#brown county

The famous abolitionist lived atop a hill with a view of Ripley and the Ohio River. His Presbyterian Church was downhill from this house. The restored house is a great example of the Underground Railroad in southern Ohio. At times this conductor housed 12 escaping slaves as well as his family of 13.     

Crossing the East Fork of the Little Miami River, the McCafferty Covered Bridge is located in the community of Vera Cruz in Brown County, Ohio. Built in 1877, it is 170 feet long. I've photographed it on a number of occasions, and this more distant shot is from my most recent visit to Ohio. Information from Covered Bridges: Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia by Miriam Wood and David Simmons.     

A city block of emptiness on one of the main streets in the heart of Appalachia. Tough times after the loss of shoe factories, tobacco farms and warehouses. Seems that the Brown County shoppers go to Mt Orab, Ohio and Maysville, Kentucky. The village had a 2020 population of 1591 but little new in the way of industry or tourism. The Ohio River Valley is a tough place when it comes to change. Over the years this complex housed a fraternal order, a funeral home with caskets on display and a furniture store.     

Ohio River by Tim

The wall of the house goes up but the sidewalk descends at a steep angle. Without a professional painter or a portable sky lift, I think this project is finished. Possibility of some leftover blue paint. The steep hills of the Ohio River Valley make some chores a bit more difficult.     

The Presbyterian Church has been active in Ripley since 1816. It was housed in a number of smaller buildings until 1867 when the church in the background was built using 660,000 bricks and costing $26,270. Many of Ripley's Presbyterians were active abolitionist. The Rev John Rankin headed this congregation from 1822 until 1844. The Rankin House is on top of the hill behind the church. While many members supported the Underground Railroad a number opposed its activities. A walkway and set of stairs connects the church with the Rankin House.     

The house on the bottom right appears to be abandoned. The struggle to maintain a house was too much. The Appalachian Plateau Region of Ohio has more than its share of empty dwellings of all sizes and conditions. The home of abolitionist Rev John Rankin sits atop the hill, right above this neighborhood.     

Hillside residence in Ripley, Ohio. Only a couple of blocks from two main streets. The overgrown yard is amazing.