Rocky River Nature Center and Frostville Museum, near Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is surrounds by parks, outdoor areas, and my favorite, waterfalls. Less the 30 minute from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are two great places to visit when your in town. Before the museums open or as the museums close and the city is cleared out for the evening, I head for a morning walk or a last walk in the wilderness when I am in Cleveland. But I would love to spend a whole day in the area.

John J Donnelly-Rocky River Nature Center

The John J. Donnelly Rocky River Nature Center is open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm. It has an indoor area that you can view the river if you don’t want to be out in the weather, a few animals, a fake tree for children to play and read in, river fish to look in, and a gift shop with snacks, water, soda, t shirts, and other gift shop things.

They also have a few programs for children and adults with great guides. They were petting a turtle when I was there.

Take the back door out and look to the left and you will find an big flight of steps to Fort Hill. 155 steps to be exact. Stop at all the rest areas on your way up, they are wonderful view to the river below.

The river splits and as you walk to the top of the hill the view is just ineradicable. I was up just before Sunset and the mountain wall colors are beautiful.

Fort Hill is believed to have been created by Native Americans over 2,000 year ago and I missed it because I went down the back of the mountain and did not go to the right, lol.

It was wonderful that it was winter as the leaves are on the ground. In the summer, this place would be like a forest of green.

Once you get to the top, there is a nice little trail that loops around the top of the hill. Every way that you look is a wonderful view. They also have some great signs to talk about the different items that you might see while you are up here.

I took the stairs in the back of the hill down. They lead to another trail that looped back to the Center and other areas of the grounds. I just keep taking the trail to the right until I got back to the Center and my car.

I liked going down the back stairs a bit better. It felt like I was on a trail in the back country but they have these trails while defined and ask that you stay on them.

The smells were great. The aroma of fresh rain and sweet smell of decaying leafs decomposing for next years crop of trees to grow.

Listening to the leafs crumble under foot as the sounds of the forest float over you. Hearing birds tweet and squirrels racing around finding the last few nuts to store.

Coming out the forest into a clearing with a mossy wet lands and the hope to get back to the car before it gets to dark because I can always end up on a hiking as late as possible.

Back down the hill and getting closer to the water, I could hear the frogs croaking. Still worried about getting back to the car then around another corner in the very left side I spy the Center and the stairs up the Hill.

At least I know that I could find the car. I wish I had more time to explore this area. They have miles of trail thought this area. Most of the trails have educational signs about the area, animals, and sites.

The great thing about this place is that one of the trail leads to the Frostville Museum. I would have enjoyed exploring more but it was getting dark.

Frostville Museum

The Frostville Museum is about 2 minutes away from Rocky River Nature Center. This is a great place but I was only able to see it when it was closed. I want to go back when it was open.

The Olmsted Historical Society is the ones that dream up and maintain this museum. Many of the member are decedents of the people who lived in the houses including one person that parents married in one of the houses.

I posted to my facebook and they responded back ASAP on the dates that they would be open. They are very much on their social media. They rent the church out for weddings. This would be a great place to have a shin dig or even a corporate event or a educational trip!

The village has several historic building. Prechtel House, Jenkin’s Cabin, Brigg’s House, Carpenter House, Stearns Carriage House, Thompson House, and the Frostville Village Church. In addition, the Gifford General Store, Strelau Events Barn, and Wensink Display Barn.

I wish I had been around when it was open and not winter. I was wonderful just to walk the streets and remember a time when life was less complicated and easier going. It was a harder life in many ways but I believe that people were closer to each other and helped each other more with less time on cell phone and more time talking and walking around to get together in friendship.

The Frostville Museum also host a Farmers’ Market twice a month during the winter months. I am not sure about the summer months. It also has annual events such as an Antique Car and Gas Engine Show, Pumpkinville in the Valley, Holidays at Frostville, and Pioneer Days.

Brief History

According to the Museum web site, in 1815, David Stearns of Vermont became the first permanent in what is now North Olmsted. The site of his farm is marked with a plaque on the property.

The Briggs family arrived a year later with their six children. Thomas Briggs would service as officer of Lenox Township (renamed Olmsted Township in 1830) and his son would follow in his foot steps. In 1834, the Briggs House would be built and be in the family for over 130 years until being donated to the society in 1969. Several members of Thomas Briggs family decedents are member of the Olmsted Historical Society who run the Frostville Museum.

John Carpenter married Lucena Thompson in Vermont. They had seven of their nine children before leaving Vermont for Olmsted Falls in 1828. This is the earliest remaining Federal Style home in North Olmsted. The house remained in the family until 1940. The family was a leading member of the community and the house was moved here in 1987.

The barn was built in 1970’s by the Metroparks system but remodeled by the Society in 2005. The barn is used for events throughout the year which includes a full kitchen. It has a great area covered area in the back.

The village church was build around 1847, on Amos Briggs property. Through the years, the church changed hands and was update to the look it now has by 1903. Different churches bought or rented out the church building. In 2003, the Holy Resurrection Ukrainian Orthodox Church donated the building to the Society and two years later, the church was moved to Frostville were it stands now. For weddings, contact them. This would be a wonderful place to have a wedding and reception!!!! And lots of parking!!!

The Jenkins Cabin was built around 1820 by a squatter Benjamin Clark and his family of eight. Three years later, he was evicted and the lands owner Asher M. Coe lived in the cabin until he built a bigger house but then used it for his workers.

During the 1840’s, Robert Moore bought the cabin and 40 acres from Coe. Moore used the cabin to house William Jenkin and his family. After a few changes in ownership, by 1854, Joseph Jenkins owned the cabin and 30 acres with a total of ten people living in it by 1860. In 1976, Esther Petrick donated the cabin to the Society and four years later, the cabin was restored and open to the public and is the oldest house in North Olmsted.

This is the cabin that I would want to see the most. The change in social normal from over 160 years ago shows here more then any where else. Today, this would house one or two people but it was the living space for 10 people ages unknown but most likely, grandparents to grandchildren. Possibly even great grandparents working together to survive.

The Prechtel House was build about 1876. The house was built by Adam Poe who sold it to Martin and Margaret Prechtel shortly afterwards. In 1901, their son William Prechtel inherited the house and property and rented it out. The houses parlor was used by one of the Societies parents for their wedding in 1905.

In 1917, William and his wife moved back into the house and sold it to Irving Geist by the end of the year. In 1925, the Cleveland Metropolitan Park Board bought the property and it was occupied until 1950’s by different families. In 1962, the house opened as a museum and also got electricity for the first time but never got plumbing.

The Thompson House was built in 1840. Johnathan and Priscilla Thompson were involved with the early township days and their children married other well-known families such as the Carpenters.

They also have a school house and a few other buildings on the property with lots more stories and information. Even through it was not open the day that I was there, I really loved walking through it and hope that I can find time to stop by when it is open.