The steeplechase originated in Ireland in the 18th century as a derivative of the cross-country horse races which went from church steeple to church steeple, hence "steeplechase."
The first steeplechase is said to have been the result of a wager in 1752 between Mr. Cornelius O'Callaghan and Mr. Edmund Blake, racing four miles (6 km) cross-country from Buttevant Church to St. Leger Church in Doneraile, in Cork, Ireland. An account of the race was believed to have been in the library of the O'Brien's of Dromoland Castle.
Most of the earlier steeplechases were contested cross-country rather than on a track, and resembled English cross country or hunt racing as it exists today. The first recorded steeplechase over a prepared track with fences was run in Bedlam, North Yorkshire in 1810.
Today’s Steeplechase can be done at a leisurely pace and hopefully you will be able to enjoy some of Crawford County, Ohio’s historic and beautiful church steeples.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church is located northwest of Sulphur Springs, Ohio and east of Ridgeton, Ohio and was begun in Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio, as early as 1836 when a log-hewn church known as Yeiter, Union or Hope was built by Reformed and Lutheran settlers. In 1838 Germans formed their own congregation and met in the church for 14 years until a new wood church was built in 1850. The brick structure was erected in 1899 to replace the wooden church located at the same site. Look for the marker memorializing the original building on the west corner of the property. With a growing congregation an educational building was built and dedicated on May 2, 1965 and an elevator and bathroom facility was installed for the handicapped in 1997.
The church was served by circuit riders until 1872. German records kept by Pastor J. C. Koepplin were translated and showed that the brick building cost a little over $9500 to build. A lot of the lumber used in the construction of the church was donated by the members of the congregation. They cut their own trees, hauled them to the sawmill, and then to the building site. The first cross placed on top of the steeple was made of tin. This cross lasted about 50 years, when it started to rust through and was becoming a nesting place for birds. The tin cross was hauled from the Ridgeton Station by wagon. The old one was replaced by one of stainless steel. Teams of horses were used to move sandstone from the Ridgeton Station to the site.
The F tone bell was ordered from the Henry Stuckstede Bell Foundry in St. Louis, Missouri. It was priced at $.27 per pound and was to weigh approximately 1200 pounds. The bell has various engravings in German with the church's name, date the bell was made, and where it came from.
One of the building's unique features is that the cross on the church spire was established as a benchmark in 1959 by the CGS. You might want to log this NGS Benchmark.
The St. Paul Lutheran Church of Sulphur Springs, Ohio approved this geocache’s location. There is a special gift for the FTF. Please hunt in daylight hours only. Parking is available on the east side of the church.