Granville Township near St. Henry in Mercer County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Cranberry Prairie

A Geological Feature of Western Ohio

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 3, 2016

1. The Cranberry Prairie Marker

close up, showing text; same on both sides

Inscription.
The Cranberry Prairie, southwest of this marker, is a part of Ohio's natural history. The place was named for the cranberries that grew in a swamp here prior to drainage of the area. The Cranberry Prairie was created by centuries of peat accumulation in a late Ice Age lake that formed at the base of St. John's Moraine. Paleo-Indian or Early Archaic peoples probably killed the elk whose skeleton was dug up here in 1981. This elk was dated at approximately 7400 B.C.

By the 1860s, immigrant German farmers had begun transforming the swamp into fertile farmland. "Wild Bill" Simison, a legendary inhabitant, lived in the swamp and settlers respected him for his knowledge of the area. By the turn of the nineteenth century, Granville Township School #7, St. Francis Catholic Church, and Bertke's Store stood at the edge of the Cranberry Prairie.

Erected 1999 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission; The Longaberger Company; St. Francis Catholic Church; The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 1- 54.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Paleontology • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 40° 23.551′ N, 84° 34.931′ W. Marker is near St. Henry,

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Ohio, in Mercer County. It is in Granville Township. Marker is at the intersection of Ft Recovery Minster Road (County Route 30b) and Cranberry Road (County Route 115), on the right when traveling west on Ft Recovery Minster Road. Marker is at the front of St Francis Cemetery, behind the St. Francis Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5733 Ft Recovery Minster Rd, Saint Henry OH 45883, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. St. Francis Catholic Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The Cranberry School Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); In Prayerful Remembrance Of The Precious Blood Missionaries (approx. 2.8 miles away); Carthagena Black Cemetery (approx. 3.1 miles away); The builders 1876-78 of St. Aloysius Church at Carthagena Ohio (approx. 3.1 miles away); Pioneers of 1865 (approx. 3.1 miles away); St. Henry Catholic Church (approx. 3.4 miles away); Arthur "Artie" Bernard (approx. 3.4 miles away).

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 3, 2016

2. The Cranberry Prairie Marker

Full view of marker, looking west

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 3, 2016

3. The Cranberry Prairie Marker

Marker can be seen at a distance; looking east towards cross-roads and the back of the Church

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 3, 2016

4. The Cranberry Prairie Marker

View to the south west as directed by the text of the marker- the Prairie, itself

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 3, 2016

5. The Cranberry Prairie Marker

The sign at the cross roads. An exact spot, in the middle of nowhere.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 910 times since then and 83 times this year. Last updated on January 8, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 3, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.