The Circleville Round House

 The Circleville Round House is one of Ohio's most endangered historical sites. It was put on the endangered list in 2004. The Circleville Round House was built around 1855 by George Gregg. It was said he built the house to mimic the Pickaway County Court House, which at the time, was also round.  Round houses started becoming popular around 1848 due to a book written by Orson Fowler call "A Home for all, or a New Cheap,Convenient, and Superior form of Building". From around 1855-1860 Round houses were popular during what was called the "Antebellum" America.
In 1880 it is said the Circleville Round House Farm was the largest in Pickaway County. It is said that there are 34 Round houses in the state of Ohio but not one is like the Circleville Round House.

Unfortunately, in the name of progress, the Circleville Round House had to be moved from its original spot to establish the new Walmart. Instead of tearing down the Round House, Mr. Don M. Casto donated 2 acres of  land at the end of Crites Rd. so the round house would have a new home. In Feb.2004, the Round House was moved from its original home to where it sits today.  The black iron fence that once was around the house is now in town around the Memorial Hall.They est. the house to weight 480 tons and it cost around $100,00.00 to move. It will cost around $200,000.00-$400,00.00 to restore this beautiful piece of history.  Once the house has been restored, the town has plans to make a museum of it. To make a donation to save the Round House contact the Pickaway County Historical Society.

The Rockstulls Nature Preserve

The perfect place for a July hike is The Rockstulls in Logan,Ohio.  Take US 33 to Logan,Ohio to State Route 664 North and  follow to Logan-Hornsmill Rd. Make a left onto Logan-Hornsmill Rd and  follow to Rockstull Rd. The Rockstull Nature Preserve will be on the right. In my research I could not find any history about this location. I was told by a friend that it is owned by Camp Akita, but it is open to the public. Its a beautiful place to hike at on a hot summer day because once you get down into The Rockstulls it is very cool and crisp. Its also the perfect place to have a picnic.

Turkey Run Baptist Church and Cemetery

Take a drive down 188 in Fairfield County,Ohio to Turkey Run Baptist Church and Cemetery would make the perfect Sunday drive. Turkey Run Church and Cemetery is located off State Route 188 about a quarter of a mile southeast from State Route 674 and across from Dillon Rd, its about 200 yards off the road.  Turkey Run Church was organized September 6,1817 by Eli Ashbrook and Jacob Thorp. Church services were held in a local schoolhouse until the church building was build in 1838.  The Cemetery was established sometime around 1812. Some of the oldest graves in the cemetery are dated 1812,1813,and 1815. Church services were held every Sunday until sometime in the 1990s.   The Church and Cemetery are now owned by Fairfield County. Ive heard plans of a possible park to restore the church and graves, but as of summer 2011 there was no park. The Church and Cemetery are beautiful pieces of history and I hope Fairfield County and The Historical Society preserve this land mark location.

The Moonville Cemetery

The Moonville Cemetery sets west of the town on Hope-Moonville Rd.  After leaving the Moonville Tunnel, follow Wheelabout Rd and cross over the iron bridge that goes over Raccoon Creek.  Hope-Moonville Rd will be the first road on the right.  It is unmarked and  it looks like a cow path that goes up a hill. It is ungraveled and unpaved , 4wheel drive is reccomended. After making our way to the top of the hill we found Moonville Cemetery.  Only 13 graves have markers, many remain unmarked or are in unknown locations within Moonville Cemetery. The cemetery also has Civil War Veterans buried within and every Veterans Day American Flags are still placed upon the graves. I was very humbled by this.
One grave in particular caught my attention was the grave on Ideliae Jones -July 5,1874-July 15,1874. As I approached her grave I notices toys and pennies that had been places upon her grave. Her story is unknown to me but it said that pennies are placed upon a grave to remember the deceased , and to let others know that person hasn't been forgotten. Some also believe that if pennies are place upon a grave it will bring good luck and you will be safely  watched over.

If your into cemeteries there are a few more in the area to explore. There is Keeton Cemetery that is located between the  Town of Hope and Moonville and  there is the Catholic Cemetery that is located in Zaleski. Both also contain residents of the Town of Hope and Moonville. I look forward to exploring these cemeteries myself sometime soon.