at Kenyon College Field Notes July 2014 Vol. 18 / No.3 July, August, September Before the State Route 229 that we know today, a wagon road followed the river between Mount Vernon and Gambier. This photo appeared in William Bodine’s 1891 “The Kenyon Book.” change the name back to the melodic original, which thankfully stuck.1 Though it makes for an interesting tale, thousands of years prior to the river’s naming a much larger regime of change led to its birth from a immense sheet of ice known as the Wisconsin glacier. Prior to its advance, the Ko- kosing River did not exist, nor the Ohio River. Instead, the great Teays River flowed from east to west through the center of the state. River of the Little Owls The Wisconsin glacier advanced 20,000 years ago over the Teays valley, scrap- ping, grinding and trapping all manner The State Scenic Kokosing River winds through the of earth and stone under its frozen heart of our community and colors our past with mass. As it receded, great volumes of melt water cut new river valleys, in- tales of ice, exploration, and survival. cluding the Kokosing’s. Boulders and The first of a two-part series, by Heather Doherty crushed rock were also released from the ice and deposited on the river’s edges. The Kokosing River runs through the that explores how the river connects us heart of Knox County and Mount to our past and touches us today. Fast-forward to 1890, and that glacial Vernon, and has long been central to debris becomes an important local com- life in the region. It provided a home modity: sand and gravel. The opening for Native Americans for thousands of of quarries and availability of sand years, and later carried settlers and The Kokosing River has survived sev- contributed to a glass-making industry their growing economy. The river re- eral identities. Though the exact that employed 1,000 people in Knox mains one of our greatest natural as- origin of its name has been the subject County at its height in 1950’s, and sets, attracting residents and visitors of debate, a common theory holds that quarries continue to operate today. (A with opportunities to recreate or simp- the name “Kokosing” was used by the soon-to-open portion of the Ariel- ly revel in its beauty. Algonquin Indians and meant “River of Foundation Park, located next to the the Little Owls.” This name was angli- river in Mount Vernon, will feature Our river is a special one. With tree- cized into “Owl Creek”, which was the “ruins” of a Pittsburg Plate Glass facto- lined banks and much of its natural river’s name as early settlers knew it. ry - see arielfoundationpark.org). character intact, it boasts an outstand- ing wealth of wildlife. In 1998 it joined Bishop Philander Chase founded Ken- The glacier also left a gift that we enjoy the ranks of a select group of “State yon College in 1824, and for unknown every time we draw a glass of water Scenic” rivers designated by the Ohio reasons dubbed the Kokosing the from a faucet in most of Knox County - Department of Natural Resources. "Vernon River.” One of his successors, ample pockets of groundwater that we Bishop Gregory Thurston Bedell, suc- access through public and private This article is first of a two-part series cessfully lobbied a few decades later to wells. The (real) ninja turtle…….………. page 3 Take a Hike, Win a T-shirt! ..……... page 4 INSIDE... Nature Photo Contest………..….. page 6 Calendar of Events …................... page 6 PAGE 2 VOLUME 18 / NO.3 Groundwater sustains life of the river source center in the coming year). Muskingum and Ohio Rivers. as well when it naturally makes its Frederick Lorey’s “History of Knox way to the surface, seeping upward County, Ohio 1876-1976”, documents As Ohio’s forests were cleared, soil ero- either directly through the riverbed or early settlement of the area. He notes sion altered the river, making it more through small springs that are com- that the tributary stream Indianfields shallow and less suitable for commer- mon in the area. Springs contribute Run was named for a village and agri- cial boat traffic. As mills closed, roads consistent, cold water to small creeks cultural field at the creek’s confluence and railroads rose to prominence. that then flow into the Kokosing. Cold with the Kokosing River, located about water holds more oxygen, which is five miles east of Gambier. Visitors great for sensitive species. are welcome to explore the area now as the Knox County Park District’s Indi- The Kokosing River encircles Kenyon As etched by the glaciers, the Kokosing anfields Bluff Park. College in geography and history. It River flows for 57 miles through a loosely winds around the campus on drainage basin, or watershed, of 485 The Greenville Treaty of 1795 was fol- three sides, and the adjacent rolling square miles. The river and its tribu- lowed by a rapid decline of Indian pres- hills make for scenic views of its valley. taries originate in Morrow County and ence in our region. But like the Native Those familiar with the college enjoy a Richland County, and flow south and Americans before them, early settlers view of the river from “sunset point,” east through Knox County. The river relied on the river for transportation. while the BFEC’s Pine Overlook Trail passes through Mt. Vernon, Gambier, At the time, there was simply no alter- and Observatory and Corridor Trails Howard, and Millwood before crossing native aside from Native American offer other vantage points. east into Coshocton County where it footpaths. Like so many other towns joins the Mohican River to form the in America, Mount Vernon’s access to a When Bishop Philander Chase founded Walhonding River. river lead to the settlement and pros- the college here 1824, its distance from perity. civilization was met with strenuous These rivers and several others even- objection by members of the Board of tually flow into the Muskingum River, Shortly before Ohio gained statehood Trustees, to the extant that several followed by the Ohio River and the in 1803, Andrew Craig became the ar- resigned2. On his initial trip to scout Mississippi, and eventually the Gulf of ea’s first documented settler when he the area, he was accompanied by Wil- Mexico. The next time it rains in Knox traveled up the Kokosing River and liam Bodine, author of “The Kenyon County, wish those drops a nice trip to stopped near present-day Mt. Vernon. Book”, who noted several small farms the Atlantic. He later moved west, and was followed in the vicinity, though westward were by Nathaniel Mitchell in 1803, who “suggestions of unconquered wilder- also came up the river. Gilman Bry- ness.” Despite the objections, the Ko- ant, Mt. Vernon’s first storekeeper, kosing River valley spoke to them: Prior to European settlement, in the brought his first stock of merchandise 18th and early 19th centuries, the Ko- up the Kokosing River by canoe. “The whole panorama of the beau- kosing River valley was home to small tiful valleys that lay at our feet, the villages and hunting grounds of several In the early 1800's the flow of the Ko- undulating line and varying surface Native American tribes, including Hu- kosing River powered machinery that of the distant hills,... with the wind- ron, Shawnee, Wyandotte and Dela- was vital for human sustenance and ings of the river, all were brought in- ware. Farmers, historians, and archeo- shelter: mills for sawing wood and to view, and presented a scene and logical enthusiasts continue to find a grinding grain. Water depths (aided landscape of unsurpassed lovliness wealth of stone tools and points in by some dams) were sufficient to carry and beauty. It certainly so appeared fields and river beds; the BFEC pre- flat boats loaded with agricultural and to me then, and so it seemed to strike serve has turned up its own small col- wood products downstream to the our good Bishop. .... he expressed his lection (look for a display at the re- Walhonding River, and then to the delight and satisfaction in the brief Continued on page 4…. The Little Owl The name “Kokosing” was given to the river by Native Americans, and loosely means “River of the Little Owls.” It’s hard to know what owl populations were like 300 years ago, at a time when Ohio also harbored wolves, bison, and antelope. But they could have been speaking of Ohio’s littlest owl, the screech owl, which stands at just 8” and lives in forests and suburbs. Or maybe they had the barred owl in mind; though not so small, it especially loves riverine forests where it snacks on frogs. As both the “Kokosing” and the anglicized translation “Owl Creek”, the river is part of what defines our region, and has been justly appropriated as a namesake. The owl image featured above is the logo of the Owl Creek Conservancy, which works to conserve natural and agricultural land in Knox County (owlcreekconservancy.org). There’s also the Owl Creek Produce Auction near Fredericktown, and the Owl Creek Baptist Church and cemetery on Owl Creek Road southeast of Mt. Vernon. Two Kenyon College acapella groups, the Owl Creeks and the Kokosingers, sooth us like the sweet sound of the river. VOLUME 18 / NO.3 PAGE 3 seldom found more than a few hundred feet from water, they will consistently Creature Feature: move over three hundred feet per day- considerably further than the humble box turtle.