Buckeye Lake here east of Columbus played an important role in the economic history of Ohio. It was created as a reservoir at the highest point of the Ohio and Erie Canal in the Nineteenth Century. In the Twentieth Century it’s been a recreation area. There a few remnants of the entertainment complex that was once here. Restaurants, amusement park rides, a dance hall. Big name bands played here including Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong. Along the main street in town you can see evidence of the railroad that brought folks out to the lake from Columbus. We’ve been walking amid the legends of Buckeye Lake today in search of geocaches and history lessons.
Burgh House Hampstead
Off the beaten path is Hampstead is the more than three hundred year old Burgh House with a fascinating history. It’s now a community center, local museum, gallery, concert venue, event space, and more open to the public four days a week. We popped over for a bite to eat and to peruse the galleries to learn a little more about Hampstead history.
Last night we learned that Karen’s Dad and Mother made the trip from Columbus out to Buckeye Lake on several occasions during their first year of marriage. In addition her Dad remembers spending a week here in his youth. He vividly remembers the amusement park and the Wild Mouse ride!