Clark’s Dining Room

Update: on October 31, 2009, Clarks closed.

Clark’s is not far off Interstate 70, exit 132. I have driven by Clark’s many times. The parking lot is always full of local cars which is usually a good sign.
Clark’s is a homey restaurant decorated with quilt hangings. The current owners and managers are the third generation to operate the restaurant. The Clark’s purchased the old hotel in 1918. The hotel had originally served as a stagecoach stop on the National Highway (Old Rt. 40). In 1954, the old hotel burned down. The family rebuilt the restaurant.
The food is home-cooked and served family style. Their specialties are fried chicken and pies. We ordered burgers and salad and tried the apple pie. The food was good and the price reasonable. The couple at the next table had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and it looked delicious.
Take cash or check. Credit and debit cards are not accepted.
To round out our trip, we visited several Indian Mounds located near Clark's dining Room: Flint Ridge, Huffman or Tippet Mound at the Taft Nature Reserve, Fairmount Mound, and the Dawes Arboretum Mound.

Hours:

• Tues.-Sat.: 11:30-8:00; Sunday: 11:00-7:30; closed Mondays.
  Location: Corner of Rt. 40 and 13 in Jacksontown, Ohio.

Fees (if applicable):

• The restaurant does not accept credit or debit cards.

Additional information:

• 740-323-3874, call ahead for take-out; reservations accepted Tuesday-Saturday.

Related sites:

• Clark’s Dining Room
• ColumbusChefs.com

Fairmount Mound

This mound is in a graveyard next to the Fairmount Presbyterian Church. It is about 15 feet high and 80 feet in diameter. You will see it looming over you as you drive up the road to the church. Like the other mounds we visited during this trip, it is located on a ridge.
Because there is no forest hiding it, this was the most impressive of the mounds we saw on this visit. The mound looks well preserved.
The mound is on private property. Do not trespass. There is limited parking at the church.
We also visited these nearby sites on this day trip: Flint Ridge, Huffman Mound, Dawes Arboretum Mound, Clark’s Dining Room.

Additional pictures.

Hours:

• View from CR 323 at any time. The cemetery is open dawn to dusk.
  Location: From I70, take Exit 132. Go north to US 40. Turn right (east) on US 40 and go 1.5 miles. Turn left (north) on CR 323 (also called Fairmount Road). Fairmount Church and the mound are straight ahead at the top of the hill.

Fees (if applicable):

• none

Additional information:

• Do not trespass on the mound. It is located on private property.

Related sites:

• Fairmount Mound, Ohio History Central.

Dawes Arboretum Mound

Dawes Arboretum in Newark, Ohio, contains a mound located on the highest point of the arboretum grounds. The mound itself is low—about 4 feet high—and about 30 feet across. It is covered with trees which make it difficult to see the shape which is lost in the foliage.
You will need to hike about a 1 mile round trip to see the mound. The walk is easy but the trail through the forest is unimproved so what out for tree roots.
Start out by stopping by the visitor center. The mound is located in a restricted area and you will need to get a written permit. We had no trouble getting the permit. The hardest part was finding the tunnel under SR 13. There is no clearly marked path. Go to the end of the parking lot across from the visitor’s center. Cross the access road on your left and walk toward SR 13. The trail to the tunnel is indicated by a large marker and hidden behind some trees.
Once through the tunnel, the trail is clear. It starts in a meadow. The day we visited, native plants like purple coneflower and liatris were blooming, and the blackberry bushes were thick with red berries promising a heavy harvest once they ripened.
At the top of the hill, the trail enters the forest. Follow it until it takes a tight loop left. At the outer edge of the loop is the mound. There is a marker to the right of the trail identifying the mound. This mound, like the others we visited on the same day, was on a ridge and must have been impressive when approached. The early Ohio peoples would have kept the mound and nearby area clear of vegetation which would make the mound more prominent.We also visited these nearby sites on this day trip: Flint Ridge, Huffman Mound, Fairmount Mound, Clark’s Dining Room.

Additional pictures.

Hours:

• Visitor’s Center hours: Mon.-Sat., 8:00-5:00.

Location:

• Exit I 70 at SR 13 at Exit 132. Go north on SR 13 through Jacksontown toward Newark.

Fees (if applicable):

• none

Additional information:

• 1-800-44-DAWESRelated sites: http://www.dawesarb.org/

Huffman Mound (also called Tippet or Tippett Mound)

This mound is located about a mile and a half into the preserve. Be prepared for a hike. The mound itself is undeveloped and fairly well-preserved. It is located in the middle of a field and capped with trees. It is about 20 feet high and 200 feet around. We saw the trees marking the site and not the mound itself because we did not want to break trail through the 4 feet high plants in the field surrounding the mound. We did scare 3 deer that were grazing in the field.
Getting to the mound is part of the adventure. Be prepared to enjoy a walk through a meadow that is filled with wild flowers. Black-eyes Susans and yarrow were blooming the day we were there. Part of the hike we were accompanied by a hawk that soared above us and scolded us with shrill cries. The last part of the trail is through the forest and up a hill.
The mound is on a ridge, and the hike to it will give you some idea of what it must have been like for the early peoples as they approached the mound.
We also visited these nearby sites on this day trip: Flint Ridge, Dawes Arboretum Mound, Fairmount Mound, Clark’s Dining Room.

Additional pictures.

Hours:

• The grounds are open daily dawn to dusk. The Nature Center is open Tues.-Sunday 8:30am-4:30 pm. You need to get permission from the staff to examine the mound.

Location:

• Easy to reach from I 70: get off at Exit 132 and go north on SR 131 one mile to US 40, the turn right (go east) on US 40 for 3.5 miles to CR 311 (also called Linnville Road). Go north on CR 311 for to Fairview Road which takes you to the south park entrance. The little house on you left is the Taft Reserve office and educational center.

Fees (if applicable):

• none

Additional information:

• Licking Park District, 740-587-2535; www.msmisp.coom/lpd; email-lpd@msmisp.com

Flint Ridge State Memorial

The Flint Ridge site contains the remains of flint quarry pits used by the ancient peoples of Ohio. The site contains several trails leading past the pits and a museum which has been constructed over one of the original pits. One of the trails is designed to accommodate people with physical handicaps.
Flint from this site was an important trade item. It is so beautiful that it has become Ohio’s state gemstone. You can buy an example of flint jewelry at the museum giftshop.
The site also offers picnic tables, grills, water, and restrooms. The day we visited, a group of people were there practicing spear throwing.
To round out our trip, we visited several Indian Mounds located near Flint Ridge: Huffman (also known as Tippet or Tippett) Mound at the Taft Nature Reserve, Fairmount Mound, and the Dawes Arboretum Mound. And we found a nice family restaurant, Clark’s Dining Room, in Jacksontown where we had lunch.

Additional pictures.

Hours.
Location.
Fees (if applicable).
Additional information.
Related sites:

• Flint Ridge, Ohio History Central.


• Hopewell Archaeology.