My Summer of 2023

Ohio, Michigan AND Scotland

Chapter 2: Ohio University and Hocking State Park

July 26, I headed to Athens, Ohio and my college alma mater, Ohio University. Ohio U (NOT Ohio State University) was founded in 1804, a year after Ohio became a state (1803) and opened in 1808. This was the first university in what was then the mostly undeveloped Northwest Territory established in 1787 after the American Revolution. The Northwest Territory spanned all or parts of six eventual states, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota. So, you see, this is a well-established university that also has a renowned School of Journalism, my major being a BS in Journalism from Ohio U.

The landscape and terrain of Southeast Ohio are vastly different from the flat land of northwest Ohio. As one drives south of Columbus, the landscape changes more deeply from rolling to small hills to much higher hills. Here you are entering the foothills of Appalachia an area around Athens that I so enjoyed exploring when I was in college as I would wander up into those yonder hills just for the solitude, enjoyment of nature, beauty and escape from my studies. Oh, how I loved getting away from it all beyond the town and university. Fall was a favorite time when the forest covered hills were alive with colors, green, red, orange, gold, umber and yellow. Even in those days when we drove down from the farm, this natural beauty always struck my soul. There was a sense of it still being a wild undeveloped territory begging to be explored. Even now, as I drove closer to Athens, there was a sense that all these wild, forested hills held mystery and a call to explore more deeply.

One thing I had not reckoned on was the heat and humidity in this area. Venturing around the central campus, its tall stately trees lining the brick covered walkways across the Campus Green, I was transported to my days on the campus going here and there to classes, to my dorm or off campus housing, to marches and demonstrations and, of course for some fun times too.

Sitting adjacent to the Campus Green is downtown Athens, still magnificent with its 19^th century architecture and numerous store fronts. Most of those stores of my college days are long gone, except for the corner bookstore where I bought or exchanged many textbooks over the years. Only now they do not sell books, rather OU merchandise and sundry other things. Apparently, textbooks are now online negating the need for hardback volumes.

Many buildings had been replaced, streets changed, and some places totally gone including Scott Quadrangle, the last dorm I had occupied before I moved off campus. I walked down the hill to Gamertsfelder Hall the dormitory I shared with brother Elwood during my first semester. Construction around the building prevented my getting close or inside, but a noticeable change was that all the old dorms now have window air conditioners in the rooms. Considering how hot and humid it was as I walked around and up and down the hills, I could see the comfort it would bring to any summer students. Those same hills had to have kept me in shape 57 years ago!

Because of the heat, it was time to just reminisce and recall my memories – from inside my car as I headed to a place I had never visited during my days at college, Hocking Hills State Park.

Hocking Hills State Park is about 40 miles north of Athens. I had known of it when I was in college, but I did not have a car, so visiting back then was out of the question. Now, I was able to drive there and finally start exploring, discovering some of the waterfalls, fantastic rock formations, streams, cliffs and rugged natural beauty. Despite the heat and humidity, walking in the shaded forest offered some relief. Any discomfort was lessened by all the incredible beauty. If time had permitted, I would have sat in contemplation and wonder amidst that wild, natural beauty. As I wandered along the trails through the thick forest passing tall, steep cliffs, trickling waterfalls, lazy streams and over old stone bridges, I felt a sense of reverence and inspiration as surely did those original native peoples who called this area home and the early explorers and settlers who later occupied it.

These places of natural beauty are a balm to my spirit and soul. I will always seek them out.

Not yet done with Ohio, I headed back North to Columbus where someone else was anticipating my arrival.