The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-12-23
HOURS OF LEIsURE.
Notable Places of Resort In the Early
Days Of Canton.

Days Of Canton.
A sheet of water known as "The Pond" 1"
In the northeastern part of the city,
containing from twenty to twenty i've
acres, was quite a place OF resort for
skating in winter and fishing In sun
mer. On Sundays aud moonlight
nights great crow0s Of boys and young
men would assemble there and enjOy
carnival Of sport. In the skating season
''shinny" was the great game Oh ire
This pond has entirely disappeared
Where the cotton wood tree so long
stood sentinel was the last place any
portion of the pond could be seen. The
Pennsylvania avenue sewer has since
kept the grounds completely drained.
The "Blue Hole" was the popular
swimming place for the boys of Canton
sixty years ago. 1t was in east Mimi
shiIlen creek, near the foot of Lafay ette
street. At the time of which we write
the streams were much larger and
deeper than at the present day. This is
accounted for by the cultivation of the
soil, more of the rainfall being absorbed
by the earth. The "blue hOle," so des-
ignated by reas on Of the blue appear
ance Of the water, was from twenty to
thirty yards wide, fifty yards long and
from six to eight feet deep. 1t bears no
sort of resemblance to day with Its sp-
pearanCe in former years. The bank or
the north side was abrupt, and from
this side several planks were fixed from
which the boys would jump into the
hole, some head foremost, diving under
the water and coming up rods away !;
others, with a sOmeTsaUlt, came down
with a wonderful splash. The bank on
the south side had gradual slope into
the water, and as 1t was covered with
deep sand, it afforded an admirable
place for ground and lofty tumbling.
At that time there was daily line Of
four horse post coaches running eat
and west from Canton. In the season
for bathing the stage horses we're taken
almost daily to the blue hole to be
washed, and their swimming afforded
rare sport for the boys, two or three oD
the back and as many holding on to the
name and tail.
There was an excellent spring of
water on the north bank, near where
Cherry street strikes the creek, around
which the boys delighted to finger
That spring, If II still exists, has lost Its
attraction.
The Mineral Spring In the Cedar
Swamp, was not the least attractive
place In or around town In former years
All that land lying west of Union street,
and extending to the creek, was a
swamp, and went by the name Of Cedar
Swamp, though the timber growth was
chiefly tamarack. The spring was q
few rods west of the paper mill. From
where the path leading to 1t, left the
high ground, 1t was laid with slabs,
The water Of the spring bubbled up
from q bed Of clear white sand, had q
light blue appearance and metallic
taste. There was legend, obtained by
Jerry Lind from MOhican indian. that
the water Of this spring was wonderful
to cure-sOme ailments of the human
system, but what that particular all
ment was, had been forgotten, at least,
no two agreed upon the name Of the
but upon general principles
all united In the belief that the water OF
this mineral spring was wholesome to
accordingly all classes of the
town on summer Sundays after spend
ing an hour or two In the graveyard on
Plum street, deciphering the German
epitaphs and meditating over the grave
Of Capes, the soldier Of the Revolution,
they would repair to the mineral spring
and quaff its waters by the aid Of leaf.
II the idea of converting the swamp In
TO park should be carried out, 1t will
pay to restore the mineral spring.