Category: Small Towns

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Clover Cemetery on SR 133

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.

MC_Ride_3Jul2001-11

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.

http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html

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.

MC_Ride_3Jul2001-13

See you on the highway.

Brent

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Rural monuments in a small town

All across the countryside are monuments to an agricultural industry and lifestyle. For many small towns, the grain elevator was a center of activity, a gathering place for farmers to bring their grain and socialize with others.

Grain elevator, Clarksville, Ohio

Although most of these grain elevators are still in use, they look old and show signs of deterioration, for they are not large enough for today’s big agribusinesses.

Brent

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Abandoned playground

What happens to the playground when the small town school is abandoned for a newer facility or the school district is merged with another. All too often, the building is sold or even abandoned. The same is true for the playground.

Abandoned playground, Clarksville, OH

See you on the highway.

Brent

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Winter scenery after the snow

Fine Art Friday

Ball-field-in-winter-1
Ball field in winter

The overnight snow creates images in black and white, and the camera further enhances it with B&W capture. During the summer, the South Lebanon ball fields would be teeming with kids and parents playing America’s game, baseball. But, the winter gives the fields time to rest and soak in the moisture from melting snow. The bleachers and bench seats wait for the crowds to return.

Brent