Roadtrek Travels: Ohio June 21, covered bridges and hopewell culture

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Ohio June 21, covered bridges and hopewell culture

Tuesday, June 21

73 degrees this morning, though we had some rain and last night was comfortable.

Beth was able to get some specific locations for the covered bridges, so we head there this morning, taking little back roads and enjoying the farmland and woodlands. At one point in the 1800’s Ohio had nearly 1000 covered bridges. Many today have been refurbished or replaced. Stephenson Road Bridge was built in 1877 and restored in 2015.

Charleton Mill was refurbished in 2013.

The last, Clifton Mill was originally built in 1802. A replica bridge was built in the 1990’s but the old mill building and waterwheel still operate .

From here we head to Beaver Creek for a workout and shower at LA Fitness. We have breakfast in the Trek and then head east toward Chillicothe and Hopewell Culture National Historic Park. The Hopewell Culture flourished in this area about 2,000 years ago (roughly 300BC to 600AD), leaving large geometrically patterned burial mounds, some of which can be connected to astronomical data. The large circular mounds will fit exactly inside large squares found adjacent. Scientists estimate that 1,000s of tons of earth were moved. We watched a film, then walked around several mounds.

The mounds preserved here are only a part of a much more widespread grouping. Many mounds were lost to cultivation and building, including military Camp Sherman, but in the 1840’s archeologists took notice and began some excavations. Many burial sites were found, along with artifacts made from copper, mica, stone and bone.

Some items found, like obsidian from Colorado and shells from the Gulf, show that this culture traveled and traded. We have visited other mound sites, like Effigy in Iowa, and one across the river from St. Louis. The ranger we spoke with was very knowledgeable and explained that those mound-builders came about 1000 years later than Hopewell. There are a few older than Hopewell, in nearby Adena and in Poverty Point in LA.

There were some lovely and very fragrant Oak Leaf Hydrangeas outside the Visitor Center.

From here we travel through rolling countryside with many corn and soybean fields. We pass through Lancaster, Ohio and the terrain is similar to Lancaster, PA.

We travel to Newark (not at all like its Jersey namesake) where we stop to take a gander at the Longaberger Headquarters building, shaped like a huge basket. It is 7 stories high and has a huge open atrium at the center. Quite an unusual building!

Longaberger is a well known high-quality basket-maker that has been operational since the late 1800’s. We travel a little further to their Homestead – a complex that includes their factory, the original family homestead and workshop,

and a large shop with baskets, ceramics and other housewares. The baskets are quite beautiful and all are made by hand. They feel like they will last forever, very sturdy, and are priced accordingly with the smallest 4"x6" about $75.

A museum area showcases many baskets from simple to quite complex.

We talk with three workers , Cindy, Lisa and Andrew and watch as they make baskets and tag them. They are making baskets that will be given as awards at a car show this weekend.

This apple basket is 20’ tall and a replica of the first baskets made for orchards by J.W. Longaberger.

We travel north and east and go through a very Amish area. Some is commercialized like Lancaster PA: “Tour an Amish home,” “Ride in a real Amish buggy”, and “Eat at Der Dutchman”. We stop at Walnut Creek Cheese and Grocery store. Beth has been craving watermelon and peaches and we find some of both here. Really reasonable groceries too. There are several buggies parked outside and we note a “Yoder Transportation” van which apparently brings Amish here to shop.