Day 3: September 28, 2023
Land of My Youth
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It did not take long for me to reach my home state this morning, and a short time after that US-127 ran into an old friend and the two traveled together for a while. Tho point where US-127 leaves US-20 to head south is the point where I started and ended my drive of the entire US-20 two years ago (Yellowstone Trail & US-20).
I had already driven past some bridge out warnings but could no ignore this one in Sherwood. However, I found something signed as "local detour" and used that to reach the point where I could verify that the bridge was really out. I eventually crossed the Maumee River on a bridge near Cecil then almost immediately found myself waiting for a train in the rain behind a truck.
The lighthouse photo was taken from US-127 but the others were taken from a road that runs along the shore of Grand Lake beside the U.S. highway. This is the largest of three lakes created -- when that meant lots and lots of men with shovels -- to feed the Miami and Erie Canal. I grabbed some pictures at the spillway where it seems birds like to hang out, then paused to photograph some pelicans briefly.
See, I told you US-127 went through my home county.
This is also Annie Oakley's home county. In fact, all of US-127 in Darke County carries her name. She grew up beside what would become US-127 in a house that was still standing when this marker was erected as can be seen in a photo reproduced on the sign. The plaque on the stone can be read here.

Annie was born about five miles east of here at a spot I did not reach today. Her grave site is about a half mile off of US-127 a little more than three miles south of here. Her last residence is about a quarter mile from the route in Greenville. She died in this house eight days before the the official birth of US-127 and all the other United States Numbered Highways.

Greenville was bypassed by US-127 in 1970 and I was shocked when I spotted the US-127 sign in the city today. It looks rather new and I do not recall ever seeing it before. I do recall the BUSINESS LOOP sign but wasn't sure it was still there. I'm sure the newer sign is a mistake and suspect both are since I do not think any US route officially goes through Greenville anymore.
Two pieces of history stand at the intersection of US-127 and US-40 (National Road). The Nickle Saver tourist cabins, long since converted to non-tourist cabins, are on the northeast corner with the former Hines Truck Stop directly across Route 40. The truck stop was in operation from 1949 to 1990 and I have vivid memories of when it looked pretty much like this.
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