Travel through Hancock & Putnam Counties along the Blanchard River It’s a Sunday Drive, Everyday! It’s a Sunday Drive, Everyday! www.ohiobyways.com - click on: Old Mill Stream Scenic Byway Hancock – Putnam County Scenic Byway Committee A Simple Route to Follow Contact us at the Hancock Park District Headquarters 1424 E. Main Cross St., Findlay OH 45840 Email: [email protected](419)425-PARK (7275) • (419) 423-5811 - FAX Historical Setting Ottawa and Wyandot Indians, along with Ger- man settlers, built their lives and landmarks along the river; many sites still visible today like Indian Green Cemetery. See traces of Johnny Appleseed, old Victorian homes, antique shops and living history programs at the Historic McKinnis Farmhouse in Litzenberg Memorial Woods, visible benefits of the oil boom prosperity in NW Ohio as well as famous hometown heroes and inventors. Recreational Opportunities Fun and fitness all seasons of the year await park visitors in many parks along the Byway. The nationally recognized 20 mile Heritage Trail, a canoeing waterway, creative playgrounds and top ranked golf courses are among public and pri- vate facilities open for out- door adventures located nearby. Cross country ski through winter wonder- lands or catch prize fish from reservoirs. From scuba diving to geocaching and bicycling, the Old Mill Stream countryside has something for everyone. Cultural Lifestyles Beautiful gardens, cemeteries full of geneal- ogy and architecture of Ottawa and Findlay Main Streets exhibit the crafts- manship and cultural diversity of old and new settlers. Stained glass of the Courthouses and churches, the music, arts and cultural contributions of generations can be experienced along the way, including nearby University of Findlay, Libraries, Putnam County and Hancock Historical Museums and Black History Cultural Center. Natural Areas to Explore The Blanchard River valley is a changing green scene of spring wildflowers, migrating birds and fall color. Rolling ridges of old glacial Lake Erie are now full of majestic trees mixing with wetlands and watchable wildlife. River- parks provide boating access and scenic views of the watershed through the countryside along the Old Mill Stream Parkway. Scenic Routes View farmsteads and cozy villages like Glandorf, Gilboa and Mt. Blanchard on the meandering route of the Byway and several scenic side trips. Photogra- phers have picture spots at old iron bridges and overlooks along country roads, full of seasonal color and sunsets. The Old Mill Stream Scenic Byway Old Mill Stream Scenic Byway Old Mill Stream Scenic Byway T he Byway follows federal, state and local roadways along the river in Putnam and Hancock counties. It links with Inter- state 75, and the Lincoln Highway National Historic Byway at Old US 30 in southern Hancock County. Motorists can travel both ways – east or west from any starting point. Watch for the colorful, Ohio Byway signs along the way. A west to east route to follow is described below: West Gateway – Route starts at SR 15 and Putnam County Road (CR) 11 north of Ottawa, and goes west and south through Glandorf via State Route (SR) 694. At US 224, the route turns left / east into Ottawa and jogs left / north on Hickory St., then right / east on 3rd St., turning right / south on Moe St. At US 224 again, the Byway turns left / east for a short distance, then goes right / south-east on Old US 224, or Agner St., winding along the river thru Gilboa to the Hancock – Putnam County line. In Hancock County, travelers head into Findlay on US 224 to CR 223 just west of Interstate 75, turning right / south-east along the river and under the Interstate. At Broad Ave., turn right / south crossing the Blan- chard River (road then becomes Western Ave) to West Main Cross, SR 12. The route turns left / east thru Downtown Findlay, along the river to Bright Rd. At the bridge, turn right / south on Bright Rd. and then left / east right away onto SR 568, soon crossing the river again, and on to Marion Township Road (TR) 241. Turn right / south on TR 241 across the river, then left / east on TR 208 thru Riverbend Park, turn right / west around the Findlay Reservoirs via TR 207. At Hancock CR 234, turn left / south on CR 234 to SR 37, left / south-east on SR 37, crossing SR 15 and on to Mt. Blanchard. South of the village, the route continues straight south on CR 17 to Old US 30 – the East Gateway. Findlay Automobile Club HancockParks.com OttawaOhioChamber.com VisitFindlay.com www.AAA.com dot.state.oh.us
Transcript
Travel through Hancock & PutnamCounties along the Blanchard River
It’s a Sunday Drive, Everyday!It’s a Sunday Drive, Everyday!
www.ohiobyways.com - click on: Old Mill Stream Scenic Byway
Hancock – Putnam County Scenic Byway Committee
A Simple Routeto Follow
Contact us at the Hancock Park District Headquarters
Indians, along with Ger-man settlers, built theirlives and landmarks along the river; many sites stillvisible today like Indian Green Cemetery. See tracesof JohnnyAppleseed, old Victorian homes, antiqueshops and living history programs at the HistoricMcKinnis Farmhouse in Litzenberg MemorialWoods, visible benefits ofthe oil boom prosperityin NW Ohio as well asfamous hometownheroes and inventors.
RecreationalOpportunitiesFun and fitness all
seasons of the year awaitpark visitors in manyparks along the Byway.The nationally recognized20 mile Heritage Trail, acanoeing waterway,creative playgrounds andtop ranked golf coursesare among public and pri-vate facilities open for out-door adventures locatednearby. Cross country skithrough winter wonder-lands or catch prize fishfrom reservoirs. Fromscuba diving to geocachingand bicycling, the OldMillStream countryside hassomething for everyone.
Cultural LifestylesBeautiful gardens,
cemeteries full of geneal-ogy and architecture of
Ottawa and Findlay MainStreets exhibit the crafts-manship and culturaldiversity of old and new
settlers. Stained glass of the Courthouses andchurches, the music, arts and cultural contributionsof generations can be experienced along the way,including nearby University of Findlay, Libraries,Putnam County and Hancock Historical Museums
and Black HistoryCultural Center.
Natural Areasto ExploreThe Blanchard River
valley is a changing greenscene of spring wildflowers,migrating birds and fallcolor. Rolling ridges of oldglacial Lake Erie are nowfull of majestic treesmixing with wetlands andwatchable wildlife. River-parks provide boatingaccess and scenic views ofthe watershed through thecountryside along the OldMill Stream Parkway.
Scenic RoutesView farmsteads and
cozy villages like Glandorf,Gilboa and Mt. Blanchardon the meandering routeof the Byway and severalscenic side trips. Photogra-phers have picture spotsat old iron bridges andoverlooks along countryroads, full of seasonalcolor and sunsets.
The Old Mill StreamScenic Byway
Old Mill StreamScenic Byway
Old Mill StreamScenic Byway
The Byway follows federal, state and localroadways along the river in Putnam andHancock counties. It links with Inter-
state 75, and the Lincoln Highway NationalHistoric Byway at Old US 30 in southernHancock County. Motorists can travel bothways – east or west from any starting point.Watch for the colorful, Ohio Byway signsalong the way. A west to east route to follow isdescribed below:
West Gateway – Route starts at SR 15 andPutnam County Road (CR) 11 north of Ottawa,and goes west and south through Glandorf viaState Route (SR) 694.
At US 224, the route turns left / east into Ottawaand jogs left / north on Hickory St., then right /east on 3rd St., turning right / south on Moe St.At US 224 again, the Byway turns left / east for ashort distance, then goes right / south-east onOld US 224, or Agner St., winding along the riverthru Gilboa to the Hancock – Putnam County line.
In Hancock County, travelers head intoFindlay on US 224 to CR 223 just west of
Interstate 75, turning right / south-east alongthe river and under the Interstate. At BroadAve., turn right / south crossing the Blan-chard River (road then becomesWesternAve) to West Main Cross, SR 12. The routeturns left / east thru Downtown Findlay,
along the river to Bright Rd. At the bridge, turnright / south on Bright Rd. and then left / eastright away onto SR 568, soon crossing the riveragain, and on to Marion Township Road (TR)241. Turn right / south on TR 241 across the river,then left / east on TR 208 thru Riverbend Park,turn right / west around the Findlay Reservoirsvia TR 207. At Hancock CR 234, turn left / southon CR 234 to SR 37, left / south-east on SR 37,crossing SR 15 and on to Mt. Blanchard. South ofthe village, the route continues straight south onCR 17 to Old US 30 – the East Gateway.
Glandorf ParkPlaygrounds, gardens, seasonal restrooms, trails,picnic areas
St. John the Baptist Church - 1878Gardens, cemetery & monument
Our Lord’s Park, OttawaRest stop in Downtown, fountain
Ottawa Main StreetArchitecture, shops & services
Hotel DuMont / Schnipke Inn - 1901Restaurant with exhibits inside
Putnam County Courthouse Square - 1912Courthouse, Firemans’Monument, Clock andChamber of Commerce office nearby(www.OttawaOhioChamber.com)
Third Street Historic DistrictBrick street, old homes
Waterworks Park, OttawaLog/scout house, shelterhouse, picnic areas,gazebo, senior center
Harman Cemetery (log cabin nearby)A century of tombstones
Gilboa Main Street Historic DistrictOld homes, historic bridge to walk over the river,park, church and Gilboa Stone Quarry (scubadiving center) on west edge of village
Sidetrips recommendedinclude:
� Ottawa - the railroad depot- 1878 at 4th St. andTaft Avenue
� Near Gilboa via Road 5 to1889 Crawfis College site andCherry’s Farm Market(on US 224)
Heritage Trail CenterStart of nationally recognized 20mile Boy Scout trail to Van HornCemetery, horse trail
Island Park, Mt. BlanchardJohnny Appleseed monument, shelters,restrooms, trails & overlook along river
Sidetrips recommended include:� FindlayWest Sandusky Street HistoricArea with Hancock Historical Museumwith many buildings/ exhibits, old homesbetween Main Street andWestern Avenue
� North Main Street to Riverwalks andUniversity of Findlay InternationalChildren’s Book Art and Mazza Museum
� South on Osborn Avenue at Riverside Park toSandusky St., then east to Tell Taylor birth-place, County Fairgrounds and Brinkman’sCountry Corner
The Top 20 Points of InterestSites selected are generally open and accessible to the
public with interesting, visual and interactive experiences.S. Agner St.Old US 224
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The Old Mill Stream Scenic Byway
Blanchard River
Blanchard RiverOttawa
Glandorf
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CR 86
TR 89
CR 223
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TR 95
TR 207
CR 205
TR 173
TR 168
TR 172
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TR 165CR 37
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East Gateway �
See Ottawadetail below
The Scenic Bywaymap shows the
variety of highwaysthat can be
traveled in eitherdirection or taken in
small day trips.The blend of brick
streets inOttawa andwinding river roads bywaterfalls and sweep-ing curves throughthe countryside offera pleasurable driving
experience for52miles.
Sawmills, gristmills and waterpower shaped aregion for Native Americans and settlers, carvinga country out of the Ohio wilderness bounded by
rivers and the Great Black Swamp. The 1910’s ballad,Down By The Old Mill Stream by local songwriterTell Taylor is a signature of the times, giving its nameto the scenic route meandering along the Blanchard River.
The Old Mill Stream Scenic Byway stretches 52 miles overHancock and Putnam counties, linking the Lincoln HighwayNational Historic Byway to small villages, parks, landmarksand Findlay Flag City USA. Travelers can experience both Ohio’sheritage and hospitality – it’s a Sunday drive, everyday, all seasons of the year!
