Ohio History Journal

THE SERPENT MOUND SAVED.

IT gives us great pleasure to record that a beginning has

been made in the work of effectually preserving the mounds

and earthworks of our State.   The celebrated Serpent

mound, on the Lovett farm, near the northern border of

Adams county, has been purchased for the Trustees of the

Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology

of Cambridge, Mass., and henceforth will be sacredly pre-

served by them for the study of future archaeologists. This

purchase has come about through the enlightened interest of

Professor F. W. Putnam, curator of this museum, and Pro-

fessor of American Archaeology and Ethnology in Harvard

University. Upon observing the ravages which time and

the elements were making with this most valuable archaeolog-

ical relic, he called the attention of some of his friends to

the importance of immediate action. Professor Putnam's

own account of the steps toward the purchase of this mound

are worthy of preservation. We quote from a communica-

tion made by him to the Cincinnati Post, June 4, 1887.

"Four years ago I visited the famous Serpent mound in

Adams county. Last fall, in company with Mr. Kimball, I

revisited the mound, and found that it had suffered much

from wash-outs since my former visit. It was evident that if

steps were not at once taken for its preservation it would

soon be a thing of the past. This led me to write a letter

which was published in the Boston Herald, and was widely

copied by the press. About that time Miss Alice C.

Fletcher, who is so well known for her efficient work among

and for the Omaha Indians, and from the papers she has

written relative to the Indians, knowing of my desire to save

several of the prehistoric monuments of Ohio from destruc-

tion, mentioned it at a lunch party of Boston ladies in New-

port, and interested them to such an extent that they

opened a correspondence with me, stating that they were

187

• 1
 

188    Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

ready to assist in the work of preservation. As a result of

this three Boston ladies took the matter in hand, and with

the assistance and encouragement of Mr. Francis Parkman

and Mr. Martin Brimer, they issued a little circular setting

forth the importance of preserving the Serpent mound by

purchasing it and placing it in the charge of the trustees of the

Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology

one of the departments of Harvard University. The money

asked for was soon obtained, and the trustees passed a vote

agreeing to accept the trust. During this time I was in con-

stant correspondence with Mr. Lovett, upon whose farm the

mound is situated, and on the 17th of May I left home for

the purpose of making the purchase of so much of Mr. Lov-

ett's farm as could be agreed upon. The negotiations have

now terminated, and a purchase of about sixty acres of the

Lovett farm has been agreed upon, and a topographical sur-

vey of the tract is being made. The portion of the farm in-

cluded in the purchase begins at Brush creek, which flows

along the base of the high cliff on which is situated the singu-

lar earthwork in the form of a serpent more than a thousand

feet in length, in whose open mouth is an egg-shaped em-

bankment, having a long diameter of nearly one hundred

feet. The land purchased extends south of the serpent to

the new pike now being made, thence eastward, so as to in-

clude a never-failing spring of nice water, and a mineral

spring near by, in a beautiful grove of maples; thence north to

the private road leading from Mr. Lovett's house to the creek

bottom, which road is the northern boundary to the creek.

To the southeast of the serpent, on the hill between it and the

spring, is a large conical mound, of course included in the

purchase, and probably having a close connection with the

history of the serpent. This, then, is what has been done, and

how it was done. Now for what is proposed to be done.

To state that in a few words is simply to say that a beau-

tiful natural park will be secured for the benefit of all who

wish to visit it, free of charge, so long as it is respected,

and no vandalism committed."

Thus "a monument, which is to be forever protected

• 2
 

The Serpent Mound Saved.           189

 

where it was placed by its builders, an enigma for the present

and a study for the future, is placed in charge of this museum

for safe-keeping. The deed of the land is a conveyance from

John T. Wilson to the following named trustees of the Pea-

body Museum and their successors: Hon. Robert C. Win-

throp, Boston; Prof. Asa Gray, Harvard University; Dr.

Henry Wheatland, President Essex Institute, Salem; Hon.

Theodore Lyman, Brookline; Hon. George F. Hoar, Presi-

dent American Antiquarian Society, Worcester; Francis C.

Lowell, Esq., Boston, and Professor Frederick W. Putnam,

President Boston Society of Natural History.

"In relation to the Serpent Mound Park, as I propose to

name the place, I can only add that it is my plan to pass the

autumn on the place, restoring the Serpent mound where

it has been injured, and in strict acordance with the survey

made by Squier and Davis in 1849, when it was covered by

a heavy growth of trees, which were nearly all prostrated by

the great tornado about 1859, two maples alone escaping that

terrible blast. The fields that are now in wheat will be made

into beautiful blue grass lawns, trees will be planted in various

places, paths will be made, shaded by trees, and in doing this

I hope to place in the park every species of tree found in

Adams county. This portion will be fenced in, and horses

will not be allowed beyond the fence. Along the eastern

border a road will be made from the new pike to the grove and

springs, where hitching-posts and a horse-trough will be placed.

The grove will be clear of underbrush, and a spring-house

will be made, so that parties taking their lunch along will

have cool water and a comfortable place in which to rest and

lunch, and a shelter in case of rain. So long as the place is

respected and guarded by all who visit it, the park will be

free to all, but should any vandalism be committed, an ar-

rangement would at once be made to put a keeper at the

place, and possibly entrance fees would have to be charged

in order to pay the expense. But certainly the people will

respect a place thus gratuitously prepared and opened for

their benefit, to see and enjoy, but not to injure.

• 3
 

190    Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

"To reach the park from Cincinnati, take the Cincinnati and

Eastern road to Peebles, a four hours' ride, where there is a

good livery kept by Mr. G. Gallagher, from whom teams

can be hired. A drive of two hours by the present road, in

part very rough, will bring parties to the mound. Next

season the new pike and road will be ready, and the distance

will be reduced. With this illustration of the great interest

taken in the ancient monuments of your State, will not the

people of Ohio be aroused to the importance of securing

others from destruction? There are many others as import-

ant as the "Serpent," which should be protected at once-

Fort Ancient, on the Little Miami; Fort Hill, on Brush

Creek, about ten miles above the Serpent; the fortified hill,

in Butler county. Several of the works in the Scioto valley,

such as the those at High Bank and Cedar Bank, near Chilli-

cothe; the great banks at Piketon, and many others, deserve

special attention, and some legislative act ought to be passed

at once to that end. Ohio will be held in disgrace if she

lets her centennial celebration go by without such action.

For such an object all parties can unite for the credit of your

great and beautiful State, and I pray that it may be done.

"Respectfully,          F. W. PUTNAM."

• 4