In 1901:
- The Great Fire begins in Jacksonville, Florida
- The US Stock Market crashes
- Michigan schoolteacher, Annie Edson Taylor goes over Niagara Falls in a barrel and survives
- Theodore Roosevelt succeeds William McKinley as President of the United States
- The infamous Onion Wars occur in Geauga County
What were the Onion Wars?
Pace Latham, a Burton resident, sought to establish large-scale onion farming here in Geauga County. He attempted to deepen and straighten the Cuyahoga River to drain the rich soil of the surrounding wetlands. Well into the project, Pace came to find out that there was a natural rock dam downstream at Hiram Rapids Road that would impede the flow of water. They tried twice to dynamite the dam, but they were met with shotgun blasts of rock salt from the local townspeople. The onion farming scheme, now known as the Onion Wars, was abandoned. Spoil banks still remain to remind us of this historic event, while Eldon Russell Park marks the location where the dredging stopped.
In 1902:
- The first college football bowl game is held in Pasadena, California
- The first movie theater in the United States, Electric Theatre, opens in LA
- Trolley cars began running from Chagrin Falls to Garrettsville on an extension of the Eastern Traction Company Railroad
What was the Interurban Railroad?
Henry A. Everett and Edward W. Moore, two visionary entrepreneurs from Cleveland, set out to build an electric interurban railway to Geauga County. Their goal was to provide the county’s citizens and businessmen with fast and dependable access to the markets and attractions of the nearby big city, as well as allow the city dwellers of Cleveland to experience the natural beauty to be found close at hand to the east.
The Interurban Railroad travelled through several of what are now Geauga Park District parks, with Eldon Russell Park being one of them. Due to inadequate power, however, this section of trolley line was abandoned just 12 years after it was established.
Although the Onion Wars and the Interurban Railroad may not have made national news like some of the other events listed above, they are certainly important parts of Geauga County history.
In 1969, Geauga Park District bought 51 acres of riverfront property from Marie Horwath. This purchase gave public access to the Cuyahoga River for the first time in Geauga County. An additional 81 acres were leased from the City of Akron in 1976, bringing the park’s total property to 132 acres. Eldon Russell Park, formerly named River Park, honors the park commissioner who was instrumental in furthering the expansion of Geauga Park District in its early years.
While visiting Eldon Russell Park, you will see forest, wetlands, a meadow, and the Cuyahoga River. This park is home to many types of wetland wildlife including beaver, muskrat, mink, heron, wood duck, and the rare prothonotary warbler. Other wildlife that call Eldon Russell Park home are deer, turkey, and various bird species, such as eastern bluebird, swallows, eastern meadowlark, and bobolink. Beautiful blooms of buttonbush, pickerelweed, and water-lily grace the river’s edge,
Trails meander through a forest of white pine, elm, ash, silver maple, and white oak trees. The Nature Trail at Eldon Russell Park is less than a mile long; sections may be closed during times of high water. The state-wide Buckeye Trail passes along the edge of this park on Hiram Rapids Road. Download a brochure and map of Eldon Russell Park here.
Anglers come to this stretch of the Cuyahoga River to catch northern pike, bass, and sunfish. Boaters can launch small boats, canoes, and kayaks right from Horwath’s Landing. A shelter, grills, and restrooms are nearby, so bring a lunch and have a picnic. Click here to reserve the shelter, which is FREE to Geauga County residents, by the way.
[Featuring a state-designated Scenic River, Eldon Russell Park is among the most beautiful locations in Geauga County year round. Take a little tour with Naturalist John Kolar. To see more videos by Geauga Park District, click HERE.]
Wildlife Loop
When I was little, my dad and I used to take a drive in the evenings looking for deer in the fields and any other wildlife we could find. Today I refer to this as my “wildlife loop”. This drive begins on Route 44 in Newbury, turning down Pond/Hotchkiss Road. We take Pond Road all the way to Rapids Road. You will pass Burton Wetland Nature Preserve on your left while driving down Pond Road, which is a dirt road. There are so many fields, meadows, and lakes along that stretch of back country road. I even saw an albino deer here a few times.
When you get to Rapids Road, you turn left. There are half a dozen fields between there and Burton Village. In recent years, the Sandhill Cranes have taken up residence in these fields. I see them almost every time I drive down Rapids Road. Just after the last corn field on the right, you can pull into the oil well drive and turn around. Now head back down Rapids and go almost all the way to 422. Eldon Russell Park with be on the left side of Rapids Road. I always pull into the park, park my Jeep at Horwath’s Landing, and sit on one of the park benches and just enjoy the peace and quiet. I usually take a ton of pictures of whatever I can find; birds, flowers, the river, animals, insects, and the list goes on and on.
When you leave the park, turn left on Rapids Road toward 422. I usually turn around at the little cemetery on the right. (Side note: when turning around here, look to the east. Did you know we had a “mountain” in Geauga County? You can see this massive hill in the distance. My dad pointed that out to me recently. Guess I never noticed it. Anyway!) All these fields on Rapids Rd.are usually full of wildlife, mostly at dawn and dusk, but sometimes in the middle of the day.
Turn left down Stafford Road heading back toward Route 44. There are a few more fields on these roads to catch a glimpse of some deer or a flock of turkeys. On the left just after the little bridge, way off in the distance, you can see an eagle’s nest high in the trees. I believe this is the eagle’s nest at the north end of LaDue Reservoir.(EDIT 3-12-14: I drove this loop the other day and did not see this nest. Either it was damaged by weather or the trees have grown up high enough to conceal it.) A few years back, a nature photographer got too close to this nest in his boat during nesting season, and the parents abandoned their eaglets in the nest and they died. From Stafford Road, you are definitely a safe distance away to view the nest. Binoculars are a must if you want to get a good view.
Turn left on Valley Road to take a drive along the edge of LaDue Reservoir. This time of the year is a great time to see all the migratory waterfowl on the lake. You may even catch a glimpse of the bald eagles or osprey out catching their dinner.
Turn right on Route 44 and you are headed back to where you started. That is my “wildlife loop”. Try it sometime! I don’t think that I have ever gone on that drive and come back without seeing something. Most commonly, I see deer, turkey, sandhill cranes, ducks, geese, and raccoon.
“Take a hike, bring your binoculars and your camera, and enjoy what nature has to offer.”
Eldon Russell Park
16315 Rapids Road
Troy Township
The online home for Eldon Russell Park, from which information for this article was obtained, can be found HERE.
Please share your stories with me if you take a drive on my “Wildlife Loop”. You can leave a comment below or email me at stacey@geauganews.com
