Attractions

The Old Stone House is surrounded by wineries catering to your tastes.

The Western Reserve Greenway Bike/Hike runs nearly 43 miles through a mostly rural area and cuts a north–south course from Ashtabula to Warren, Ohio. The greenway’s start is only a few miles from Lake Erie, and a planned extension will bring it right to the shoreline. For now, you can start at Herzog Rotary Park, where signs detail the importance of northeast Ohio in the Underground Railroad. minutes on Route 87 Bloomfield Township

Maple Highlands Trail: 12.4 mile long park that utilizes sections of the abandoned Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) railroad corridor. The trail currently extends from Colburn Road at the Lake-Geauga county line to Headwaters Park, Chardon and Huntsburg Townships.

BBBiking

Your Guide to Bed, Breakfast and Biking
CountrySide Bicycling

Maple Highlands Trail

A 12.4-mile long linear park that utilizes sections of the abandoned Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad corridor. The trail currently extends from Colburn Road at the Lake-Geauga border to Headwaters Park in Claridon & Huntsburg townships

Geauga County Cruise
Adventure Cycling Association

Western Reserve Bike/Hike Greenway

At Ohio Route 87: Secure bike storage, nearby repairs, hosing station, bike maps, libations, and snacks. Prior arrangements for shuttle services and local dining.

Trumbull County MetroParks Western Reserve Greenway
Ohio Department of Transportation’s Biking Page
National Biking Trail Guide

SACRED STONES
By Gene Kangas
INTRODUCTION Excerpted from Book
“The concept for SACRED STONES began germinating over thirty years ago in the tiny rural town of Mesopotamia, Ohio. “Mespo,” as it is called by locals, is in the heart of Amish country in Trumbull County in northeastern Ohio. This general area is home to the fourth largest Amish community in America. The center of town is a community oriented public green space or park. A tall Civil War Monument topped by a stone eagle was erected there in 1867 honoring area veterans. Over 2,000 people attended the dedication.

About half way north on the eastern side of the commons is Fairview Cemetery, which had its first burial in 1818. Like most cemeteries, the majority of the marker stones tend towards the routine. Many of those in Fairview were fashioned from soft white marble and now appear to be melting from years of exposure. Names, dates and other embellishments are slowly vanishing; history fades with each rain storm. Scanning the cemetery, however, several obviously different stones immediately summon each visitor’s attention. They are not marble but seemingly indestructible hard granite. No detail has been erased by over a century of constant weathering. It is visually evident that a remarkable sculptural approach produced the various granite monuments in Fairview. One is a large highly detailed spiral sea shell. The largest is the Brigden Family marker accentuated by carved foliage and a friendly climbing bear. Another features a life-size seated curly coated faithful canine patiently waiting next to the headstone of a small child. These wonderful memorials originated from the self-taught artistic mind of Howard A. Brigden (1841-1913), a native of Mesopotamia. He also sculpted the stone eagle perched atop the Civil War Memorial. Being a sculptor, art teacher and folk art enthusiast, I was immediately attracted to Brigden’s masterpieces of cemetery art. Their existence provided an excellent reason to take visitors to Mesopotamia.”Gene Kangas,Creekside Art Gallery

Creekside Art Gallery, Chardon, Ohio