Mammals of Ohio
Mammals of Ohio - October 14th at 6pm - St. Marys Reservoir Mill
Mammals of Ohio! ---- Oct. 14th, 2026 at 6:00pm ---
St. Marys Reservoir Mill, 156 E. High Street, St. Marys, Ohio
Join Heritage Trails Park District at the recently restored Reservoir Mill for an educational program on the Mammals of Ohio! Special guest speaker Justin Spray of the Walk with Nature Fall Festival’s ‘Girty’s Town Rendezvous’ encampment will display his entire collection of furs, skulls & antlers while teaching us about Ohio’s present & past mammal species. Justin will discuss primitive hunting & harvesting techniques once used by Ohio’s earliest settlers, and share some of his own hunting experiences with the group. Participants will be invited to touch real mammal pelts & skulls and ask questions about their favorite Ohio animals.
This program will also provide guests with an inside view of the recently restored St. Marys Reservoir Mill, featuring original chamfered oak beams nearly 180 years old! The St. Marys Reservoir Mill was constructed in 1847 along the banks of the Miami and Erie Canal. For 125 years, this site was used to mill flour which was then sold throughout western Ohio. The Reservoir Mill is one of the first built and last remaining original structures standing along the canal, and is a testament to the history of transportation and industry in Northwest Ohio.
Just a short walk from the Reservoir Mill, program participants can also view restored Lock 13 as well as the beautiful Belle of St. Marys, a replica canal boat in Memorial Park.
During the program, Heritage Trails Park District will also share about the exciting activities planned for this year’s Walk with Nature Fall Festival, scheduled for Sunday, October 18th, where visitors will have yet another opportunity to speak with Justin Spray & his fellow pioneer re-enactors at the Girty’s Town Rendezvous encampment along the Miami and Erie Canal.
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 14th at 6pm to join Heritage Trails Park District at the St. Marys Reservoir Mill for an evening on Ohio’s mammals, pioneer settlers, canal history & festival plans! (Seating for this program is limited to a first come, first serve basis.)
