I remember being fascinated when, after a family picnic or weekend of camping, Dad had to put the car in low gear as we slowly climbed the steep grade to exit the park. It always made for a memorable end to the day.
Years later, when my high school chums and I rode our bikes there, I used to dread the ride home and having to try and get up that hill on my Schwinn. Many times, we had to just walk it up part of the way.
That's why it was interesting to me to see this ad, which ran in the Lorain Times-Herald on Saturday, May 16, 1931. It advertises a motorcycle hillclimbing competition that took place on that well-remembered hill.
It all seems very modern to me for something that was held in 1931– 83 years ago this month.
Anyway, I can't remember exactly when the hill leading into Mill Hollow was rerouted and "improved" during the last few decades, but the drive into the park was never quite the same to me. Much of the route's natural beauty was lost when the bend in the road was broadened. Plus, the elements of historical charm and drama were gone forever.
Looking at an aerial view of the hill today (below), it's easy to see where the road used to go. You can see the ghost of the old road bed if you look closely (click on the photo for a larger view).
