I love a good story!
Actually, I love most stories – both good and bad.
When I was a child, I loved listening to older people recount their memories as they sat
on neighborhood porches, park benches or in front of downtown stores. (I know this sounds a bit Mayberry-like, but that was the era of my childhood.)
As the older generation of my youth whiled away their days in public and neighborhood spaces, they’d frequently share personal accounts (which often turned into back-in-the-day sagas) with anyone who’d listen.
Well, I loved listening and (let me add) these stories were sometimes quite jaw-dropping, but always entertaining.
Well, I loved listening and (let me add) these stories were sometimes quite jaw-dropping, but always entertaining.
Though my father was very stern about not talking to these “storefront people,” what child could resist a good tale?
I mean, even if they were bold-faced exaggerations, I heard
some amazing facts, fiction and/or an interesting combination
of both.
I mean, even if they were bold-faced exaggerations, I heard
some amazing facts, fiction and/or an interesting combination
of both.
While great conversations are no longer located on neighborhood porches or store fronts (though I’m
currently wondering why they aren’t and where the
“storefront people” have gone – maybe Florida) ... there’re
still lots of great stories out there and I’ve heard many of
them when visiting Bexley's Jeffrey Woods.
currently wondering why they aren’t and where the
“storefront people” have gone – maybe Florida) ... there’re
still lots of great stories out there and I’ve heard many of
them when visiting Bexley's Jeffrey Woods.
One urban legend I totally love is the fictional
account of the Jeffrey Mansion ghost who lurks throughout mansion hallways and can be glimpsed in the dark corners of third floor windows. Yikes! And, its updated versions keep getting bigger and better with every generation and will probably continue to evolve as long as the mansion casts its imposing spell over park grounds.
account of the Jeffrey Mansion ghost who lurks throughout mansion hallways and can be glimpsed in the dark corners of third floor windows. Yikes! And, its updated versions keep getting bigger and better with every generation and will probably continue to evolve as long as the mansion casts its imposing spell over park grounds.
Because Jeffrey Woods has always been a frequent destination of mine, I’ve also heard a variety of more personal mansion stories from complete strangers. Though sometimes as many as 50 years have gone by, park visitors have shared detailed accounts of past friends, family and fun at the mansion with such sentimentality that we ultimately both start tearing.
On one occasion, a middle-aged man told me he was traveling across country but couldn’t pass through Ohio without stopping at Jeffrey Mansion to revisit his wonderful memories of playing flashlight tag in the woods with childhood friends on lazy summer nights - a special memory he still treasures decades later.
Another time, an older lady shared the reason she brought her grandkids to the park, though she lived on the west side of Columbus, was to reconnect with the memory of her mother who took her there many years earlier. (Ok, crying again.)
Another time, an older lady shared the reason she brought her grandkids to the park, though she lived on the west side of Columbus, was to reconnect with the memory of her mother who took her there many years earlier. (Ok, crying again.)
And don't get me going about the many senior citizens who've shared stories of their Bexley High School senior parties that were hosted in the mansion. In fact, my own ego-busting, senior party story ended with my date taking me home early and returning to the mansion with another girl. (Hard to beat that one.)
Jeffrey Mansion & Park stories are endless because this destination provides a joyful location for people to make special memories. I honestly believe while the grounds are full of amazing animals and plants, they’re also full of intoxicating memories that sweeten the air under tall pines, float over hidden trails, rest on lazy creek banks and swirl around mansion steps.
Be sure to visit and make some memories and stories to tell.
Jeffrey Mansion & Park stories are endless because this destination provides a joyful location for people to make special memories. I honestly believe while the grounds are full of amazing animals and plants, they’re also full of intoxicating memories that sweeten the air under tall pines, float over hidden trails, rest on lazy creek banks and swirl around mansion steps.
Be sure to visit and make some memories and stories to tell.
"The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared. "
- Lois Lowry, The Giver