Forty Foot-Pitch

Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail

Image courtesy of the Historical Marker Database

1. Forty Foot-Pitch Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Forty Foot Pitch
One-fourth mile east, Wayne's
army, confronting a forty-
foot cliff, cut a diagonal
shoulder eastward down to the
valley, thence north and
west to the top of an "Eighty
Foot Pitch" where they camped.

Erected 1890 by Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission. (Marker Number C.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission series list.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 39° 47.552′ N, 84° 37.861′ W. Marker was in Eaton, Ohio, in Preble County. Marker could be reached from the intersection of U.S. 127 and Kayler Road, on the left when traveling north. There are several nearby possibilities for where this marker was actually located, but my best guess is that is was situated on the west side of the "T" intersection,

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that was a short distance north of the Bantas Fork bridge. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Eaton OH 45320, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies. Van Ausdal-Donohoe House (approx. 3.4 miles away); William Bruce (approx. 3.4 miles away); Preble County Courthouse (approx. 3.4 miles away); Preble County Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.4 miles away); Monument at Mound Hill Cemetery (approx. 3½ miles away); Roberts Bridge / Timber Covered Bridge (approx. 3.6 miles away); Roberts Bridge (approx. 3.6 miles away); Mound Hill Cemetery Civil War Memorial (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Eaton.

More about this marker. This historical marker is part of the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail series (type C) which was put in place in 1930 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Ohio's Revolutionary War era Battle of Piqua, by the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission.

In order to accomplish this, in 1929 the state of Ohio created the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission, and then in 1930 this commission created 22 military trails, throughout western Ohio, between Cincinnati, Ohio on the state's southern border and Toledo, Ohio on the state's northern border. Each of these military trails represented the routes, or trails, used

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 12, 2019

2. Forty Foot-Pitch Marker

View looking south along US 127, showing the Kayler Road and US 127 intersection, with the probable location of the missing marker being near the yellow, double arrow, traffic sign. The distant tree line marks the beginning of where US 127 starts to make an "S" curve and begins to drop down to its Bantas Fork bridge crossing.

by military leaders during either the Revolutionary War, the Indian Wars of 1790 to 1795, or the War of 1812. Each of these military routes connected various related historical sites, that were marked with Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission (type C) markers, along each of the military trails.

The routes of these military trails were in turn marked by type A and type B Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission markers that served as directional (type B) and distance (type A) markers.

Originally, back in 1930, there were erected 70 some of these Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission, type C, markers. To date, there are only 20 some of them that have been located and posted on the Historical Marker database. A number of them are presently missing, including this particular marker, which is listed on page 74 of the ORMC 1931 Planning Report.

Regarding this particular marker, after doing some research, and communicating with the Preble County historian, Misti Spillman, my best guess is that this marker was originally situated along US 127, near the bridge over the Bantas Fork. Ideally, because the view from the intersection of State Route 726 and US 127 lends so well to visually supporting the text on this marker, I wanted to place the marker at this intersection. However, State Route 726 goes off to the west and according to the information on the marker,

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 12, 2019

3. Forty Foot-Pitch Marker

View looking north along US 127, showing the Kayler Road and US 127 intersection, with the probable location of the missing marker being near the yellow, double arrow, traffic sign.

I felt that the appropriate marker placement needed to provide for a road going off to the east. So I have opted for the most likely marker location being on the west side of the "T" intersection of US 127 and Kayler Road. This location is a short distance north of the Bantan Fork bridge, and seems to best fit the marker's narrative.

In support for this being the general location of this particular Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission marker, Misti Spillman writes, "Forty Foot-Pitch is located off of St. Rt. 127 on the curves. If you are heading North on 127 you will pass the Old Schoolhouse Winery on the left and then will immediately drive through the curves. This was the area known as Forty Foot-Pitch because the road goes down in a wooded area before leveling out again."

I also referenced an article written in 1922, by A.C. Risinger, entitled "Forty Foot Pitch," that I found in the "Ohio History Journal" site (and provided a link for access). In the article it is stated, "The location situate about half a mile down the creek southeastward from said Bantas Fork bridge is undoubtedly the 'Forty Foot Pitch.' My father, Levi Risinger, in his ninetieth year, has very interesting and vivid recollections, gathered from personal observations and pioneer traditions, as to this latter place being 'Forty Foot Pitch.'"

Also see . . .

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 12, 2019

4. Forty Foot-Pitch Marker

View, from the State Route 726 and US 127 intersection, looking north along the "S" curve of US 127, and showing the bridge crossing of the Bantas Fork. The actual site of the "Forty Foot Pitch" would be about a quarter to half of a mile to the east (right) of this bridge.

1. Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail System. A description of the Revolutionary Memorial Trail System developed by the state of Ohio in 1929 - 1930. (Submitted on September 3, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

2. Forty Foot Pitch. This is a link to a related article that appears in the Ohio History Connection's website entitled the Ohio History Journal. (Submitted on September 4, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission Marker Types image. Click for full size.

Image provided by Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission publication, dated 1931., April 2, 2016

5. Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission Marker Types

View of the three types of markers used by the Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Commission. The marker on the left is a type A marker, the marker in the middle is a type C (just like our featured marker), and the marker on the right is a type B. For a better view double click on this picture.

Tablet Related Newspaper Article image. Click for full size.

Image courtesy of the MidPointe Library System (www.MidPointeLibrary.org)

6. Tablet Related Newspaper Article

A view of an original Ohio Revolutionary Memorial Trail Map, from 1930. For a better view double click on this picture.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 629 times since then and 181 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 3, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 4, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 5, 6. submitted on September 3, 2019, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.