One of my favorite things to do on a sunny day is taking a drive over The Alum Creek bridge in Delaware, County Ohio.   The reason for this isn't just because its a nice day and the view is beautiful,but because It brings back quite a few memories from my childhood.   When I was just a kindergartner my bus route would head down in the valley where a little stream called Alum Creek was.   Back then a little steel bridge laid across Alum creek up to Alum Creek Market.   It was its own little community dotted with farm houses and The South Berlin Church, where fifty years ago my parents were married.   Before the dam was put in, I can remember my father taking us all out for one more ride in our 1964 Ford Falcon Station Wagon  before the valley was flooded to create a water source for Columbus.    The Cemeteries were moved, housing and South Berlin Church on Africa Road were all torn down.
 A new church was built in a different location on Lackey Old State Road with only  the stained glass windows removed from the old South Berlin Church placed in it as a reminder of its day on Africa Road leaving the ruins caved in and under water.
Africa Road with its rich history was adjusted just like many of the roads that lead through Alum Creek Valley, creating many dead-ends, many of which can still  be seen cutting into the water.
To me its a haunting sight recalling all those memories, especially the last service held at South Berlin Church.
When I paint landscapes, often I paint old churches tucked away in the woods, its paths cut off by a large body of water.
So many Times, our histories are removed to make way for much needed improvement, in many cases its true. Alum Creek Park has grown up from those days, for better.  Those "Cut-Off Roads" are still there as gentle reminders of what once were.    I can't help but think how many historic places "In Time" really need to be altered for the sake of progress.  Prayerfully not any more than necessary because it is from these pasts we learn our heritage enriching our future, not just for ourselves but for generations to come.