Historical Features

Cross Mound

Location:  Cross Mound Park
11615 16th Rd SW; Stoutsville | MAP

Hours:  Open Year-Round, Dawn to Dusk

Description:  A truly unique ancient earthwork structure in the shape of a plus sign, or cross, of four identical arms each about 12′ wide, 3′ high, 45′ long.  The end of each arm is about 90′ apart.  In the middle of the cross is a circular-shaped depression that is 20′ in diameter and about 12″ deep.  The mound sits on a high point just west of Salt Creek, a tributary of the Scioto River.  Archaeologists have suggested its western arm was carved out of the surrounding landscape as opposed to the traditional approach of mounding soil to create a structure.  There are smaller stone mounds nearby.

See photos and read more about the history of Cross Mound.

Cruit House

Location: Smeck Park
7395 Basil Rd; Baltimore | MAP

Hours: Special Events & Educational Programs

Description: English immigrants, William and Hanna (Moon) Cruit, arrived in Fairfield County in 1829. They constructed this house in Section 24 of Greenfield Township. Jacob and Mary (Bryant) Wagner purchased the home in 1886. It remained in the possession of their descendants through the 19th and 20th centuries. Then, the Reef-Beck family owned and occupied the home for over one hundred years, until 2019 when it was relocated to this site at Smeck Park.

See photos and read more about the history of Cruit House.

Fetter-Hood Barn

Location:  Smeck Park
7395 Basil Rd; Baltimore | MAP

Hours:  Open Year-Round, Dawn to Dusk

Description:  It is a very large double forebay (an area where one or more walls overshoot its foundation) Pennsylvania German-style banked barn, a common construction method in the 1700-1800s.  Fetter-Hood Barn was deconstructed in 2005-2006 from its original location just outside of Lancaster and put in storage.  Reconstruction at Smeck Park was to begin in 2015 but was delayed due to financial constraints.  The huge foundation walls are in place at the park and give viewers just an idea of how massive the barn is.  One corner stone is engraved with the words, “Thomas Fettr 1841”; there is no second E in Fettr.

See photos and read more about the history of Fetter-Hood Barn.

Gridline Schoolhouses

Location:  Clearport Park
6935 Clearport Rd SW; Lancaster | MAP

Hours:  Open by Appointment Only

Description:  Overlooking the Village of Clearport are two uniquely-positioned schoolhouses, situated at right angles to each other.  In the late 1800s, school districts were set up via a set of gridlines and one school was to be built at each intersection.  It is believed a builder’s error resulted in this double school.  At one point, the schools came to be known as Clearport Community Club.  It was donated to Fairfield County Park District in 1998.  At that time many repairs were made to the buildings.  The property is located on a ridge and there is no driveway so entering and exiting the property can be dangerous; it is not open to the public at this time.

See photos and read more about the history of the Gridline Schoolhouses.

Log Cabin & Well on Zane’s Trace

Location:  Hansel Park
5500 Cincinnati-Zanesville Rd NE; Lancaster

Hours: Not Yet Open to the Public

Description:  The log cabin was probably built in the early-1800s and was the first doctor’s office in Pleasant Township.  The heavy white oak front door is said to have been removed when it was necessary to be used as a surgical table.  Later, the property became the home of Evalan Hansel, a librarian at Fairfield County District Library.  She donated the 26-acre property to the Parks in 1994.  The 84′-deep, hand-dug well is still in excellent condition and is surrounded by a marching brick patio and wall.  Some say that Ebeneezer Zane himself dug the well but that account cannot be verified.  Zane died in 1811.

See photos and read more about the history of the Log Cabin and Well on Zane’s Trace

Mambourg Nature Center

Location:  Mambourg Park
5531 Cincinnati Lancaster Rd NE; Lancaster

Hours:  Seasonal Hours Vary, see Calendar of Events
(The park is open year-round during daylight hours.)

Description:  The main feature of this park is Mambourg Nature Center, formerly a family’s private retreat. It was constructed in the early 1940s by Robert Mambourg. It is a wonderful example of mortise-and-tenon construction. Today, the lodge has been renovated to be used for nature education. One of the most captivating features of the building is the 90-ton, double-faced fireplace.

See photos and read more about the history of what is now Mambourg Nature Center.

Ohio & Erie Canal Locks

Locks South 11, 12, 13

Location: Lockville Canal Park
5895 Pickerington Rd; Carroll | MAP

Hours: Open Year-Round, Dawn to Dusk

Description:  Construction of Ohio & Erie Canal was in the 1820-30s.  It was a 308-mile highway of water that connected Lake Erie at Cleveland to the Ohio River at Portsmouth.  By 1911, most of the southern portion of the canal was in disuse.  Just two years later, extensive flooding caused destruction of most locks.  Lock South 11 is shown here.  In the park you will find the remains of three locks – South 11, South 12 aka Tennis/Tennat Lock, and South 13 aka Rowe Lock.  Locks 14 through 17 remain on private properties.  The canal bed is dry but the towpath is easily discernible.

See photos and read more about the history of Ohio & Erie Canal Locks.

Rock Mill

Location:  Stebelton Park at Rock Mill
1429 Rockmill Place NW; Lancaster | MAP

Hours:  Open May-October
Sundays 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Wednesdays & Saturdays 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Description:  Built in 1824, Rock Mill was one of a dozen mills in the area whose power source was the Hocking River.  It was in operation as late as 1901.  For nearly 100 years, it sat vacant and in disrepair.  After 2003, a labor-intensive restoration was begun.  A replica of the 26′-diameter all-wood waterwheel was crafted and installed; it is the largest of its kind in the state.  In 2017, Rock Mill roared to life!  People from all over the U.S. and beyond visited to see the mill in action.  Each year, on Saturdays and Sundays from May through October, the mill is open for visitors to tour inside and experience a bit of history.

See photos and read more about the history of Rock Mill.

Stonewall Cemetery

Location:  Stonewall Cemetery Park
2375 Stonewall Cemetery Rd SW; Lancaster | MAP

Hours:  Open Year-Round, Dawn to Dusk

Description:  Nathaniel Wilson III “emigrated from Cumberland County Pa and settled near this place AD 1798, when all around was one continued and uninhabited wilderness.”  In 1817 he set aside land at the east side of his property in Hocking Township as a family burial ground.  To protect the site, he began construction of a sandstone wall in the shape of a dodecagon.  The wall is considered by many to be one of the best examples of dry-stone masonry in Ohio.  The entrance faces geodetic true north.  The park is open to the public but the gate to the cemetery’s interior is kept locked to help prevent further vandalism.

See photos and read more about the history of Stonewall Cemetery.

Turkey Run Cemetery

Location:  Turkey Run Park
11635 Lancaster-Circleville Rd SW; Amanda | MAP

Hours:  Open by Appointment Only

Description:  Taphophiles will appreciate this graveyard!  Many of the tombstones are broken but the artistry can easily be seen in their remains.  Names of early settlers to the area can be found, such as Tunis Peters (1759-1839), founding members of the church.  The cemetery is next to Turkey Run Church, see below.  At one time it was known as the Predestinarian Regular Primitive Baptist Church.  The last service to be held at the church was in September 2001.  It is possible to pull into the driveway to the church but the gate to the cemetery is kept locked to help prevent further vandalism.

See photos and read more about the history of Turkey Run Cemetery.

Turkey Run Church

Location:  Turkey Run Park
11635 Lancaster-Circleville Rd SW; Amanda | MAP

Hours:  Open by Appointment Only

Description:  The church is named after nearby Turkey Run Creek, one of two creeks with the same name in Fairfield County.  The congregation was established on September 6, 1817 by Eli Ashbrook and Jacob Tharp but there was no church building at that time.  They met in Hooker School House.  The church was built in 1835 using bricks that were made on site.  In 2000, the last three members made a gift of the church and its cemetery to Fairfield County Park District.  This park is not open to the public.  The cemetery gate and church building are kept locked to prevent vandalism.

See photos and read more about the history of Turkey Run Church.

Windmill

Location:  Smeck Park
7395 Basil Rd; Baltimore | MAP

Hours:  Open Year-Round, Dawn to Dusk

Description:  The windmill is just short of 60′ high.  It has a 750-gallon water tank resting on a platform that is 30′ above ground.  It was built in the late 1800s by Stover Windmill Company of Freeport, Illinois, and was installed on the Roger Wolfe farm on Canal Road.  Most of it is original but a new fan and motor had to be built.  The fan is 10′ in diameter.  Water-pumping windmills can draw up water from hundreds of feet below the surface for storage in the elevated tank.  The average windmill powered by a 15-20 MPH breeze can pump about three gallons per minute.  The move and restoration was completed in 2016.

See photos and read more about the history of the Windmill.

WPA Pedestrian Bridge

Location:  Cross Mound Park
11615 16th Rd SW; Stoutsville | MAP

Hours:  Open Year-Round, Dawn to Dusk

Other Names:  Salt Creek Pedestrian Bridge
Bridge Number:  35-64-84
Original Location:  Yes
Builder:  WPA (Works Progress Administration)

See photos and read more about the history of WPA Pedestrian Bridge.