Heritage Appreciation Briefs : August 2006

Although I gripe about John Fraim's prattle about the Carlisle Building in Heritage News' August 2006 "Preservation Briefs," Mr. Fraim does do a service to his readers by explaining some local place names, and I would like to augment (and correct some of) his information.

The name Chillicothe does not mean "principle town" any more than "Columbus" or "Washington" do. The name "Chillicothe" is a variant of the word "Chalagawtha" (spelled many different ways) which is the name of one of the five divisions of the Shawnee nation. Since from that division (or one other) came the political leaders of the nation, the principle town of that division is the capital of the nation. "Chalagawtha" is one of the oldest divisions, and the word probably means "first man," refering to an origin legend of the Shawnee.

There were two Shawnee "Chalagawthas" in Ross County, and Mr. Fraim is mostly right in saying that modern Chillicothe is not located on either. Frankfort was one, and Hopetown is another. Since the commercial stretch of Bridge Street has expanded almost to Hopeton, located just east of US 23 south of the railroad overpass, you mght say that modern Chillicothe has almost reached one of the Shawnee Chalagawthas. In fact, Alan Eckert, author of the drama "Tecumseh!" and the novel The Frontiersmen states that the Hopetown Chalagawtha spanned three miles south of the modern hamlet. There were a total of seven Chalagawthas in what is now Ohio.

Tecumseh is pronounsed around here as tuh-cum-suh. If you are in the town in Michigan, it is pronounced teh-cum-see.

Yoctangee Park is named after a stretch of Paint Creek, since the park is at the north end of the street named after the creek. The historical form of the word, "Yocatangee," means beautiful place. That place is the Alum Cliffs Gorge.

Paint Street is named after Paint Creek, which flows at the southern end of the street. Paint Creek and Paint Valley are named after chemical deposits found at Copperas Mountain near Paint Valley Schools. The Indians used these reddish deposits as paint.

You may know that our state beverage is tomato juice, the state fossil is the Trilobite, and the state wildflower is the White Trillium...or maybe you don't. But did you know that our new "state prehistoric monument" is the Newark Earthworks?

As the July/August newsletter of the Ohio Historical Society, Echoes, writes, the fourth-grade class of the Willam E. Miller Elementary School in Newark crafted a bill for the state legislature with the assisitance of state senator Jay Hottinger. The students visited the earthworks, researched their significance, and learned about the legislative process before making a presentation to the Ohio Senate in March. Governor Bob Taft signed the bill June 7th. This makes Ohio the first state to designate an official prehistoric monument.

Horizon Chillicothe Telephone is progressing with their mural next to the parking lot at 68 East Main Street. It will be a faux storefront next to a faux warehouse, both featuring historical aspects of the company.

You might notice a small area of boring asphalt that has been replaced with attractive paving blocks at 125 West Water Street. Dard Hunter has tidied up the front of his canal warehouse, including the pavement.

An interesting work of art is on display at the Pump House Center for Art. This is "Details," a mixed media work by Nathan Crawford where he overlays ink and paint on photographs.

Can you identify the five downtown structures featured? One appears twice, and all but one are buildings - and that one will be the most difficult tp identify. My photo of it is not the greatest, so you might want to stop by and check out the original in the gallery of the Pump House before it is shipped off to its new owner.

Artist Crawford wrote a good quote by Frank Lloyd Wright across the front of the piece: "If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life."

The art of three women is on display at the Pump House Center for Art. "From a Woman's Point-of-View" features the art of local ladies Mary Cooper, Gretchen Tippie, and Sandra Cooper Pence.

Mary Cooper focuses her watorcolor talents primarily on landscapes, along with a nice selection of wildflowers. The popular building off State Route 180 in Green Township is featured in "Round Barn" on the far left.

Gretchen Tippie creates images mainly of flowers. Here is a pastel, "Pussy Willows."

Still lifes, genre scenes, and landscapes are in Sandra Cooper Pence's oevre of oils and pencil. On the far right is "Lawrence."

The exhibit will be open through August 20th.

If you have two wheels, you should be at the bike tour sponsored by the Tri-County Triangle Trail August 20th. Beginning and ending at Frankfort, you can choose from five different route lengths varying from 14 to 75 miles. (I''ll probably go for the 20-mile loop.) All routes pass through Clarksburg, and the longer ones go through Washington C.H. and Greenfield. Ride fees are $7 per person or $14 per family before August 15th. Start times are between 7 and 9 a.m.

For more information you can call 740 / 775-9322 or read the information on the TTT's website at tricotrail.tripod.com. "We provide maps, a well marked course, refreshments, friendly volunteers and support if you have a mechanical problem. Don't miss this opportunity to see the beauty of trail and area, meet friends, get some great excercise and support the trail!"