A N C I E N T FOOTSTEPS

By Lauren Patterson

Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries & Nature Preserve

Walk along four trails at this 533acre preserve where flint was quarried by people of multiple Indigenous cultures. The trails at this historic spot in Glenford, just southeast of Newark, total 2.5 miles. An on-site museum includes an excavated quarry pit and a look at an ancient flint workshop. See handcrafted tools such as arrowheads and knives and a map that shows exact flint quarry locations. flintridgeohio.org

Indian Mound Reserve

A combination of three Greene County parks in one (Williamson Mound, Cedar Cliff Falls and Peterson Park), Cedarville’s Indian Mound Reserve provides more than 8 miles of hiking trails across 169 acres. Begin at the Williamson Mound lot and wind your way through the interconnecting trails to access Mound Trail. This route leads hikers to the prehistoric Williamson Mound, believed to be a burial mound built by people of the Adena culture between 500 B.C. and 100 A.D. gcparkstrails.com

Fort Hill Earthworks & Nature Preserve

Five hiking trails totaling 11 miles across various elevations wait to be discovered at this 1,300-acre site near Hillsboro, located about 75 miles east of Cincinnati. The Fort Trail leads hikers to one of the country’s best-preserved ancient hilltop enclosures, where travelers can view the earthwork created by people of the Hopewell culture, likely as a ceremonial gathering place. To see a second site, take the Buckeye Trail to view the Circle Earthwork. ohiohistory.org

Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve

A National Historic Landmark, Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve spans more than 100 acres in Oregonia. It is the site of the country’s largest prehistoric hilltop enclosure, built 2,000 years ago by people of the Hopewell culture. View circles of stone, mounds and ceremonial earthworks, and visit the on-site museum. Five picturesque trails totaling 3 miles cross the preserve. Head to the North Overlook for views of the Little Miami River valley. fortancient.org

Cool it! Camping meets on-the-water fun at Atwood Lake Park in Tuscarawas and Carroll counties, where more than 500 camp lots welcome travelers to kick back and relax. Take a dip at the 360-foot swimming beach, or head to the two marinas offering boat rentals and docking for the chance to get out on the lake. atwoodlakeohio.org

SEPT. 03

Music fills the air when Opera in the Italian Cultural Garden returns to this tranquil setting in Cleveland. Along with the One World Day festival (set this year for Aug. 27), this performance is an annual favorite at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, the city’s park-like collection of more than 30 plots dedicated to different countries and cultural groups. clevelandculturalgardens.org

Wind your way through rows of tents filled with works created by about 120 local, regional and national artists during the Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival Set near the picturesque Northam Park, this community gathering has been an end-of-summer tradition since 1966, featuring fine art, live music and hands-on activities. upperarlingtonoh.gov

SEPT. 04

Get Your Feet Wet: Pick up your paddles and cross another one of the Lake Erie Islands Water Trails off your list this summer. The Middle Bass Island Trail offers a scenic dose of nature and serenity, revealing sights such as the Kuehnle State Wildlife Area and Middle Bass Island East Point Preserve, a prime birding spot that’s only accessible by kayak. lakeerieislandsconservancy.org/water-trails

Lustron Corp. hoped the prefabricated steel homes made at its Columbus factory would help address the need for housing following World War II. Instead, the company closed its doors after making around 2,600 homes, the majority of which still stand today.

By Vince Guerrieri

t was a homecoming when Lustron house #549 opened at the Ohio History Center in 2013. The prefabricated family dwelling, constructed entirely of steel, was made in the 1940s at a factory near what is today John Glenn Columbus International Airport. Lustron homes were touted as state of the art, maintenance free and essentially indestructible as they were marketed to young families following World War II.

The one on display inside Columbus’ Ohio History Center was one of 11 that once existed in Arlington, Virginia. In 2006, the owner, Clifford Krowne, donated the structure to the county where he resided, and the home went on to serve as a display piece, depicting what life was like at the dawn of the postwar era. It was even shown in part at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, before Virginia officials donated the dwelling to the Ohio History Connection in 2011.

The home was scheduled to remain on display at the Ohio History Center for at least five years, but it has proven to be so popular that it is still there today. Baby boomers look at it and see things that existed in their childhood homes, while kids marvel at the technology of the 1950s — many glimpsing landlines and cathode-ray-tube televisions for the first time. Newlyweds have had wedding photos taken in and around the house.

“It remains one of our most asked-about and visited exhibits,” says Jen Cassidy, director of the Ohio History Center and Ohio Village.

The home’s popularity as a historic artifact belies the story of Lustron, though. Conceived to use assembly lines and cutting-edge technology to help alleviate the postwar housing shortage, the company lived a brief life, undone by its own complexity and political machinations.

The idea of prefabricated homes was not a new one. During the California gold rush in the mid-1800s, houses were built offsite and shipped to be assembled quickly in the boomtowns that developed. In the early 20th century, both Sears and Montgomery Ward sold homes through their catalog that could be bought and assembled on a plot of land. In the 1920s, intellectual R. Buckminster Fuller conceived of the Dymaxion house, a small home that could be taken apart and moved as the situation called for it. And during the Great Depression, the Tennessee Valley Authority, one of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, advanced the idea of “truckable houses,” which could be transported where they were needed.

But Carl Strandlund, Lustron’s founder, didn’t originally set out to make houses. An inventor and businessman with experience at John Deere and Minneapolis-Moline, Strandlund had helped convert Vitreous Enamel Products Co. to wartime production.

In peacetime, Vitreous Enamel made porcelain-coated steel, used in the construction of gas stations. (The company had a contract with what would soon be called Amoco, one of the companies spun off from Standard Oil.) Strandlund had every plan to do the same after the war, but the transition to a peacetime economy was strained and shortages abounded — particularly in housing, where it was estimated that 3 million new homes would be needed. Strandlund was told if he would manufacture housing, there would be government contracts, and the Lustron Corp. was born.

Strandlund originally wanted to stay in the Chicago area and had his eyes on a plant built by the Chrysler Corp. to make B-29 bombers. But Preston Tucker, who planned to make his eponymous automobile there, bought it. Instead, Lustron found a massive factory in Columbus that Curtiss-Wright had used to build fighter planes, and manufacture of the homes started in 1948. The initial goal was to turn out 85 houses a day (rising to more than 400) and offer three different styles of two- or three-bedroom homes. Each would be put on its own truck and sent to a lot to be assembled on-site. It was estimated that assembly would take less than a week.

But production never reached that level, and distribution was an issue, as a dealer network couldn’t form quickly enough to sell the houses. The company was losing $1.5 million a month. (Among its expenses was a $10,000 check written to U.S. Sen. Joe McCarthy a “fee” for an article he’d written on housing. The payment led to a Congressional inquiry into the Wisconsin senator, who was ultimately censured for, among other things, refusing to cooperate with the investigation into allegations of financial impropriety.) The federal Reconstruction Finance Corp. had made $37.5 million in loans to Lustron and held hearings over allegations of fraud. Ul- timately, the federal government foreclosed on the company in 1950. An estimated 2,680 homes were made before Lustron shut down, with 8,000 orders left to fill.

Today, it’s estimated that around 2,000 Lustron homes are still standing. The ones that are gone were typically located in towns where the land was worth more than the house. (Lustron house #549 at the Ohio History Center was initially donated by its owner so he could build a new home on his property.) The structures were also small by today’s standards — around 1,000 square feet — leading original features to get lost in additions and updates as the years passed.

Of the Lustron homes that remain, some are hiding in plain sight, their pastel colors painted over with more traditional exterior hues or even covered with siding. But a fellowship has evolved among Lustron homeowners — if for no other reason than to scavenge replacement parts that haven’t been made in decades. (The tracks in the pocket doors — one of the many space-saving features Lustron touted — are particularly susceptible to wear and breaking.)

But a lot of owners lean into the postwar aesthetic. In 2022, a Lustron home came on the market in North Olmsted, outside of Cleveland. The surf-blue exterior is now gray, but inside, the home has midcentury modern decor — a monument to the optimism of an era that believed mass production could not only bring about peace in the world, but also solve all its problems.

Gahanna’s Herbal Cocktail Trail unveils another lineup of drinks that play on the city’s gardening heritage. Visit to sample the creative concoctions yourself, then try mixing them up for family and friends this summer.

Story

othing says summer quite like sipping a cold and flavorful drink with a side of sunshine, and the city of Gahanna’s Herbal Cocktail Trail offers fresh reasons to visit this season. Since 2017, select restaurants in Gahanna, located about a 15-minute drive northeast of Columbus, have featured drinks that reflect the city’s identity as the Herb Capital of Ohio. (Around the turn of the 20th centu- ry, residents here were known for growing a wealth of herbs, and state leaders made the Herb Capital of Ohio designation official in 1972.) Eight restaurants — five of which are in the downtown area known as Creekside Gahanna — are serving up new cocktails this season that play on the city’s ties to herbs. Follow the trail to sample them or try mixing up these six concoctions at home this summer.

Local Cantina

spin on the restaurant’s always-available Conquistador Margarita, this specialty version made with rosemary simple syrup offers an earthy mix of tequila, lime, agave and Gran Gala liqueur garnished with a rosemary sprig. “Rosemary and the fresh lime complement each other really well,” says Sara Mesaros, server and bartender at Local Cantina. “With the fresh citrus, you get a little bit of tartness.” Every day is a fiesta at the Gahanna location of this Ohio-based restaurant chain that serves Mexican fare. Repurposed doors painted in vibrant colors, a wood-topped bar and unique lighting crafted from woven yarn and colorful glass make for an inviting space to hang out. Enjoy the Rosemary Conquistador Margarita with a couple of the nearly dozen street taco options on the menu, including shrimp, fish, beef, chicken and vegetarian offerings. 101 Mill St. #100, Gahanna 43230, 614/337-1977, localcantina.com

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces reposado or anejo tequila

1 ounce fresh lime juice

1/2 ounce Gran Gala liqueur

1/2 ounce agave nectar

Splash of rosemary simple syrup

Directions

Add all ingredients to a shaker over ice and mix. Strain contents over craft ice cube (large ice sphere that melts slower and prevents the drink from getting watery) in a rocks glass and garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

Rosemary Simple Syrup

Bring 16 ounces of water to boil in a medium saucepan. Add 1 cup sugar and reduce to simmer. Five minutes into simmering, add 6 sprigs of fresh rosemary and simmer five more minutes, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cover, allowing to cool naturally. Strain into container. Keeps up to four weeks refrigerated.

Signature’s Millstone Tavern

he Iced Citrusade at Signature’s Millstone Tavern is the perfect refresher for a hot day, with its fruity vodkas and dash of peach schnapps culminating in a drink that goes down easy and will have you thinking about seconds. The mint-sprig garnish screams summer, while the light, lemon flavor recalls neighborhood lemonade stands. “It’s a very mild citrus,” says Shawn Connolly, general manager at Signature’s Millstone Tavern. “We have two different types of vodka in it, [Absolut Mandarin and Citron]. It gives a nice flavor profile on the back end with the mint. It’s very refreshing to drink all summer long.” Open since 1991, Signature’s Millstone Tavern is a Gahanna dining staple, with its classic sports-bar interior complete with red vinyl booths and buckets of beer to go around. There are two outdoor patios for summer patrons to enjoy. 94 Mill St., Gahanna 43230, 614/532-0344, facebook.com/signaturestavern

INGREDIENTS

1/2 ounce Absolut Citron vodka

1/2 ounce Absolut Mandarin vodka

Dash of peach schnapps

Splash of lemonade

Splash of lemon juice

Splash of Sprite

Lemon slice, orange slice and mint sprig for garnish

Directions

Pour all ingredients over ice in a shaker, combine and pour over ice in a highball glass and top with mint sprig. Garnish glass with fruit slices.

Barrel & Boar

he mashup of strawberry and lemon is a summer classic, but Barrel & Boar puts its own spin on the duo. The barbecue joint’s Strawberry Basil Lemonade presents the fresh lemonade and muddled strawberries as an undertone that lets the savory nature of the basil and gin come through, and it arrives at your table in a mason jar. “Everyone loves strawberry lemonade,” says Brandon Ferguson, general manager at Barrel & Boar. “The basil goes really well with the gin, because the gin has kind of a floral flavor to it.” Those looking for a summer barbecue will find it as this trendy spot — one of a small central-Ohio chain of restaurants — that serves up savory dishes such as barbecue mac and cheese, ribs and meatloaf. As evening falls, grab a seat outside by the fireplace and enjoy the views of the creek flowing by. 121 Mill St., Gahanna 43230, 614/4718844, barrelboar.com

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces Watershed Four Peel Gin

4 ounces lemonade

3 fresh strawberries

3 basil leaves

2 lemon wheels

Directions

Add two whole strawberries, one lemon wheel and 3 basil leaves to a shaker and gently muddle. Add gin and ice and shake vigorously. Pour all contents into a mason jar or Collins glass and top off with lemonade. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a half strawberry.

Marlow’s Cheesesteaks

his refreshing sweet peach tea created by Marlow’s Cheesesteaks co-owner Shanika Sheppard tastes like country summers. Perfect for sipping on the restaurant’s patio, the Just Peachy cocktail packs a honey wallop from its combo of locally made Simple Times Mixers’ Honey Peach Tea and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey whiskey. It’s mixed with ginger beer and topped off with a mint-sprig garnish. “Peaches are good for spring and summer, and we wanted to collaborate with a local Columbus vendor, so we’re using Simple Times,” says Sheppard. She opened the restaurant with her husband, Jomar, in 2022 to showcase the city of Philadelphia’s mighty cheesesteak. Customize your own 10-inch sandwich with heaps of steak or chicken as well as cheese, onions, sweet peppers and more, or try it Marlow’s Way: steak, provolone, Cheez Wiz, onions, mushrooms, hot cherry peppers, mayonnaise and spicy mustard. 93 N. High St., Gahanna 43230, 614/532-5182, marlowscheesesteaks.com

Ingredients

2 ounces Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey whiskey

2 ounces Simple Times Mixers’ Honey Peach Tea

Splash of ginger beer

2 mint sprigs for garnish

Directions

Add Jack Daniel’s and Simple Times to shaker with ice and combine. Pour into a rocks glass over ice and top with ginger beer and garnish with mint sprigs.

Nostalgia Brewing Co.

hildhood memories meet grownup drinks inside this brick-front brewery that opened in 2019. Alongside the in-house craft brews, which are listed on the wall by way of a draft menu constructed out of Legos, patrons can sip this spot’s Herbal Cocktail Trail creation: Marvin Gardens. The Monopoly-themed, elderflower-flavored cocktail can be enjoyed this summer while playing the classic property-trading board game on one of the brewery’s enclosed patio picnic tables. The Monin elderflower syrup delivers a consistent herbal flavor without having to worry about keeping fresh herbs in stock, and peach bitters give the citrus and gin concoction a more complex flavor. “We go through the different options we have as far as types of herbs and try to use something we haven’t in a while,” says Shawn White, owner of Nostalgia Brewing Co. “We really liked the [drink] name in terms of the connection with the Herbal Cocktail Trail.” 81 Mill St., Gahanna 43230, 614/934-7039, nostalgiabrewing.com

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 ounces Watershed Distillery Four Peel Gin

1/2 ounce Monin elderflower syrup

1/2 ounce lemon juice

Splash of ginger ale

Splash of peach bitters

Lemon slice and orange slice for garnish

Directions

Combine gin, elderflower syrup, peach bitters and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a Collins glass with ice. Top with a splash of ginger ale. Garnish with lemon slice and orange slice.

High Bank GAHANNA

he big white barn on state Route 62 fits right into the white-fenced, country feel of this portion of Gahanna that runs along the southwest side of New Albany. Columbus-based High Bank Distillery opened its second location in May 2022 by converting a former furniture store into a cozy space with high ceilings, sage-green booths and a wall overflowing with greenery. Outside, the spacious patio glows with strings of Edison lights and is often packed once summertime hits its stride. A star of last year’s patio season returns in the form of the Blueberry Basil Cocktail, a favorite that features High Bank Distillery’s own vodka and house-made blueberry basil syrup. “The basil gives it that little bit of earthiness, and it’s a great patio drink,” says bar manager Kelsey Fent. 1397 E. Johnstown Rd., Gahanna 43230, 614/656-7343, highbankco.com/gahanna

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 ounces High Bank

Vodka

3/4 ounce blueberry basil syrup

3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice

Soda water

3 to 4 blueberries for garnish

2 to 3 basil leaves for garnish

DIRECTIONS

In order, combine lemon juice, syrup and vodka in a shaker and add ice. Shake for 10 seconds before straining into a Collins glass. Add crushed ice to the glass and top with soda water. Garnish with 3 to 4 blueberries and 2 to 3 basil leaves

Blueberry Basil Syrup

Add 1 cup of frozen blueberries, 1 cup of granulated sugar, 2 1/2 cups of water and eight basil leaves to a pot and heat until warm (around 167 F). Once warm, remove from heat and add to blender. Blend until smooth. Strain using a fine mesh strainer. Place leftovers in a container and store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Also on the Trail

Check out these offerings at the two other locations that are part of Gahanna’s Herbal Cocktail Trail this season. For more information, check out visitgahanna.com.

Lavender Blueberry Lemonade

101 Beer Kitchen

Wheatley Vodka infused with fresh lemon, lavender, vanilla bean and blueberry come together in a sweet, refreshing summer treat. 101beerkitchen.com/gahanna-ohio

Roselle | Edison Brewing Co.

The Roselle combines tequila and raspberry/hibiscus simple syrup into a spritz with floral notes and a vibrant color. drinkedison.com