1881 PA-OH Survey Stone, Offset 25 feet, 13th Mile
Posted by: Algoma!
N 41° 46.961 W 080° 31.155
17T E 539949 N 4625759
1881 Mile Survey stone on Ohio-Pennsylvania border. In front yard of trailer home, next to a tree. This stone was the best-preserved of the stones found that day, excluding the master stone at 00 miles.
Waymark Code: WM1R6T
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 06/29/2007
Views: 43
This stone was set during the 1881 re-survey of the meridian line first established by Andrew Ellicott in 1784 - 1786. Hence, it is one of two "Ellicott Lines" in the US - the other being the boundary line between Alabama and Florida (originally, the Spanish Territory of Florida). In addition to being the western boundary line of PA, the PA-OH meridian served as the baseline for the first Public Land Survey (of the "Northwest Territories") in the US. The PLS was conducted by Thomas Hutchins, Geographer of the US, starting in 1786. Hutchins had served as a boundary commissioner/surveyor (from PA) with the Ellicott Survey. - - (thanks to 'seventhings', a fellow waymarker, for this info.)
Specific Information:
This marker stone was set 25 feet from the actual boundary in the middle of State Line Road. Some of these markers to the south past the Pymatuning Resivoir are benchmarked in the top as they are set EXACTLY on the line. I am not sure why the 1881 surveyors planted these stones at 25 feet to the east in PA. They still bear the "O" for "Ohio" and " 25 FEET" on the west side and "P" on the east side for PA. "1881" is chisled on the south side. They may have been mass produced this way originally and then set at the desired location by surveyors. Further confirmation on this are several locations along the line where 20th century surveyors have actually implanted "Marker Boxes" smack in the middle of the road to contain what I believe is a mileage benchmark showing the distance to the northern monument of the line, which I have waymarked. If any waymarkers have information on this or feel I've made a mistake about the boundary, please let me know so I can update the page. I'll look for further information myself in the meantime.
Monumentation Type: Dressed stone
Monument Category: State boundary marker
Accessible to general public: yes
Historical significance: SEE DETAILS ABOVE
Approximate date of monument: 12/12/1881
Monumentation Type (if other): Not listed
Monument Category (if other): Not listed
Explain Non-Public access: Not listed
Monument Website: Not listed
County: Not listed
USGS Quad: Not listed
NGS PID: Not listed
Other Coordinates: Not Listed
Other Coordinates details: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
1. A closeup photo of the monument is required.
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2. A 'distant' photo including the monument in the view is highly recommended. Include the compass direction you faced when you took the picture.
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