History
A valuable limestone quarry near Reynoldsburg was discovered and opened by Henry Besse in the 1828 and stone from it was shipped to many parts of the state. It is a freestone and was first quarried for bridging purposes. Most of the abutments on Broad Street and National Road bridges were formerly made of this stone. Mr. Besse sold the quarry to William Forrester, who built a mill for the sawing of the stone into proper dimensions for building purposes. The cut blue freestone was popularly used in lentils and doorsteps. The foundation of the Livingston House was locally cut from William Forrester's quarry. Sawed stone formed the summer kitchen and washhouse floor and the basement walls. There are only two houses in town built entirely of stone from William Forrester's quarry. 7645 East Main St. and 1292 Lancaster Ave. The quarry stayed operational until about 1909. Over the years the quarry land changed hands and eventually, landowners Bernard Redman, Evan Williams and others donated the land the old quarry stood on to the city for a park. In 1980 the city began to develop Pine Quarry Park into what it is today.
What is Limestone?
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcium carbonate in the form of the mineral calcite. It most commonly forms in clear, warm, shallow marine waters. It is usually an organic sedimentary rock that forms from the accumulation of shell, coral, algal, and fecal debris. It can also be a chemical sedimentary rock formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate from lake or ocean water.
There are many kinds of sedimentary rock. Here are two other common examples.
Sandstone is made from grains of sand that are cemented together.
Shale is made from grains of clay that are cemented together. Shale is quite soft and you can use it to write with, like a piece of chalk.
This chart shows the formation of sedimentary rock.
Over a hundred years later as you walk around the park you can still see a variety of sedimentary rock on the walls of the gorge and the river bed.
To log this cache you must email or message the answers to the following questions within 24 hours.
A. Look around at the listed coordinates. In your opinion, how many of the three common sedimentary rocks listed above do you see?
B. At the listed coordinates, look at the wall of the gorge. You will need to measure, in inches, the thickness of the lowest visible layer of limestone not submerged by any water if present after a recent rain.
C. An optional photo of your yourself is encouraged but not required. Please do not post pictures that will spoil the questions or they will be deleted.
All tasks can be accomplished without crossing the bridge. Use the trail just prior to crossing the bridge.
You will only hear back if your answers are unacceptable.
Reference material is:
Reynoldsburg – Truro Historical Society, History of Franklin County, OH By: Opha Moore, Geology.com, and Thunderbolt kids