FREDERICKTOWN — The long-awaited solar eclipse came and went quickly, but those who gathered at the Fredericktown Community Library to watch it said it was “totally worth it.”
Beth Strassman, Heidi Mentz, and Diane Wiktorowski, all of Athens, Ohio, made the trip on Monday with six children. They spent the night at Mount Vernon’s Comfort Inn.
“You guys have the full spectrum,” Strassman said of their reason for choosing Fredericktown.
“And we didn’t have to drive to Cleveland,” Mentz added.
A few of the kids missed school to make the trip. Strassman said some Athens schools closed; others did not.
All agreed it was worth the effort, including Logan, who will be pushing 90 when the next total eclipse hits Ohio in 2099. Still undecided is whether the kids want their moms to save the 2024 eclipse glasses.
The eclipse began at 1:58 p.m. Totality started at 3:13 and lasted 2 minutes, 14 seconds.
Around 2:45 p.m., the air became noticeably cooler. At 3:06, people put on jackets and spread blankets over their laps.
The street lights on Stadium Drive came on shortly before 3:13. A murmur rose from the crowd when totality hit and again when the sun peeked out.
By 3:17, there was no need for the street lights as the sun was once again visible.
Once in a lifetime experience
Joel Theller and his wife, Angie, drove up from Newark. Both said it was worth the drive and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“I’m 54, and I won’t be around to see another one,” Joel said.
“We came up to find a good spot because Newark was not in totality,” he explained, adding that their daughter and grandson also made the trip.
“I read several articles that said if you’re close to the area of totality, it’s worth it to go,” Angie added. “I’m glad we took their advice.”
Storm and Chrissy Snyder walked to the library from their home a few blocks away.
“It’s nice enjoying this with the community,” Chrissy said. “It’s a nice opportunity for the whole family.”
Youngsters Landon Collins and Chevy Teal, also from the village, said they came because it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Chevy said he learned never to look directly at the sun.
An afternoon of fun
In addition to taking frequent looks upward, those gathered enjoyed food truck fare and took advantage of the wide expanse of lawn to throw Frisbee and fly kites.
Children drew chalk art, went on a scavenger hunt inside the library, and played other games.
“The best thing is to see all of the people here,” Library volunteer Louise Dudgeon said.
Dudgeon said she heard that a family drove from Baltimore, MD, because they wanted to experience totality.
“How cool is that?” she asked. “How they picked [Fredericktown], I don’t know.”
Additionally, two busloads from Kenyon College drove up to watch from the library location.
Knox Community Hospital proudly supports the vibrant pulse of our community by sponsoring the Life & Culture section on Knox Pages, celebrating the stories and experiences that make our region unique.
