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A My Town Monday Post: Can You Dig It?
The Ohio and Erie Canal played a critical part in the development of the Cuyahoga Valley. The workers toiled long hours for 30 cents a day and whiskey at night.
Most of the employees of the Peninsula boat yards were locals; like the builders of the Canal, most of the laborers remain anonymous. Some not only built canal boats, but also they also erected buildings and bridges. Many of the boatyard workers also worked on the boats, making them “canalers.”
Canal boats were 79-81 feet long, and about 14 feet wide. Their width was limited by the size of the locks through which they traveled. New vessels needed about 3 1/2 feet of water in which to float; older vessels required a bit more depth since they accumulated “seepage water.” Once the stomping grounds of canal mules, the towpath is now used as a trail, of which over 70 miles is complete. I’ll explore the trail in a future post.
The cool thing is that many of the buildings still stand, and vestiges of the canal are still visible. Some of the locks are still there, and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park has a working lock at the Canal Visitor Center. In other places, old foundations are visible. The stories of the people who carved this Village are alive and well. It is the people who give us a sense of place, a place that is home. The Village of Peninsula, population 602, celebrates its history as it embraces its future. An interesting place to be.
As always feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve been by. If you choose to leave a comment, I’ll enter your name in a drawing for a beautiful book about the Cuyahoga Valley.
****Thanks to Amanda, of the Peninsula Library and Historical Society, for her assistance and generosity in sharing resources, knowledge and time.
Take a look at what my fellow MTM Marauders have to say at My Town Monday.
The Nature of Things
We live and work in an incredibly beautiful place. This valley called Cuyahoga is amazingly diverse—a symphony of the senses. I have walked many of the trails in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Tree Farm Trail is one of my favorite places, and I wrote about it here.  I am always in awe when I complete the trail and come upon Horseshoe Pond.
I worked on a piece that’s my interpretation of this place. Here is a photo of the piece in process:
And here is the finished piece:
These are some of the things that keep me grounded: connections to the beauty of the natural world, and the ability to manifest my connections in clay.
My Town Monday: Plein Air Retuns to Peninsula
For years, artists have tried to capture the beauty of the crooked river that is called Cuyahoga. Painters, photographers and artists with sketch pads are regular sights in this Valley.
On Saturday, June 12, 2010, a group of regional artists will converge on the Village, canvases, easels and paints in hand. They will be participants in the second annual Plein Aire competition that is sponsored by Peninsula Area Chamber of Commerce. En plein air is a French expression meaning “in the open air.” It is used to describe the act of painting outdoors. Plein air painting has it’s roots in 19th century Europe. The invention of tubes that contained pigments made painting portable, and the introduction of the steam engine gave painters a way to travel for their art.
If you’re in our neck of the woods or are in the mood for a beautiful drive, come on over and see us. You can watch the painters, take a hike in the amazing Cuyahoga Valley National Park (did you know that it is the 6th most visited National Park in the country?), take a ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and explore the Village of Peninsula. We’re looking forward to meeting you.
For more information on the Plein Aire competition, visit here.
Spring Stroll and Faeries, Too: A My Town Monday Post
Join us in the Village of Peninsula next Saturday, May 22nd, as we stroll into Spring. We will have some faerie houses for you to discover, and a faerie marketplace too. Here are some photos of some of our faerie house builders, and a sample of what you’ll find, both at our Elements Gallery, and around the Village.
In May of 2009, the Village of Peninsula, Ohio, population 602, hosted a village-wide display of fairy houses and gardens. Here is a look at some of them, starting with those at Elements Gallery.
Wander on over to My Town Monday for a look at what other folks have to say about their necks of the woods.
Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Mug Shots
On Monday, I invited you to send me your mug shot for a chance to win one of our mugs. Folks have started to send me shots of their favorite mugs. I’ve posted some below. There’s still time to be entered into the drawing. It will be one of my high tech drawings, where I pick a name out of a hat. Perhaps it would be appropriate for me to draw a name out of a mug! The contest closes Sunday, May 9, at 12:01 AM.
Send your mug shot to: from skilled hands@ g mail DOT com (remove spaces).
Mug Shots: A My Town Monday Post
As I sit sipping my coffee with frothed, steamed milk, I cradle my sacred mug in my hands. The mug’s the thing, more than it’s contents. It’s handle, user friendly; it’s body rounded to fit in my hands. Mugs are a personal thing.
Last summer I asked what you like in a mug. Since Spring has finally really arrived in my Valley, it’s time to ask again. What do you like in a mug?
Send me your mug shot, and I’ll enter your name in a drawing for one of our favorite mugs. Using my usual high tech method, in which I draw a name from a hat, I will draw a name on Sunday, May 9, and post the winner in next week’s MTM post.
Send your photo to me: from skilled hands AT gmail DOT com.
Visit My Town Monday to see who has what to say about his or her town.
Wordless Wednesday: What Potters Do on Their Day Off
My Town Monday: The Fairies are Coming!
Peninsula’s Spring Stroll will be here before long. It’s a celebration of spring, which is welcomed in my Valley. Our winters are long, cold and gray, and warmer temperatures and blue skies are a joy.
Last year’s celebration featured fairy houses and gardens. This year’s event will be Saturday, May 22nd and fairies will return to the Village. Here’s a look at last year’s festivities. As always, please feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve been here. And wander over to My Town Monday, where you will find links to other folks who explore their towns.
Fairies in Peninsula, 2009 from From Skilled Hands on Vimeo.
In May of 2009, the Village of Peninsula, Ohio, population 602, hosted a village-wide display of fairy houses and gardens. Here is a look at some of them, starting with those at Elements Gallery.
Not Quite Wordless Wednesday
Spring has arrived in the Cuyahoga Valley. This is our 21st year in the Village of Peninsula. It’s a good time to take a look at the beauty of the place called Peninsula, in the valley called Cuyahoga. I’ll be doing that over the next little while. Join me. And, as always, please feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve stopped by.
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