Underground Railroad Trolley Tour - Salem, OH

July 27, 2018

Jim joins us for a Trolley ride past homes in Salem that were part of the Underground Railroad

 We start out at the Salem Historical Society Museum

 Jim has connections and we get to go into the museum section

 He and Jean donated the two book cases along the wall

 The Trolley arrives

There was a speaker on board in Quaker garb and a slide presentation with information about the underground railroad

It stopped at various homes that were on the underground railroad. 

Salem was known as headquarters of the Western Anti Slavery Society and was a major hub of corridors along the Underground Railroad. In the city itself, there were at least six stops.

Salem was founded by Quakers in 1806

After the tour we met up with Jean for lunch and then when to the Burchfield Homestead Museum.

 Charles Burchfield grew up in Salem, OH and is considered one of America's premier watercolorists.

His work is very distinctive

Interestingly, in 1921, where he was employed as a designer at the H.M. Birge wallpaper company here is a sample of his wallpaper designs

One of his works “Cherry Blossom Snow” sold at auction for $1,812,500 at Christie’s Spring Season of American Art in New York.  “June Night” (Luna Moth, Tulip Tree in Bloom by Moonlight) just two weeks earlier for $1,332,500.

An educational and fun day!

Ohio Amish Country

July 25, 2018

We head to Amish Country with our friends Dan and Earlene

Our first stop is Lehmans Hardware Store in Dalton, OH

 The store has just about everything you need or didn't know you needed

 The Amish kids get to sneak in a video

 There was a display of relief carvings done entirely with hand tools by an Amish Man.   The wood blocks are 9" deep Butternut

 We go next door to check out the livestock auction

 We aren't the only ones

I found the one I want.

 

 It's a light crowd

Next stop Heini's Cheese Chalet

 Looks to be a popular place

 They weren't making cheese today

But there are plenty of choice and all have samples!

We continue on a drive through the countryside

 He was stuck - asked if we could help but he said no

 A little further down the road we came across a flagman on horseback.  We were like "Whaaat?"

Turns out it was a convoy of about 2 dozen horse and buggies on a 15 mile drive

 So we pulled over and watched the parade

HAY!  All in all . . .

It was a Peachy Keen day!

The Leetonia Bee-Hive Coke Ovens

July 24, 2018

Today we go to see the Cherry Valley Bee-Hive Coke Ovens in Leetonia, OH

 Constructed in 1866, it is one of the largest of it's kind in the nation.  200 ovens were built here by the Leetonia Iron and Coal Company.  They were used to burn impurities out of the coal - the end product - coke - was the best fuel source for furnaces used to make iron.

 Many are in surprisingly good shape considering they are out in the elements

These two are kind of scary

 

A hidden gem and very interesting visit

Guilford Lake - Beaver Creek State Park

July 22, 2018

Today we head over to Beaver Creek State Park

Wouldn't have wanted to come here with the 5th Wheel

Beaver Creek State Park is in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.  Little Beaver Creek, a state and national wild and scenic river flows through it and it has 2,722 acres of forest wilderness.

Remnants of the Sandy and Beaver Canal, a spur off the Ohio-Erie Canal.

The Malone covered bridge originally stood, in the 1870s over Middle Run in Elkrun Township

Gaston Mill

Workers were resurfacing the grinding stone when we were there.

The Williams Homestead Barn, the Homestead burned down in 2013

Old Chapel and Schoolhouse

A nice walk down one of the roads

and along the Cree

On the way home we stop to see the Lusk Lock down a narrow road by a cornfield

The trail is densely wooded

and very green

View of the Lock from the bottom

Gary and Tucson waited up above

Built in 1836

You coming back up Mom?

A great visit.  Will be back again to maybe bike around and also check out the Wildlife Center.

On the way home we stopped at a little post office to mail a package that had been in the truck for many days.  Saw this sign and had to investigate