and boating or fishing at the nearby lake. There's also great hiking in the summer and sledding, snowmobiling or cross-country skiing in winter.

The resort is managed by Xanterra Parks & Resorts and is open year round. To make reservations at the Punderson Manor State Park Lodge, call 1-800-282-7275 or visit pundersonmanorstateparklodge.com/.

To reserve rooms in these state parks or for more information, visit the individual web sites or ohiostateparklodges.com. Xanterra also operates the marina and facilities at Geneva Marina State Park in Geneva-on-the-Lake in northeastern Ohio.

Ravenwood Castle

Welcome to Ravenwood Castle and its medieval flair.

• Open: Year-round
• Location: (Map It) 65666 Bethel Road, New Plymouth, Ohio
• Phone: 740-596-2606
• Web: https://www.ravenwoodcastle.com/

Ravenwood Castle, nestled in the woods of scenic Hocking Hills, provides a charming setting with a medieval flair. Whether you are planning a romantic trip for two or a unique getaway for family and friends, Ravenwood Castle makes for an unforgettable destination. They pride themselves on being an unplugged destination where technology isn't all-pervasive. The common areas of the Castle (Pub, Library, Great Hall) and Castle rooms have access to Wi-Fi. The Castle offers a variety of on-site scavenger hunts, a board game library of 100+ games for guest use, and hiking trails for you to warm up on before tackling some of the most popular Hocking Hills destinations like Old Man's Cave or Ash Cave – both just a short drive from the Castle! Grab a bite at the Raven's Roost Pub and game the night away on the patio or Library.

Sauder Village

Admission to Sauder Village is $20/adult, $18/senior, $14/child ages 6-16 (Age 5 and younger are free).

• Hours vary by season and day of the week. Currently open Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm.
• Location: (Map It) 22611 St. Rte. 2 in Archbold, Ohio
• Phone: 800-590-9755 or 419-446-2541
• Web: saudervillage.org

Historic Sauder Village is a living history museum and farm in Archbold, Ohio. It provides a chance to travel back in time to see how settlers lived in northwest Ohio from 1803 until 1910. Sauder Village is a non-profit living history museum and educational complex with more than 40 buildings showing rural life in Ohio during the 19th century. Visit with costumed interpreters and watch artisans demonstrate glass blowing, pottery, spinning, weaving, broom making, woodworking, basket making, printing, and quilting. On-site is the Doughbox Bakery which offers various cookies, apple dumplings, and fritters along with delectable pies, bread, and pre-mixed cookie dough. The Barn Restaurant is open year-round Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and a Sunday Buffet, from 11:00 to 2:00 p.m. The restaurant hosts many special holiday events that accompany the delicious home-cooked food. The beautiful Sauder Heritage Inn has 98 guest rooms, an indoor pool with waterfall, game and exercise rooms, a 25-foot tall "Great Oak Tree" with gathering space underneath, complimentary breakfast, and more. The Village also has an 87-site Campground with Splash Pad, fishing, bike trail, playground, and other great amenities. Sauder Village is a destination that all ages will enjoy!

Springbrook Meadows Lavender Farm

Admission to Springbrook Meadows Lavender Farm is free.

• Open: The cottage and farm are open to the public from late April until October from 10 am to 6 pm Tuesday through Saturday (closed on Sundays and Mondays)
• Location: (Map It) 11821 US 50 Hillsboro, Ohio
• Phone: 937-365-1632 or 888-323-3204

Springbrook Meadows Lavender Farm:  The aroma of lavender greets you the moment you drive down the country lane to Springbrook Meadows Lavender Farm. Situated at the foothills of the Appalachians in beautiful Highland County is Ohio's premier lavender farm, owned by Neal and Debbie Cook. The farm is a century farm, since it has been in the family now for over 100 years, but only recently have they begun raising lavender. The Cooks began raising lavender on the farm in the year 2000 after visiting with family in a place called Sequim (pronounced "squim"), Washington. Sequim could easily be identified as the lavender capital of the United States, and while on their visit they determined that they would try to raise the crop themselves back in Ohio. Lavender doesn't require much to grow except sunshine and it doesn't like to have its feet wet. That's about all it takes. Neal says that, "Our part of the farm was a clay patch that just never grew field crops like corn or soybeans very well. That's one of the reasons that our home is on that spot.  It just wasn't productive for any normal farming." So they decided to try lavender farming.

That year they bought some extra suitcases and took home two suitcases full of different varieties of lavender to try on their farm in Ohio. Unfortunately the first year crop didn't fare very well, in fact they lost almost 25% of that crop. It seems that the varieties that they selected to grow in Ohio were not as well suited for Ohio winters as those common in the Sequim area. Debbie went back to the drawing board and studied all the varieties she could find to determine the best fit for growing in Ohio. The next year, they returned and gathered several more suitcases of lavender and this time they were successful in growing and raising lavender in Southern Ohio. They now have over 16 varieties of Lavender in the field and over 95 varieties in the greenhouses for testing and mother plants.

The Cooks have developed a unique way of raising the lavender, literally. They create a raised bed row with a combination of the local clay soil, amended with some compost provided by the sheep, cattle and a horse that graze in their field nearby. They also include some lime to sweeten the soil and a thin strip of sand at the bottom of each row to ensure moisture does not build up in the mounds. The whole row is then covered with a geotextile cloth, which serves as a weed barrier but still allows for the exchange of gases and some water to penetrate. Debbie says "It works well for us. It keeps the weeds to a minimum and the raised bed idea keeps the plants feet from staying wet. An added benefit, is that since it is a raised bed, it makes it easier to harvest."

In 2004 they had the very first Lavender Field Day, and they have been drawing over 1,700 guests every year since. "We thought it would be nice to share this wonderful plant with the community, and discovered that it drew folks from all over the tri-state area".  Each of the craftspeople that attend the Lavender Field Day were seasoned professionals in their craft and are selected based on the quality of their product. Each craftsperson was asked to incorporate lavender into their artwork or display it in some way to promote lavender.  It really makes the creative juices flow for many of the artists.

In 2004 the Cook's also constructed the Lavender Cottage. This adorable little cottage houses all the lavender products that the Cooks have brought together from all corners of the globe. They created several of their own, including skin care products. Debbie is also a talented fiber artist and potter. You may find some of her hand-painted porcelain in the cottage or one of her famous corn shuck dolls. They have all manner of lavender products from essential oils, lavender filled pillows, to books on lavender including Debbie's own cookbook, "A Taste of Lavender". Debbie said that she enjoyed cooking so much that it was just a natural extension of her interest to create this mouth-watering book on cooking with lavender. And speaking of cooking, Debbie also does catered luncheons in the lavender field. Can you imagine sitting in the middle of a lavender field while sipping lavender lemonade? It's absolutely heavenly.

Staley Mill Farm & Distillery

Welcome to Staley Mill Farm & Indian Creek Distillery where Joe and Missy Duer invite you to step back in time.

This historic farmstead is a glimpse into the past and will return its visitors to an earlier time with its timeless beauty, ageless spirit, and family heritage.  Situated along meandering Indian Creek, the 160-acre farm was purchased in 1820 by Elias Staley who built a commercial-sized distillery across from the grist mill that he and his brothers had built several years earlier for the previous owner.  "Liquid Gold" was produced by the mix of grains from the Grist Mill and his handmade double copper distilled rye whiskey became the "profit of the times" for his pioneer family. Staley Rye Whiskey became famous for its quality. Customers (including Indians) came from miles around to get their jugs filled with the tasty liquid.

After Elias' death in 1866, sons Andrew, Simon, and John continued the distilling operation.  During their lifetimes, the grist mill was expanded, a two-story warehouse was built, and the construction of a 1500 gallon mash tub enabling them to increase production.  At times, there were 100 barrels aging in the Bond House and the distillery ran 24 hours a day.

Simon's son, George Washington Staley continued to operate the distillery after the death of his father and two uncles.  It was his sad duty to close the doors of the family's profitable whiskey distillery when Prohibition was made the law of the land in 1920.  With great foresight, George hid the old stills and associated distilling equipment from the government agents on the top floor of the warehouse.  He also recorded the mash bill or recipe that the family had used for 100 years.

After George passed away, two generations came and went with only memories of whiskey-making times at The Staley Mill Farm. But the past met the present when the next generation (Joe and Missy) resurrected history.

Today, a new artisan farm distillery has been built, and once again Staley Rye Whiskey is flowing from the still house.  The distillery represents the legacy of early farm distilling:  past, present, and future.  It's the only family-owned historic artisan farm distillery in the United States using the old-fashioned double copper distilling method. Whiskey is distilled using the original copper pot stills that Missy's great-great-great-grandfather Elias used in 1820, the same mash bill, and the same water source (spring water).

A "true sip of history", these whiskeys are uniquely small batch where art and science meet in the middle to produce a spirit like no other.  Award-winning, old-fashioned frontier whiskeys are created with a passionate dedication to authenticity using the Early American Distilling Method.   Produced by the 6th generation, these historic artisans, keepers of the past, fan the flames of the future… The spirit of America in a bottle!

A visit to Indian Creek Distillery will transport you to the "Old Northwest Territory" where the Frontier was wild and whiskey was king!

So come to the farm where it all began two centuries ago. Learn about upcoming events.  Sample and purchase Early American Rye Whiskeys and shop for flasks, glasses, t-shirts, and more in the retail shop. The tasting room features the family's historic photos and artifacts, some dating back to the early 1800s when Staley's whiskey-making legacy began.

Hours are Thursday – Saturday from 10-5.  Still House tours are scheduled Saturdays at 12:00, 2:00 & 4:00. For additional information, click here.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

Admission to Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens tours range from $15-19/adult and $6-8/child.

• Open: daily from 10am – 4pm (closed on Monday)
• Location: (Map It) 714 North Portage Path in Akron, Ohio
• Phone: 330-836-5533
• Web: https://www.stanhywet.org/

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is one of the finest examples of Tudor Revival architecture in America. The 65-room country estate sits on 70 acres of manicured landscaped gardens and grounds. It was built between 1912 and 1915 by Goodyear co-founder F.A. Seiberling and his wife Gertrude. The mansion was designed for their large family and a lavish lifestyle. The Manor House is filled with treasures from around the globe. The house contains 21,000 panes of glass, 23 fireplaces and hard-carved paneling of oak, sandalwood and black walnut. On the grounds is The Gate Lodge, which opened in 2004. It represents the birth of Alcoholics Anonymous and the millions of people helped by the program worldwide. Events are planned well in advance; please call to get the year's schedule. Varied group plans are available. Discounts for groups of 10 or more may be arranged.

SunWatch Indian Village

Admission to SunWatch Indian Village & Archaeological Park is $7/adult and $6/student or senior.

• Open year-round Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sundays noon-5pm, closed Mondays and major holidays.
• Location: (Map It) 2301 West River Road in Dayton, Ohio
• Phone: 937-268-8199
• Web: https://www.sunwatch.org/

SunWatch Indian Village & Archaeological Park in Dayton, Ohio is a partially reconstructed Fort Ancient period American Indian village along the Great Miami River.  Excavations at this 13th Century village exposed a planned, stockaded village with astronomical alignments that were likely occupied for about 20 years. Due to its significance, the site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and became a National Historic Landmark in 1990. The interpretive center and reconstructed village include displays discussing the excavation and reconstruction of the site as well as the lives of the villagers that resided here.  Activities include guided group tours, festivals, overnight programs, and more.

Westcott House

Admission to the Westcott House is $18/adult, $15/seniors and  students

• Open: Tuesday – Friday 11am – 2:30, Saturday 11am – 4:30pm, and Sunday 1 – 4:30pm
• Location: (Map It) 1340 East High Street in Springfield, Ohio
• Phone: 937-327-9291
• Web: https://www.westcotthouse.org/

Westcott House is Frank Lloyd Wright's only Prairie Style home in Ohio.  The Westcott House has recently undergone an inch-by-inch $5.3 million restoration and has been restored to its 1908 appearance. Furniture has been rebuilt according to Wright's specification and gardens re-landscaped in keeping with the time. Take a guided tour and learn about this Prairie Style home, industrialist Burton J. Westcott and his family. The admission fee includes a forty-five-minute house tour plus an eight-minute movie on Frank Lloyd Wright and the Westcott House restoration process.

Zoar Village

Admission to take tours at Historic Zoar Village range from about $4-7/person.

• Location: (Map It) Zoar Store and Visitor Center is at 198 Main St. in Zoar, Ohio
• Open: Early April through October from Wednesday to Sunday. Times vary throughout the year. It would be best to call in advance.
• Phone: 330-874-3011 or 800-262-6195
• Web: https://historiczoarvillage.com/

Zoar Village is the Zen of Ohio. Founded in 1817 by a group of about 200 German Separatists seeking escape from religious persecution in their homeland. Today, Zoar is a community of approximately 75 families living in homes built from 1817 to the present. Many of the original homes have been preserved or restored, as have the many buildings and museums which are maintained by the Ohio History Connection.  Historic Zoar Village is a quaint German village where you can spend the day walking through the museums and beautiful gardens. Take a step back in time and enjoy a meal, beverage or snack at one of the local restaurants. Shop at the Zoar Store for unique and eclectic items and gifts, for tour tickets and information. You can also rent bicycles to tour the town. If you are looking for an easy and relaxing hike or bike ride, one of the Ohio Towpath trailheads is located at Zoar. The village is open to the public from early April through December.  Tours are available throughout the year. The Zoar Community Association graciously provides some of the buildings and the picture-perfect gardens for rent to the public. Historic Zoar Village is a beautiful location for your wedding or other celebration.

More Things to do This Month in Ohio

Better Homes And Gardens Children's Cookbook 1979

Source: https://www.ohiotraveler.com/historic-ohio-homes-villages-and-farms/

Posted by: giesenappy1975.blogspot.com

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