Customer Reviews

Ohio Oddities: A Guide to the Curious Attractions of the Buckeye State

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Please do not let the title of this book mislead you.The author,
Neil Zurcher, Cleveland Press Journalism Hall of Fame inductee,
and, Fox TV-8 "One Tank Trip" travel-show host, certainly
introduces the reader to many "oddities";however, he also uncovers unique and fascinating places, stories, and curiosities.
You will read of things spectacular and metaphysical, as well.
This book, for Mr. Zurcher, represents a departure from his
traditional travel theme;however,he draws from his extensive
travel writings and TV documentaries in order to present to the
reader concise accounts of his research.
The author's attention to detail is evident, as he provides the reader with clear-cut analytical historical references that
substantiate his research. Furthermore, the reader will enjoy
the clever usage of humor mixed into his story-telling, which
makes the reading less clinical and more fun. So....for all you "One-Tank_Trippers" out there, fasten your seatbelts, and,
get ready for an exciting trip through Ohio. And, for the "virtual" traveler, Neil's presentation will keep you entertained for hours!!!! This book represents an "odyssey"
that you do not want to miss. Step aside, if you please,
California and Florida.....Neil Zurcher has explored territory
which truly defines our state as the real "Magic Kingdom."

Having lived in Ohio for only seven years - being a transplant from Tennessee, I have made it a point to learn as much as possible about my adapted state. In the process I have visited every one of the 88 counties in the Buckeye state and many of them several times over. Being a travel writer, I probably know Ohio better than most natives. So when I picked up "Ohio Oddities" by Neil Zurcher I didn't really expect to learn much that I didn't already know.

How wrong I was. This delightful book is chock full of information which is sure to lead even the most experienced traveler (including the armchair variety) to new discoveries.

People with an inquisitive streak will thoroughly enjoy reading the many interesting tidbits of culture and history that are in "Ohio Oddities." Even after exploring all 88 Ohio counties, more than half of the things chronicled here were new to me. It's an absolute goldmine of information that could only have been written by a man who has spent a lifetime "discovering wonderful little curiosities around the state." Thanks Neil Zurcher, for a fun book which gives me lots of reasons to get out and explore Ohio again.

We are a family of Ohioans who love this book. I have lived here for several years and never knew there were such interesting things to see and do in a state that I had thought was so boring. Even my 11 year old son who hates to read devoured this book. We plan to search out several of Mr. Zurcher's suggestions next summer!!!!

Some of the most interesting features of Ohio are now brought to light by Zurcher. Some curiosities we have heard of, but never investigated. Now it is all before us to study and then go see for ourselves. This book adds much to the appeal of traveling around Ohio. If you like adventure of a curious nature, this book is for you.

I have a friend who I met while interning in Cleveland who still remembers the first thing I ever said to him: "Did you know the average person eats a pound of bugs a year?" It was one of the many facts I gleaned from Grossology: The Science of Really Gross Things. I can't say that my bug fact was the smoothest ice breaker, but it was clearly memorable.

For some off facts about Ohio, refer to Neil Zurcher's Ohio Oddities.

Sample Facts:

- The First Traffic Light
The first traffic light was invented by some men in Asheville, Ohio. It looked nothing like today, but resembled more of a UFO.

- World's Fastest Pumpkin Carver
Jerry Ayers, from Baltimore, Ohio, can carve a pumpkin in under two minutes. He's even listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

- Largest Working Model of a Mousetrap
If you ever have a mouse the size of a large man, head to Lisbon, Ohio, to get your hands on a mousetrap that measures about 10 by 4.5 feet.

- Former Home of the Underwear Festival
Remember those red long johns with the flap in the back? They were invented in Piqua, Ohio. In honor of the town's great invention, Dav Pilkey chose it as the setting for his children's series Captain Underpants.

- First Banana Split
Soda Shoppes would not be complete without a banana split on the menu. They have "Doc" Hazard at Hazard's Drug Store in Wilmington, Ohio, to thanks for that invention.

- Birthplace of Clark Gable
Cadiz, Ohio, may not be known for a lot of things, but it I where Clark Gable was born and grew up. You can still go and see the house where he was born.

- Headless Chicken
One of the weirder facts in this book, in Ashtabula, Ohio, a couple cut the head of a chicken to eat it for dinner and the chicken didn't die until a month later. The couple let the headless chicken live in their basement and even fed it, admiring it's will to live.

Ohio Oddities probably isn't a book you will read in one sitting, but guaranteed you'll use facts from the book in conversation. Come on - who doesn't want to hear about a living headless chicken?

Very, very interesting book and contents, especially for myself, since I have lived in Ohio all my life and I love the fact that my husband and I can travel anywhere in Ohio and we are able to make a day trip of it because it is all so accessible.

And it is really neat to find out all these neat things about the state that that I call home and the state that I love.

I was a little disappointed with this book. The seller was great but the book left much to be desired. As a life long resident of this state, many things were left out and some items were just too old to be of any value for this age.

This book is entertaining and fun to read. It is not just a boring book of facts. Neil Zurcher adds bits of humor, which makes you want to keep reading on. And the pictures are a nice addition to each curious attraction. This book is a must have for your personl library!