Above, locals and visitors alike ventured to the Marysville Upground Reservoir Monday afternoon to witness the complete solar eclipse. At left is a closer photo of the actual eclipse from the reservoir. With the parking lot packed to capacity, several groups of people sat and waited for what was complete darkness with a light glow on the horizon. As soon as the solar event ended, people began to make the either short or long trip home.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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The Great North American Solar Eclipse of 2024 did not disappoint.
The community offered clear skies to visitors and residents alike that gathered around Union County to view the eclipse as the moon passed in front of the sun. Large crowds gathered at Glacier Ridge Metro Park, the Richwood Fairgrounds, Partners Park, Marysville Upground Reservoir, Eljer Park and dozens of other sites to watch. For nearly three minutes, Union County viewers experienced a total eclipse, an event not seen in Ohio since 1806. The next solar eclipse in Ohio will be in 2099.
Viewers came from states away to experience what most called “a once-in-a-lifetime event.”
Mark Godfrey and his family were among those that chose to come early and stay in the community.
Godfrey, a retired science teacher and principal from the Pikeview, West Virginia, spent the weekend in town to be in the area.
Godfrey pulled his grandsons, Finley, 7, and Draper, 5, out of school to see the eclipse.
He said the boys’ mother, his daughter, is also a science teacher and was on board with the idea.
“We had a whole astronomy lesson last night in the hotel room,” Godfrey said.
He said the school where he teaches was close to the 2017 eclipse, but students stayed in school.
“I think this is a great learning opportunity,” Godfrey said.
The grandfather said this is also a good opportunity to be with his grandchildren who live in another state. He took the boys to Lego Land in Columbus on Sunday. Both boys said they are excited about the eclipse but thoroughly enjoyed hours of building.
The family was up early Monday morning preparing to go to the Ohio Caverns.
“I wanted to go somewhere where there is something to do in case the weather isn’t good,” Godfrey said.
Godfrey said he chose Marysville “for the geography.”
He said he knows people in other areas and has family near the path of totality in Indiana, “but this was two hours closer.”
He said he expected to fight some traffic going home and he would rather do it closer to home.
“It just worked out better for us and it seems like the weather is going to be better here,” Godfrey said, crossing his fingers.