Ohio Off the Beaten Path

Magee Marsh Wildlife Area – Here are seven acres of marsh and swamp forest by the shores of Lake Erie. There are a bird trail, a beach and a visitor’s center for information. One can see small migrating birds and large waterfowl here. The bird trail goes around a large pond which is covered by water lilies and then winds through the surrounding woods. While the beginning of the trail is graveled the mid-section may be muddy. Some of the creatures that can be seen here are muskrats, raccoons, skunks, mink, foxes, cottontail rabbits, fox squirrels, coyotes, and white-tailed deer.

For birds, the spring migration lasts from late February to mid-June. One can see Canadian geese, blue herons, and white egrets. There is a picnic area by the sandy beach which has tables and grills. There are pleasant views of distant islands and swimming is allowed during the daytime. In the visitor center, one can see mounted birds and mammals, antique wildfowl decoys and guns among other displays that graphically explain the history and natural background of the marshland. A great view can be had from the nearby observation tower.

Kelleys Island – A ferry takes visitors to the island from Marblehead. This island was once inhabited by the Erie and Cat nation before they were destroyed by the Iroquois in the late 1600s. The Erie and Cat nation left behind a memorial Inscription Rock. This is a large, slab of limestone with a flat top. It is covered with Indian pictographs of humanlike creatures which include birds and animals and smoking pipes. Unfortunately, these inscriptions have faded greatly due to the elements. However, they were copied by U.S. Army Captain Seth Eastman in 1850 and a reproduction of his work can be found at the site. In the early 1800s Kelleys Island was resettled and by 1910 it had more than 1,000 people in the community. They made a living on limestone quarrying, agriculture, winemaking, and fishing.

Today only about 100 people live on the island. The major industry is tourism and fishing, boating, swimming, and dining facilities are plentiful. Visitors can ferry their cars over to the island or they can rent bicycles or golf carts to get around. There is a lakeside campground.

A short distance from the center of town is Glacial Grooves which is a state memorial. The limestone which was scored by a moving glacier gives the appearance of smoothly rounded grey waves. One trough some 400 feet long, 30 feet wide and 10 t0 15 feet deep is thought to be the world’s most spectacular example of glacial grooving. The glacier originated in the highlands of Labrador and inched southward for 5,000 years to reach this point and melted about 10,000 years ago.

 

Malabar Farm – Located in Lucas. It was in 1939 that Pulitzer-prize winning author Louis Bromfield bought this farm. He built a large, comfortable home around one of the old farmhouses. Most of the money for restoring the farm came from the proceeds of a novel which was set on the Malabar Coast in India and therefore he named the farm Malabar. The furnishings in the house are French rural antiques, an Italian marble fireplace surmounted by ceramic Chinese horses set against a huge mirrored wall in the living room, a Steinway grand piano beside a floating double staircase in the hallway and in what is known as the Red Room there are paintings by Grandma Moses. In the author’s library, there is an enormous curved desk with 28 drawers. Upstairs are nine bedrooms including one in which Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall who were friends of the authors stayed on their honeymoon.

The farm has a herd of purebred Holstein cattle. Visitors can tour the barns, stables, meadows and flower gardens. They can see the farm animals and touch those in the petting barn. There are hiking trails and a campsite for horse riders.

Ulysses S. Grant Birthplace – Located in Point Pleasant. This is the first home of Ulysses S. Grant who was the general of the Union Army during the Civil War and later president of the United States. The house is a typical small pioneer house: white clapboard structure resting on a stone sill with a brick chimney. Grant was born here in 1822 but the next year his family moved to Georgetown where he spent his boyhood. From 1895 to 1936 the house stood as a historical exhibit in Columbus, Ohio but in 1936 it was returned to its original site beside Big Indian Creek facing the Ohio River. The house contains Grant’s cradle, the trunk he took to West Point, his Bible and his cigar case. Outside the house is a covered well and a cannon set in concrete and bearing Grant’s name and birth date on a plaque. It points toward the river.

There are majestic chestnut trees and behind the house is the Grant Memorial Church.

Rocky Fork State Park – This is a 21,000-acre park in Hillsboro which contains 7-mile long Rocky Fork Lake. The lake has several sandy beaches. At the marina, one can rent pedal boats, rowboats, pontoon boats, and motorboats.

They also sell or rent fishing gear, live bait, water or snow ski equipment, and camping supplies. Here one can fish for crappies, bluegills, bass, walleye, and muskies.

Surrounding the lake are low hills, woodlands, and fields.

Three short trails wind through the park.

 

http://lakeeriebirding.ohiodnr.gov/loops-sites/western-lake-erie-marshes-loop/magee-marsh-state-wildlife-area

https://www.ocj.com/2017/09/agricultural-and-literary-history-at-louis-bromfields-malabar-farm/

https://www.stateparks.com/rocky_fork_state_park_in_ohio.html

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