Above,Spectators at the Marysville Upground Reservoir look up at the total eclipse Monday afternoon while a 360-degree sunrise lit up the horizon in other parts of the state.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
—
Editor’s note: The following story is a series of vignettes compiled by the Journal-Tribune newsroom staff on Monday at various locations around Union County, from the Richwood Park to the Glacier Ridge Metro Park. Each snapshot, of individuals visiting the county from as far away as Germany, gives a flavor for the reasons some individuals traveled hundreds, if not thousands, of miles to view the 2024 total solar eclipse in Union County.
–––
Whether with loved ones or people they don’t even know, Jim and Cynthia DeGrand said getting to enjoy the total solar eclipse together was part of the fun.
“There’s no religion, no politics,” Cynthia DeGrand said.
“There’s no class, it doesn’t matter how much money you make,” Jim DeGrand added. “Everyone can do this.”
The couple was preparing to watch the phenomenon at Glacier Ridge Metro Park with Cynthia’s high school friend, Cindy Rivers, and a woman they met earlier that day, Monica Clements.
While they chatted with one another, Jim DeGrand was happy to let children and families at Glacier Ridge Metro Park take a peek through his “small telescope” – a four-and-a-half-inch lens Newtonian reflector telescope that didn’t seem too small to those interested.
At start of the eclipse, DeGrand also showed them how it could be used as a pinhole projector to show the shadow of the moon blocking the sun.
He noted that he bought his telescope in the 1970s in Saudi Arabia, where the atmospheric conditions allowed for much clearer stargazing.
Though he said he hasn’t used his telescope much recently due to the thicker atmosphere in Ohio, DeGrand said it was funny that the area happened to have the perfect conditions for the once-in-a-lifetime event.
Aside from the view, feeling the excitement and awe alongside so many others was part of what made it so special.
“It’s such a communal event that can bring people together in a way that almost nothing else could,” DeGrand said.
–––
Glacier Ridge Metro Park
Jane Litz of Charleston, South Carolina, Tara Hyde of Campbell, California and Bryan Webster of Worthington
While Litz said she and her children, Hyde and Webster, generally try to get together for holidays, their April 2024 trip was in the works for nearly a decade.
The family was in Kentucky for the 2017 total solar eclipse and enjoyed it so much that they knew they had to capitalize on a chance to see it again.
“We made a promise then,” Litz said.
The family was joined by Webster’s friends, Dani Howell and Jenny Brodie, as well as Hyde’s boyfriend, Neil Milne, who moved to the U.S. from Scotland about two years ago.
The group gathered around three cars with their hatches open and munched on a tailgate-style spread complete with a charcuterie board while they waited to witness the once-in-a-lifetime experience… for a second time.
Kerstin of Germany
As she stopped by the pop-up tent hosted by naturalists from Metro Parks, Kerstin double-checked that they had enough extra solar eclipse glasses to spare a pair.
Kerstin explained that she already had glasses to wear, but wanted a keepsake with the date and location since she was visiting from Germany.
Kerstin, who did not want to share her last name, said she has a daughter and grandchildren that live in Hilliard, so she tries to visit every year or so.
But, her April 2024 visit was planned specifically around being in the path of totality.
“My husband loves eclipses,” she said.
Scott Caputo of Columbus
Several hours before the eclipse began, Caputo snagged a picnic table with a beautiful view from a hill at Glacier Ridge Metro Park.
Caputo said he is a volunteer with Metro Parks and decided awhile back that he would view the eclipse from Glacier Ridge – within the path of totality.
The eclipse may be difficult to capture on camera, but Caputo was equipped with a variety of paintbrushes, palettes and paints to help him illustrate the scene.
Before the moon began to eclipse the sun, he was well into a painting of his view.
Li Qin, Dave Chen and Guohong Shen, all of Columbus
With multiple professional cameras mounted on tripods and protected by special lenses, numerous eclipse viewers stopped by to ask the trio about their equipment.
As the moon began to block the sun just before 2 p.m., Chen showed Glacier Ridge visitor Monica Clements the image on his viewfinder: the sun’s perfect circle with a tiny bite missing from the bottom right corner.
While it was still bright outside, many others gathered to see the view from his camera.
The group of friends regularly photograph weddings and sporting events in the Columbus are and were ready to use their skills to capture Monday’s event.
Qin also scrolled through the camera roll on his phone to show off some of the photos he took during the 2017 total solar eclipse in Kentucky.
His answer for how he learned to photograph solar events as opposed to his usual sports action was simple: “just the internet.”
Catie Hyatt, naturalist at Glacier Ridge Metro Park
“This is actually the busiest I’ve ever seen it,” Catie Hyatt, the Metro Parks naturalist who moved to Glacier Ridge from Inniswood Metro Gardens a couple months ago.
Hyatt was stationed at a pop-up tent handing out eclipse glasses but would also be there after the event to contain the used ones.
She explained that the material used to manufacture the lenses cannot be recycled, but it can be reused instead of going directly to landfills.
In partnership with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO), the used glasses are being sent to Chile and Argentina so residents there can safely view an upcoming “ring of fire” solar eclipse in October.
“We can’t recycle them but we can give them new life,” Hyatt said.
–––
Union County Fairgrounds
Kathy and Mike Morouse of Groveport
With only a few minutes until totality, the Morouses were walking back to their viewing spot at the Union County Fairgrounds.
The husband and wife were wearing matching t-shirts commemorating the day many looked forward to: April 8, 2024.
Mike Morouse said the couple chose the Union County Fairgrounds to watch the eclipse because it was an accessible spot within the path of totality.
He said they enjoyed the partial view of the 2017 eclipse from their back porch, but were especially looking forward to the unique experience that totality would afford.
Richwood Park
This week’s total solar eclipse brought several groups of families to Richwood Park.
Families traveled from inside the state and out to gather around the lake, set up camp and watch the celestial event Monday afternoon.
While some came from central Ohio cities, others came from a little further.
One of those visitors was Sue Darrah, who traveled from just outside of Fairmont, West Virginia to be in the path of totality.
“My daughter and her husband and family live south of Columbus in Canal Winchester and (a family member) was familiar with the area and thought this would be a good place to watch from and so we found the park,” she said. “We did pick a good spot to be in.”
Darrah brought her family and her husband, Randy.
She said he was excited to find a place in the path of totality as he works in medicine and has an interest in science, movements of the sun and weather patterns.
She said her and her husband use these opportunities as teachable moments for their grandchildren, referencing the previous partial eclipse in 2017.
“Last time, we taught our grandchildren back home the project with the plates where you make the pinhole and watch the eclipse that way and he documented it that way,” Darrah said. “He’s pretty good at making science fun for our grandchildren.”
This time, she said, they will be recording it directly with a camera.
“We’ve seen a few eclipses but these two we were able to share with family so that makes it special,” she said.
Amy Schocken, of Westerville, said she was familiar with Richwood before coming and knew it was in the path of totality, but being able to come to the lake sealed the deal.
“We really Googled it and saw the lake and we’re like ‘hey, that looks like a cool place’ and here we are,” she said. “It’s beautiful. It’s really a crown jewel for a small village like this.”
Schocken said her husband went to the partial eclipse in 2017 but this was her first total eclipse.
“We’re looking forward to it, big time,” she said.
Darrah and Schocken were among several groups from Richwood, Marion, Dublin, Pataskala and other places near Columbus.
–––
The streets of Marysville
Randy and Kendi Parvin came to Marysville from Madison, Wisconsin.
“We wanted a small town where you can go and have a beer and wander around and look at the sky for a while,” Randy said.
He said he is friends with Ray Ibsen, who lives in Columbus. When Randy told Ray what he was looking for, Ray started to ask around.
“Turns out, my neighbor just opened The Marysville Tap Room,” Ibsen said. “He invited us to come to Marysville.
The group toured Marysville then made their way to Partners Park. They got a seat on the lawn and tried out their glasses and phone camera filter. Then they relaxed, talking among themselves.
Even before the eclipse, Randy said he was pleased with the decision. He said he appreciated the size of the community with amenities that also has a small-town feel.
“There is a lot of nice shops,” Parvin said, as he relaxed with a beer. “It’s a really nice downtown. It seems like you are all trying to keep that.”
He was even more pleased with the decision after the eclipse.
“Gosh, yes. Indeed,” Randy said, joking that he doesn’t know why anyone would want to stare at the sun anywhere but Marysville.
Ibsen agreed.
“Coming here, it was absolutely phenomenal. It was great,” Ibsen said.
Ibsen’s wife, Nella Citino, said the eclipse put some things in perspective.
“It makes you feel small,” Citino said. “It let’s you know there is something bigger.”
“It has individual meaning to people,” Kendi said.
She said she is pleased the couple decided to make the drive.
“During the eclipse I got a text from someone in Wisconsin. She said, ‘You are in Ohio, right? I am watching the NASA feed right now.’ I told her, I am watching the eclipse right now.”
One Cincinnati resident, who did not want to give his name, chose to spend the day on his Harley.
He said he was in an area t only for a very short period.
“I figured I would find a little town I never been to and go watch,” the man said.
Decked in black leather, gauges in his ears and purple paper glasses over his eyes, he said he was in awe.
“There really is no way to describe something like that,” he said.
He added, “It makes you wonder what our ancestors, 20, 30, 40,000 years ago must have thought about something like this.”
And then he snapped back to the present.
“And it was finally a good day for a ride,” he said.
Kenny Chian and Jacob Christofi are both medical students at The Ohio State University.
So close to the path of totality, they decided to skip school and come to Marysville to watch the eclipse.
Christofi said he saw a partial eclipse in 2017, but said it didn’t compare to the total eclipse.
“It was very awe inspiring to see that. It was like nothing I have ever seen before,” Christofi said.
The students said they were surprised at the sudden drop in temperature and how quickly the dark arrived.
They added that when “everyone started cheering” at the total eclipse, there was a sense of community they appreciated.
Jillian Dwyer, of Mill Valley, said she was afraid she was going to be disappointed. In 2017, her boyfriend Peter Szabo went to the total eclipse in Kentucky. Dwyer was in Florida and opted not to make the trip.
When Szabo returned, he said it was amazing and continued to talk about it.
Now the pair lives in Marysville and when they learned about the total eclipse Dwyer was excited, but not like Szabo.
“I was excited, but I don’t think anything could prepare me,” Dwyer said.
She added, “I didn’t expect it to be as amazing as it was. It was so cool, way more than I expected it to be.”
Dwyer said she gets it now.
“Seeing it is almost indescribable now,” Dwyer said.
She said the other impressive part was seeing “everyone in the community come together.”
“That was nice to see,” Dwyer said.
Szabo said he was pleased so many out of town visitors came to Marysville, “but for me, it was nice not to need to travel.”
For Tammy Jenkins, the solar eclipse was a good opportunity to tell others about Marysville.
“She has been a great host,” Connie Trinkle said of Jenkins.
“I would hope so, its what I used to do,” Jenkins responded.
Trinkle and her husband live in Grove City but came to Marysville on Sunday night, “So we didn’t have to fight the traffic.”
Originally she planned to go to Avon Lake, but “it was packed.”
“Then we saw Marysville and I am glad we came here,” Trinkle said.
Trinkle said she enjoyed the town. She and her husband found a spot on a bench at Partners Park. She chose the seat next to Jenkins and the two women began to talk.
Jenkins told her about the town and some history, about some of the shops and events in the Uptown
“She told me all about the town. She is a good ambassador. I sure am glad I sat here,” Trinkle said.
Andrew Carey has lived in Marysville for about five years. His father, Al, had been to Andrews home but his mother, Julie, had not.
“When I realized it was going to be where the totality is, I said, ‘Let’s go visit.’ So we coordinated it to come see him,” Julie said.
Al and Julie made their way from the home on the Virginia, North Carolina border to Marysville to see their son and the sun.
The family was in Marysville a couple days and enjoyed the town. Andrew said that while he has lived here a while, he works a lot so he hasn’t gotten involved in the community. He said he learned with his parents as they toured the community.
Julie enjoyed seeing and reading about the murals in town. Al said he was impressed at the manufacturing capabilities in such an agricultural community.
Andrew and Al both said they liked learning about community events they didn’t know about. Al said the family would likely coordinate their next trip to see Andrew around the All-Ohio Balloon Fest in the next few years.
Julie said regardless of the date, they will make a return trip to Marysville a priority.
“I think it is so quaint,” she said. “I love it here.”
She quickly looked at her son adding, “and I like seeing him.”
Cheyenne Hubble is 10 and knows she will never see a total eclipse in Marysville again
“I love the eclipse. Cheyenne said. “It’s once in a lifetime.”
Cheyenne’s parents, Nick and Heather Hubble, moved Marysville several years from Franklin County. Heather said she saw the partial eclipse in 2017 and thought it was cool.
Then she learned there would be a total eclipse in Marysville.
“A that point, I got really into it,” Heather said.
She said she was so excited, she invited friends and family to come to her home on Sixth Street to celebrate and watch together.
The family was counting down the minutes till the eclipse, putting their glasses on even before the eclipse began so they could watch the very instant the moon began to move across the sun.
Mitchell and Susan Haddad drove to Marysville from Wheeling, West Virginia.
He said a two-hour drive “is nothing.”
They went out to eat, toured the town a bit and prepared for the eclipse.
The pair said they aren’t exciting but their beads, buttons, colorful vests and funky t-shirts said otherwise.
Susan said she had seen a partial eclipse, but never a total eclipse, so she was “excited.”
Both Mitchell and Susan said they were surprised how nice Marysville is.
“I think the historic nature and the shops are great,” Susan said.
Mitchell said Susan enjoyed touring the town, but he had something else in mind.
“I am just here to make sure it comes back on,” he joked.
April “Pinkie” Housler said she would watch the eclipse, but she was “just doing life.”
Pinkie and her husband, T-Jay, spent the pre-eclipse hours mowing their Fourth Street yard.
“We are just trying to catch up,” Pinkie said.
Pinkie’s bright pink hair makes her easy to spot for neighbors and travelers who see her often tending to the yard.
Both Houslers work for a transportation company, transporting individuals with special needs to their jobs.
Pinkie said she also serves as the company’s transportation director.
“So we knew it was going to be a nightmare,” she said.
The company closed Monday, guessing traffic would make things difficult. Pinkie added that many special needs clients do not do well adjusting to unexpected situations so closing made sense.
“It’s not worth it to be out on the roads and make our clients deal with it,” Pinkie said.
T-Jay said the extended break was a welcome treat.
“I am more than happy to have a three-day weekend and sit on my porch,” he said.
The pair said they had their glasses and they would watch the eclipse from the porch or possibly the newly mowed yard. Pinkie said she has crystals and enjoys exploring the mystic. She said she “believes there is something bigger.”
She said she had conflicting views about whether to be excited about the eclipse.
“It’s exciting, but it’s not everything, but I also know it won’t happen again in my lifetime,” she said.