The Ohio River in Gallipolis, Ohio

It’s funny how the even the most simple of errands can lead you on a grand and interesting adventure.  My daughter celebrated a birthday last week and in lieu of a pony, we got her a puppy.  My job was to retrieve the puppy from a little farm outside of Gallipolis, OH.  And while my sojourn there was little more than passing through, I saw and learned enough that I’m planning a trip back to the area with intents on a longer stay.

Gallipolis, OH is a small city nestled along the Ohio River first settled by the French in 1790, an immediate appeal considering my French heritage and a pleasant contrast to the German and Welsh areas where I currently live.

The downtown area is quaint with old buildings and antique shops.  Think New Orleans but on a much smaller scale and without the hookers and urine filled alleyways.

Downtown Gallipolis, OH

The area, well within the boundaries of the Appalachian foothills, is rich with natural beauty, gentle hills and gorgeous overlooks of the Ohio River.

Bridge to Point Pleasant, WV

Just across the river is Point Pleasant, West Virginia.  You may remember The Mothman Prophecies….

That was Point Pleasant, WV.

For a thirteen month period beginning in November 1966 locals reported sightings of the Mothman in and around the area along with many other strange phenomena.    On December 15, 1967 the 700 foot Silver Bridge connecting Ohio to West Virginia collapsed during evening rush hour killing 46 people.  After the catastrophe the Mothman sightings ended.  Some people considered the Mothman sightings as a warning of the impending disaster.  Spooky!

There are several lodging options available, though I think I’m going to be checking out the historic Lowe Hotel downtown on the corner of Fourth and Main Streets.  It’s budget friendly, centrally located and convenient to several area attractions:

The Mothman Statue Point Pleasant- Courtesy of Tammy Robinson

- – Tu-Endie-Wei State Park (four blocks away)- -

The park is the commemorative site of the famous Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774 between Virginia militia and American Indians.  The battle  is considered by many a precursor to the American Revolutionary War.  The park is open year round including holidays.

- – The Historic Point Pleasant Walking District (outside of the hotel doors) – -

- – Point Pleasant River Museum (four blocks away) – -

The River Museum focuses on past and present history of life and industry on the Ohio River.  The museum is closed on Mondays.

- – Point Pleasant Riverfront Park (next door) – -

- – The Mothman Museum and Research Center (in the hotel building) – -

They offer tons of information about the Mothman sightings as well as informative narrated tours to several area sighting locations.  The museum is open daily noon to 5 pm.

- – The Ohio and Kanawha Rivers (the trail is behind the hotel building) – -

Silver Bridge Collapse Marker--Point Pleasant, WV

Gallipolis, Ohio and it’s neighbor Point Pleasant, West Virginia is the idyllic area for a relaxing family get away.  Whether you’re in the mood for a soothing stroll along the banks of the Ohio River watching the riverboats pass or the thrill of investigating the unexplained, there’s just enough intrigue to keep it interesting for everyone in the family.

Photo Credits:  Ed Lamaze, Creative Commons via Flickr incendiarymind and jimmywayne22

The Marion Cemetery

Who doesn’t love a good mystery?  “Nobody!” as my 2 year old daughter would exclaim.  Not that she understands the word mystery, but that is her standard response to the question, “who doesn’t love (insert you object of choice.)”  The unexplained intrigues me and though not necessarily given to belief in paranormal happenings, should ghosts, spirits and hauntings be offered at any time as plausible explanation–I’ll get a goose bump or two.  The rotating Merchant Ball in Marion Cemetery is riddled with theories and postulations.

The Merchant Ball is a 5200 pound granite orb resting atop a five foot high pedestal.

The Merchant Ball

It is nearly 48 inches in diameter.  It is big!  It was placed in 1896 at the Merchant family plot in the Marion Cemetery as a distinguishing homage to their final resting place.  The ball was polished in place once set and at the time, one of the most impressive monuments on the eastern portion of the graveyard.  Though dwarfed by many of the grave markers erected since, the Merchant Ball to this day remains one of the most impressive and talked about in the cemetery.  For you see, the ball spins!

The family noticed after a couple of years that the large unpolished spot at the base of the ball had become visible.  The family was concerned that they had been on the receiving end of poor workmanship, had the crew reset the ball at great expense and for a time was satisfied that all was well.

Cue the mystery…

The Spot on the Merchant Ball

Over time the spot re-emerged and has since been in perpetual motion.  The mysterious rotating orb has been the subject of much study and debate and in 1929 was even included in the famous Ripley’s Believe It or Not.  Theories range from air pockets, seismic or acoustic disturbances, mischievous squirrels (that one is from my kids) to it’s just plain haunted.

Either way, it’s pretty cool and my kids had a blast investigating the Merchant Ball and offering their own explanations as to why it spins.  Oh, by the way.  Don’t go expecting to see the ball actually moving.  It has been estimated that the rotation rate is about 2 inches annually.

The Marion Cemetery is located at 620 Delaware Avenue in Marion, Ohio and is open sunrise to sunset.  Admission is of course, free.  That is, unless you plan on staying.