From the late 18th century, thousands of
settlers from Virginia crossed the mountains to settle in Ohio. Small
farmers raised corn, tobacco, hogs, and cattle, and built simple
houses or log cabins. Large landowners from plantation society
became Ohio's new aristocracy, living in "castles" on estates.
In addition, blacks became fugitives on the Underground Railroad,
and freed slaves.
The landscape of Ohio still reflects the traditions of Virginia settlers-in
houses, barns and farm buildings, crops and livestock, land divisions
and place names. Geographer Hubert Wilhelm travels to Virginia and
West Virginia to learn about the settlers and their traditions, retraces
their westward journey along the Wilderness Road, and finds their
legacy in the rural back roads and small towns of Ohio. (56-minute
VHS cassette, $28)
Shot on location in Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland,
Jackson, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Pike and Ross counties, Ohio;
Albemarle, Charlotte, Goochland and Madison counties, Virginia;
and Braxton County, West Virginia. Written, directed and edited
by David Mould. Photographed by Ann Alter.
"An interesting and informative look
at how the contemporary Ohio land and townscapes reflect
the traditions of Virginia."
- Video Rating Guide for Libraries
"An interesting, informative scenario
in landscape reading ... most appropriate for classroom instruction
on the early history and geography of Ohio.”
- Journal of Popular Culture
The companion Log Cabins & Castles
Study Guide ($7.00) is illustrated with photographs, sketches,
maps and tables, and covers: - Southern Settlement in Ohio
- Pioneer Routes Virginia Land Grants - Land Divisions - Southern
Farming in Ohio - Log Construction - The Virginia I House -
The Southern Bam - Smoke Houses & Root Cellars - Southern
Town Plats Virginia Names & Places Religious Traditions
- Exercises for Reading the Landscape Festivals and Tours -
Historic Places, Sites & Museums.
Funded by grants from the
Ohio Arts Council, the Ohio Joint Program in the Arts and
Humanities, the Virginia Foundation for Humanities and Public
Policy, and Ohio University.
