A Shadyside Kind of Day

Pittsburgh is my favorite city. It is a city of neighborhoods either by design or accident because of those pesky hills. And one of my favorite neighborhoods in Pittsburgh is Shadyside. It is located to the east of Oakland, home of the University of Pittsburgh, along and off of Fifth Avenue.

I don’t know the history of Pittsburgh all that well, but I assume that Shadyside was built in the heyday of trolleys. How can I tell? It is primarily a residential neighborhood consisting of large homes with single garages, if any, no driveways, and no parking. The residents had to have some way of getting to work downtown. These beautiful, late 19th century and turn of the century homes are crammed into very small spaces….and cost a fortune today, even in our current dreadful economic climate.

Along the way to Shadyside, you will pass the St. Paul Cathedral (home of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, and worth a stop) and a number of huge Protestant churches as well as Jewish Synagogues. Shadyside borders another stunning residential area called Squirrel Hill, which has a large Jewish population. Both of these areas are fun to explore.

One of the fun things about Shadyside is its eclectic mix. Residents vary from the very wealthy to young, urban professionals to college professors and university students. It is reflected in the housing stock, the restaurants, and the shopping. It this diversity which gives Shadyside its special appeal.

Shadyside has two business districts. The first is along Walnut Street. It is one of the proverbial “you can’t get there from here” streets. Follow the signs off of 5th Avenue. This is the high brow shopping area. It is 5 blocks long. You know those new neighborhood type shopping areas they are building today like Easton in Columbus or Legacy Village in Cleveland? Walnut Street is that, only it happened naturally. This isn’t an ersatz imitation. It is the real McCoy. It started Bohemian, but now contains some of the standard Williams Sonoma and Chico’s type stores. They call it gentrification. If you have expensive tastes, there are several galleries you can visit and ogle the art you can’t afford to buy. But you can find some local stores in between the chains that make it worthwhile.

The other shopping area is along Ellsworth Avenue. When things got a tad pricey on Walnut Street, the local merchants moved to Ellsworth Avenue. Yes, you can walk from the Walnut area to the Ellsworth area, but it is a hike, and I wouldn’t recommend it. For awhile, it appeared that the business associations for both areas didn’t get along, and ran competing events. They fought over which area sponsored the main summer event, The Shadyside Festival. Those issues have since been resolved, but it was fun to watch.

Ellsworth is not as tony as Walnut Street, and maintains that Bohemian feel with a large gay population. The real estate is not as attractive, and you will find standard type convenience stores. But tucked in between are some really interesting, and sometimes weird, shopping venues. The galleries here are just that. They contain local art work of the yet to be famous…some of which can be a tad offensive, so beware. It has several antique shops with some high end stuff, and some that serve contractors who are redoing old houses looking for old doorknobs and fireplace mantels.

My favorite store is a vintage clothing store called Eons. It is run by two very interesting gentlemen, to say the least, and is stacked to the rafters with all sorts of clothing and hats and some really nice vintage jewelry, mostly from the late 1940’s on through the 1970’s. The place is a hoot. One of the owners is originally from the Mahoning Valley, and got into the business by accident. Eons is one of the prime sources for vintage clothing needs for Hollywood film makers, and does business nationwide. If they don’t got it, you don’t need it. My wife and I will drive to Shadyside specifically to shop at this store, especially for vintage pins and the jewelry.

Parking is an issue in both areas. Walnut Street has a parking garage as well as public parking lots behind the stores. Street parking is available, but difficult to find. Ellsworth is less busy, and I have never had trouble finding a place to park on the street, even if you have to walk a bit to get to the shopping area.

There are all sorts of eating places in both areas. Some are trendy, others more down to earth. But you won’t go hungry. Read up on the area restaurants because some of Pittsburgh’s best are located in Shadyside, including Soba’s and Girasole, and Casbah’s. The China Palace, one of my favorite Chinese restaurants, is on Walnut Street, as well as several interesting Thai restaurants if you hanker some satay.

WHY NOT CHOOSE YOUNGSTOWN?

I recently received an email from a reader who advised me that he was thinking of retiring to Ohio from California. He was particularly interested in small towns around Cleveland, and liked the article I wrote several months ago about Chagrin Falls. I told my wife he really ought to be looking here in Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. I know numerous folks who have retired here, and have described the area as the nation’s best kept secret. While the press has dwelled on our industrial past and colorful mob history, today’s Mahoning Valley is a great place to live, with more to offer than cities like Columbus. As my mother-in-law says, we are never bored. So, to my reader, below is a letter I wrote to Southern Living Magazine after a derogatory comment was made about my hometown in one of its articles. Come to Youngstown. I will show you around. You will want to stay.
_____________________________


MARK G. MANGIE
Attorney at Law
945 Windham Court, Suite 3
Youngstown, Ohio 44512
Phone: 330-726-1444
Fax: 330-726-5926
E-mail: Mangielaw@AOL.com


November 1, 2007

Editor
Southern Living Magazine
2100 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, AL 35209

RE: Youngstown/Warren, Ohio

Dear Editor:

For some reason known only to your magazine and the author of a fishing article, your magazine described Youngstown, Ohio as a “black hole”. As a long time subscriber to your magazine and purchaser of many of your books, I think you should investigate this northern bit of paradise before passing judgment. I invite you, or any of your editors, to come here and see what this area has to offer. It is a beautiful area in which to live. Our orientation is more eastern than Midwestern. We are hardworking and self reliant. Below is a perfunctory list of this area’s highlights.

1) The Youngstown-Warren area boasts two symphony orchestras. The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra is one of the few orchestras which own its own performance hall, a spectacular former movie palace built by the Warner Brothers in honor of one of the deceased brothers. The Warner Brothers were from this area. In addition, there are numerous community choruses, including Seraphim, the Stambaugh Chorus, and the Reardon Singers. The Youngstown Opera Guild mounts a full opera production every year. The Ballet Western Reserve also offers several performances throughout the year. This past year, the Seraphim Chorus combined with Westminster College Chorus, the Stambaugh Chorus, and the Warren Symphony Orchestra for a rare and outstanding performance of the Verdi Requiem.

2) The Butler Institute of American Art is the first art museum in the United States dedicated solely to the American art. It is world renowned and loans many of its pieces of art to museums all over the world, including the popular “Crack the Whip”. Its recent million dollar purchase of Norman Rockwell’s “Lincoln, the Rail Splitter” is just one more addition to its world class collection.

3) Youngstown State University boasts 12,000 students, and has won numerous academic excellence awards for achievement in undergraduate education. The Business School holds the nation’s highest accreditations. Dana School of Music is among the oldest and most honored music schools in the country. Its Engineering School is rapidly regaining the national prominence it enjoyed in the steel mill glory days.

4) Youngstown State’s football team is continually nationally ranked in the Division 1-AA rankings, and has won numerous national championships. Its immediate past coach is now the head coach of the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. In addition, high school football reigns supreme on Friday nights as the area has fielded numerous state championship teams from schools like Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline High Schools, who have also produced numerous college athletes and professional football coaches.

5) Legitimate and amateur theater is rampant in the area, including The Oakland Theater for the Performing Arts, The Victorian Players, TNT Theater in Trumbull County, community theaters in New Castle and Salem, as well as the professional locally based troupe, Easy Street Productions. Easy Street has the capability of presenting performances that rival anything, anywhere. Its production of Annie is better than the one I saw in New York. It is renowned for its multi-year run of Pump Boys and Dinettes.

6) Youngstown boasts three primary performance venues for the arts and other events: The recently expanded Youngstown Symphony Center with 2 auditoriums and a pavilion, the Stambaugh Auditorium, a Greek revival architectural gem; and the new Youngstown Chevrolet Center, a 5,700 seat venue and convention center. In addition, The Youngstown Playhouse and Oakland Theater maintain their own individual performance venues.

7) Mill Creek Metro Park is one of the largest metropolitan parks in the United States consisting of 2700 acres, and is the first municipal park in Ohio. It boasts three lakes, a beautiful 36 hole golf course, an 18 hole short hole golf course, a brand new nature and garden center located in Fellows Gardens, which can hold its own with any public garden in the country, and numerous recreation venues, wetlands, and wildlife preserves. In addition to miles of hiking and bike trails, Lanterman Falls Mill is a working grist mill and a centerpiece of the park.

8) Canfield, Ohio, Youngstown’s southwest suburb, was recently named one of the top 100 places to live in the United States. It hosts the Canfield Fair, which is the largest fair in Ohio. Poland, Ohio, Youngstown’s southeast suburb, the cornerstone of the Connecticut Western Reserve, is New England personified, and has been used for location shooting in various movie and television productions. Poland also is becoming a bedroom community for Pittsburgh as Allegheny County residents look for more affordable housing.

9) Youngstown’s location places it 60 miles from Pittsburgh and 60 miles from Cleveland. Those of us who live here are within an hour’s drive of 2 professional football teams, 2 professional baseball teams; a professional basketball team and a professional hockey team. It also opens up all of the cultural, dining, and retail opportunities in both cities. I live in Canfield. From my driveway to downtown Pittsburgh is 55 minutes on a bad day. We are also located 10 miles from the Western Pennsylvania rural Amish country in Mercer and Lawrence Counties, making for many beautiful, sunny fall afternoon excursions. Although Youngstown has its own regional airport, most service is offered either through Canton/Akron, 45 miles to the west, or through Pittsburgh International, 45 miles to the south. There is easy access to both.

10) Our cost of living is among the lowest in the nation. Come here and see what kind of a house your money can buy.

11) While our weather tends to be on the damp side, our location puts us too far south for the lake-effect snows, and too far north for the southern storms. Our location is just south of the snow-belt off of Lake Erie. Chagrin Falls?? Right in the center of the snow-belt. We are the garden spot of Ohio.

12) Numerous golf magazines continually rank us as one of the top areas in the United States for the number and quality of golf courses, both public and private. All of these are top notch, with reasonable greens fees. In addition, both Youngstown Country Club and Tippecanoe Country Club offer outstanding private courses and facilities.

13) Our rich ethnic heritage makes this a center for a diversity of cultures, food, and festivals, including Italian, Greek, Jewish, German, Russian, Eastern European, African American and growing Hispanic community.

14) There are many architectural treasures located here. The configuration of the Central Square has been nationally recognized. The Metropolitan Tower is a recognized art deco masterpiece, along with other art deco buildings such as the WFMJ building, the Youngstown Police Department, and the Youngstown Vindicator building. The County Courthouse has been recently renovated and is recognized as the finest in the state with massive murals depicting the history of the county throughout the entire building. Multi styled churches grace the entire area from the gothic St. Patrick’s Church to the strikingly modern St. Columba’s Cathedral, and everything in-between from Onion Domed Orthodox Churches to the St. James Meeting House, the first Episcopal church west of the Allegheny Mountains.

15) Last, but not least, no matter what happens in the United States, there is ALWAYS a Youngstown connection. From professional athletes, to major university football coaches, to actors, to politicians, to businessmen, to musicians and health care, those that hail from the Mahoning Valley are quick to rise to the top of their chosen professions. This is due to the large talent pool, perseverance, hard work and dedication of those who our former Congressman called “junk yard dogs.” Above all, we are survivors.

Escape the southern heat and humidity this summer and come and visit us. Bring your golf clubs, and your passion for the arts and history. It will be the most interesting black hole you will ever visit.

Thank you for your consideration.

Very truly yours,

Mark G. Mangie

A Fall Drive

I don’t think there is anyplace prettier in the United States than northeast Ohio in the fall. I have traveled many places, and I am always happy to come home and enjoy some of our spectacular scenery any time of the year, but autumn is always something special. I find four areas particularly stunning.

The first is the drive southeast of Youngstown in Columbiana County off of Route 11 along State Route 154 west toward Lisbon and then on to Hanoverton on Route 30. The ride down Route 11 itself has stunning vistas of color as you drive into the hills up from the Ohio River. When you get to Hanoverton, stop and have lunch or dinner at the Spread Eagle Tavern. It is a terrific restaurant, and one of the bastions of Republicanism in the Ohio, hosting just about every major Republican presidential candidate in recent history. Going the other way off of Route 11, drive east on 154 through Elkton and past Route 7, Beaver State Park is about as pretty a place in the fall as you will find anywhere. This trip is worth the gas.

If you want to drive west/northwest, take Route 303 through Hudson and on to Peninsula, Ohio, and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It is a breathtaking ride in the fall. This gem of a park is not well known to those of us from Youngstown, and is also worth the gas. Peninsula is in the northern part of the park, and tends to be extremely crowded in the fall, so it isn’t particularly “getting away from it all”. There are hikers and bikers and drivers galore, as well as a few specialty shops. Numerous roads run through the park, however, and are much less congested. It is worth the time to do some exploring. Get a map!!!!!!!

The drive my wife and I took last Saturday was north along Chagrin River Road off of Chagrin Boulevard, aka the Chagrin Valley Parkway, between Chagrin Falls and Woodmere. The road goes both directions off of Chagrin Boulevard, but we like to drive north to Gates Mills. This is one of the most spectacular drives around. It starts in Moreland Hills, then into Hunting Valley (yes, that is the name of the village) and on into and past Gates Mills. This is horse farm country, complete with the Cleveland Metro Parks Polo Grounds along the way. It is lightly traveled by cars, and goes along the Chagrin River with magnificent homes back off of the road. Chagrin River Road is the end point for Shaker Boulevard, Cedar Road and other major Cleveland streets. At Gates Mills, at the Chagrin Valley Hunt Club no less, it turns into State Route 174 up to the North Chagrin Reservation and Chardon Road. This is how the other half lives. This is northeast Ohio at its best.

For those who don’t want to drive to take a “drive”, our own Mill Creek Park is just about as good as it gets. Too many of us take the park for granted, and many of us don’t know our way around the park roads. There is a surprise at every turn. Drive past all three lakes. Visit The Old Mill museum, and end up at Fellows Gardens. The park is close. It’s free. And magnificent in the fall, as well as any other time of the year.

Happy foliage watching.

Granville, Ohio: The Jewel of Licking County

In the center of Licking County, just east of Columbus, you will find Granville. This is just a really pretty little town , which also is the home of Denison University. Founded in 1805, it was originally settled by folks from Granville, Ma., looking to move west. Current population is around 3200 people.

It is not a particularly easy place to get to. It is about 15 miles north of I 70. There are numerous state routes out of Columbus to the west and Newark to the east to get you here, but it is not exactly along the beaten path. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful drive through some of Ohio’s prettiest farmland. The village itself is situated midst the rolling hills at the beginning of the Appalachian range.

I will be honest. If you are looking for splashy and excitement, this isn’t the place to go. The stores are OK, but not great. Many of them are closed reflecting the general economy. It has several sidewalk cafes and restaurants, all of which are worth a close look. There are several museums along the street highlighting the history of Granville and Licking County. The library looks like it was taken right off an MGM sound stage. The entire town and surrounding countryside are picturesque in the extreme, and the people are so friendly, and there are so many trees. It is a great place to park your car and just walk around and enjoy its outstanding atmosphere. Scenery is its strong suit. It is gorgeous in the summer, and must be simply breathtaking in the fall. Is that Jimmy Stewart walking down the sidewalk??

On Saturday, there is a farmers market in the center of town with plenty of street parking. The central intersection is 4 cornered with gorgeous churches. The sidewalks are wide, which accommodate the strollers as well as the local runners and bicyclists. It is an extremely affluent community with lots of expensive real estate, and it shows. This is upper middle class small town America.

Two inns are on opposite sides of the street. The Buxton Inn is a series of connected, fully restored houses. Great common areas with individually decorated rooms are the centerpiece of this beautiful facility.

Across the street is the more famous Granville Inn. Built in the style of an English Tudor Manor complete with arches and attendant views, it offers 30 rooms along with a consistently good, award winning restaurant which draws folks from all over the state. It is listed on the National Register of Historic places. It is stunning.

There are also several B & B’s located in Granville. One is nicer than the next. If you are into this type of atmosphere, spend some time and research. It will be worth the effort.

If you are going to stay for the weekend, play 18 holes at the award winning Longaberger Golf Course, one of the top ranked public courses in the United States. Designed by Arthur Hills, one of the top golf course architects around, you will find it hard to believe you are on a public course. Another choice is The Granville Golf Course, right in Granville, a 1924 classic designed by Donald Ross. It plays along the gentle hills and is filled with stunning vistas and views. It ranks 4 stars from Golfer’s Digest.

Denison University is a liberal arts school devoted entirely to undergraduate education. It is an elite school, and has a history of associations with major United States icons such as the Rockefeller family. It is the quintessential liberal arts college campus, and is worth an hour of time to stroll around its manicured landscape, and enjoy the views from the top of the hills. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous.

And so is Granville. Spend a day or weekend. You will leave refreshed and rested.

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Akron

On the one hand, you can get in your car and drive to Toronto to visit Casa Loma spending all that money for gas. When you cross into Canada, those used to that great currency exchange rate will be sorely disappointed to find that right now it is about equal, 1 dollar for 1 loony. On the other hand, you can visit Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron, and see a spectacular piece of Americana that not a whole lot of people from the Youngstown area know about.

Stan Hywet was the country estate of Franklin Augustus Seiberling, the founder of Goodyear Tire in Akron. Built in 1912 at the height of the American industrial explosion, it is representative of that golden and gilded era when country estates for American industrialists were making the scene. Is that the Great Gatsby walking in the distance? Akron was becoming the rubber capital of America, and this was the fitting palace for its industrial patron. It is fabulous.

Stan Hywet is a 65 room mansion sitting on 70 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and gardens, pared down from its original 1000 acres. It is intimidating and inviting all at the same time. And what is most remarkable is that it was an actual home until 1955 when F.A. Seiberling died at the age of 95. People actually lived like this. It served as host for a who’s who of American politicians, industrialists, and celebrities, as well as a home for the Seiberling family. Its history is filled with parties and family gatherings, and it is still hosting people today.

In 1957 the Seiberling family donated the house to a non-profit preservation society who has lovingly restored, preserved and enhanced this marvelous piece of architecture and American history. Today, the mansion house is open for tours, and be prepared to be wowed with its stunning architecture, 23 overwhelming fireplaces, 21000 panels of glass, and woodwork, furnishings and objects imported from around the world. Everything that has been restored has been done in period fabrics and style. It has to be seen to be believed.

Outside, the gardens are designed so something is blooming all of time. There is a Japanese Garden, and English Garden, a wild flowers meadow…one is more stunning than the next. Not only will you walk in these meticulously designed gardens by renowned American landscape architect Warren Manning, take a look around at the stunning views of the valleys surrounding the grounds. These folks knew how to live.

Stan Hywet runs numerous events throughout the year from concerts to plays to antique car shows to quilt shows to an outstanding Ohio mart that covers the grounds with craftsmen from all over the country. Plan on spending some time at the mart. It is a huge show. At Christmas, the place is decorated to the nines with all sorts of seasonal activities scheduled throughout November and December. Check the website for special events for whatever time of the year.

If you still have some time after your visit to this wonderful place, you may want to take some time to drive through the nearby Cuyahoga Valley National Park, especially in the fall. It is a magnificent ride that will take you through Peninsula, Ohio. Folks, New England has nothing over this part of the great State of Ohio. It is amazing what is so close to home.

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
714 N. Portage Path
Akron, OH
330 836-5533

Put-in-Bay, Ohio

Last summer, some old law school buddies called me and asked if my wife and I would like to get together for a mini-reunion. Sounded like fun to me. Both of these guys owned condos in Port Clinton, Ohio, and suggested we drive there and visit Put-in-Bay. I had never been there, and my wife had always wanted to visit one of the Lake Erie islands…so off we went. It is a little bit west of Cedar Point, so allow at least 3 hours for driving time.

So you like to party? Folks, this is the place. Just a short jet express boat ride from Port Clinton, and it is time to Paar-tay!!!!

What a great place. I’m not sure how to describe it. We were only there for 4 hours; but one thing for sure, you can drink, and drink a lot, and the only thing you have to be concerned about is falling into Lake Erie. We got there around 1:00 in the afternoon, and the booze was flowing, the people were singing, and…well, it was a bit much to take in. If you are looking for classy summer resort stuff, this ain’t it. This is get down and boogie heaven.

I am not sure how the island handles the excessive alcohol imbibing. You can ferry your car there with proper reservations, but for the most part you get around riding bikes or driving golf carts. The marina is huge, and at first blush, it would appear that the drinking would be more of a boating issue as opposed to a driving issue. Folks were plastered, on the boats, off the boats, and everywhere in between.

The center of the action is a place called the Roundhouse Bar. True to its name, it is round. No little kidders allowed. This is a party place. Open from noon until 2:30 AM, the entertainment is non stop. When we were there, it was provided by Mike “Mad Dog” Adams, and the name is appropriate to the provided entertainment. The guy was hysterical, and XXX rated. This guy is on the road 200 days a year, and hits all of the major party spots in Canada and the United States. He is THE headliner for the summer on Put-in Bay. CD’s are available in the lobby.

The jet boat to Put-in-Bay drops you off at the entrance to the town square. It is definitely picturesque to say the least, with a park and picnic tables being the center that the businesses are built around. There is some shopping, but mostly touristy stuff and resort wear…lots of gift shops. Great fudge and ice cream.

There are plenty of places to chow down. I didn’t see any white table cloth places, but mucho aquatic themed restaurants serving Lake Erie perch sandwiches, among other delicacies. We ate at a place called The Boardwalk which offers walk up counter service for all sorts of cuisine as well as spirits. Its sit down restaurant is called The Upper Deck, upstairs, of course. Food is great and the place is fun. It is located right in the Marina, and is the first place you see when you de-board the boat.

Once your appetite is curbed and you are still sober enough, you can visit several of the sights on the island, the most prominent of which is the Commodore Perry Memorial of the War of 1812 fame. It is hard to miss being 352 feet high, with an observation deck. The island also boasts a Lake Erie Historical Society museum, as well as a winery, caves, island tour trains, and a carrousel.

I haven’t figured out the hotel situation yet. There are several on the island. You can check the web site as to what is available. Quality assurance is not guaranteed from what I can see, but then again, who cares when you have been drinking with Mad Dog for several hours after riding the elevator to the Perry Observation Deck!

I wouldn’t recommend Put-in-Bay for everyone, and I am not sure it is a family destination. If you have been to Key West, this is the northern version. But it definitely should go on your YOLO (You Only Live Once) list of things to do.

Shiloh, Ohio

Let’s go to Shiloh, Ohio. Okay. Where is Shiloh, Ohio? What is Shiloh, Ohio? Well, you get on SR 224, and drive west for about a hundred miles and then turn left. It is 10 miles down that country road. Be careful!! The road is “dippy” and you can’t see over the hill down the road apiece. Watch out for the buggies. The Amish are everywhere. Most important, when you get there, don’t blink. It has a railroad track, but still hasn’t installed a traffic light.

Welcome to small town America, USA. Located on Route 603 in Richland County about 15 miles northwest of Mansfield, Shiloh is the quintessential American small town. I know…we like to think of small towns as places like Salem or Warren. Those aren’t small towns. Those are cities. Shiloh is the real McCoy.

The 2000 census puts its population at about 750 people. It has a main street, a railroad crossing, several churches, and a factory which is going great guns, employing several hundred people. That is down from when I first visited there. The population was 850 way back then. It has its own water and sewer system, and a consolidated school system with the bigger town about 8 miles to the west, Plymouth, Ohio, pop: 1,852; 903 males and 949 females. Plymouth has several traffic lights and a town square. Moving up to the big time.

Seriously, we read about small town America and envision it as someplace in Iowa or Nebraska. The fact of the matter is that Ohio has its fair share of Americana, and it is only a short drive away. Shiloh is farm country. But for those of us from cities like Youngstown and Cleveland with a large ethnic population, it is exotic as anything you will find overseas. My wife is from Shiloh. Believe me, my first trip there was like visiting a brave new world. It was hard to believe I was in the same state.

Some of the “big” cities around Shiloh are Plymouth, Willard, and Greenwich (pronounced Green Witch). Smaller towns also abound like Shenandoah (pronounced Shawnador…don’t ask. I can’t figure it out either!). Towns akin to Salem would be Bucyrus (home of Ohio’s largest Bratwurst Festival), and Shelby, one of the centers of Ohio’s railroad industry.

Located nearby is the “muck” outside of Celeryville. The dirt here is rich and black and wet, and lends itself to growing, you guessed it, celery, as well as any kind of root vegetable like beets, and pretty much anything else you can think of. During harvest season, it is the home for hundreds of Mexican migrant workers. Some of them have found their way to Shiloh. During the season you can see them sitting outside cooking Mexican down home cuisine on grills and outdoor portable ovens.

This is one of the unheralded Amish population centers in the state. The Amish have quietly been buying up all of the local farms, and have made their presence known with buggies everywhere, and their schools and churches scattered throughout the countryside. The Amish store located a few miles outside of town sells dry goods and produce for unbelievably inexpensive prices, and draws people from all over Richland County.

But here’s the thing. If you want to get away from it all, there is no better place. When I would visit my wife’s home located on 40 acres on top of a hill, I could look up into the night sky and see stars as they were intended to be seen. The nights would be perfectly calm and totally quiet to the point where it was eerie. And in the background, you could hear the train and its whistle chugging through the center of town several times each hour. It doesn’t get any better than that.

And here is the other thing. Shiloh has a volunteer fire department, probably the most well equipped volunteer fire department in the state. Each year, it sponsors the Shiloh Ox Roast Festival. Tons of beef in a special seasoning are cooked for hours underground in a pit located on the outskirts of town. And the beef is devoured like nothing you have ever seen before. They start selling the sandwiches on Friday afternoon, and by Saturday night they are pretty well gone. Even the passing trains stop to buy these marvelous beef sandwiches.

In addition to the food which includes homemade baked goods, fries, and roasted corn, there is an old fashioned tractor pull, bingo at the town parlor, and plenty of beer in the VFW hall located next to the tracks.

But the highlight of the Ox Roast is the parade on Saturday night. It is one of the largest in the State of Ohio with floats and bands coming from as far away as Cincinnati and Toledo. The parade will last a good 2 – 2 ½ hours, and the town’s population swells from 750 to a good 20,000. And you would swear you saw Grandpa McCoy and Little Luke sitting in the folding chair in front of my late father-in-law’s barbershop.

I am not sure I would make Shiloh a sole destination when visiting this part of the state. But get a map and do some research, and you will find all sorts of interesting places to visit with a 30 mile radius. Accomodations are few and far between, but Mansfield has the standard chain motels giving you easy access to everything that northcentral Ohio has to offer.

By the way, the Shiloh Ox Roast is the weekend of July 25. More information available at http://www.shilohfire.net/.

Route 224 to State Route 61 south to Plymouth. Route 603 southeast to Shiloh.