OLD MAN''S CAVE

THIS CAVE IN HOCKING HILLS STATE PARK OF SOUTHEAST OHIO WAS A PLACE WHERE MY PARENTS, BROTHER, AND I FREQUENTLY VISITED. WE HIKED THROUGH THE HILLS AND THE OPEN CAVE SURROUNDED BY FORES. THE CAVE IS PART OF A MILE LONG GORGE. WITH WATERFALLS, CLIFFS, AND ROCK FORMATIONS. IT HAS A HEMLOCK TREE THAT IS 149 FEET TALL.- THE TALLEST TREE IN OHIO. THE CAVE WAS HOME TO A HERMIT WHO LIVED HERE IN THE 19TH CENTURY. THERE ARE FIVE MAIN SECTIONS. TO THE CAVE: UPPER FALLS, UPPER GORGE. MIDDLE FALLS, LOWER FALLS AND LOWER GORGE. THEY HAVE A SIX MILE TRAIL CALLED GRANDMA GATEWOOD TRAIL.



ASH CAVE IS ANOTHER CAVE IN THE STATE PARK. IT SPANS 700 FEET AND IS HORSHOE-SHAPED IT IS 100 FEET DEEP WITH A 90 FOOT HEIGHT. IT HAS A WATERFALL THAT CASCADES OVER THE RIM AND IN THE WINTER IT FREEZES. THE SHAWNEE AND OTHER INDIANS USED IT AS A SMALL TEMPORARY SHELTER.



ROCK HOUSES IS ANOTHER FEATURE THAT IS ACCESSED BY A MODERATELY STEEP TRAIL. WILLIAM REYNOLDS OWNED A FARM THAT INCLUDES THE ROCK HOUSE.

HE USED IT AS A BARN. IN 1863 REYNOLDS WAS DOING SOME EVENING CLASSES. WILLIAM REYNOLDS IN 1863 WAS DOING SOME EVENING CHORES AND MET A BEAR. HE WAS SEVERELY MAULED AND DIED WITHIN A WEEK. HIS WIDOW AND CHILDREN LOAD ALL THEIR POSSESSIONS ON A COVERED WAGON AND FOUND LAND TO FARM IN MARION COUNTY. HER DESCENDANTS STILL LIVE THERE.



IN THE ROCK HOUSE THERE ARE TWO TURPENTINE STILLS OR DEPRESSIONS WHICH THE INDIANS MADE BY CARVING SANDSTONE SHELVES SMALL CHANNELS LEADED OVER TO THE LIP OF THE SHELF. TURPENTINE WAS VITAL TO TO THEW INDIANS IN ORDER TO USE AS AN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL MEDICINE. THEY'D PLACE PIECES OF PITCH PINEWOOD IN ONE DEPRESSION. A LAYER OF FLAT SANDSTONE PLACED OVER WOOD AND A FIRE BUILT ON TOP OF IT. HEAT WOULD DRIVE OUT THE SAP OF THE WOOD AND IT WOULD FLOW THROUGH A CHANNEL. AND POUR THE SAP WOOD AND IT WOULD FLOW THROUGH A CHANNEL AND POUR INTO A VESSEL. BY THE LATE 1700'S THE NATIVES WERE DRIVEN OUT












1800 HOCKING -COM