DAY 15: ASHLAND TO MILAN (VIA OBERLIN), OH
Today's "feature attraction" is Oberlin College (but I also discovered some other interesting things).
Founded in 1933 as a community and College simultaneously, Oberlin's originators were staunch abolitionists who adhered to the philosophy of "immediacy"--that is, the immediate end to slavery. It was notably the first college in the United States to recruit both blacks and women. The long and well-documented history of the institution to this day reveals it has been true to its mission of social justice.
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| Many of the older buildings are undergoing renovations to meet their goal of a zero carbon footprint. |
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| The College is built in the middle of Oberlin, with the town occupying the land around it. |
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| The college has an intentional International focus. This memorial, located in the central plaza on campus, is dedicated to missionaries who lost their lives in the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900. These were attacks first agitated by a secret Chinese society (The Boxers), later backed by the government, to rid the country of all foreigners. |
At the edge of campus there was this statue that seemed out of placevto me, until I read the plague.
Giles Waldo Shurtleff, "believing in the ability of the Negro to aid in the fight for his freedom," formed and inspired the first regiment of colored troops in the Civil War. It was this belief in the ability of all humans that links this monument and the college.
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My first moose sighting of the trip was in Oberlin.
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I was curious where the name of the college and town came from: The founders were heavily influenced by a minister, John Fredericks Oberlin, who was putting social principles into practice in France, so they named the school and town in his honor.
For part of today I was riding "Back Roads and Beaches" bike route, A 60 mile loop in the area, part of ot runs along the southern shore of Lake Erie.
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The North Coast Inland Trail near its beginning in Oberlin.
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| Typical scene on the North Coast Inland Trail. |
Another gift I received today were several long stretches on the North Coast Inland Trail. It was warm and humid, so the smooth, shaded path gave me some much needed relief on this long cycling day. I will continue on stretches of this trail tomorrow.
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| Passing another "Ohio Century Farm" between Oberlin and Milan, OH |
Another discovery I made were these fields where they grow giant marshmallows. How cool is that!
Tonight's destination was Milan, Ohio, and the Angels Welcome Bed and Breakfast. This house was built in 1828, and stayed in the same family until 1900. Judy and Bernie (great hosts!) bought the house in 2003 and have been operating their B&B since then. It is one of the three original buildings in town.
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| Angels Welcome B&B, Milan, OH. |
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I "hitched" my Steel Horse to the hiching post out front of the B&B.
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Today's mileage: 70.3
Total mileage this trip: 668.0
Total on the Underground Railroad:
1783.3 miles
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