| The Village that Cares
The seventeenth state, Ohio, named by the Iroquois
......as the land of “the good river”
......was four years young
......as a constant stream of settlers
......arrived to seek fortune and new life.
One such person, John Kerr, a miller by trade,
......traveled north to an unbroken wilderness
......gifted to him
......to practice his trade along the Kokosing River.
From his efforts, in 1807, a village was born.
It was to be called Fredericktown
......namesake of faraway Frederick, Maryland
The mill prospered as the village grew.
The arrival of the iron horse in the 1850’s
......brought more prosperity
......to this thriving commercial center
......in northwest Knox County.
Fertile lands abounded to raise crops
......that were transported to a hungry nation.
With passing years,
......the village received its challenges
......including two devastating fires
......that nearly destroyed the downtown.
With a spirit that would define this community over time,
......the stores were rebuilt, some still standing.
If Mr. Kerr was to look down today
......upon the seeds he had sown,
......a broad smile would cross his face,
......amazed at what he sees.
His eyes would behold
......families, churches, businesses, and schools –
......all part of a proud community
......that honors its history while looking toward the future.
Rich farmlands and businesses share their products
......with not only the nation but the world.
Freddie Pride cheers on the teams,
......whether winning or losing.
The FFA jacket and an actor by the name of Perry
......are examples of two
......that found their beginnings
......in this small village by the Kokosing.
As with its founders,
......when the community dreams,
......citizens respond.
A public library,
......symbolizing the spirit of community,
......rose from one such dream.
No task is too big for this small village
......with a huge heart,
The Village that Cares,
......Fredericktown.
Comments: The poem was well-received and was even printed in the local newspaper. (FYI - FFA stands for Future Farmers of America and Perry refers to the movie-television star, Luke Perry.) While Fredericktown is a small community of about 2500 people, her spirit is big. A few years ago, the townspeople came together and built a million+ dollar public library – all financed through donations and volunteer help. The community is following a similar path to build a new state of the art community center. If anyone is looking to relocate to this part of Ohio, you should definitely add Fredericktown to your location consideration.
Click here to see the Quicktime movie shown at the conclusion of the reading of the poem at the bicentenial program. (You will need Quicktime 7.0 – a free download)
Click here to see another link to Ohio (Lake Erie & Kingwood Gardens).
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