I would suggest that anyone who claims that a total solar eclipse is no big deal has never seen one. Yes, this one was heavily hyped and over-commercialized, but that should not detract from the significance. What I saw today was beyond explanation. You truly had to be there!
Total solar eclipse from Avon Lake, OhioTotal solar eclipse from Avon Lake, Ohio
Kathy & I drove to Avon Lake, OH which was right on the centerline of totality. My sister-in-law is an astronomer who led the sciency part of a celebration at the local high school stadium.
Total solar eclipse from Avon Lake, OhioTotal solar eclipse from Avon Lake, Ohio
I didn’t take photos of the actual sun (well, to be truthful I did but they suck). I did take quite a few photos of the crowds, and of my brother and sister in law, Kathy, our son Scott and grandson Edison enjoying the show. We were all first timers and agreed that we hope to see the next one in the US, in 2045!
Here is an actual eclipse photo from my niece Cassandra.
Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Just about the time Kathy is certain she never has to see an other airplane, car or train museum, I find a new one. 😉
Kathy & I recently returned from a trip to central Ohio over the Labor Day weekend, visiting family and friends there. While looking over things to do for that trip, I discovered the Age of Steam Roundhouse, a railroad museum located near the town of Sugarcreek.
Workshop area at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
The Age of Steam Roundhouse is actually much more than simply a railroad museum. The roundhouse was built with private funds by a man named Jerry Jacobson and his wife Laura. Jacobson retired in 2008 from the railroad industry, selling his entire 525-mile Ohio Central Railroad System (OCRS) freight railroad to Genesee & Wyoming, a short-line railway company headquartered in Rochester, NY.
As well as being a regular revenue railroad, the Ohio Central had its own steam department that operated steam locomotives for tourist trains, excursions, and special events. When Jacobson sold OCRS in 2008, he maintained ownership of the antique equipment, including the collection of steam locomotives. Needing a place to safely house and restore his old-timers, Jacobson acquired 34 acres of land adjacent to the OC track and constructed his Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum. He built two miles of storage tracks, a depot, store house, coal loader, wood water tank, ash pit, back shop and, the jewel of the site, a working, 18-stall brick roundhouse that surrounds a 115-foot turntable. This was the first full-sized working roundhouse built in the U.S. since 1951.
Since Jacobson’s death in 2017, The Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum is currently operated by a non-profit organization and has three roles: maintaining its roster of 23 steamers, teaching future generations these fast-disappearing job skills, and bringing America’s railroad history alive.
Roundhouse exterior. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Kathy & I, along with my brother Bob and his wife Suzie, booked a tour of the Roundhouse one afternoon, and these are (more than) a few of my photos from this fascinating visit. I just couldn’t narrow them down further and still tell the story! 🙂
Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Workshop area at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Locomotive on display at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Locomotive on display at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Locomotive on display at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Locomotive on display at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Workshop area at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Workshop area at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Workshop area at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Workshop area at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Workshop area at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Workshop area at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Workshop area at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Workshop area at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Workshop area at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Workshop area at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Machine shop at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Locomotive undergoing restoration with marking designating areas for metal testing. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Tool detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Tool detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Tool detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Tool detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Tool detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Train detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Train detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Train detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Train detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Train detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Train detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Train detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Train detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Train detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Train detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Train detail. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Watch Your Step. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Roundhouse exterior. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Roundhouse exterior. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Roundhouse turntable. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
Sign at Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum near Sugarcreek, Ohio
My brother Bob has a pretty sweet location, right across the road from the Lake Erie shore in Avon Lake, OH. Whenever we visit, we make a point to trek across the street for sunset. His across-the-street neighbor has made a nice little safe harbor for his boats, and has graciously allowed Bob and his guests access to the breakwall. During the traditional 4th of July events, the gang makes a point of heading to the breakwall to watch the sunset. While it is nice to get a few photos of the silhouetted people watching the ball drop, I often stick around until well after “official” sunset because I know that is when the best color will occur. It also means that all of the non-photographers will head back across the street to resume their respective shenanigans.
Most photographers know that the best photographs often happen after the “tourists” have left. And this is just one example. We went over there on three separate nights, and I got nice after-sunset photos each night. Every one just a little different. It definitely pays to stick around!
And a bonus: I finally got to field test my new tripod! 🙂
Hops plants growing in a field near Greenford, Ohio
The daughter and son-in-law of friends of ours in Columbiana, Ohio – in addition to being a occupational therapist and family physician, respectively – like to play around with farmer stuff. They are currently growing hops in their front yard and have a bee hive in their back yard. That’s way more ambition than I had, even when I was working! I think they are hoping to brew beer from the hops, but I don’t know their plan for honey. Maybe mead? We’ll have to see. We visited their place while they were off at work in order to check out the progress and to take a few photos.
Yes, Avon and Avon Lake are two different towns, next to each other. As you might expect, Avon Lake is on the lake (Erie) while Avon is inland a few miles. We were treated to a nice finale to our day on Friday.
This is certainly not a new term in photography or even a new use for an old one. Â But it’s a way I’ve described some of the images I’ve made during our various travels. Â They aren’t people pictures and they aren’t (necessarily) historical landmarks, but it’s a way to describe the details that make up the greater part of the whole.
These are some of my “urban landscape” photos from our recent visit to Millersburg, OH.
Holmes County Courthouse in Millersburg, OhioHolmes County Courthouse in Millersburg, OhioHolmes County Courthouse in Millersburg, OhioHolmes County Courthouse in Millersburg, OhioHolmes County Courthouse in Millersburg, OhioHolmes County Courthouse in Millersburg, OhioHolmes County Courthouse in Millersburg, Ohio
While we were in Ohio visiting my brother Bob, we went to Millersburg for dinner. Â Here are a few photos that I took while waiting for our table at a local restaurant that happened to be right across the street from the Holmes County Courthouse. Â It’s a classic building in classic (I’m sure there’s a proper word for it) courthouse architecture.
Holmes County Courthouse in Millersburg, OhioHolmes County Courthouse in Millersburg, OhioHolmes County Courthouse in Millersburg, OhioBragging?
