Why do I like this place so much? Blackhand Gorge's paved path just re-opened. Thanks to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for a job well done. We can walk, hike, bike, and stroller through here again.
As the footprints in the cold snow attest, it's a popular place.
That's for good reason. I can't think of anyplace that has more history and natural history packed into one compact location.
A twice-the-size of a human hand black petroglyph was put on the Gorge wall. That's from where the name of this place, and the sandstone of this part of Ohio comes.
The canal builders inadvertently destroyed the petroglyph to build a stretch of the Ohio Erie Canal. The sandstone stacked here once carried horses or mules which were the locomotion for the canal boats. You can walk through a lock that is still there today.
Then, the railroads came. On the north side was the interurban, including the first tunnel for an electric railway in the U.S. built here. The tunnel remains though the railway is long gone.
On the south side, rail freight went that moved stone from the quarries. Glassmaking was part of the rails' purpose, and still is today.
In this 250th year of our country, it's our chance to instill an appreciation for history among generations. There's no better way to do that than with a big dose of local relevance.
Blackhand Gorge will be my vehicle for that. My granddaughter is already a frequent visitor, but she'll get some extra visits this year. I promise.
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