"Pickerington Pond"

"Pickerington Pond"

HISTORY OF THE “Pickerington Pond”

William Stevenson, brother of Revolutionary War Captain John Stevenson, and William’s wife, Mary Boone Stevenson, brought their family to central Ohio from Baltimore, Maryland, in about 1805, settling in western Fairfield County which by act of the Ohio Legislature in 1851 became part of Franklin County.  William received a patent deed for 320 acres from President Madison dated May 23, 1810.

The youngest child was Joshua, born in Maryland in 1803, who eventually married and in 1835, having inherited a large tract of what had been his parents’ land, had constructed for his family the two-story brick residence (top of painting), where he lived until his death from a falling tree in 1848.  His widow and two minor children continued in the house until the daughter Minerva Jane, married James Pickering of the Pickering founding family, and years later Joshua’s widow married John Chaney a very prominent businessman, politician, and judge from Canal Winchester.

Having inherited from her father a tract of land, Minerva and her new husband built the brick residence on what is now Wright Road which is presently serving as the Park Office for Pickerington Ponds Metro Park (middle of painting).  The brick residence (bottom of painting) was built by an older son, Alpheus Boone Stevenson; on the land also inherited from his father Joshua Stevenson.

This painting is the artist’s version of the historical  homes, which still exist, and are surrounded by the Pickerington Ponds Metro Park.  The original painting was featured in the Arts Section of The Columbus Dispatch which was described as “delightfully refreshing especially since the work is so well conceived and executed.”  Original Painting -- SOLD.  Limited Edition Signed and Numbered Reproductions and note cards are available.  Reproduction image size: 19" x 26"

A Brief History of Pickerington Ponds Wetland Wildlife Refuge Metro Park

The Pickerington Ponds Wetland Wildlife Refuge includes one of the last remaining glacial kettle lakes in Central Ohio. Formed by Wisconsin glaciation, this preserve consists of marshes, ponds (glacial kettles) and adjacent uplands. A wide variety of plant species are found here, ranging from water and marsh plants, grasses and sedges to upland trees and shrubs.  Wetland habitats like Pickerington Ponds are somewhat rare in Ohio.

A buttonbush swamp is located on the south side of the area near Bowen Road. Pickerington Ponds has been an extremely popular spot for bird watching -- more than 260 different species of birds have been recorded here over the years.

About 95% of Ohio's wetlands have been drained for agriculture.  In the late 1970's, local conservationists observed these wetlands were the last remaining large wetland complex in Franklin County.