sandwalk

What a great looking town!

I've been to and driven through Willard numerous times. It's a little rough and rundown but it isn't a total disaster. Some FYI stuff: *Willard was originally named Chicago Junction (because of its location at the intersection of the railroads) and people actually confused it with the Windy City :lol: *Willard (back in its railroad hey-day) was rumored to be the Vaudeville capital of the state (lots of theatres) *Willard is the headquarters of East of Chicago pizza, home to a large CSX railyard, and those little goldfish crackers are baked at the Pepperidge Farm factory

I have heard it pronounced numerous ways; they way I say (as well as my family and friends, etc.) Firelands is "firelinz" (with more of a short-i sound, similar to the last syllables in Cleveland, Brooklyn, or woodland). Yep! We have BGSU Firelands, Firelands Winery, Firelands Regional Medical Center, Firelands Historical Society, Firelands Conference (high school athletic league), Firelands Symphony, Firelands Chapter Red Cross, Firelands Credit Union, Firelands Chapter Land Conservancy, Firelands blah blah blah You get the idea :-D

I'm impressed, you guys! You know your history and geography :)

Well, legally recognized or not, we identify as a region that is not quite Toledo, not quite Cleveland, and not quite Columbus. Also, it's more of a local thang, but where I'm from the term "Firelands" is often used to identify our area. But I'm sure not many people from outside of the immediate area knows this term or its history. The Firelands is composed of Erie and Huron Counties, one township in Ashland County, and one township in Ottawa County.

the gazpacho was excellent!

But surely you realize you forgot the most important region of Ohio: North Central :D

I currently live in the Chicago metro/media market and this statement is very true. As a matter of fact, IIRC, I once heard a news story and they claimed Rockford as downstate (even though its north/northwest of Chicago)!!! Another interesting note.......anything outside of the St. Louis area is usually considered either Outstate Missouri or Outstate Illinois.

is that really a donut shop?! if so, that is ridiculous :)

I wasn't sure which option to vote for. I was born in Sandusky ["the big city" as my parents call it :-D ] and lived there for about 12 years. My dad was always the outdoors/rural type........so he purchased a few acres near Norwalk. I guess you could call it exurban......but (mentality-wise) I don't consider my family exurbanites........just small-towners. Anyway I lived there for about 10 years but my parents will be there forever and the 44857 will always be home! Oddly enough, I went to school in the Chicago MSA.......but where the university was located was in an area very similar to where I grew up. Due to my degree and line of career choice, I will always need to live close to a city. Right now, I live on the edge of Rockford, Illinois.

Great pics! UA was one of my first college visits back in high school........the urban setting is nice!

how devastating........Ohio never gets a break

I've never seen a brick house with white and teal trim. I think it's very appealing! :-)

Excellent shots!

fantabulous :)

lol my bad

I should be working on my Online Summer Class assignments, but alas, I am a procrastinator haha! Google Streetview has added the areas around Toledo, Columbus, Dayton (and Springfield), and Cincinnati. A few of the interstates through Akron and Canton/Massillon were added as well.

Grant for NASA airport considered By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Saturday June 21 2008, 12:14am http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/06/21/front/doc485bbe850893e847516355.txt AVERY — Huron and Erie county officials were supportive of a proposal for a $80,000 feasibility study for the need for an airport runway at NASA Plum Brook at a meeting Thursday between county commissioners and business people.

Thankfully, the community school in this little hamlet will not fall victim to the OSFC. Location of Shiloh: http://www.mapquest.com/mq/3-OxHV Landmark, memories to stay in Shiloh http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/06/14/news/local/iq_568451.txt SHILOH - It was just too important to tear down. Just too many memories. The old Shiloh Elementary School will not be torn down, thanks to the efforts of Mayor Christine Donnersbach, Shirley Reeder and other concerned citizens.

My digital camera also records video; I move the camera around a lot (don't get motion sickness LOL)!

On May 31, 2008 when I was home for a little vacation, my grandma, sister, and I decided to go to the NASA Plum Brook Station facility tour. As part of the 50th anniversary of Cleveland's NASA Glenn Research Center (the center that oversees our local Plum Brook Station), an open house was held on May 31 and June 1. It was the first time that Plum Brook was open to the public since 1989! A little background info: NASA Plum Brook (named for the creek that flows through the property) is a 6400-acre reserve that is fenced off in an area between Sandusky and Milan (those using US Route 250 from the Turnpike to Cedar Point have probably noticed a large-domed building on the west side of the road); it is literally a large void in the center of Erie County that cuts off north-south and east-west roads. Traveling in this area means driving around the large tract of land (adding 15 or so minutes to what would have been a direct route); even railroad tracks are diverted around this space. See this aerial map (zoom out, too): http://www.mapquest.com/mq/7-VrGM The 6400-acres was blocked off in the 1940's, I believe, to become an ammunitions production facility for World War II. Sometime in the late 1950's or early 1960's the land was converted to use by NASA. Plum Brook Station is home to the Space Power Facility, Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility, Hypersonic Tunnel Facility, Cryogenic Propulsion Test Facility, and hundreds of underground bunkers with classified information (and maybe aliens, the tour guide said :roll: ) History: http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/pbrf/fact-sheets/nasa%20history%20fact.pdf Anyway, living no more than 7 or 8 miles from this facility my entire life, it was a great experience to finally be able to see it in person! Apparently the attendance was in the thousands; as evidenced by the fact that we had to park in the Kalahari Waterpark and take a shuttle bus over to the reserve. Without further ado, here are the pics (we were on a tour bus and it was hard to take good pics in motion and with a glass window :x ); however, we were able to get out of the bus a few times! Enjoy! One of the office buildings was set up as a museum and was quite informative: Driving by the Hypersonic Tunnel Facility: Inside the Space Power Facility and Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility building: SPRF under construction to test rocket vibrations for the upcoming Mars missions: Heading into the Space Power Facility (the largest vacuum/space simulation chamber in the world, with a 120-ft tall dome and and a surface area of over 1-acre): The chamber: Three railroad spurs run into the building: An adjoining room: Outside the Space Power Facility: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope you enjoyed! Pictures do not do this place justice! I cannot believe such a world class facility is right in my backyard! NASA Plum Brook is an asset to the Sandusky area and tech-job growth is a necessity for the local economy, something which NASA intends to do. And as cheesy as it may sound, Ohio really does have so much to discover!

Visiting the orchestra was one of a few things I enjoyed the most while in high school. Our band/orchestra teacher was able to get discounted tickets every year; best field trip ever :)

Thanks for the great photos! I am anxious for my return (I threw a coin in the fountain last time haha)!

Very nice!

Great stuff!!! :)