From Skilled Hands » Peninsula Python

Pythons in Peninsula!

fromskilledhands — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:46:52 +0000

Today is the day that, each year, folks in the Village of Peninsula, Ohio, population 602, celebrate the python that panicked this Valley in the summer of 1944.

A plethora of pythons are around town, and lots of events are planned. You can find the snakes in the Gallery; see what the Gatehouse Connection Holistic Center has to offer. You can enter our drawing for Steven Farmer’s Animal Spirit Guides, a book and CD set that tells the story of the Peninsula Python, or a free session at the Gatehouse Connection Holistic Center. You can go on a snakey scavenger hunt to find the pythons throughout town and take your map to the GAR Hall to claim your prize. Hungry? No problem! The GAR Hall has a special menu today, and we also have 2 other restaurants in town. There’s a parade at 4 pm, with a people powered python and lots more to see. Explore Peninsula to see what going on!

The winner of our blog and Facebook drawing for the python book and CD is Jo. I’ll be sending her a copy of the book and CD this week. And check back next week for photos and maybe a video of this year’s Python Day. Speaking of videos, here’s one from our 2009 Python Day. As always, feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve stopped by.

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Not Exactly Wordless Wednesday

fromskilledhands — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:10:21 +0000

After a hiatus for track replacement, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is back on track, running from Peninsula south, to Akron and back. Riders and bikers are delighted to be able to ride the train once again in the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Saturday will be Peninsula Python Day. Lots to do and see in my Valley, including the annual Deep Lock Quarry Hobo Days.

Here’s a look outside our door this morning.

And here is a look at last year’s Peninsula Python Parade:

Take a minute and leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve stopped by. I’ll enter your name in a drawing to win the story of the python that panicked Peninsula.

And take a look at our newsletter. Let me know what you think.

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This and That: A My Town Monday Post

fromskilledhands — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:42:40 +0000

It’s been absolutely gorgeous in my town, the Village of Peninsula, population 602. Blue skies, warm sunny days. Summer personified! My gardens are full of blooms and hopes for harvest. This is the 3rd year for my mandala garden, and it has filled in quite a bit.

Then:

And now:

In other news, Peninsula Python Day is coming! Saturday, July 16, from 10-5. There will be a plethora of pythons in Peninsula, and a people powered python parade, too. Visit Explore Peninsula, to see what’s on the agenda.

As always, please feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve been by. And don’t forget to see if anyone else has anything to say about the places they call home, over at My Town Monday.

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Painting the Python

fromskilledhands — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:39:07 +0000

Our python has a new look! She will be outside the gallery for this year’s Python Day.

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Wordless Wednesday: Preparing for the Python’s Return to Peninsula

fromskilledhands — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:18:30 +0000

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The Python Comes Back to Peninsula, Ohio: A My Town Monday Post

fromskilledhands — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 20:05:14 +0000

On Saturday, July 16, the Village of Peninsula, Ohio, population 602, will once again celebrate the python that, in the summer of 1944, terrorized this little town.

So the story goes like this: back in the summer of 1944, the Cole Brothers Circus came through Bath Township, which is a short distance from the Village of Peninsula. There was an accident in the local cemetery, and two large snakes escaped. One was found dead, and the other disappeared—for a short while.

Farmer Clarence Mitchell was tending his corn field. He reported that his dogs were mighty nervous for a couple of days; then they refused to go near his field. Mr. Mitchell looked up and said that he saw the biggest snake he had ever seen, sliding along the ground in plain site. Local historian Randy Bergdorf, of the Peninsula Library and Historical Society writes:

The first sighting of the python occurred on June 8, 1944, along Riverview Road in Northampton Township, about halfway between Ira and Everett. Local farmer, Clarence Mitchell, reported that he had seen a snake 15 to 18 feet long cross his fields and slide into the river. It was spotted later that day by Mike Bobacek on the other side of the river, near Szalay’s corn fields on Bolanz Road. Days later, paul and John Szalay saw mysterious tracks, “like from an auto tire,” weaving across their corn field on Akron-Peninsula Road, a few miles south of Peninsula. Those doubting the existence of the python decreased in numbers on June 23rd, when Mrs. Vaughan on Northampton Road saw the snake climb over the fence of her chicken yard with a noticeable lump in its middle.

Multiple sightings of the serpent were reported during that summer of 1944; the mayor organized the local Civil Defense organization into posses. Folks with loaded guns responded to reports of the wayward snake. The then director of the Cleveland Zoo, Fletcher Reynolds, pleaded for the life of the snake. He asked that anyone finding the reptile stay calm and phone him with the snake’s location, so he could come and take him alive. Locals came up with plans to capture the snake, from box traps, to clotheslines and sticks, to music.

By this time radio newscasters, and reporters from the United and Associated Presses were regularly reporting on the escapades of the snake that had become the Peninsula Python. The story was reported in Stars and Stripes, the newspaper that was sent to American troops abroad during WWII. Letters from soldiers came into the Village’s post office. Robert Bordner, a reporter from the old Cleveland Press was one of those who wrote about the snake. In November, 1945, one of his stories was published in the Atlantic Monthly.

Sightings of the reptile decreased; some folks wondered if the entire story was a hoax concocted by Bordner. Those who saw the snake stand by their stories.

For the past several years, we’ve had a festival to commemorate the rascally reptile. Python imagery abounds throughout the Village, with merchants, residents and visitors joining in the festivities. We have lots of things scheduled, and a parade, with a people powered python. Take a look at last year’s parade, and if you’re going to be in our neck of the woods on July, 16, come down to the Village. You won’t regret it.

As always, feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve stopped by. And take a look at My Town Monday, to see what others have to say about the places they call home.

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The Python Has Landed: A My Town Monday Post (with a Mug Shot on the Side)

fromskilledhands — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:33:49 +0000

Who’d a thunk I’d be spending hours editing photos of a festival that commemorates a reptile. Me. Of all people. Who jumps when a wee little snake is seen in the garden.

The Village of Peninsula, population 601, enjoys its celebrations. From the Quarry clean up day, to the 4th of July, to Peddlers’ Day, to Christmas in Peninsula. We know how to celebrate. And the 55th anniversary of the sightings of the Peninsula is no exception. If you want to read more about the Python, slither on over here.

As promised, here is a video of this year’s Python Festival. And I have a new skill: I uploaded it to You Tube!

If you are unable to see the video here, click on this link.

And the winner of my high tech contest (where I drew a name from a hat) for one of our favorite mugs is Rudeek. She will be receiving a mug in the mail soon. Thanks to all who posted comments and sent mug shots

My Town Monday was started by Travis Erwin. Travis has retired from the MTM helm, and has passed the torch to Clair Dickson. She has created a blog just for MTM, where she posts links to bloggers who write about their towns hither and yon.

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Peninsula Python Festival: A My Town Monday Post

fromskilledhands — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:04:39 +0000

It was a beautiful day to celebrate the infamous Peninsula Python. I am still editing photos, so enjoy a look at last year’s festival.

Take a look at other My Town Monday posts. You’ll read about places all over this fine blue planet.

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P Minus One

fromskilledhands — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:57:14 +0000

Signs of the python are all around: Larry has been getting his python ready for tomorrow’s parade; the Peninsula Art Academy’s artful python has emerged from it’s winter resting place. Our python has been enjoying being outside.

We are getting ready for the python scavenger hunt in the Gallery. If you can find them all, you win one! Lots of activities are planned in the Village tomorrow. Slither on over here to see.

While you’re in the Valley, wander on down the Towpath to Deep Lock Quarry. Hobo Days will be in full swing. It starts tonight with the Hobo Jungle Campfire, the official lighting of the hobo campfire. You can enjoy potlatch and hobohemia. Bring a can of soup for the hobo pot. Breakfast will be at 9:00a.m. tomorrow, and there will be activities all day. The election of the Deep Lock Quarry Hobo King and Queen will be at 3:00 p.m.. The campfire will be at 8:00p.m., and there will be more hobohemia Sunday, from 11:00a.m.-1:00pm. For more information, check out the MetroParks, serving Summit County website.

I talked toNaturalist Pat Rydquist (whose hobo name is Hummingbird) about Hobo Days. Thie is the 6th year of the event at Deep Lock Quarry. 30-40 hobos will camp in primitive campsites there. Hobos were really the first “leave no trace” campers. Number 8 of the Hobo Code of Ethics reads: “Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling.“ For more information about the Code of Ethics, hobo terminology and hobo symbols, go here.

And don’t forget to send me your mug shot. You could win one of our favorite mugs.

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Thursday Musings

fromskilledhands — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:13:09 +0000

Love this song. Perfect for a July day. Remember to send me your mug shot for a chance to win one of our favorite mugs! Check back for news about the Peninsula Python Festival and Hobo Days this weekend.

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