The Great Trail - Day 106

  For the past two days I've been asking myself the question, "Why did these towns appear in eastern Ohio in the very first years of the 1800s?" The canals weren't built until 20 or more years later. And yet, there are huge homes and farms and mills. You just don't get this kind of infrastructure without decent transportation routes.

For example, this is the oldest brick building in Ohio, built in 1803, in Lisbon. It was recently restored, and is now an Inn and Restaurant.

Remember the date on the Hanoverton building yesterday? 1813- that's 15 years before the canal was even thought of. What's the deal?

It turns out that I knew the answer already, but didn't realize I knew it. The Great Trail was an overland Native American route that connected what we now know as Pittsburgh with Detroit. It was used as a British military route as early as 1764, and later brought many settlers from Pennsylvania. Also, part of the southern border of Columbiana County is the Ohio River, providing access. Columbiana County was building county roads as early as 1803. A state road was built that went from the Ohio River through Lisbon in 1805.

Agriculture was huge. Wheat, horses, and wool were top products of the area. I have to believe that this beautiful farm was involved in one or more of those early enterprises.

Note the hitching rail for horses in front of the house. There was an early road right here.

Although this farm was spectacular, there are literally hundreds of houses and buildings of this age in the county. I really like the clean lines of Colonial architecture. (That porch was certainly added at a later date.)

We also rested in the shortest covered bridge in the U.S. It was once on a public road. However, the bridge is still in the same place but the road has moved. It's 19 feet, 3 inches long.

I had a hiking companion today, Nancy.

We also encountered someone who had heard of me through Facebook. Roberto and his wife, Kat, ran into me on the Lisbon Greenway trail. I was walking past, and he yelled, "Joan!" Yup. The other person pictured is a walker who made our acquaintance on the Greenway.

Nancy and I passed this beautiful cool waterfall early in the day. However, most of what we did was road walk, including some busy roads. But at least those are done now.

Miles today: 17.1. Total miles so far: 1381.6.

See Hanoverton and...!!!!