Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-11-29
THE SERPENT MOUND.
How Massachusetts Has Saved II for
Ohio.

The Serpent Mound Park, in Adams
county. Ohio, which for the last four
teen years has been in the custody or
the Peabody Museum in Cambridge,
has been decided by Harvard Cniver-
sity TO the Ohio State Archaeological
and Historical Society. thus restoring
to Ohio the ownership of the most re-
markable and famous of the thousands
OF monuments of the ancient mound
builders which exist within her Dor
ders.
The great Serpent Mound lies in the
township Of BrattOn. overlooking
Brush Creek, about seven miles from
PEBBLES the nearest railway station.
1t had been noted with wonder by the
first settlers, but it was not until 1s46
that it was measured and described
by Squire and Davis. who published a
report, with drawings from surveys,
in the first volume Of the Smithsonian
Contributions to knowledge. The
two explorers had found the site of the
mound covered by 4 forest. Thirteen
or fourteen years after their visit n
tornado swept directly along Serpent
Hill, practically sweeping the forest
clear. This led to retaining the land
for cultivation, but by 1883 il had re-
laDsed again TO a state Of nature and
was overgrown with sumach and
briers
In that year Professor Frederick W.
Putnam, curator Of the Peabody Mu-
scum ana Peabody professor Of ar
chaeology and ethnology at Harvard.
visited the spot and made arrange
ments with MIR. Lovctt. the owner of
the land, To have the site cleared Of
underbrush. SO that for the first time
in years the extraordinary character
and grandeur Oc tn" great Serpent
was apparent 10 visitors.
ON his return East Professor Put
nam Immediately took every oppor-
tunity 10 urge the importance OF pre-
serving the great Serpent. Visiting
Adams county again in 1855 he found
that il destruction was inevitable un-
less immediate measures We're taken
FOR It's preservation. He was able to
secure contract with the owner that
it should remain intact for year, and
a price for the absolute purchase Of
the land WAS greed upon. Going back To
Boston h" enlisted the aid OF Miss
Alice &. Fletcher. well known for her
notable contributions Ia the knowledge
of Indian life. Miss Fletcher. meeting
in Newport Il few Boston women. an
pealed 10 them for support with 50
much effect that in the winter of 1856
a private circular was issued. with the
Endorsement Of the late Francis Park
man, the historian Of the West. calling
for subscriptions. Az result.
sufficient sum, amounting TO about
81. oon. was secured to buy such land
as seemed 10 be required for the pur-
pose in view. and to take steps for the
preservation Of the Serpent. with pro-
vision for making thorough cxcava-
tons in the immediate neighborhood.
In the end scventyfive acres OF land
along the pike leading from PEBBLES to
HilsborouGh We're bought. and the
whole, under the name of the Serpent
Mound Park. was transferred To the
keeping OF the Peabody Museum in
trust.
Professor Putnam Immediately he
gan work To put the Mound ana the
new park containing it in n suitable
condition as Il public pleasure ground.
The cOnvolutions of the Serpent were
outlined by gravel paths, 20 that they
might be followed from end To end
without injury 10 the monument itself
In the southwest corner of the park Il
picnic ground was arranged. with a
spring Of water protected by a stone
house. a well built road leads dag
onally across the park. and the whole
was put under the care OF = competent
keeper.
Professor Putnams explorations in
the vicinity Of the Serpent Mound re-
suited in an extraordinary number Of
iinds. going back from the latest In
dian inhabitants to remote past.
a most interesting account of his work
in this direction may be found in an ar
ticle which he contributed Ia the Century
Magazine some years ago. as well as in
the reports of the Peabody Museum.
The site of the Serpent well agrees in
its striking picturesqueness with the
which have come down to Us with
many an early novel and tale of OK
ploration and adventure in the great
West. Adams county is one of the
most beautiful in the state II reminds
the visitor of New England in it's ir-
regularities OF hill and dale Serpent
Hill. as one looks up toward il from
the cultivated meadows On The hither
side Of Brush Greek rises steep and
woody TO a height OF nearly 100 feet