Extending the outer known limits of Woodsdale

Let's go up on the Hill was always a rallying cry when we were kids in Woodsdale. Somewhere between the ages of 8 and 11 it was always a big adventure to go “ up on the hill”. The hill started where the old Stratford Spring used to be. The goal of going up on the hill was to push the boundary of the known world. Always after a tribe on the hill there would be a discussion with the kids who did not go involving the question “How far did you get?”. Big Rock was an easy hike. Usually we ate lunch at Big Rock and told each other how the chief used to sit on the rock with the Indians down below. I am sure the chief did this and gave great political speeches.

Preparation for going on the hill was involved. In the attics of all the children were left over World War Two relics. Often the hikers would be carrying a bayonet, machete, entrenching tool, and army canteens. Having the actual army belt you could attach this crap to was really great. To make it even all better there was stuff we managed to buy from the Army, Navy Surplus store.

Once on the hill we might be hacking a new trail, or better yet using the machete to cut monkey vines. It was a miracle no one ever got killed on a monkey vine. After you cut the vine lose you swung down the hill like Tarzan. Often the vines ripped out of the tree with relatively disastrous results. Had a vine ripped suddenly while you were twenty or thirty feet in the air the game would have been over.

Somewhere up on the hill was the old cistern for the Stratford Hotel. Making it to the cistern was like getting clear to the top o Mt Everest.

On one great hike which extended too late into the day a crises developed. Mrs. Liebold always feared we would fall into a mine shaft. Somehow we stayed on the hill too long and daylight was waning. Back on Poplar Ave. a stir was beginning among the parents that a search paryt should be put together to find the children on the hill. Just about the time things were coming to a fever we all showed up and got a good lecture.

To this day no one knows where the hill ends. Amazingly the one part of the Earth that has never been fully discovered is within sight of Woodsdale. There could be lost tribes up there, cannibals, or even people from Oglbay. Who knows.