We learned that Ohio was so forested that it was said that a squirrel could go from one side of the state to the other without touching the ground. George Washington knew the importance of being able to access the wild west (Ohio) and he convinced Thomas Jefferson that a trail needed to be made through it. George was good friends with Ebenezer Zane who agreed to build Zane Trace which went from Wheeling W.Va. to Maysville, Ky. Interesting to know where the name Zane Trace Riders came from (Sondra's 4-H club) and Maysville Pike (a road in Zanesville). Ebe was given 3 pieces of land for payment. One being Zanesville.
National Road began in 1811 and finished in 1836. Started in Cumberland Maryland, overlapped Zane Trace trail and continued to Vandelia, Illinois. Used the gunter chain to measure 66 feet across.
We enjoyed learning where the phrase "Will arrive with bells on" comes from. On the conastoga wagons, each horse had a different size and number of bells. This music helped horses keep in step and also alerted the driver if something was wrong. These bells were also used for a means of payment. Since the driver didn't carry money, he would give bells for any service he may need. If he arrived with all his bells, meant had a smooth trip.
Also, learned that these conastoga wagons had a tendency to vear to the right so driver would walk along side horses or ride on rear horse. We drive on the left side of the car in honor of this tendency of vearing to the right. Station wagons and motels both came from the national road.
The national road eventually became a muddy mess and fell out of use and trains became a major competetor. It was the bikes who saved the national road as wheel clubs petitioned national govt. for a place to ride.
Also, enjoyed driving on and learning that the Y bridge in Zanesville over the Licking and Muskingum Rivers is the only one in the U.S.. A favorite joke that I remember as a kid is to tell someone asking for directions to go to the center of the bridge and take a right. There is an S bridge a mile from my parent's house. Learned that they were built if came around hill at a curve, then would cross at the strongest point.
Zane Grey-great grandson of Ebe Zane was born in Zanesville. Fascinating learning about his life. Wrote 85 books and 107 movies. He was the first to mystify and sensationalize the west. As people were slaving away in the industrialized east, they could come home and be transported to another place in Zane's writings. He gave America their knight class in the cowboys. When he was alive, only the Bible and dictionary were more popular than his novels. Curious, why his books were't required reading for my high school English class since he's part of local history? It was recommended that Janae read The Trilogy and that Mark and I start off with Riders of the Purple Sage. Janae and Stefan each got to pick out their own hard back Zane Grey book to take home. ZG was also an extreme outdoor enthusiast and fisherman. We all loved learning about the 1000 lb swordfish he realed in.
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| the bells for the conastoga horses |
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| first station wagon for taking people to train station |
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| Learning about the Macadum Road, measuring three sizes of rock |
