Fry Farm, the central setting for ‘These Remembered Hills,’ is based on a very real location where I spent some of my childhood. Although I have changed some place names and slightly tilted the directions, one could probably locate it from the description given in the novel.
And yes, there were caves—the very real Salt Petre Caves that are now operated by a nonprofit organization. Back then, it was my grandfather’s farm and my own father did some of his growing up there, roaming the hills, hunting, spending time in the caves. It was not much of an operating farm even then, but a country place for my grandfather, who had made his fortune in Columbus, in construction and lumber.
I’m including a photo of one of the caves as they are now. I may dig out some old photos later and scan them to post here. My descriptions of the caves and of the farm do come pretty close to the real place but I’ve allowed myself some artistic license here and there. Sometimes when I just didn’t remember details and only had maps to go by!
The areas around the farm are very much ‘real.’ Logan, Athens, the
various state parks (though I did rename the one closest to the farm).
Columbus, too, which we visit in the course of the story. More on some
of those places later.
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note: This is a re-post from my Hocking Hills blog. I intend to move all the material from it here and close it down.
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