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One of many worked stone quarrys in Washington County Ohio. This is an amazing assortment of discarded grindstones along the hillside at a place called Henry's Crossing. Notice the old lifting ring on a stone by the stream. There are similar refuse piles like this up and down the hallow. How much effort and time went into cutting and extracting each of these, not to mention injuries or death, only to be cast aside and left behind?
Ohio provided 90% of the grindstones produced across the country, all beginning in Washington County.

On another venture to find where trains once ran through Washington County Ohio, I came upon this beautiful place. As I was exploring an area where there had been an old sandstone mill, I stumbled into this. Taken in, for a few minutes, I had almost forgotten what I was looking for.

Overlooking the Ohio River at Marietta. The recent storms have given us some fantastic skies. Please view this in a larger size.

The Castle of Marietta is one of the best examples of Gothic Revival style architecture in Ohio. In 1855, this choice hill top property was purchased by Melvin C. Clarke for $2000 and construction on the house was soon begun. Clarke, a prominent attorney, was appointed Marietta's first city solicitor in 1854 and represented the third ward on a committee to consider gas lighting for the city in 1856. On April 12, 1861 when the Civil War erupted, Clarke was commissioned as a Major with the 36th Ohio Infantry in the Union Army and his unit was sent to fight Confederate forces in eastern Virginia. Promoted to full Colonel on September 17, 1862, he was killed the same day in the Battle of Antietam, near Sharpsburg Maryland.

Jessie Davis Lindsay was 14 years old when her mother inherited the Castle. It was her home until 5 days before her 100th birthday on February 14, 1974. After 18 years of renovations from its next owners, a brother and sister who had both unexpectedly passed away in 1989 and 1991 respectively, the house was deeded to the Betsey Mills Corporation on April 24, 1992 as a historical asset for the City of Marietta Ohio, with proceeds to be used for educational and public purposes.
It was about 25 degrees when I took this shot. The entire city had all but shut down due to the ice caused by overnight rains and frigid temperatures. The sidewalks and streets were not passable for most of the day except for the daring and fools like me who just had to be out in it. I didn't fall and I caused no accidents.