Exploring Ohio Canals: Have Books, Will Travel, #1

By Sarah Harper

Take your vacation to a whole new level as you travel in the steps of heroes past!

 

Discover the history behind fun destinations, traveling from national parks to beautiful beaches. The Have Books, Will Travel series will turn your vacation into an adventure as you make memories that will last a lifetime! Learn about exciting events in history, experience a new culture in your own home, and explore the destination for yourself with travel tips from an educator and fellow globetrotter.

This is the extraordinary world of literature-based travel!

 

Read. Discover. Experience. Explore.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sarah Harper
• Release date: Sep 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223469056

Book preview

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Copyright © 2023 by Sarah Harper

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher is engaged in rendering legal, investment, accounting or other professional services. While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional when appropriate. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, personal, or other damages.

Book Cover by Sarah Harper

Illustrations by Library of Congress

First edition 2023

Acknowledgements

Jonathan, you believed in me and encouraged me to write before I believed in myself. Thank you for all that you have done to help this dream come true! You are my favorite traveling buddy, my closest friend, and my safe place! Thank you for growing old with me!

James, Joshua, and John, you bring me so much joy! Thank you for cheering me on every step of the way. Your excitement for me has been so sweet and genuine. Thank you for being a light to me on my hardest days. Having each of you alongside me during this journey has been such a blessing!

Mom and Dad, thank you for instilling in me a passion for both lifelong learning and for travel! It has been so much fun to use much of what you have taught me as I have researched and written this book!

Nicki, Harleen, Priscilla, Sharon, and Valerie, thank you for being my very first crew of editors! You were all so professional and brought so much to this book! I am very blessed to have each of you in my corner!

Deirdre, Harleen, and Kim at the Hebron Library, thank you for being excited for me every time I walked through the door to share an update. You did so much to encourage me and spread the word to others in our community! Thank you!

To my family and friends who asked me for years how the book was coming. Your encouragement was a huge blessing to me every step of the way! Thank you for being excited for me! You gave me the push I needed to keep writing!

To my launch team, you were all amazing! Thank you for helping me get this first book off the ground. I couldn't have done it without you!

To my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, thank you for creating each of us with a unique purpose and filling our hearts with a passion for living. You are the greatest treasure of my soul!

Contents

Welcome

The History of Have Books, Will Travel

How to use Have Books, Will Travel

Discover

Where is Cuyahoga Valley National Park and What Makes it Worth Visiting?

Who was Pearl Skinny Nye?

What is a canal?

How did the Ohio and Erie Canal come to be?

How do canals work?

Why mules instead of horses?

Who built and worked on the canal?

What was life like on the canal?

Why did the canals close?

What did the 1913 flood look like?

What did Captain Nye do after the 1913 flood?

How did canals impact Ohio?

Experience

What you will find in this section

Reading Plans

Fullpage Image

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Epilogue

Maps

Music

Recipes

Walking In Skinny's Steps

Ohio Canal Boat Rides

Explore

Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) General Information

Activities

Visitor Centers and Museums

Restaurants

Places to Stay

Regional Canal Locations

Recommended Books and Additional Resources

Bibliography

Image Credits

About Sarah Harper

Welcome

Have you ever heard someone share a story about their life and felt an instant connection with that person? Personal stories help us to better understand someone and appreciate being around them. Places are the same way. The more we learn about a location, the more interesting it is to visit. Have Books, Will Travel has been created to connect important places in history with exciting stories from the past. It is fun to visit new places, but it is even more exciting when we know who has been there before us. Stories fuel our passion for both traveling and learning.

Storytelling not only captures our imagination, but it also teaches us in a unique way. Our country is rich with stories full of adventure, heartbreak, struggles, and victories, but so many go untold and are forgotten. Have Books, Will Travel will bring these forgotten or little known stories to life as it introduces you to new books, teaches you about new cultures, and encourages you to discover new places!

In the pages that follow, you will be provided with information about an individual’s life, family, and culture. You will then be encouraged to experience fun aspects of their life from the comfort of your home through recipes, music, and activities. Finally, you will use Have Books, Will Travel to discover our hero’s world for yourself by exploring and reflecting on a location that played a key part in their story.

I am so excited that you have decided to try literature-based travel through the Have Books, Will Travel series! It is my hope that this program sparks curiosity in each reader and plants a desire to experience history, cultures, and destinations in a new and meaningful way.

The History of Have Books, Will Travel

Have Books, Will Travel was born the day I discovered that my state had a National Park that I knew nothing about. I had recently fallen in love with several National Parks outside of Ohio, but somehow I had missed that Ohio boasts a National Park of its own. I wanted to see what made this park special. So, as many people do today, I turned to the internet to find some answers.

Our very first trip to Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the birth of Have Books, Will Travel!

Our very first trip to Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the birth of Have Books, Will Travel!

My search produced many resources about Ohio canals, including a book titled Silver Ribbon Skinny. The book follows a 12-year-old boy named Skinny and his large family as they work on the Ohio and Erie Canal. This fun and family-friendly book was exactly what I was looking for. It was both engaging and educational. Here was the perfect book to help us better understand our vacation destination! So, every night at bedtime my husband and I took turns reading a couple of chapters to our young boys. Together we joined Skinny on his adventures, and by the end of the book we felt like we were ready to go on an adventure of our own.

Silver Ribbon Skinny opened our eyes to the world of canals and encouraged us to turn our simple two-day vacation into quite the adventure! Instead of just walking the bike trail and skimming the gift shop, we