The Wakefield ferry ran between Wakefield and Coopersville (a community on the west side of the Scioto river that came into existence because of the canal) and was started around 1829. Frank Russell operated it from around 1890 to 1925. Fern Flower's father ran it from 1925 to 1926. Then Ernest "Ern" Kinnison and "Cotton" Russell and at last Charlie Weeter ran it until the late 1940s. In the 1870s, Duncan's sewing machine agent was touring the hills and hollow of Camp Creek Township, trying to sell his machines to the housewives. When attempting to cross the river on the ferry at Coopersville he lost control of his horses and his wagon, sewing machines and all dumped in the river. Horses often were skittish on the apron board at the end of the ferry boat.

Buell Wheeler's Service Station probably mid 1950s located at intersection of US 23 and Manor Road (originally called Ferry Road as it led to the Scioto River Ferry to S.R. 104 near Ganderhook Road) This is where Riser Equipment is now located. Also in the picture is the Country Kitchen Restaurant which Buell also ran. The buildings can still be seen across Manor Road from the new Riser Equipment building.

This bridge was an otherwise traditional example of 1930s pony truss bridge construction. However, likely due to some sort of structural deterioration, the bridge had been retrofitted in the oddest of ways. Girders from a through plate girder bridge have been attached to half of the bridge. The girders do not run the entire length of the bridge, and a pier was added to support the end of the girder that extended into the water. Holes were cut through the deck of the truss bridge to connect the girder. There apparently must have been an issue with the floor beams or deck stringers at this end of the bridge to cause this alteration to take plate.

This Bridge was replaced in 2008

Former and last Post Office in Wakefield that closed 2 September 2005

Rank and Organization: Private, Company E, 33d Ohio Infantry. Place and Date: Georgia, April 1862. Entered Service At: Wakefield, Pike County, Ohio. Birth: Pike County, Ohio. Date Of Issue: 28 July 1883.

One of the 19 of 22 men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.

On a hot, Atlanta, June day in 1862 at 4:30 in the afternoon, at southeast corner of Fair Street (now Memorial Drive) and South Park Avenue, Atlanta, GA., Samuel lost his life to the hangman's noose. Being the 180 lbs that he was, Samuel survived the first signal by the hand of Captain G. J. Foreacre to hang the "Union Spies". As with his comrade, William Campbell, alongside on the scaffold, the rope broke and Slavens and Campbell fell to the ground. Samuel struggled to sit up and was given a cup of water. After regaining some composure, two new, readjusted ropes were strung and again Captain Foreacre gave the signal. Samuel and his comrades lost their lives to the Confederate ropes.

An odd fact of the hanging was that Captain G. J. Foreacre who was serving as Provost Marshal of Atlanta at the time, was a native of Ohio.

Chattanooga National Cemetery showing Andrews Raiders Monument

Buried temporarily at site of execution. Remains were removed to the National Cemetery, Chattanooga, TN, April 25, 1866, near Ohio Memorial, Section H, Grave No. 11,176. He is buried alongside his "Raider" comrades where they share the proud "Andrews Raiders Monument".

Samuel married Rachel Taylor, of Wakefield (b. 1839; d. February 6, 1907 daughter of Samuel Taylor), October 30, 1856. Together they shared three sons: John born 1858, Charles born 1859 and Samuel Clinton born 1861.

Andrews' Raid was a military raid that occurred April 12, 1862, during the Civil War. Volunteers from the Union Army commandeered a passenger train with the locomotive "General" and took it northwards toward Chattanooga, TN, doing as much damage as possible to the vital Western & Atlantic Railroad (W&A). Locomotives of the time normally averaged 15 miles per hour, with short bursts of an average speed of 20 miles per hour. At milepost 116.3, north of Ringgold, GA, just a few miles from Chattanooga, with the locomotive out of fuel, Andrews' men abandoned the General and scattered. Andrews and all of his men were caught.

The General is now in the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, Kennesaw, Georgia.

Chattanooga National Cemetery showing Andrews Raiders Monument