The First of a series of 5 caches that are to be placed as a project for my YSU Social Studies Methods Course for integrating technology and local history to the classroom. Enjoy my mini project! 
PLEASE USE CAUTION AS CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR THERE IS POISON IVY AND THORNS. Other times of the year the bike trail might be covered in a sheet of ice and snow. Best to use caution and stay aware of your surroundings!
WARNING: This can be a high muggle area during certain times. Please use caution! Also please follow the Metroparks rules, posted at every link and crossing; and please avoid caching at night, as this is still a residential and woodsy area and it is against Biketrail policy. There is NO parking near this cache location, however there is some parking nearby at the Bike Trail bridge (known as the Mahoning Trailhead) off of Mahoning Avenue. You will need to walk, bike, or rollerblade to this location from the Mahoning Avenue bridge, less than a mile walk (approximately .6-.7 miles). Coordinates of the bridge parking lot area: 41.099635, -80.790376
Or view it on the following link for directions through google maps.
http://tinyurl.com/z9u6f7m
Additional information:
The cache is located just at the boundary of the Metroparks owned land, in a void area between 2 pieces of private property and the biketrail land, I have spoken to the owners who have given their approval but don't know where the cache is and claim that where the cache is located is not on either of their properties, but please do not trespass onto their property (its not neccesary to for this cache as its right off the bike path, on metroparks property).
A brief history of this area:
Stony Ridge was part of the once thriving town of West Austintown and used to be the center of employment for many stone quarry workers and miners. The name Stony Ridge derives from the stone quarry that was once there, which is the reason for the slight hill on the east side of Fairview road and new road bike trail link. One of the coal mines near Stony Ridge and “Helltown” was the Harroff Coal Company mine, located right off the Niles-Lisbon Railroad. This cache is situated on the former Niles-Lisbon Railroad, now the Mill Creek Metro parks bike trail, which used to haul not only stone and paint from the local paint mine, but also for a brief time passengers. Stoney Ridge also holds a local colloquialism known as “Helltown”. During the turn of the century many coal miners, farmers, and other factory and laborers worked, lived, and played in an area called Stony Ridge, colloquially called “Helltown”. Although many people are divided on whether Stony Ridge and “Helltown” were actually in the exact same location, there is definite proof through maps, land records/surveys, remnants/artifacts, as well as oral histories that prove if it was not the same exact location, the two areas were extremely close together. Helltown was as its name suggests, a place to get your fix with illegal drinking (this was before and during prohibition) gambling and other sordid activities.
When the coal mines were exhausted, most miners moved on to other areas to find work. However, some of these miners stayed behind and became farmers or learned some sort of artisanal work, but kept up the infamy of “Helltown”. This was also during the time of mass immigration of people from southern and eastern Europe, and the Austintown area's population grew rapidly during the early 1900's, also in part due to industrialization. Although most of these recent immigrants were artisans, farmers, or general laborers (such as miners), the need for work was an increasing problem as the mines were shutting down, and most laborers and farmers went to work in the nearby factories and mills.
When the need arose in the early 1900’s for a new clean water supply to service the growing population in the Mahoning valley, the area of “Helltown” as well as other towns in the area, such as Ohltown, became looked at as the prime low area for a much needed reservoir. Although there were other places that were considered for the reservoir (1), the Meander Creek area was chosen. The amount of land that was eventually acquired by the MVSD was around 5700 acres and appraised with all labor and construction costs to be $9,510,000 in July 1932 (2). The Meander Reservoir now takes up the area that was once home to residents and businesses, and is now forever drowned under one of the Mahoning Valley’s water supply.
Enjoy the local history! If you wish to know more about this location, the Austintown Library has a small local history collection, or if you require more information, email me at Marcalligeo@gmail.com
Description of Cache:
You’re looking for a lock-top cylindrical container wrapped in camo tape. Just off the bike trail, DO NOT TRESPASS! Starting contents are a logbook, a pen, ping pong eyeballs (2), Mini carabiners (2). AGAIN: PLEASE USE CAUTION AS CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR THERE IS POISON IVY AND THORNS. Please dress accordingly, long socks and shoes are especially encouraged during the summer months. 
Sources:
1. John Balog, History of Jackson Township, N.P., N.D 64. And N.A. “Drink Meander Water,” Mahoning Valley Historical Society Tyler Archives, N.D.
2. John Balog, History of Jackson Township, 63.