I'll explain why I went to the Herb Faire in a bit but for now just accept
that I did. It was a real herb faire with lots of herbs (those tables were
almost empty when I left) and even an "Herb of the Year". There were
re-enactors giving lessons in nineteenth century cooking and demonstrating
nineteenth century wood working techniques. There were musicians and a nature
walk. As the guided nature walk was setting out I, who had obviously walked
the loop backwards, was just returning from mine and met them. I missed the
benefit of the guide but did see some nature. The circa 1860 Saylor-Swartsel
house has been turned into a museum whose displays include what they say could
be the oldest piano in the country. It was built in London in
1763 and was already a century old when it came to
Preble County. Displays in other buildings include what is certainly one of
the oldest cars, or at least one of the oldest Fords, in the country. It's a
1903 Model A which was the first commercially available Ford car. About 1750
were made before it was replaced by the Model C which was eventually replaced
by the Model T which reigned until replaced by another Model A. The second
Model A Ford was superseded by the Model B and the alphabet given a chance to
recover. One of the displayed signs speaks of a time when the sensible
practice of buying your dynamite at the same place you bought you auto
supplies was fairly common. I'd think it's only a matter of time 'til that
comes back. Outside, other vehicles were displayed and against one building I
spotted a stone mile marker. I got excited when I saw that.
I came to the faire, you see, to look for a mile marker. I'd never personally
seen a marker from the Dayton Western Turnpike and had reason to believe there
might be one or two here. These buildings are only open during the summer and
then only on week days. Today was a rare chance to take a look on a weekend.
The mile marker beside the building wasn't from the DWT. It looks to be a
genuine National Road marker even though it is some sixty miles and two
counties from where it originally stood. No one I spoke with knew anything
about old mile markers but after lunch (Ever had apple-carrot soup?), I went
through the buildings again. In the picture of the Ford, a couple of totem
poles can be seen behind the car. Near them, on my second pass through the
building, I found what I was looking for. Partially hidden behind a case
containing a piece of "pavement" from a corduroy road, I saw the
word "CUMBERLAND". Along with the Dayton & Springfield
Turnpike, the Dayton Western Turnpike formed the
"Dayton Cutoff" that long
served as the de facto National Road between Springfield, Ohio, and Richmond,
Indiana. DWT markers weren't the
elaborate counterfeits of the
DST but they did feature mileage to Cumberland for a touch of authenticity.
Eureka!
