Sojourn Chronicles
Recently, the Ohio River was near flood stage. It has gone down quite a bit. Here in New Richmond, southeast of Cincinnati, flood stage is at 52’ the same as Cincinnati. You can see on the flood stage marker how high 52’ is, and almost detect the recent waterline mark. That’s a lot of water.
See you on the highway.
Brent
A photo from the 10-year project, Fairs & Festivals.
Kosciusko County Fair, Indiana. 1995.
Brent
Destinations can offer up plenty of activities and things to do, but sometimes, all you want is a place to sit.
In downtown St. Joseph, Michigan, which sits at the mouth of the St. Joseph River on Lake Michigan, city leaders were wise enough to preserve the bluff overlooking the lake in a park like setting. Below the bluff, there is some development, but also the greatest asset of the city, Lake Michigan and its beaches.
On the bluff, there is an opening in the trees with a park swing facing the lake. It is the best, uninhibited view of the lake. You can sit and feel the breeze come in off the lake full of the aroma of a large body of water. It’s a sweetness like no other.
Sailboats and fishing boats make their way out the protection of the river into the lake past the St. Joe Lighthouse. It is very calming, relaxing, and near euphoric. Cost of parking: 10 minutes or more of driving around waiting for a spot. Cost of sitting in the park overlooking the lake: nothing. Value of the moment: priceless.
See you on the highway.
Brent
There was a time when people feared the conversion of abandoned railroad beds into bicycle and walking paths. The fear was that crime would increase. Adjoining properties would be impacted by lower property values. How wrong were those naysayers.
Brent
Photo: Little Miami Recreational Trail, Morrow, Ohio. The LMRT is 75 miles long connecting multiple small and larger cities—all paved.
I have passed this place on several occasions but have never noticed the sign in front of the Clover Cemetery on Ohio SR 133, north of Bethel. It caught my eye and haunted me to turn around and stop.
Civil War Medal of Honor recipient John H. Wageman, of Clermont County is buried in the Clover Cemetery. I searched for his grave, but could not find it. Many markers are not legible due to weathering. I may have stood at or walked past his final resting spot without knowing it.
The US Military keeps a record of all recipients. Here is Wageman’s:
WAGEMAN, JOHN H.
Rank and organization: Private, Company I, 60th Ohio Infantry. Place and date: At Petersburg, Va., 17 June 1864. Entered service at: Amelia, Ohio. Birth: Clermont County, Ohio. Date of issue: 27 July 1896. Citation: Remained with the command after being severely wounded until he had fired all the cartridges in his possession, when he had to be carried from the field.
It must have been quite a battle on the field, and later in the halls of Congress, for according to this record, it took 32 years for John H. Wageman of Clermont County to receive his Congressional Medal of Honor. R.I.P. Private Wageman.
See you on the highway.
Brent