Yoctangee Park

Yoctangee Park (coor dms|39|20|20|N|82|59|04|W|) is a public park in Chillicothe, Ohio adjacent to the Historic First Capital District. City Park was the official name of the park from its establishment in 1875 until it was changed to Yoctangee Park sometime in the 1890s by William H. Hunter.

The name "Yoctangee" is a Native American word for "paint", a reference to the skin and clothing pigments of the culture native to the area.

History

The park was once known as the "Old Bed" of the River, or the "Island", because the old Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad (now the Baltimore and Ohio) built an embankment to redirect the Scioto River, leaving a marshy river bed with an island left in the center where the river once flowed through the park. For twenty years afterwards Chillicotheans attributed the chills and fever and the shaking ague to the overgrowth in the park, and every epidemic of malaria was attributed to the area, considered a plague spot.

The "Old Bed" is a part of the original Ebenezer Zane Section. This man of history is the one who blazed the trail from Wheeling to Maysville, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, under a contract with the Government, that for his services in laying out the large highway, he was to receive, at the crossing of every navigable stream, a full section of land at Wheeling one near Lancaster, and one down on the Ohio River across from Maysville, he was given a patent right by the United States of America to a plot of ground, on February 14th, 1800, and surveyed the required area which ran Northwardly for the South bank of the old Scioto River, between what are now Bridge and Mill Streets, and Northwardly, almost up to Hopetown. Zanesville got its name from Ebenezer Zane, and Zane's Trace and Trail is to become a National Pike.

After the Civil War, Chillicothe's newspapers regularly had communications from citizens and physicians, demanding that the great nuisance of the "Old Bed" had to be abated. There came a demand for the acquirement of this spot by the city, for the purpose of draining and cleaning up this pestilential and poisonous cesspool.

To finance the purchase of the property, Honorable John H. Putnam member of the Ohio Legislature from this city, had a special Act passed, whereby the municipality had a right to levy a tax for the purchase. It appears that out of the virulence of the miasma and much shaking for ague, grew the demand for a clean-up of the unhealthy zone, and contemporaneously there happened to be an abnormal amount of unemployment, so that when the proposition was put to the Council to eradicate the evil, there were willing hands.

Historical Landmarks

The Pump House Art Gallery occupies the building which was once Chillicothe's pump house and is now part of Yoctangee Park. The 1882 historical brick building offers tours rentals, and free admission.

The city owns the former National Guard armory in what is now Yoctangee Park. The building was originally built in the early 20th century. Council has yet to decide what to do with the armory and has mothballed it. There have been a few ideas suggested for the building, such as a military museum or an orangerie, but due to lack of funding nothing has moved forward.

Two historic B&O Railroad caboose cars are on display in Yoctangee Park bordering Water Street. The cars were restored by volunteers who have collected railroad memorabilia and put items on display in the cars. Tours are given of the cars on weekdays staring in spring until early fall.

Geography and facilities

Geography

Yoctangee Park Lake is a 12 acre lake contained within Yoctangee Park. Canoeing is sometimes available on the lake during festivals or by reservation.

Facilities

Park annex

An annex to the original Yoctangee Park area provides 40+ acres of soccer and baseball/softball fields to the north. The Chillicothe Youth Soccer League (CYSL) and YMCA provide youth soccer leagues in this area.

Events

Hoverally

Hoverclub of America sponsors an annual hovercraft race is held in the Yoctangee Park Annex, spanning a section of park land and circling a small island area in the Scioto River. It is even claimed to be the largest hovercraft event in the world [http://www.hoverclubofamerica.org/Events/Chillicothe/abouthoverally.html 1] .

Feast of the Flowering Moon

May 28-30. This is a three day event involving the entire city of Chillicothe. Come and enjoy Native American Music, Dancing, Food, Arts & Crafts, Story Telling, Educational Demonstrations and much more. Three Drums: Mingo River, SouthEastern WaterSpider and Souther Singers. Special Guest: Douglas Blue Feather, 2002 & 2003 NAMMY Winner. Joseph FireCorw, 2003 NAMMY Winner. Native Violinst Arvel Bird of Singing Wolf Records.

"Also see the Chillicothe, Ohio article on this topic."

Farmer's Fall Festival

The Farmer's Fall Festival, or Fall Harvest Festival is held the first weekend in October. The festival has entertainment, crafts, flea market and more.

Concerts

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra performs a free concert annually in Yoctangee Park. Various passing bands perform concerts in the park from time to time as well.

Bicentennial Renovations

The entrance to Yoctangee Park was partially completed in 2003 and completed in2004 at a total cost of $286,000.

A convert|2|acre|m2|sing=on part just north of the Water Shop on Yoctangee Blvd. is dedicated as aVeterans Memorial Park honoring all World War II veterans.

[http://www.auditor.state.oh.us/AuditSearch/Reports/2005/City_of_Chillicothe_04-Ross.pdf 1]

Bibliography

Allen, Gertrude C. "History of the City Prks of Chillicothe, Ohio." "The Chillicothe Parks and Recreation Office".

External links

* [http://www.chillicothe.com/webcam.html Yoctangee Park Webcam] provided by Glatfelter Paper
* [http://www.bright.net/~cosenza/yoctangee.htm Yoctangee Park] page by Bradford M. Cosenza, Director, Parks & Recreation:* [http://www.bright.net/~cosenza/entrance.htm Bicentennial Entrance]
* [http://mail.gsn.k12.oh.us/~ztfbla/attractions/yoctangee.html Yoctangee Park] page by the Great Seal Network:* [http://mail.gsn.k12.oh.us/~ztfbla/attractions/bicentennial.html Bicentennial Entrance]
* [http://www.feastofthefloweringmoon.com/ Feast of the Flowering Moon]
* [http://www.bright.net/~pumpart/ Pumphouse Art Gallery]