Fort Ancient -- Reflection

While driving back to my boyhood home in Ohio, I saw a sign for Fort Ancient along the road, and decided to stop. Despite the good, sunny spring-like winter day, there were signs up on the road at the entrance to the park, claiming the park was closed. Yet a highway ran through it, so they could not have a gate. I was torn -- do I obey the sign, and turn around and go back? Or do I get out of the car and look around a little bit?

As I snapped photos, I saw a police car -- or maybe a Sheriff's cruiser -- driving up the road. I hid behind one of the mounds -- perhaps the very one in the photograph. The cruiser slowed down next to my car, then drove slowly through the remainder of the park.

Once the cruiser was out of sight, I jumped in my car and got the heck out of there. It was not lost on me, as I drove back to the interstate highway, that to close an ancient wonder is as silly as rolling up a nature preserve at night. What kind of society are we that both closes off our places of significant history, but also abuses these places to make such actions necessary?

Reflection Points: This PhotoSinryu invites us to consider our aspect of community -- what would we call our community, and what kind of stewardship is involved? Are we stewards of our significant historical spaces, through donating time, talent, or treasure? Or are we nuisances, abusing the spaces to cause extraordinary measures to safeguard them? If not, do we call those out who are nuisances? Do we require accountability from our neighbors for their actions?

© 2020, by Brian Kokensparger. Return to PhotoSinryu List.