Sunday, December 23, 2018

2018: Year in Review

           
2018 was a unique year. In preparation for my wife working less and spending more time with her school work, we didn't plan any big trip like we had the last 2 years. As I recall, we only left the state of Ohio 3 times. 2 last minute trips to Niagara Falls in March and October, and a trip up to Michigan in June to attend my cousins wedding and see some other stuff up there while we were at it. It was a busy year of coaching soccer, scout leading and attending a lot of baseball, softball, soccer and flag football games. But we also worked in a lot of day trips along the way that made for a satisfying year.

As winter died down a little, my wife was needing a little weekend get away. So I threw together a last minute weekend trip to Niagara Falls one weekend in March. Of course I figured a couple of things to see along the way.



Gravesite of Benjamin Franklin Wade in northeast Ohio. If Andrew Johnson had been removed from office after his Impeachment trial, Wade would of assumed the office of President, instead, Johnson avoided removal from office by one vote. I had to walk through 2 foot high snow drifts to find it. We hit it on our way to Niagara Falls in March.




My wife and I drove the 5 hours to Niagara. They were recovering from a snow storm and the snow was scattered everywhere and frozen solid. It made for an interesting walk to the falls that night.





Well worth the trip



After visiting the falls, we had a late night dinner at the Hard Rock Café in Niagara Falls





Revisiting the Falls in the morning



Of course we had to stop at Grover's in Buffalo. Named for President Grover Cleveland, they have the absolute best burgers that I've ever had, as well as some excellent cheese burger soup.



Dani with her cheeseburger soup





Me with my Grover's burger




After lunch at Grover's we stopped at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural site in Buffalo



Dani and I in the room in which TR took the oath of office after the death of William McKinley




On the way home from Niagara we hit a couple of sites in Westfield, NY. Barcelona Lighthouse here over looking a frozen solid Lake Erie.



A frozen solid Lake Erie that my wife refused to let me explore



Also in Westfield is this memorial to the little girl from Westfield, NY who suggested to President elect Lincoln that he grow a beard.



A day trip to President Hayes Spiegel Grove




On the same day trip we stopped at Marblehead



With it being a midterm election year. I was hoping to get to more political rallies. But my schedule would only allow for one. In April, I was able to get off of work early and went with my Dad and nephew Chris up to Bowling Green to see candidate for Governor Mike DeWine speak. DeWine went on to win the General election and will be sworn in as Ohio's 70th Governor in January. From left to right, My Dad, Governor elect DeWine, his wife Fran DeWine and me.



My boys and other scouts on a draw bridge during a camp out in early May.





On the way home from the camp out we stumbled on a section of the Ohio and Miami Canal.



In the spring I coached my son Nick's soccer team for the 2nd season in a row. With most of the same kids returning from the fall, they went from a one win team in the fall to a 500 team in the spring. It was great to see them all improve so much.




In late May, my wife and I attended our first Indians game.



Visiting the site of the Kent State shooting




James Garfield home in Hiram, Ohio




Visiting the Presidents cemetery in Lancaster, Ohio. This cemetery was deeded to President Monroe when he was President and to all his successors in hopes that it would secure the preservation of the cemetery. So far it has worked.



My kids and I at the grave of cabinet secretary Thomas Ewing. He served in the cabinets of Presidents WH Harrison, Tyler, Taylor and Fillmore. He was also the foster father and father in law William Tecumseh Sherman.





William Tecumseh Sherman birthplace home Lancaster, Ohio



It was a nice tour



My daughter Khloe at the gravesite of one of her hero's Annie Oakley



Gravesite of Gospel singer Rich Mullins



Climbing the Miamisburg mound near Dayton




Southern Ohio has a bunch of these ancient native American mounds.



In June, we went up to Michigan to attend my cousin David's wedding. It was a Viking theme wedding. It was a very fun time. David surprised me by jumping into my arms just before the picture was taken. To my surprise a could still carry him around like a could when we were kids.




We hung out in Michigan for a few days after the wedding. Here is one of Gerald Ford's homes in Grand Rapids.









 Gerald Ford museum in Ford's oval office









After Ford sites we spent a day and a half seeing lighthouses and beaches along Lake Michigan






We stopped in Ann Arbor on the way home to visit the Gerald Ford Library on the campus of the University of That Team Up North. Since the Library is only open on week days. This was about the only chance I've ever had to visit.





Outside of Ford's office at his Library




In July, we got the chance to see Darryl Strawberry speak in our town festivals Church in the park




On the way to dropping off my daughter to her first year at 4H camp. We stopped at the final resting place of Nan Britton. Mistress and mother to President Harding's child. As confirmed by DNA testing in 2015



Nick giving his sister a by hug. The 2 had never been apart so long.




We got to go to the Ohio State Fair twice in August since Khloe had done so well in her both of her 4H projects



One of many stops at Youngs Jersey Dairy this year, down by Yellow Springs. On this trip I was enjoying a peanut butter banana split.



Seeing Scott Stapp of Creed perform was a highlight of the year. I was a big fan of Creed in my late teens, early 20's. It was a great trip down memory lane.



Chilicothee, Ohio was the first capital of Ohio. We spent Saturday of Labor Day weekend exploring the area.



The mountain range in the background inspired the background of the Seal of Ohio



At Adena, the home of Ohio founding father Thomas Worthington



Museum at Adena








I had to



Thomas Worthington gravesite



Birthplace of First Lady Lucy Hayes in Chilicothee







Canoeing on a cubscout camping trip in September



About half way through my wives fall semester she was needing another get away. So in October we made another last minute trip to Niagara Falls.











We also hit some historical markers in Buffalo



Building in which former President Fillmore hosted President elect Lincoln at a church service.




Millard Fillmore house in East Aurora, Ohio



Found an unexpected one the campus of Ohio Weslyan University in Delaware.

Sulfer Springs at the campus of Ohio Weslyan University. The site where Rutherford and Lucy Hayes met.



Visiting Grants boyhood home in Georgetown



My son Grant outside of President Grant's boyhood room



Schoolhouse that a boyhood Grant attended




New Grant statue in Georgetown




Gravesite of General and Congressman Thomas Hamer. He made the appointment of a young Grant to West Point. And screwed up his name. Forever changing it.



Gravesite of Grant's maternal grandparents John and Sarah Simpson



We unexpectedly found a nice lake near the site of Grant's grandparents graves in southern Ohio.




Gravesite of Senator Robert A. Taft. Cincinnatti. President Taft's son. It took awhile to find since all of the markers are flat on the ground. Actually it was my older boy Nick who found it. It was his first gravehunting find.


At the gravesite of President Taft's parents in Cincinatti




It was a lot of fun to see this small museum in North Bend, with William Henry Harrison artifacts. I had to make a special appointment to see it.




A musical instrument played at WH Harrison's funeral

 


The lady who gave us the tour of the museum had a key to get inside of WH Harrison's Tomb. She was gracious enough to let us in.


My little family at our Church Christmas program





     Our 2018 was nice. Until my wife finishes school later in 2019, this hobby will take a back seat and we will likely just explore nearby sites. I do have hopes of bigger stuff in 2020. We will see. Thanks for reading and I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Years!