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William Meek

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Michigan, Saint Joseph County, Constantine
William Meek came to the area in 1828 from Ohio. In 1829, he purchased 121 acres where the Fawn River joins the St. Joseph River. His family came in 1829, as did four others. In 1831 the Village was platted. Meek built a grist mill and a saw mill. By 1837 there were many homes and businesses: carriage and wagon factories, blacksmiths, 3 saddle shops, 3 mercantile houses, Meek’s gristmill and sawmills, a shingle mill and flour mills, a fanning mill factory, several mechanics, cabinet and furniture shops, a foundry, tanneries, and farm machinery and equipment factories. The Village of Constantine was incorporated in 1837, but for several years people in the surrounding areas continued to call it “Meek’s Mills.”

In 1836 Meek sold his property and followed the Frontier West into Iowa.

(Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Buffalo Zoo

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New York, Erie County, Buffalo
Menagerie to Habitat. The Buffalo Zoo, like other modern zoos, has become an educational facility that focuses on conservation and reproduction of endangered species. The Zoo has reintroduced some endangered animals to their native habitats. Today's institution represents a big change from early times when zoos were collections of unusual animals often kept in poor conditions.

1875 Elam R. Jewett (Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society) Owned the land at the corner of Jewett and Parkside Avenues that became the Buffalo Zoo. The Buffalo Zoo was started when two deer were donated to the city and Mr. Jewett agreed to house them on his spacious grounds. Soon they were joined by a flock of sheep, put there to keep the meadow mowed, and bison, elk and a cow.

1930s (Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society) The Works Progress Administration renovated the Zoo, building many of the natural stone structures that contributed to Delaware Park's nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

Francis Crandall (Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society). Curator for 36 years, Crandall brought Big Frank, the elephant, to the Zoo and built the Elephant house that still stands today.

An Olmsted Park. The zoo is located in Delaware Park, a park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. For more on Olmsted, look for other Seaway Trail panels in Delaware Park.

2002. The Buffalo Zoo developed an exciting master plan to completely transform the Zoo with major new exhibits and visitor facilities. The core experience of the new zoo will be a series of realistic, immersive animal enclosures that take visitors on a journey around the world.

World of Water. The major organizing theme of the new zoo is "water." This theme was chosen because of water's historic importance to the City of Buffalo. The new exhibits enhance appreciation for animals, and their behaviors. Visitors will learn that all living plants, animals, and human cultures share the same world of water.

Zoo Timeline
2002 Plans are developed for major new exhibits with theme of water.
1980s Emphasis changes from numbers of animals to breeding and reproduction.
1973 Zoological Society takes over zoo operations.
1960s Gorillas arrive, Children's Zoo, Giraffe House, and Animal Hospital open.
1942 Reptile House opened and declared finest in America.
1938 Marlin Perkins hired as Curator, serves until 1944.
1935 Works Progress Administration begins zoo redevelopment.
1931 Zoological Society incorporated in midst of Great Depression.
1912 Elephant House built for Big Frank.
1901 First Elephant, Big Frank, arrives in time for Pan-American Exhibition.
1898 Francis Crandall is hired as Curator.
1895 First Zoo Curator, Frank J. Thompson, is hired, serves until 1898.
1890 Bear pits created. Public awareness grows, many animals donated.
1875 First permanent building. Buffalo Zoological Gardens established.
1870 A pair of deer presented to the City of Buffalo.

Cultural Heritage. Cultural Institutions were born along with Seaway Trail cities.
Seaway Trail, Inc. Corner Ray & West Main St., Sackets Harbor, NY 13685. www.seawaytrail.com America's Byways. This project was funded in part by the Federal Highway Administration and Administered by the New York State Scenic Byways Program of the New York State Department of Transportation and Seaway Trail, Inc.

(Animals • Charity & Public Work • Education) Includes location, directions, 14 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

The Flint Hill Encampment

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New York, Erie County, Buffalo
During the War of 1812, 300 American soldiers died in a camp in this area, and are buried below the large boulder directly behind you in the park meadow. 1812-2012.

(War of 1812) Includes location, directions, 5 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Grant Club Pole

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New York, Erie County, Akron
In the 1880's it was the custom in presidential campaigns to raise a pole to honor the candidate. When President U.S. Grant campaigned for a second term in 1872, the Akron Grant for President Club, raised their first oak pole, which was replaced in 1904. Both poles came from the Dexter Denio farm on the main road which was located at the junction of Route 5 and 93, one mile south of this site.

That oak pole became a landmark for the Akron-Newstead area.

This third oak pole, erected at the junction of Buell Street and Clarence Center Road, was dedicated on July 4, 1988. This oak tree was donated by Russell and Carol Rosenburg, from their farm on Greenbush Road.

(Politics) Includes location, directions, 5 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Russell Park

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New York, Erie County, Akron
On September 27, 1852, Jonathon Russell, the first settler in the Village of Akron, deeded this tract to our village with the provision that it be maintained as a public park, or if it not so maintained, it was to revert to his legal heirs. erected by Erie County Sesquicentennial Committee 1971.

(Charity & Public Work • Environment • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 6 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

William Banks Caperton

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Tennessee, Maury County, Spring Hill
Born June 30, 1855, in a house which stood here, he graduated from the Naval Academy, 1875. Served in USS Brooklyn, War with Spain. As commander, Cruiser Squadron, Atlantic Fleet, conducted Vera Cruz landing, 1915, & occupations of Haiti & Santo Domingo, 1915-16. Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, 1916. In 1917-18, his diplomatic & naval operations in the South Atlantic preserved the integrity of that area for the Allies. He died Dec. 21, 1941.

(Military • War, World I) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Fort Nesbit

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Ohio, Darke County, near New Paris
Built on this high ridge, Fort Nesbit (Nisbet) offered protection for settlers, travelers, and army supply trains in northern Preble and southern Darke counties during the War of 1812. It was part of a chain of forts that extended from Fort St. Clair to Fort Wayne and Fort Meigs during this conflict. Captain James I. Nesbit built the stockade fort and was stationed there with a company of fifty-six soldiers. After the siege by the British in the summer of 1813, Captain Nesbit's company was sent to northwest Ohio to defend Fort Meigs. Captain Richard Sloan's and Lieutenant Silas Fleming's companies of Ohio militia, which largely consisted of Preble county men, garrisoned the fort after the departure of Captain Nesbit's company. Details concerning the appearance of the fort are lacking, but there was at least one blockhouse and a stockade. The last documented use of the fort was for a wedding in 1826.

(War of 1812) Includes location, directions, 6 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Henry M. Leland

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Vermont, Orleans County, Barton
Born in Barton on February 16, 1843 to a hard working farm family, Henry Leland carried into his life the strength and quality of his family’s work ethic adding to it his gift and love for precision. By 1890, Leland was in Detroit where he had become chief engineer at Cadillac. Known as one of the world’s foremost automobile engineers, he won the Dewar Trophy twice:1909 for the concept of interchangeable parts and in 1914, with C.F. Kettering, for the automobile self-starter. At 74, he formed the Lincoln Motor Company to build aircraft engines for use in World War I. In 1919 he developed the Lincoln automobile. Henry Leland died March 26, 1932.

(Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Theodore N. Vail

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Vermont, Caledonia County, Lyndonville
bought a farmhouse on this site in 1883. Continually enlarged by Vail, it became his permanent residence and office. Conferences held here culminated in the creation of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company with Vail its president, who proceeded to develop the world’s first mass communication system.

(Communications • Industry & Commerce) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Vermont

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Vermont, Orleans County, Derby Line
Derby Line demonstrates the goodwill between Canada & the United States with its International Rotary Club, and Haskell Library and Opera House built astride the boundary line. Southward in Orleans County lie two of the New England’s most beautiful lakes: Memphremagog and Willoughby.

(Notable Places) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

1879 Fire

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New York, Fulton County, Broadalbin

This Side of Street Leveled
On January 21st. Sixteen
Businesses Were Destroyed.
It was an Economic Tragedy,
With No Loss of Life.
Broadalbin Historical Society

(Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Minnesota Valley Oil Co.

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Minnesota, Carver County, Carver
Carver Historic District
has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places

by the United States
Department of the Interior
Minnesota Valley Oil Co.
1925


(Notable Buildings) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Three Rivers Soldiers Memorial

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Michigan, Saint Joseph County, Three Rivers


On this Memorial Site
Forever Set Apart and Maintained by
Riverside Cemetery Association
There has been Erected this St. Joseph County
Native Boulder
By Ed. M. Prutzman Post G.A.R. and Woman’s Relief Corps
Citizens Generously Assisting;
And on Memorial Day May 30, 1903,
Dedicated
To the Perpetual memory of the Soldiers of
All Wars - Defenders of the Republic.

(Military) Includes location, directions, 5 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Tullahoma Campaign

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Tennessee, Franklin County, Winchester
In late June of 1863, Union Major General William S. Rosecrans launched a massive offensive from his base in Murfreesboro in an attempt to drive Confederate General Braxton Bragg’s 43,000-man Army of Tennessee from its entrenchments at Shelbyville and Wartrace, and possibly out of the state. The Union commander planned to capture Chattanooga and, in his words, “rescue loyal East Tennessee from the hands of the rebels.” The campaign was bold and swift, with relatively few engagements. By July 4th, the Union’s Army of the Cumberland, 70,000 strong, had forced a Confederate retreat to Chattanooga, leaving nearly all of Tennessee in Union hands.

Advance to Manchester
To maneuver Bragg out of the Shelbyville trenches, Rosecrans divided his army into four independent columns.

The first column advanced south from Murfreesboro, down what is today US 231, to threaten the main Confederate infantry at Shelbyville. The second moved south, through Liberty Gap. The third column marched southeast, down the Manchester Pike (US 41), the main road to Chattanooga. A fourth column advanced due east along the McMinnville Turnpike (US 70) before turning south to cross the Highland Rim below Bradyville, at Gillie’s Gap.

By June 28th, the bulk of Rosecrans’ army was in Manchester. The Union also held Shelbyville and Bragg’s entrenched lines. Rosecrans then began his push on to Tullahoma. Only rain and the poor conditions of the roads slowed the Union advance.

Bragg crossed the Elk River at Allisonia on June 30 and began a general retreat, establishing a brief headquarters at Dechard before moving up the Cumberland Plateau with Joe Wheeler’s cavalry covering the rear. Bragg bypasses Winchester in an attempt to escape Rosecrans’ constant pressure. Rosecrans will make Winchester his headquarters on July 4th.

(captions)
(upper right) Confederate General Braxton Bragg; Union Major General William S. Rosecrans
(lower left) Confederate Major General Joseph Wheeler

(Timeline)
1860 Lincoln Elected Nov 6 • South Carolina Secedes December 20

1861 Fort Sumter Attacked April 12 • First Manassas July 21

1862 Shiloh April 1-7 • Second Manassas August 29-30 • Antietam September 11 • Fredericksburg December 13 • Stones River December 31-January 3

1863 Chancellorsville May 1-4 • Vicksburg May 20-July 4 • Tullahoma Campaign June 24-July 4 • Gettysburg July 1-3 • Chickamauga September 19-20 • Chattanooga November 23-25

1864 Cold Harbor June 3 • Atlanta September 2 • Franklin November 30 • Nashville December 15-16

1865 Petersburg April 2 • Lee Surrenders April 9 • Johnston Surrenders April 16 • Forrest Surrenders May 9

(War, US Civil) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Tullahoma Campaign

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Tennessee, Franklin County, Cowan
On 4 July 1863 Union Major General Philip Sheridan’s 3rd Division (McCook’s XX Corps) was stationed here in Cowan. This was the deepest advance of Union infantry in the Tullahoma Campaign. He and his men had crossed the Elk River just above Rock Creek on July 2nd, a day before marching on to Cowan.

It was fitting that Sheridan should be in the advance. He had risen dramatically to Major General. A West Point graduate who had lived an impoverished childhood, Sheridan became not only a talented leader, but a commander notable for his ruthless approach to fighting. In 1864, Sheridan moved east and was named by General Ulysses Grant chief of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac. There he concentrated on destroying the farms, livestock, and homes in the Shenandoah Valley that provided much-needed supplies to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.

In the 1870s Sheridan would unleash his merciless view of waging war on the Plains Indians. As Commander of the Department of Missouri from 1869 to 1883, Sheridan was an unapologetic supporter of vanquishing Native American tribes. In 1875, he addressed a Texas legislature that was considering regulating the poaching of buffalo, the main source of food for Indians. Sheridan told the lawmakers that poachers should be left alone to “kill, skin, and sell until they have exterminated the buffalo. Then your prairies will be covered with speckled cattle and the festive cowboy, who follows the hunter as a second forerunner of civilization.”

(sidebar)
A Railroad War
By the late 1840s, politicians and businessmen across the country understood the potential power of the railroad. As improved technology made trains faster and more dependable, it became apparent that rivers and roads were increasingly inadequate as transportation corridors for trade. Thus, town “boosters” worked feverishly to bring the railroad to their communities and not be left behind by the power of the “iron horse.”

Nashville, the state capitol, was no exception. Promoters of Tennessee’s first railroad, the Nashville and Chattanooga, labored in the late 1840s and early 1850s to connect the city to the major east-west line, the Memphis and Charleston, at Stevenson, Alabama. Construction, however, meant blasting a 2228-foot tunnel beneath the Cumberland Plateau, just south of Cowan, in an era before modern high explosive. In 1854, Samuel F. Tracy, a New Yorker, created the Sewanee Mining Company to extract coal from the plateau. In the process a spur line was constructed just north of the tunnel, up the plateau, to the town that today bears the company founder’s name, Tracy City.

With the railroad complete in the mid-1850s, Chattanooga was a junction to four major railroads. During the war the Union Army of the Cumberland and the Confederate Army of Tennessee essentially fought for control of the line from late 1862 through late 1863. Even after the Union Army captured Chattanooga in November 1863, the line continued to attract attention from both sides. Only Union Commander William T. Sherman’s “March to the Sea” from Atlanta to Savannah in late 1864 secured the railroad against constant guerilla and cavalry activity.

(captions)
(upper left) Major General Phil Sheridan
(upper right) Rosecrans and his Staff. Sheridan is seated on the far right.
(lower right) Railroads accelerated the pace of the war. This steam locomotive is stationed at Nashville.

(Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil • Wars, US Indian) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Passing Through Cowan

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Tennessee, Franklin County, Cowan
(preface)
After the Battle of Stones River ended on January 2, 1853, Union Gen. William S. Rosecrans occupied Murfreesboro. Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg withdrew south to the Highland Rim to protect the rail junction at Tullahoma, Bragg’s headquarters, and the roads to Chattanooga. Bragg fortified Shelbyville and Wartrace behind lightly defended mountain gaps. After months of delay, Rosecrans feinted toward Shelbyville on June 23 and then captured Hoovers and Liberty Gaps the next day. A mounted infantry brigade captured Manchester on June 27. The Confederates concentrated at Tullahoma. Rosecrans planned to attack on July 1, but Bragg retreated. By July 7, the Confederates were in Chattanooga.

(main text
When the Union army outflanked Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg’s army at Tullahoma in June 1863, Bragg ordered a retreat south. On July 2, Confederate units arrived in Cowan. Bragg considered forming a defensive perimeter along the Cumberland Plateau to maintain possession of the Cumberland Mountain Tunnel (southeast down the track), since whoever controlled the tunnel controlled the vital Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. The pace of the Union advance however convinced Bragg to keep moving to Chattanooga. He considered blowing up the tunnel, but there were not enough explosives available.

Confederate Gens. Nathan Bedford Forrest and Joseph Wheeler had provided rearguard defense throughout the Tullahoma Campaign. According to local tradition, as the last Confederate cavalry unit passed through Cowan on July 3, an elderly woman stepped from the Franklin Hotel (300 feet to your left) and shouted to a passing cavalryman on horseback, “You big cowardly rascal, why don’t you turn and fight like a cur? I wish old Forrest was here. He’d make you fight.” The cavalry man was in fact Forrest.

The Union army controlled Franklin County for the rest of the war, and a garrison occupied Cowan with the sole mission of protecting the railroad and the Cumberland Mountain Tunnel. The nearby mountains provided sanctuary for bands of guerrillas. Some supported the Confederacy, while others were merely gangs of robbers. Union troops skirmished constantly with them for the duration of the war, making civil life in Cowan almost impossible.

(captions)
(lower center) Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad entering Cumberland Mountain Tunnel, 1885 with Tracy City Branch Line overpass - Courtesy Cowan Railroad Museum
(upper right) 21st Michigan Infantry, stationed at Cowan and Anderson Station, July 1863 - Courtesy Library of Congress

(Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Bragg Invades Kentucky

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Tennessee, White County, Sparta
The Army of Mississippi passed here. Forrest's Cavalry Brigade, reporting Sept. 3, moved out to screen the left flank. Here, Sept. 5, Bragg advised his army of Kirby Smith's victory at Richmond, Ky., Aug. 30. At Milledgeville, 10 mi. N., Bragg, with Polk's Right Wing, turned west to pass through Carthage: Hardee's Left Wing, screened by Wheeler's Cavalry Brigade, moved north through Gainesboro. The columns united at Tompinsville, Ky.

(War, US Civil) Includes location, directions, 1 photo, GPS coordinates, map.

Greider / Oak Grove Cemetery

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Indiana, Kosciusko County, near North Webster


Greider / Oak Grove Cemetery
Established 1868


A Historic Cemetery Listed in Indiana's Cemetery and Burial Grounds Registry of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Installed 2009 Indiana Historical Bureau and Tippecanoe Township Trustee, Thomas Reiff

(Cemeteries & Burial Sites) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Sand Hill

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New York, Montgomery County, near Fort Plain
Sand Hill
Dutch Reformed Church
First Built 1750
Burned in 1780 Raid
Rebuilt 1785 - Torn Down 1840

(Churches, Etc. • Native Americans • War, US Revolutionary) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Mock Cemetery

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Indiana, Kosciusko County, near North Webster


Mock Cemetery
Established 1832


A Historic Cemetery Listed in Indiana's Cemetery and Burial Grounds Registry of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Installed 2009 Indiana Historical Bureau and Tippecanoe Township Trustee, Thomas Reiff

(Cemeteries & Burial Sites) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
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