This large park featured wetlands, forests and prairies. We warmed up on the one-mile Red Oak Trail taking us through woods where we saw chipmunks and many birds. A short prairie trail took us past a Wind & Solar Learning Center then to the long outer Savannah Trail which is a shared horse trail. In all, we hiked just over four miles. I took a photo of a teenager that had a unique backpack with a window for carrying her dog on the bike trail (Photo #4).
On this sunny, warm spring day we hiked 13 different small trails throughout this Clark County Park District park totaling 4.1 miles. We began on Tecumseh Trail cresting Whiner’s Hill and past a beautiful waterfall. The 300-year-old beech-maple forest provided nice shade as we passed wildflowers and listened to many birds chirping. The trail then took down small hills, westward winding past the shore of Hosterman Lake then southwest eventually coming to a fort and the 1854 Hertzler House. Several smaller trails then took us past Tecumseh Springs to the Woodland Indian Village.
The triangular fort and blockhouse are modeled after a larger one in the Shawnee Village of Peckuwe. This area of the park and the land west of the Hertzler House were the site of the Battle of Piqua or Picawey on August 8, 1780, the largest battle fought west of the Allegheny Mountains during the Revolutionary War. Kentucky Militiamen under Col. George Rogers Clarks defeated Shawnee and other Indian tribes.
The mound, the largest conical mound in Clark County, is the second largest in Ohio next to the larger Adena Mound in Miamisburg, Ohio. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the mound was reportedly used by Gen. George Rogers Clark in 1780 as a vantage point prior to the attack on the Shawnee Village of Picawey located two miles to the north. The mound is 40 feet high and there has been no evidence that burials exist in the mound nor have any Adena artifacts have been found.
The house sits on land near the remains of the Keifer cabin (built around 1824) and two monuments about the Battle of Piqua or Picawey in August 1780 between Kentucky militiamen under Col. George Rogers Clark vs. Shawnee and other Indian tribes. The house sits upon a small hill overlooking the main battlefield.
The brick house was built circa 1854 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Daniel and his wife Catharine lived in the house with their ten children. Daniel Hertzler moved to the area in 1834 and became wealthy. He made his money operating a sawmill, grist mill and distillery. In 1855 he established the Old Clark County Bank. In the fall of 1867, he was nearing the completion of construction on a new milling business.
On October 10, 1867, Hertzler was murdered. During the night, the Hertzler Family was awakened by a gang of robbers. During a fight, Daniel Hertzler was shot and killed. Records indicate that four people were arrested but two were acquitted and two escaped from jail.
As the urban legend goes, the ghost of Hertzler haunts his house, unsettled that he died, that no one was arrested and the killer roamed free. In addition, in the land surrounding the house dozens of Native Americans and militiamen were killed in the battle of Piqua/Picawey. So, there is a belief that ghosts and spirits roam the house and grounds. Although I have found no evidence on the internet to support these paranormal claims, I hope that my ghost hunting group may be allowed access some day to conduct an investigation here.
Expedition Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Nick, Jacque, Elizabeth & John Kelly
Date: April 21, 2026
This was a fun, unique roadside attraction restaurant as we celebrated Jacque’s birthday. You could grab sushi, food and desserts from a conveyor that snaked throughout the restaurant. We opted to order and within minutes a train or truck on small tracks pulled a dish behind it with our order. The grandkids excitedly watched it travel towards our table where we “offloaded” our meal. Later, a giant white robot brought drinks and a birthday dessert down the aisle to our table.
I posed with founder Dave Thomas’s statue and tried to steal his Frostee. This elegant, decorated Wendy’s Restaurant not only served its great food but had a room dedicated as a museum to Dave Thomas and Wendy’s restaurant’s growth. It was very educational to read about his humble early life, the founding of Wendy’s, its growth to franchising nationally and internationally and his support for adoption. I enjoyed a photo of the “Where’s the Beef” advertisement.
In 1999 an artist created this house with a gold dome (which is no longer gold colored). Windows and dome cut-outs in the shape of household furniture and items provide light in the small house. The house, only 20’ x 24’ and made from copper and bronze, sits on the edge of a 200-foot diameter circle.
In the late 1800’s the Moraine Pinnacles were a popular picnic destination. I have mentioned in past articles, while picnicking at the Pinnacles, Orville and Wilbur Wright would lay a blanket down and not only enjoy the scenic overlook but observed the birds on the wind drifts coming up from the cliffs. The Wright Brothers weren’t the only people that had superb comments about this Moraine area.
According to the Dayton Herald newspaper article from Wednesday, April 29, 1891, the Herald writer talks about President Benjamin Harrison. “California is making a handsome display of its flowers for the President Harrison. We beg to say that if he would stop long enough in the Miami Valley, we will agree to furnish a climate equal to that of the Golden State, with forest and field unsurpassed in loveliness. At this time of year California is a little chilly, and southern Ohio this year merely excels itself. We should take the Presidential Party a drive down the eastern side of the Miami River (through Moraine) to as far as Carrollton, cross the river there and return through “the Narrows” and “Pinnacles”. The landscape has no ocean view, but plenty of the wide Miami, but such fields of wheat and budding forest trees, studded in a carpet filled with the tiny flowers of early spring, that his oratory would come like water over the “falls of Lodore”. The writer goes on to say, “the President (Harrison), why he would forget he had ever seen California”.
Just a week later, a May 6, 1891, Dayton Herald article states, “a man who went to collect botanic specimens remarked to a Herald writer that “the country in the vicinity of the Pinnacles is the most picturesque in the valley of the Miami. In the early spring and in the succeeding summer, floral attractions exist there in profusion, and the fishing in the Miami River is excellent”.
In the past 120 to 150 years have the Pinnacles changed? To find out, try hiking the 1.1-mile Wright Brothers Pinnacles Historical Trail and walk in their footsteps. Start at the South Trailhead off the Main Street Bike Bath or begin at the North Trailhead off the Pinnacle Road Bike Path. There are plenty of signs along the trail of vintage photos that the Wright Brothers took along the cliff plus other fascinating archeological finds here.
There is a Moraine connection between famous singer, composer, and record producer Stevie Wonder. Born Stevland Judkins in 1950 in Michigan, he has been blind since shortly after birth. Judkins was a child prodigy who signed with Motown’s Tamia label at age 11 and was given the name Little Stevie Wonder. At age 13, Wonder’s single “Fingertips” was a Billboard No. 1 hit in 1963.
Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th Century, Wonder is one of the best-selling music artists of all time with sales of over 100 million records worldwide. He has won 25 Grammy Awards and one Academy Award.
So, what was Stevie Wonder doing in Moraine on Friday, October 25, 1974? His fall 1974 Tour included a stop in Dayton. Wonder performed a concert at the somewhat new University of Dayton Arena built in 1969. The arena was packed full of people and his keyboard played hits like “Superstition”, “You Are the Sunshine of my Life”, and many more. Performing before Wonder was the band “Rufus” featuring future star Chaka Khan as the lead singer. An advertisement in the Dayton Daily News shows concert ticket prices at $5, $6 and $7 dollars.
Before and after the concert, Wonder stayed at the Holiday Inn on Dryden Road in Moraine less than 2 miles from the arena. In the photos, Moraine Police Officers Wendell Wax and Joe Lawrence posed with Wonder after he exited his tour bus. Moraine PD provided outside security during Stevie Wonders stay at the hotel.
The following day Stevie Wonder said goodbye to Moraine and headed east for a October 26th gig in Charlotte, North Carolina and then on October 27th at the Spectrum in Philadelphia leaving behind Moraine Police and Holiday Inn employees, many memories and stories of his stayover in Moraine.
Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Matt Miller, Breanna Miller, Mallory, Josie & Ellie Miller
Date: March 9, 2026
On a rare sunny, 70 degree March Day in Ohio, we enjoyed a 1.1-mile hike at this Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Park District trail. We have hiked here many times but today was a memorable trek as it was the first hike ever for nine-month-old twin granddaughters Josie & Ellie. We hiked part of the Black Trail, the Red Trail and the North Loop Trail which took us into woods and also out into a prairie with tall grass. Matt carried Ellie and Breanna carried Josie. Mallory ran ahead scampering over creek crossings, searching for fish or hiding behind trees. It was a fun family outing.
