Amish Bird Symposium

The Amish Bird Symposium will be March 2, 2019.  The day's events include talks on all things birds and bird habitats.  There will be vendors with unique artwork and hand-crafted items to make your bird-watching more enjoyable.  Share stories and knowledge with new friends who share a common passion--birds.   Register at www.AmishBirdSymposium.org

Covered Bridges Near Hopewell Croft

 

There are several covered bridges near Hopewell Croft.

The Harshaville Bridge, a kingpost and arch type bridge, was built in 1855.  It is on Grace’s Run Road, east of Highway 247, south of Route 32.  This bridge is about 30 minutes from Hopewell Croft on one of the routes to Miller’s Amish Bakery.  Watch for horses and buggies.  The arch truss is impressive.  John Hunt Morgan’s raiding party crossed this bridge during their foray into Union territory in July, 1863. 

The North Pole Road Bridge crosses Eagle Creek, east of Ripley, about 25 minutes from Hopewell Croft.  It is a Smith truss type bridge, built in 1875.  The roads leading to this bridge are especially narrow and winding.  This bridge is downstream from Suck Run Road.

The George Miller Bridge south of Russellville is also a Smith truss type bridge, built in 1879.  It also crosses Eagle Creek, about 20 minutes from Hopewell Croft, between Rte. 125 and Rte. 62.  This bridge is upstream from Suck Run Road.

The Kirker Bridge no longer carries traffic.  It sits next to Highway 136, near Governor Kirker’s Farm and Zane’s Trace Road, only 10 minutes from Hopewell Croft.  A kingpost bridge, it was built in 1858. 

Canoeing Anyone?

The Ohio Brush Creek is a great place to fish or canoe.  These photos were taken at the Creek’s Bend put-in site at the Edge of Appalachia Preserve on Waggoner Riffle Road, in Adams County, Ohio.  There’s another beach up stream, at the SR 125 bridge, between West Union and Lynx, and a landing site seven miles downstream at the Brush Creek Campground and ODNR boat ramp east of Manchester, on US Route 52, where Ohio Brush Creek meets the Ohio River. 

The Edge of Appalachia Preserve is owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy and the Cincinnati Museum Center.  Past cabin guests have enjoyed hiking up to Buzzardroost Rock, in the Preserve.  This rock outcropping towers 300 feet above the valley floor. 

For current local stream conditions, contact the Edge of Appalachia or the Brush Creek Campground, at the ODNR boat ramp.

Stay Up All Night!

At Hopewell Croft you can see the stars!

The 2015 Perseid meteor shower will peak around August 11. A new moon on August 14, 2015 will create perfect conditions for watching the meteor shower.  If the sky is clear, you can easily see these “shooting stars” with the naked eye.  The best time for viewing is just before dawn, just look up, towards the northeast sky. 

Summer Solstice at Serpent Mound

Summer Solstice is almost here and the celebration at Serpent Mound starts Friday, June 19. Serpent Mound, an effigy mound in Adams County, Ohio that is also a National Historic Landmark, is just 40 minutes from Hopewell Croft.  

Brad Lepper, who will be speaking at Serpent Mound on Saturday June 20, said, “We may not have answers for all our questions, but we can walk where the ancient American Indians walked, see the same Sun slowly sink below the same horizon, and acknowledge the powerful connection between the lives of these ancient people and our own.” 

The Arc of Appalachia manages the park. They will be celebrating the “Festival of the Setting Sun” the entire weekend. There will be guided hikes, American Indian living history demonstrations and special activities for children and an American Indian inspired dinner, by advance registration. Steve Free, who provided the music for the Hopewell Croft opening party, will be performing on Saturday at 3 PM. Saturday, at 8 PM, the silent sunset watch will begin, with torch lighting at 9. Visit The Arc’s website for the full schedule of events.  

Also visit the website of the Friends of Serpent Mound for information on more vendors, speakers, food, music, and drumming.