Ohio History Journal

274       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MOUND

CITY PARK

Mr. A. C. Spetnagel, Chairman of the Committee,

read the following report:

The Committee appointed to supervise the restoration of

the Mound City Group of prehistoric earthworks and the con-

struction of a state park from the tract on which they are lo-

cated, offers the following brief report:

Foreword

For the benefit of those who may not be informed, it may

be stated that the Mound City group of earthworks is one of

the most important in the state. It consists of 23 burial mounds,

lying within a rectangular earthen embankment or enclosure,

embracing 13 acres. The group was brought forcefully to the

attention of the archaeological world through its partial explora-

tion, and the report thereon, by Squier and Davis, in 1847. The

great finds of these pioneer explorers were equalled or surpassed,

however, when this Society carried out complete examination of

the group in 1919-1920.

At the time of the construction of Camp Sherman, in which

the group is located, the Director of the Museum succeeded in

averting threatened destruction of the mounds, through personal

appeal to the military authorities, and later, as above stated, ef-

fected their scientific exploration. At the close of the war, mainly

through the efforts of Mr. Albert C. Spetnagel, of Chillicothe,

the War Department of the Federal government was prevailed

upon to turn over to the Society the area on which the mound

group is located, together with desirable additional acreage --

a total of 57 acres -- in order that the noted prehistoric monu-

ments might be preserved in the form of a state park.

The site of the Mound City group is not of archaeological

interest alone: for it has been the scene of military cantonments

in three wars -- the War of the Rebellion; the Spanish-Amer-

ican War, and the late World War. Without doubt no other

site in Ohio combines, in so great a measure, records of pre-

historic and historic human activities.

Realizing the importance of the site and the desirability of

its restoration and conversion into a state park, the State legis-

lature, at its recent session, appropriated the sum of $2,000 for

this purpose.

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Fortieth Annual Meeting              275

 

On October 1, the preliminary work of clearing the Mound

City area of obstructions and beginning the restoration of the

mounds and earthwork, was begun by the Society, with Curator

H. C. Shetrone in charge. The ten days, up to the present time,

have been spent in carting away refuse -- some 50 wagon loads

--left on the tract as a result of razing the barrack buildings

formerly occupying the site; in grubbing, mowing and burning

the dense growth of brush which had taken possession of the

area since its abandonment as a cantonment: and in grading and

filling in basements, grease-traps and other depressions in the

surface.

In view of the fact that several of the smaller mounds of

the group were graded off in the construction of the canton-

ment and their exact locations made uncertain, it was thought

advisable to subject the area immediately occupied by the earth-

works to deep plowing, which already has begun. This will

facilitate the locating of missing mounds, and in addition will

disclose further burials and habitation evidences that may exist,

besides aiding materially in leveling and grading the land.

Preliminary to beginning the work of restoration and park-

ing, Mr Spetnagel and Curator Shetrone called upon Dr. Row-

land, superintendent of the U. S. Veterans' Hospital, at Camp

Sherman, and solicited his cooperation and assistance. Dr. Row-

land and his farm manager, Mr. Dean Godden, graciously con-

sented to extend the Society whatever aid lay within their

command, particularly as regards machinery, tools and power.

Owing to extensive farming operations, no laborers are available,

and power is available only when teams or tractors can be spared.

However, we already have had the use of a team and wagon

for several days, and at present are using a tractor and mowing

machine. All these aids are without cost, and their use will ef-

fect a material saving to the Society, and result in the limited

fund available for the work reaching much farther than it oth-

erwise would. The committee wishes heartily to thank Dr.

Rowland and Mr. Godden for their assistance.

The work of restoration and preliminary parking will con-

tinue for two, or three weeks, weather conditions permitting.

Further progress will be made next spring.

There is one feature of the restoration and parking prob-

lem that has given the committee considerable anxiety, to which

the serious attention of the membership is invited. Through

the efforts of Director Mills, the Y. M. C. A. building, situated

upon the tract, was secured to the Society for use in its park

plans. In common with other buildings of the cantonment, it

has suffered seriously as a result of exposure, neglect and van-

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276       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

dalism since the abandonment of the cantonment. The building

consists of two parallel structures, connected by an enclosed

passage-way. Either of the two would be a complete building

of itself. However, the rear portion, and much the larger of the

two, has suffered regrettably as a result of rain and snow reach-

ing its interior through broken windows and defective roof. The

front structure, fortunately, is in very good condition, roof and

floors being intact, and walls carefully ceiled with matched lum-

ber. It contains a large brick fireplace and other conveniences,

and would readily lend itself to repair. This smaller front por-

tion, together with the connecting structure would, at no great

outlay, be convertible into an acceptable dwelling.

Since presumably the ultimate plans for the park will de-

mand a dwelling for a caretaker, as well as a shelter house of

some sort; and in view of the fact that another winter's expo-

sure, without repairs, will detract very materially from the value

of the building in question, it is the sentiment of the Committee

that some means of taking advantage of conditions at this time

would effect a saving of several hundreds of dollars to the So-

ciety. The logical procedure, the committee believes, would be

to salvage the larger portion of the structure, now rapidly de-

preciating, but containing much valuable lumber, and to utilize

this lumber for the repair of the smaller structure, for use as a

caretaker's dwelling, and for the construction of a shelter house.

Immediate steps might be confined to salvaging the larger

structure, using sufficient window-frames, doors and lumber to

make the smaller portion secure against the winter's devastations,

and piling or storing in the latter the surplus lumber to be used

later.

The Committee knows of no fund or means of effecting this

much-needed measure, but feels it to be its duty to bring the

situation to the attention of the Society.

In submitting this report, the Committee cannot but voice

its enthusiasm for the future of the project under consideration.

In addition to its paramount archaeological and historical im-

portance, the site of the state park now under construction is

altogether ideal. Its eastern boundary borders the Scioto river

for almost one-third of a mile, the declivitous bank dropping

some sixty feet to the water's level. The view of the river from

this vantage point is most charming, while directly to the east-

ward, across its waters is seen the historic Mount Logan and its

companion hills -- a most inspiring view. The fact that the loca-

tion of the park is so central and so easily available, will result

in thousands of visitors annually. In our opinion, it will im-

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Fortieth Annual Meeting                     277

 

mediately become one of the Society's most valuable and appre-

ciated out-door museums.

Respectfully submitted,

(Signed) A. C. SPETNAGEL,

Chairman.

On motion the report was ordered received and filed.

President Johnson stated that the recommendations

made in the report of Mr. Spetnagel will be referred to

the Board of Trustees.

Secretary Galbreath read certain proposed changes

in the Constitution of the Society, as follows:

Insert at the close of the first paragraph of Section I, Ar-

ticle 3, the words: "Seven members shall constitute a quorum

of the Board of Trustees", making the section read as follows:

Section 1. The government of this Society shall be vested in a board

of fifteen (15) trustees, nine (9) of whom shall be elected by ballot by

the Society at its annual meetings. The other six (6) trustees necessary

to complete the number of fifteen (15) shall be appointed by the Governor

of Ohio, as provided by the legislative (joint) resolution of April 16,

1891, (88, O. L., 1932), two to be appointed each year to serve for the

period of three years or until their successors are appointed and qualified.

The nine (9) elected by the Society shall be divided into three classes,

three (3) only being elected each year, to serve for three years each from

the time of their election, or until their successors are elected and qualified.

In case a vacancy occurs among the trustees thus elected by the Society

during their term of service, the remaining trustees shall fill such vacancy

until the next annual meeting of the Society, when the vacancy shall be

filled by the Society. Seven members shall constitute a quorum of the

Board of Trustes.

The Governor of the State of Ohio shall be ex-officio a member of

the Board of Trustees of the Society; also the Superintendent of Public

instruction as provided by the "administrative code," approved April 26,

1921.

In Section 2, Article 3, strike out the word "Curator" in the

third line and insert in lieu thereof the word "Director". Strike

out the last sentence which reads: "Seven members of the Board

of Trustees shall constitute a quorum", making the section read

as follows:

Sec. 2. The Board of Trustees shall elect a President, two Vice-

Presidents, a Treasurer, a Secretary, a Director and such other officers or

agents as the proper management of the Society may require.

In the third paragraph of Section 5, Article 4, insert after

"Curator" in the second line the words "or Curators", making

the section read as follows:

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