Hebron Crossroads 6-09
by Jeff Gill

Lakewood High School will graduate the class of 2002 this Sunday, and after so many open houses (and so much cake!) it will be good to see the procession across the stage of the seniors, accompanied by the cheers of their families and friends.

Every ending is indeed a beginning, and for these 200-plus graduates a new beginning in a fast changing world . . .but wait, this is starting to sound like a commencement address, and we'll just wait until next week and hear what the student speakers have to share with us.

Buckeye Outdoors is graduating into their new building this week, with some walk-in traffic and sales starting already there behind AmeriHost. While the Grand Opening is August 11, Ohio's "largest hunting, fishing, and camping store on one floor" is already doing business. Stop by and answer "the call of the wild!"

Hebron Village council and administrator Mike McFarland did a great job getting the municipal complex with the Hebron Library connected to Evans Park on Refugee with a sidewalk. Not only does that make for more safe and comfortable walking in the village, but the symbolic connection of library and park reminds everyone to keep mind and body both in good health. Walkers started using the route just as soon as the concrete dried (maybe one or two just before), and the walking track at the park caps off a good morning of exercise from the library to Evans and back again after a lap or two.

Many folks around the village have commented with satisfaction on how quickly the National Road milestone was put back up when the concrete work was finished, and even augmented with some plantings around the base. Sadly, Licking County is one of the few places you can see most of the original markers in place for a considerable distance. Union and Licking Townships have most of their stones right where they belong, including the two within Hebron's municipal boundaries.

While some were made of cast iron that rusted away, and others of rapidly eroding sandstone, the biggest hazards the stones have faced over the last 150 or so years have been indifference and greed; some have gone into private backyards, others into county historical societies miles away from the National Road itself, and others are occasionally sold. Their main value, of course, is in relation to where they belong.

The milestone now re-set near the municipal complex says at the top "Cumberland 231," showing how far from the original starting point of Cumberland, Maryland you are. The next level down, on each "facet" of the stone, are mileages from the nearest cities both east and west, here being Zanesville and Columbus. The bottom level is usually an initial letter, such as "H." for Hebron or "L." for Luray, and the mileage (or half-mileage) to the next village either way.

In this season of important milestones like graduation, it's good to see some of our oldest milestones get some "Pomp and Circumstance" of their own!

Jeff Gill is pastor of Hebron Christian Church and a big milestone fan. If you or someone you know has a big milestone to celebrate, call 928-4066 or e-mail disciple@voyager.net and we'll announce it in the Crossroads.