My Hometown

The first stop in my Travel Blog series has to be my hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio, Scioto County, USA.  The word “Scioto”, is a Wyandot Native American word for Deer, of which we still have in ample supply. The area is a true deer hunters paradise, whether you shoot with a camera or otherwise.

This area where the Ohio and Scioto River valley meet, has been inhabited since about 100BC. The Hopewell Native American Earthworks, a once huge mound complex that spanned across the Ohio River into Kentucky, was discovered here and dated back to that period. Only the Horseshoe Mound, remains and is located in what is now Mound Park.

Alexandria, was the first settlement established in 1799, on the west on the Scioto River, where it meets the Ohio. The area was prone to flooding and the settlement was abandoned. Eventually they moved to higher ground that is now the city of Portsmouth.  Alexandria Point, has been dedicated as a beautiful park and is the perfect place to sit, relax, have lunch and watch the barges slowing make their way along the river.

Portsmouth, was founded in 1803 and named after Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which I’m sure was named after Portsmouth, England.  We sit on the north side of the Ohio River, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.  A tri-state area and a once thriving port and industrial river town, we have seen many changes in our over 200 years. Ohio steel and coal from the West Virginia coal mines, ran up and down the river and railways, to the Great Lakes, and beyond. Coal still moves along but unfortunately the steel industry here is long gone. Portsmouth, was also once the epicenter of shoe manufacturers in the USA, of which many of my family members once worked, now a renowned shoe lace production facility Sole Choice, is still providing products worldwide.

From being a route on the Underground Railroad, to the devastation of the 1937 flood. To the triumphs of being home to national hero’s, cowboy movie star Roy Rogers, and Branch Rickie, who signed Jackie Robinson, the first African American man to play major league baseball, Portsmouth, has seen it all!

Our story can best be viewed by visiting the Portsmouth Floodwall Mural.  Artist Robert Dafford, was commissioned in 1993, to paint the story of Portsmouth. The mural covers 2000 years of history from our earliest begins of the ancient Adena and Hopewell civilizations on through our industrial age.  It took 3 years to complete a section that spans 2000 feet of the flood wall that surrounds the town and additional work still continues today.  It is a fascinating pictorial account of our history and a must see for anyone coming to town!

Portsmouth, has certainly had its ups and downs, as has many small towns in rural America, but we are in the mist of a revival and renewing our commitment to preserving our history. A new generation is stepping up and investing their time and talents to the revitalization of our downtown historic area and encouraging the whole community to get involved! In 2018, Portsmouth, came together for a “Town Cleanup” event, repainted light poles and curbs, power washed sidewalks and at the end of the event, set a world record for the most plants potted at one time!  More recently in 2019, Portsmouth, was voted “Hallmark Hometown Christmas Town”, and was enter into the Guinness World Record Book, for the most presents wrapped simultaneously.  The positive influence this has brought has been contagious and you can see it everywhere!

Our downtown historic district is called Boneyfiddle, no one is sure why or what Boneyfiddle really means but it was the one of the first commercial areas that was established in town.   Most of the first settlers here were of German decent and this area has been referred to as one of the first “Euro-American”, settlements in Scioto County and you can see it in the architecture. One of the founding families that migrated here from Germany, still live and work in the area.  Starting with a hardware store in Boneyfiddle, in 1847, the Glockner family went on to become the first automobile dealership in Ohio and one of the earliest in the entire country and are still going strong today. 

Our first annual Glocktober Fest, was a huge hit with beer tasting, and large host of food venders.  The Final Friday Project, is also a hometown favorite with live music, food and fun every last Friday of the month during the summer. September, is “River Days”, a weekend carnival on the river bank with live entertainment, art and crafts, rides and of course the best carni food around!

We have antique shops, farmers markets, bakeries and cafes! Everything from our own hometown brewery, The Portsmouth Brewing Company, to our new Patties and Pints, a micro-brewery. The Irish Pub, and our hometown favorite the Scioto Ribber. But our “little jewel” hands down is the Dairy Creme, on 2nd Street that has been there since the 1950’s if not longer. A must stop for the best footers and shakes in town!

Portsmouth Raceway Park, to the west features a three eights quarter round, world championship race track. Campers and spectators come from all around to what is called the “best dirt track racing” in the area. To the east is KD Motorsport Park, that host an 1/8th mile drag strip, with tires burning and smoke rolling, an exciting place to be!

Scioto County, its self encompasses roughly 616 square miles of mostly wooded areas. Shawnee State Forrest and Park, to the west of Portsmouth, is the states largest with over 88,000 acres and two lakes. It is called the “Little Smokies of the North”, and is abundant with nature, trails, camping, fishing, boating, hunting, horseback trails and a beautiful lodge for fine dinning and overnight stays.

We are the strong, hard working and caring people of an Appalachian river town. We are rural country America with ties that go back to the ancient native American cultures and the European’s who traveled here wanting a better life. We are home to the Shawnee State University Bears and the Vern Rife Center, that houses our Art and Theater productions. There is so much history and so many interesting events that have taken place here and perhaps at some point I will have more stories to add to My Hometown blog. For now though, thank you for coming along with me on our first travel stop in Portsmouth, Ohio. Please enjoy the slideshow of photo’s, from my hometown to yours…

Authors Note….I had a surprisingly hard time with this first travel blog. I wasn’t sure if I should just stay in town or encompass the area? I don’t know if my slidshow is working? Also I’m not sure how long a blog should be, or how many photos I should use….so with that said, I invite your input and suggestions. Help a newbie out! Thanks

If you are so inclined, the link below is a video I made a while ago, “A Walk Around Town”, in no way “professional” 😀

https://www.facebook.com/sherry.lens/videos/140523482673284/

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