| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| deeredawn |
Posted - Nov 13 2008 : 10:00:15 AM
Sometimes you find the most amazing stuff buzzing right under your nose. In this case it's bees, but let me back up.
Frannie (cabin creek kentucky) is an inspiration to me. She tells us of wonderful, historical places right around the corner from her home that she has investigated and learned from. So, today (my birthday) I thought it'd be fun to learn and investigate something on my own and share with you as well.
I grew up in a (then) small town called Medina, Ohio. The town was built around a famous bee keeper by the name of Amos Ives Root (AI for short). Our high school mascot was a bee. Back then I knew or even cared very little about the "roots" of that town (pun intended). All I cared about was cheerleading, boys and getting out of dodge upon graduation. But today, I found myself back in town (all roads lead home ya know.... )looking for something neat to do. I found myself back in the "old" part of town where the streets are lined with Victorian Gothic homes and some streets are still in cobblestone brick. I drove past a beautiful bed & breakfast (which I fully intend to check out closer to the holidays) and a place I dont remember being there before called the Coffee Colony...however during my visit there I found that they've been there for over 25 years.....what a treasure that was! And the smells..... oreo cookie flavored coffee and tiramisu..... yum!
I then stopped at the old AI ROOT Candle Company. What a diamond in the rough!
In the early 1800's AI was a jewelry maker. He would often regall in the beauty of his creations thru the sunlight that came thru the window of the store front. One day while admiring a creation.... the view became clouded with a loud buzz. Bees had built a nest on the window darkening the view. Frusterated, AI offered a days wage of $1 to any worker that would catch them. One worker plucked a box and came in a few moments later handing the buzzing box to AI. A bewildered AI asked how he did it. The worker simply replied " catch the queen and the rest will follow".
Being the entrepenuer that AI was, he took the bees home and started researching how to profit off the bees. His research took him to nearby Cleveland Ohio where his inquisitve mind led him to create a beehive that would allow him to harvest honey with out destroying the colony of bees. That invention concreted his title as the Father of Modern BeeKeeping. By the 1920's the Root brand of honey was heralded as the finest table honey available.
At the end of that decade a local priest was looking for a better quality of candle to utilize in his services. He turned to AI Root and the rest is absolute history.
AI Root Candle Company is now owned by a fifth generation Root ancestor. AI himself was a man of integrity and and a visionary of American spirit and faith. He was a humanitarian applauded by the likes of Helen Keller and befriended by Orville and Wilbur Wright. As a matter of fact: AI got to see that initial air ship take off that famed day in Dayton, Ohio.
The original building where AI started it all in 1869 still stands. It now boasts a beyond beautiful retail center full of the most intoxicating smells anywhere.
I used to think that there was nothing special about Ohio and my hometown.... I was sooo wrong. I encourage all of you to look deeper into your hometown's history and discover what's the bees knees for you!! I am so glad I did!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens/Mother Hen
http://heirloommavens.blogspot.com
http://harvestthymefarm.blogspot.com
http://gyspycowgirlcreations.blogspot.com "I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one!"...Calamity Jane |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Contrary Wife |
Posted - Nov 14 2008 : 1:22:31 PM
Very interesting story Dawn. It sounds really neat, I've never been to the midwest, but maybe someday I could come and you could show me the sights, ;^)
Teresa Sue
Farmgirl Sister #316
MJ's Heirloom Mavens Badgebadger
MJ's Heirloom Mavens Bookclub Coordinator
"Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly." The Dalai Lama |
| deeredawn |
Posted - Nov 14 2008 : 08:41:36 AM
Well, anytime anyone is interested in a trip to Ohio, I would be honored to show them around my old home town!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens/Mother Hen
http://heirloommavens.blogspot.com
http://harvestthymefarm.blogspot.com
http://gyspycowgirlcreations.blogspot.com "I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one!"...Calamity Jane |
| Annika |
Posted - Nov 13 2008 : 1:13:21 PM
What a wonderful adventure! I'm so glad that you went home to give it a new look-see. Wish I could be with you on your birthday and am glad for Lora coming to see you for the weekend. I love old town areas, I'd love to see it one day.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, what a treasure you are Dawn!
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Mud Hen Queen
MJ's Heirloom Maven's Librarian
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| ruralfarmgirl |
Posted - Nov 13 2008 : 1:05:03 PM
Dawn,
WOW, this sounds so perfect. Good for you! I had a similar experience when returning home to my home town ( you can ead about in this months issue of MaryJanesfarm) A story called MOKI TIME... Don't you love that you can go home again and see it through "new eyes"... Love you adventure thanks for sharing it.
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://farmchicksfarm.blogspot.com/
Mavens are "information specialists", or "people we rely upon to connect us with new information."[6] They accumulate knowledge, especially about the marketplace, and know how to share it with others
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