Historical Markers located in Scioto County updated Feb. 19, 2011

 

Ever wonder what the historical sign says as you pass them on the highway?

 

 

This historical maker is located along Rt. 73 just west of the intersection of Rt. 49 (Pond Creek Rd.) and the little building with additional information about French, Ohio history is next to the marker.

In 1999 "the Albert Montavon family built a small building that houses pictures and history of French, year round. People have been to the Historical Marker from all over the World and the United States. The Edward Glockner Family donated the glass case that came from the original business on Second Street.
French, Ohio was located in two different Townships. They are: Union Township until June and on June 3, 1867 was totally located in Rush Township when it was formed.
Two French Flags, a Civil War Flag, two Ohio Flags and many American Flags have flown each year at the Historical Service. The National Anthem and the French Anthem are sung or played."

Located along Chillicothe Street just before getting to the bridge

 The underground railroad was neither underground nor a railroad. But a system of loosely connected safe havens where those escaping the brutal condition of slavery were sheltered, fed, clothed, nursed, concealed, disguised, and instructed during their journey to freedom. Although this movement was one of America’s greatest social, moral, and humanitarian endeavors, the details about it were often clocked in secrecy to protect those involved from the retribution of civil war and slave-catchers. Ohio's history has been permanently shaped by the thousands of runaway slaves passing through or finding permanent residence in this stat.

Located along Chillicothe Street just before getting to the bridge
Boyhood Home of Wesley Branch Rickey, Baseball Pioneer, Innovator, Executive Branch Rickey, a pivotal figure in the history of baseball, was raised in this house with his brothers, Orla and Frank. Rickey started baseball's farm team system while he was president, vice president, and manager of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1917-1942. As president of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1942-1950, he signed Jackie Robinson to a major league contract, which resulted in the desegregation of baseball. The Mahatma, as Rickey was known, also ran the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1950-1955. Rickey's career in major league baseball began in 1904 as a Cincinnati Red. Later he played with the St. Louis Browns and the New York Highlanders (now known as the Yankees). Branch Rickey was born in 1881 and died in 1965. He was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967. His grave is located approximately one mile southeast of this marker on the eastern edge of Rush Township Cemetery.

This one is at 770 Duck Run Road in Scioto Co., OH

 

 The Honorable Vern Riffe (1925-1997)A native of New Boston, Vernal G. Riffe Jr. served the 92nd House District in the Ohio General Assembly from 1959 to 1994. As Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1974 through 1994, he served longer than any other speaker in the state's history. Widely regarded as Ohio's most influential legislator of the late 20th century, Riffe, a Democrat, built effective political alliances across party lines. A powerful advocate for southern Ohio, he was instrumental in the growth and expansion of Shawnee State University.

This one is in New Boston at Millbrook Park

 

 
Located near intersection of Kinneys Lane & Waller Located near intersection of Kinneys Lane & Waller

Lucasville Cemetery was originally established as the Lucas Family burying ground, with Susannah Lucas as the first recorded burial on May 4, 1809. Susannah's husband, Captain William Lucas, a Revolutionary War veteran, is interred here along with the first wife of Governor Robert Lucas, Eliza Betsy Brown Lucas. By 1816, the cemetery was used as a public burying ground. Hand carved monuments inscribed with poetry can be found in the old section. Recognized as one of the oldest cemeteries in southern Ohio, Lucasville Cemetery has interred veterans of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam.

Located at Lucasville Cemetery

 

 Captain John Lucas, Founder of Lucasville John Lucas (1788-1825), son of William and Susannah Barnes Lucas, came to present-day Scioto County from Virginia circa 1802. His brother, Robert Lucas, was a War of 1812 hero, two-term governor of Ohio (1832-1836), and the first territorial governor of Iowa. John volunteered for service and commanded a regiment during the War of 1812. Upon the death of his father in 1814, John inherited much of his family's property in Scioto County, and it was on a portion of this land that he would establish the town of Lucasville on August 7, 1819. He and his wife, Mary Lucas, ran a tavern in

Located at Lucasville Cemetery

 
The Ohio River floodwaters account for Portsmouth's settlement. Alexandria, the county's first town, was laid out in 1799 on the west bank of the Scioto at its confluence with the Ohio. Early settlers in Alexandria were forced to higher ground across the river in Portsmouth because of frequent flooding. As a result, Portsmouth, platted in 1803, became Scioto County's seat and business center by 1814. Prominent local industries included brick, stone, steel, wood products, and shoe manufacturing. As of 2003, the Ohio River is the cornerstone of Portsmouth's transportation system, providing a means for materials to reach destinations throughout the region. It also serves as a recreation hub. The three-mile long levy, first built in 1908, failed in the 1937 flood and was subsequently improved.

Located on the river side of the flood wall

 
This areas, rich in history has been the home of the Mound Builders, Lower Shawnee Town, state of Virginia, Adams County, Alexandria, and at Statehood, Union Township, Scioto County, Ohio.  The Township changed to Nile and in 1814 to Washington.  Transportation was by hoarse, buggy or stagecoach.  In 1825 Ohio started building a

 

 diseases such as malaria, typhoid and the pox.  Many died, sad or happy the men were noted for singing daily as they worked.  Lock 50 was built here and officially opened December 1, 1832,  There was a general store, cooper shop, distillery, stables, blacksmith, grist mill, post office and lock tender's house.  Boats were named for people or towns and hauled flour, corn, pork, salt, grains, coal, building supplies and passengers.  The Erie was 308 miles long and took 80 hours from Cleveland to Portsmouth,  Union Mills, Lock to and the Scioto river were the

 
Spartan Municipal Stadium Opened in the fall of 1930, Universal Stadium became the home of the Portsmouth Spartans professional football team. Earlier that summer, the Spartans had just become a member of the National Football League (NFL). Led by a few local businessmen, the Portsmouth National Football League Corporation raised money to help build the permanent stadium for the Spartans. The stadium opened on September 14, 1930 as the Spartans defeated the Newark (New Jersey) Tornadoes for their first NFL victory. Ten days later the Spartans played one of the NFL's first night games against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Portsmouth Times said, Night football has come to stay, at least in Portsmouth. From 1930 to 1933, the Spartans compiled a record of 19 wins 2 losses and 4 ties at Universal Stadium. (continued on other side)

Located at 55 Mary Ann Street,  Portsmouth
38 42' 48.2"N  82 58' 43.3" W
 The most famous game played at Universal was on December 4, 1932. The Spartans with just eleven men defeated the world champion Green Bay Packers 19-0. In Portsmouth, the game is simply known as The Iron Man Game. In 1934, the franchise was sold and the team moved to Detroit. They were renamed the Detroit Lions. Portsmouth was to become the last small town in Ohio to have a NFL franchise. In August of 1970, the name of the stadium was changed to Spartan Municipal Stadium to honor the NFL team that called Universal Stadium home for four years. It is one of the oldest NFL stadiums still in use, and its field is still used to play football.

Located at 55 Mary Ann Street,  Portsmouth
38 42' 48.2"N  82 58' 43.3" W

 
Side A : "Otway Bridge"
This bridge, spanning Brush Creek in Brush Creek Township, Scioto County, was erected in 1874 by the Smith Bridge Company of Toledo, Ohio. Robert W. Smith was granted patents for timber trusses in 1867 and 1869, and the design for this bridge is a Smith patented truss. The supplemental arches were added in 1896. Original length of 200 feet had been shortened to its present 171 feet. This plaque has been erected to give due honor to these early timber covered bridge builders and to the men of the community who so ably assisted them. [This side of the marker contains a bridge illustration in the upper left corner]

North on SR 348, Erected at bridge site near Otway
Side B : "Timber Covered Bridge"
Timber Covered Bridges were vital links in the early road, railroad and canal systems of Ohio and contributed greatly to the growth and development of the state. They were covered with roof and siding to protect the heavy timber trusses from the weather. Many of them have carried their loads and served their communities for well over a century. Fine craftsmen, using broadax, adz, pitsaw, and froe, were able to construct these sturdy bridges by hand.

North on SR 348, Erected at bridge site near Otway

N 38° 51.770 W 083° 11.373
Sciotoville Bridge, 1917 designed and built by two famous American Civil Engineers, Gustav Lindenthal, D.Sc. (1850-1935), the Consulting Engineer (and) David Barnard Steinman, D.Sc. (1887-1960), the designer and stress analyst. A double track railroad bridge of twin spans each 775 feet long, it remained until 1935 the longest continuous truss bridge in the world and stands today as the prototype for continuous structures. Its construction marked a major advance in the art of bridge engineering and was a pioneer achievement in continuous truss analysis. In beauty of design, size and erection techniques it stands as a landmark of progress in man's mastery of his environment

Sciotoville Bridge, 1917, designed and built by two famous American Civil Engineers, Gustav Lindenthal, D.Sc. (1850-1935), the Consulting Engineer (and) David Barnard Steinman, D.Sc. (1887-1960), the designer and stress analyst. A double track railroad bridge of twin spans each 775 feet long, it remained until 1935 the longest continuous truss bridge in the world and stands today as the prototype for continuous structures. Its construction marked a major advance in the art of bridge engineering and was a pioneer achievement in continuous truss analysis. In beauty of design, size and erection techniques it stands as a landmark of progress in man's mastery of his environment.

Located intersection of Gallia St. and Eastern Avenue, on the Sciotoville side of the bridge at intersection.  38° 45.393 W 082° 53.06217S E 336265 N 4291447

 

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