Down by the Old Mill House LbNA #46877 (ARCHIVED)

Castalia Quarry Reserve has changed some since my first visit there
a few years ago. The Quarry Rim trail was the only well-defined
trail at the time. Since then, a loop trail has been developed
through the wooded area on the north side of OH-101. Even more
recently, i discovered two new trails between the road and the big
hole in the ground. When i saw the sign for the Old Crusher Mill
House Trail, i decided to explore. And i found ruins!

Ruins! Ruins are mysterious and captivating. Whenever i see an
old, collapsed foundation or a thoroughly rusted machine in the
middle of the woods, my mind wanders and i wonder what it could
have been. I also wonder how old it might be, and i marvel at how
nature reclaims things that sit unattended for too long. Wagner
Quarry #5, as this place was once known, was active from the 1870s
until 1929, then again from 1954 until operations ceased in 1965.
Over the last forty-some years, trees and other plant life have
been busy taking the area back. A walk along this loop trail will
reveal to you an interesting combination of old human construction
and the plants and animals of a new wooded area.

To locate this letterbox hybrid, park in the lot
on the north side of OH-101, cross the road, and follow the trail
into the park. You will see the Old Crusher Mill House trailhead to
your right. Follow the trail until you see the large concrete
blocks. There are almost five feet tall, with rusty boats at the
top. The sign says that this was the old crusher foundation.
According to
park brochures, the crusher and mill house were built when the
quarry was reopened in 1954 to quarry stone for the construction of
the Ohio Turnpike.

An arrow points you to the trail on the right, but the trail is
a loop and the scenery is straight ahead! Ignore the arrow and
follow the trail straight past the old foundation and the
mysterious scrap metal on the right side of the trail. As you walk
the trail, keep your eyes open for railroad ties, spikes, and
concrete and metal industrial remnants back in the woods. When the
trail splits and one branch goes up the hill, stay low on the Old
Crusher Mill House trail. Soon, moss-covered limestone walls will
give way to a concrete wall and two ramps sloping down. A sign past
the second ramp indicates that this is the Old Mill House, which
was used to size stone.

After looking around here, continue along the trail past two
utility poles. Just two! There must have been more at one time. The
trail will curve, slope down a hill with three stairs, and double
back. You are now quite near to OH-101 and traveling roughly
eastbound. If you look in the woods to your right, you will
eventually spy a structure of concrete and rusty metal. Beyond
that, the path will wind down a slight hill. When you reach bottom,
you will be able to see a stone wall to the left. As you start back
up the hill, keep looking to the left for a large, hollow tree. It
is larger in diameter than most of the trees around here, and it is
about 30 to 40 feet off the trail. This last leg, between trail and
tree, is overgrown but passable. At the base of the dead tree, you
will find the box.

As always, thanks to the Erie Metroparks
for allowing letterboxes in their parks. Thanks for all your
support!

This box is cross-listed as a geocache on geocaching.com.