Ohio
Ohio historical society settles with golf club to take back World Heritage tribal site
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s historical society announced a deal Thursday that will allow it to take control of an ancient ceremonial and burial earthworks site long located on the site of a golf course.
Ohio History Connection will pay Moundbuilders Country Club in Newark to buy out its lease and end the long-running legal dispute over the Octagon Earthworks, although the sum is confidential under a settlement agreement. The deal avoids a jury trial to determine the site’s fair market value that had been repeatedly postponed over the years.
The Octagon Earthworks are among eight ancient areas in the Hopewell Earthworks system that were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site last year. The historical society, a nonprofit state history organization, takes control of them Jan. 1 and plans to open them to visitors.
“Our guiding principles throughout this process have been to enable full public access to the Octagon Earthworks while ensuring Moundbuilders Country Club receives just compensation for the value of its lease on the property,” said Megan Wood, executive director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection. “And now we have accomplished those things.”
Charles Moses, president of the organization’s board of trustees, said the History Connection is excited for the location to be “fully open to the citizens of Ohio — and the world.”
Built between 2,000 and 1,600 years ago by people from the Hopewell Culture, the earthworks were host to ceremonies that drew people from across the continent, based on archeological discoveries of raw materials from as far west as the Rocky Mountains.
Native Americans constructed the earthworks, including eight long earthen walls, that correspond to lunar movements and align with points where the moon rises and sets over the 18.6-year lunar cycle. The History Connection calls them “part cathedral, part cemetery and part astronomical observatory.”
The historical society owns the disputed earthworks site, but it had been leased to the country club for decades. History Connection had put the value of the site at about $2 million, while the country club was seeking a much higher amount.
In 1892, voters in surrounding Licking County enacted a tax increase to preserve what was left of the earthworks. The area was developed as a golf course in 1911, and the state first deeded the 134-acre property to Moundbuilders Country Club in 1933.
A county judge ruled in 2019 that the historical society could reclaim the lease via eminent domain. But the club challenged the attempt to take the property, saying the History Connection didn’t make a good faith offer to purchase the property as required by state law. The country club argued that it had provided proper upkeep of the mound and allowed public access over the years — albeit only a few days a year.
A message was left with the country club’s board president seeking comment.
Ohio State has earned its second top-five win of the season.
The Buckeyes dominated Indiana on Saturday, taking down the Hoosiers 38-15 at Ohio Stadium.
Will Howard completed 22 of 26 passes for 201 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, while Caleb Downs made the play of the day and returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown.
Cody Simon had a terrific day defensively, finishing with 2.5 sacks on the afternoon.
Ohio State is back in action for its regular-season finale with a battle against Michigan next week in Columbus. But in the meantime, you can view our photo gallery from the day that has more than 100 photos of the action at the top of the page.
Ohio State football coach Ryan Day on Indiana ahead of Big Ten game
What Ohio State football coach Ryan Day sees in 10-0 Indiana as the Hoosiers prepare for Saturday game in Columbus
(This story has been updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
Ohio State football fans should be in better shape driving to Saturday’s game after road crews cleared a major traffic crash near campus.
All southbound lanes on State Route 315 beyond North Broadway Street were closed for several hours Saturday morning due to a crash, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation. A semitruck carrying fuel jack-knifed around 6:30 a.m., blocking traffic on the freeway just before the Gooddale Street exit.
The truck was moved from the freeway around 8 a.m., and the freeway reopened about 45 minutes later.
How to get to Ohio Stadium for Indiana game
Ohio State athletics suggests these alternate routes to get to Ohio Stadium:
Traveling from the North
- I-71 South to Hudson Street or 17th Avenue exits
Traveling from the South
- I-71 North to SR-315 North
- Exit at Ackerman Road or Olentangy River Road
Traveling from the East
- I-670 West to SR-315 North
- Exit at Ackerman or Olentangy River Road
- 670 West to 71 North to 17th Avenue or Hudson Street
Traveling from the West
- I-270 South to 70 East to I-670 to SR-315 North
- Exit at Ackerman Road or Olentangy River Road
- Fishinger Road to Kenny Road to Ackerman Road
- Riverside Drive to Fishinger Road or Lane Avenue
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CINCINNATI — Thanksgiving week represents the state semifinals for high school football teams in Ohio and Kentucky.
In Division I, Moeller (13-1) is expected to take on Centerville (11-3) in a state semifinal to be played at Princeton Nov. 29. This will be Moeller’s fourth consecutive state semifinals after defeating St. Xavier 28-23.
Friday night’s sold-out game at Mason (7,000 capacity) was the second meeting between the Greater Catholic League South division rivals this season. Moeller defeated host St. X 45-37 Sept. 20. This was the first time the two teams had met in a regional final since 2014.
Moeller, Ohio’s No. 1-ranked team by MaxPreps, was the No. 1 seed in Region 4 this season. St. X, ranked No. 8 statewide by MaxPreps, is the No. 6 seed.
Region 8’s top seed, Anderson (14-0), will play Sunbury Big Walnut in a Division II state semifinal Nov. 29 at a location to be determined.
Unbeaten Anderson defeated No. 2 seed La Salle 28-21 in a regional final at Princeton.
Anderson is ranked No. 11 in the MaxPreps Ohio rankings (regardless of division) while La Salle was No. 18.
Friday was the fourth meeting between the two programs including the first matchup since a 2021 second-round playoff game in which the Lancers won 45-21, according to La Salle football broadcaster Jeff Bosse. The Lancers were also victorious in a 2020 regional semifinal and a 2007 regular-season game.
Anderson, winning its second straight regional title, now makes its fourth state Final Four appearance in program history. The Raptors were a 2023 state semifinalist, 2008 state runner-up and 2007 state champion — all in Division II.
Taft (12-2) is also heading to the state semifinals after a 26-12 win over Alter in the Division IV, Region 16 regional final at Monroe. The game was a rematch of a Week 3 game in which Taft won 36-7 over visiting Alter. That was part of the Senators’ three-game win streak to start the season.
Taft was in its first regional final since 2021, which was Tyler Williams’ first season as head coach.
The Senators have won the first Cincinnati Public Schools football regional championship since 1992, according to CPS athletics. Cincinnati Academy of Physical Education (CAPE) won the last of its three state championships in 1992 (Division IV). CAPE also won state titles in 1986 (Division III) and 1985 (Division IV).
Kentucky played its regional finals Friday night. Ryle defeated Central Hardin 43-14, getting their first regional championship since 2020.
In Class 5A, Cooper dominated at home against Southwestern, advancing after a 56-15 win. Highlands also won big, running away at the half to defeat Pulaski County 42-18.
In a rematch of last year’s Class 4A state championship, Covington Catholic defeated Boyle County 31-28.
Beechwood defeated Martin County 44-7 in Class 2A play.
Indiana was in the semi-state round Friday night. In Class 3A, Batesville lost on the road at Heritage Hills.
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