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by Jack R. Perry
Originally published in Hills Living magazine August, 2016

Do you remember the movie with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John - ÔGreaseÕ. Can you relate to that movie? My answer is yes, I was a ÔGreaserÕ and a Ôgear headÕ. I love cars, the long flowing lines of the old classic cars, and the brassy exhaust sound of a street rod with a big cubic inch engine as it sucks in air and gasoline. I took auto shop in high school and even built a street rod engine from the basic block. I had grease under my finger nails back then. My Dad owned a full service gasoline station downtown Canton. I spent my time there learning about cars. I still love seeing, hearing and watching classic cars and street rods of all kinds. Some of the cars I have owned are now considered classics and restored they sell well at auction. My car list included a 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400, it came stock from the factory with four on the floor and a Hurst shifter, a Jaguar XKE convertible, a 1969 Porsche 911 sedan, a Triumph TR4, a couple of Datsun Z style cars and a VW Bug. I even earned a trophy from racing my Triumph. My current Toyota 2010 FJ Cruiser is likely to become a classic following in the footsteps of its predecessor. What does all this have to do with photography? I love seeing and photographing the beautiful and incredible cars that are displayed at the Concours dÕElegance shows across the US. The National Street Rod Association (NSRA) also holds annual events across the US with an unbelievable array of street rods. My NSRA favorite is the big show in Louisville, KY, held annually in August.

Canton, Ohio had a very popular Concours dÕElegance show here called the ÔGlenmoor Gathering of Significant AutomobilesÕ held at the Glenmoor Country Club. I never missed it since moving back to Canton. We did not have the standing of the premier Pebble Beach, CA concours, but the famous did attend. I met Wayne Carini from VelocityÕs ÔChasing Classic CarsÕ at our local show. The Glenmoore Gathering was canceled before the 2013 show was held after eighteen years at the Glenmoor CC. It was so popular with Northeast Ohio that I believe the venue was overwhelmed. The stated reason was that Òfewer major local sponsors out there to support a show like this . . .Ó (the underline is my editorial addition). In 2014 the revived show moved to the Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, OH. On the Stan Hywet website the following was posted after the event; ÒThe 2014 Concours dÕElegance . . . exceeded our sustainable capacity to support it . . .Ó. That ended the nineteen year series of Northeast Ohio Concours dÕElegance events. It is held now only at two remaining Ohio locations; Dayton at Carillon Park in September and during June at Ault Park in Cincinnati. My camera and I will be at the Dayton venue in September. I hope that it is as well attended by antique car enthusiasts as our Northeast Ohio show. We lost a major classic & antique automobile and motorcycle show that needs to return to Northeast Ohio.

Our eighteenth and last Glenmoor Gathering featured the cars of Preston Tucker and Sydney Allard. One of the features of the TUCKER 48 is the Ôcyclops eyeÕ headlamp in the middle of the front that would turn in the direction the car would turn. It was a rear engine car powered by a flat six from the wartime Franklin helicopter. It had a top speed of 120 mph. The ALLARD was made in England using Ford components and Ford & Cadillac V8 engines. It is the sports and racing cars where Allard gained acclaim. The Allard won the 1949 Royal Automobile Club Hillclimb and later US races at Watkins Glen and others. Some of my favorite cars are always the StutzÕs and the Hupmobiles. The Stutz Motor Company started business in 1911 and continued until 1935. It was known as a producer of AmericaÕs first sports car and luxury cars for our movie stars. They produced over 35,000 cars in their brief history. The Hupmobile was produced by the Hupp Motor Car Company of Detroit, MI, founded by Robert Craig Hupp. He may have been a relative, my mother was a Hupp. It was manufactured from 1909 through 1940, with sales of over 65,000 in 1928. The National Football League was created in Canton, OH at Ralph HayÕs Hupmobile dealership. The Hupmobile competed well with Ford and Chevrolet. It survived after the well known Cord Motor Co. went defunct and in 1939 buying some of their production dies. They shared the Cord dies in an unsuccessful joint venture with Graham-Page Motor Co. Both companies went out of business shortly after producing only 319 Skylarks with those dies.

DonÕt forget we have a Classic Car Museum right here in Canton, Ohio. For more information visit their website at www.cantonclassiccar.org The Dayton 2016 Concours dÕElegance will begin at 10:30 AM on Sunday, September 18th for the public. If you want more information visit their website www.daytonconcours.com/concours.php. For more information on the NSRA events visit www.nsra-usa.com/Events. You can find many more of my photographs from around Ohio and other great outdoor places I love on my website www.jackrperry.photography. You can link to my YouTube video of the 2012 Glenmoor gathering auto tour from my home page. Follow me on FaceBook at ÔjrperryÕ and like ÔohiocoveredbridgesÕ. Watch for my more in-depth articles and photographs of some of my favorite places in Ohio and other states. (details on the Stutz Motor Co & the Hupp Motor Co. were sourced from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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by Jack R. Perry
Originally published in Hills Living magazine July, 2016


You know about the Hall of Fame with the parades and football, the McKinley Monument, The First LadyÕs Library, The Saxton House, the Canton Car Museum, CantonÕs First Friday and the Food Tours. These are just a few of the great things we have in Canton, Ohio. Those will keep you and your camera busy for a while. I will write about some of those in the future. A location that you may not of heard about and one of my favorite places to visit and take my camera is the Military Aviation Preservation Society (MAPS). It is an aviation air museum and you need to add it to your bucket list of places to visit. It is located in North Canton on the back side of the Canton/Akron Airport, just off Wales/Massillon Road. You will be greeted by their P-51 Mustang Mock-up at the entrance on International Pkwy. Their mission statement: ÒMAPS Air Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about the history of military aviation and its impact upon societyÕ. This is the important part for us camera buffs: ÒIt accomplishes this mission by acquiring, restoring, preserving, studying and EXHIBITING . . .Ó. What that means is there are of a lot of different airplanes for us to put our lens onto and knowledgeable volunteers to tell us about them.

From their Website: ÔMAPS Air Museum has acquired a broad collection of aircraft from both private individuals and government collections. We have been entrusted with the restoration, maintenance, and display of aircraft from the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, OH, the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL, and from various private collectors.Õ What that means is that you will be able to photograph a 1908 Martin Glider. ItÕs first flight was Jan. 12, 1909, and it was built right here in Canton. Another cool aircraft is the Beechcraft SNB-5 Expeditor, a World War II U.S. Navy light transport/multi-engine trainer. The MuseumÕs Beech was built in 1943 as a Beech AT-7. A third plane is the Douglas C-47 Gooney Bird, known as the ÔRuptured DuckÕ. It is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remains in front line service with various military operators to the present day. That is just a few of the aircraft you can see, photograph and hear about at MAPS. For of a complete list of their aircraft on display visit the website at www.mapsairmuseum.org/aircraft-on-display/ They are searching for new aircraft all the time to add to the inventory. The latest and greatest is a A-4A Douglas Skyhawk which they are very proud of. They just finished painting it in the original blue of the NavyÕs Blue Angels. While not on display yet you can catch sight of her on the official MAPS FaceBook page. Just search for ÔMAPS Air MuseumÕ on FB. Be sure to give them a ÔLikeÕ to keep up to date on events at MAPS.

MAPS has everything a history and a photo buff wants. They have a full calendar of events all year long from the Don Sitts sponsored MAPS Air Museum's Annual Car Show in June, Pancake Breakfasts, Scouting events, Boy Scout camp outs where they can earn aviation merit badges, US history field trips for high school students from 15 different schools and three counties and much more. My personal favorite event is the Collins Foundation ÔTHE WINGS OF FREEDOM TOURÕ. You can experience the WWII flying history tours with the Collins Foundation and four of the most famous WWII bomber and fighter aircraft. Get your camera ready because you can ÔTAKE TO THE SKIES YOURSELFÕ in one of their four planes, a P-51 Mustang, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator and a B-25 Mitchell; or just photograph them landing and taking off or tour the planes while on the tarmac. They will be at MAPS August 12, 13, 14, 2016, add it to your bucket list. For more information about the Collins Foundation and their planes visit www.cfdn.org

DonÕt forget Hills Living will be sponsoring Wings and Wheels at MAPS September 22, 2016. MAPS has over a thousand members, and dozens of unpaid volunteers. If you want more information visit their website www.mapsairmuseum.org. I have included photographs of some of the planes I have mentioned for your enjoyment. You can find many more of my photographs from around Ohio and other great outdoor places I love on my website www.jackrperryphotography.com. Watch for my more in-depth articles and photographs of some of my favorite places in Ohio and other states.
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by Jack R. Perry
Originally published in Hills Living magazine June, 2016


What is the Hocking Hills region? It is State and Metro Parks; Old Mans Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Cockles Hollow, The Rock House, the Wayne National Forest, and rural roads, smalls towns, and festivals just to name a few things. This is just a few of the natural sights of the area but you can Zipline/Canopy tour with more than 60 in the area. There is Canoeing and Kayaking, rock climbing, fishing and golf. If you have never heard of Hocking Hills or have never visited, you need to add it to your bucket list. Hocking Hills State Park is located in rural Ohio SE of Columbus, Ohio. It is near Logan, Ohio. Hocking Hills State Parks are about a three hour drive from Canton Ohio. The Hocking Hills region includes the Ohio counties of Hocking, Fairfield, Vinton and Athens. I have been to the area more than four times over the years. I am never disappointed every time I visit. There is always something new to see or a new adventure to plan out. My new adventure that I have added to my bucket list is the haunted Moonville tunnel located on the old unused rail corridor of the Cincinnati to Marietta railroad. Another of my photo passions is for wildflowers; April and May are the best months for Ohio wildflowers and Hocking Hills region is the place to go.

Fairfield County is the closest to Columbus. Lancaster is the county seat and the home to an Ohio University branch campus. Fairfield county folks also love their covered bridges. They have eighteen of them, some on private property, some difficult to get to and none you can drive through. A unique CB and one of my favorites is the Rock Mill CB over the Hocking River. It is the shortest of their CBs but the most unique with a 30 foot waterfall that has a deep pool at the bottom. It was popular to the area kids that used to dive from the ledges, but I believe access is now restricted for swimming and diving. The old mill has been reconstructed and is worth a visit by itself. For more information on the covered bridges and a long list of great things to do, visit the Fairfield County Visitors & Convention Bureau www.visitfairfieldcountyoh.org They will even mail you a visitors guide or you can read it on-line. I noticed they have listed four breweries and wineries with one named the Rockmill Brewery.

In April Fairfield County lost the Roley School House Covered Bridge to damaging winds that caused the collapse of the 117-year-old Fairfield County landmark. It originally stood across the Ohio Canal in Baltimore and later over Paw Paw Creek in Baltimore. The bridge was moved to the Fairfield County fairgrounds in 1972, it had become a landmark for fairgoers.

Hocking Hills State Parks is one my favorite places, you will discover amazing sandstone outcroppings, deep cool gorges, towering hemlocks and glistening waterfalls that characterize the regions great photographic opportunities. Old Mans Cave State Park has cabins you can rent with two bedrooms. Reservations can be made on the website www.hockinghills.com or with a phone call; 866.644.6727. They go fast; reserve early and make it a weekend trip. If you drive the regions rural roads you will find cool barns, old churches and schools, historical grave yards, and much more. Where else can you find so many opportunities for great photographs and memories.

For more information on the Moonville Tunnel visit www.moonvilletunnel.net.These are just a few of the places I love in Ohio. I have included photographs of some of the places I have mentioned for your enjoyment. You can find many more of my photographs from around Ohio and other great outdoor places I love on my website www.jackrperryphotography.com. Watch for my more in-depth articles and photographs of some of my favorite places in Ohio and other states.

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by Jack R. Perry
Originally published in Hills Living magazine May, 2016


Last month I told you about some of my favorite places to visit and photograph around Ohio. I mentioned that Ohio has over 140 beautiful old wood covered bridges. Many of these bridges were built in the 1800Õs and have stood over 100 years. Some still in use with daily traffic. If you visit, be careful in crossing, most all are single lane. That is a lot of covered bridges to visit, but donÕt be overwhelmed, I am going to tell you how to do a fun day or overnight trip to visit a few of OhioÕs covered bridges.

May is one of my favorite times to take a covered bridge tour in Ohio. Spring because the leaves are not blocking the view and the creeks are full with spring rains. If you canÕt make a spring trip then plan now for a fall trip when the leaves change color. The changing fall leaves make a perfect backdrop for photos. You can visit around a dozen different covered bridges in a day trip and may even find some other cool things to do along the way.

Ashtabula County has eighteen covered bridges, many can be visited in a day trip. It is located on Lake Erie in the most NE corner of Ohio. Just a two hour drive from Canton, Ashtabula folks love their covered bridges. They have built a number of new ones and rehabilitated others. They hold a popular Fall Covered Bridge Festival October 8th & 9th in downtown Jefferson, Ohio. It will be their 33rd festival. For detail directions and information for the Fall Festival visit their website at www.coveredbridgefestival.org. They have marked out two different tour routes, a North & East tour with twelve covered bridges which covers 69 miles. The south tour includes six covered bridges and covers 68 miles. Watch for the roadside ÔTourÕ signs, they are up year around. You can download a bridge tour map at www.coveredbridgefestival.org/2013map-web.pdf. A few of my favorite Ashtabula bridges are the Harpersfield, Warner Hollow Rd/Windsor Mills, Middle Road and State Road bridges. DonÕt forget Ashtabula County has a few wineries you can visit and even have lunch or dinner while sampling some wines.

If you prefer a little more rural self guided tour or prefer to drive south then Washington County Ohio will be where you want to go. It is located in SE Ohio on the Ohio River with only two percent of the countyÕs 635 square miles consisting of urban areas. The county seat is Marietta and where you would to start your bridge tour. It is a two hour drive from Canton also. Marietta is a thriving old river community with much history. They have an annual Ohio River Sternwheeler Festival in September, a Sweet Corn Festival in July, and the Washington County Fair in September. There is always the Campus Martius Museum, Henry Fearing House and the Ohio River Museum, just a few things you can do in addition to visiting covered bridges. There is the historic Lafayette Hotel, have lunch in the Gunroom and just walk around downtown along the rivers. You can spend the night and make it a weekend trip with the bridge tour. Remember the hotel is said to be haunted; quote www.onlyinyourstate.com: ÒAt Hotel Lafayette, guests have reported unexplained oddities for years. Missing items, suitcases turned upside-down and emptied shampoo bottles are just a few of the reported occurrences. The third floor is also supposedly haunted by a former owner of the hotel.Ó

I almost forgot about the Covered bridges, they have ten remaining bridges with three open to traffic and one located on private property. To visit the six bridges West of Interstate 77 it will take about three hours drive time. Be prepared for some very rural roads. Another three bridges and one in Monroe County are East of Interstate 77 driving North along Ohio Route 26 through the Wayne National Forest. Watch for old painted Mail Pouch Barns along the way. The Hills, Hume, Rinard bridges and the Knowlton bridge in Monroe County. Look for the bridge sign along OH26 and township road 384 for the Knowlton after the Rinard bridge. A few of my favorite bridges are the Root, Henry, Shinn & the Bell bridges. For driving directions on visiting Washington Country bridges www.mariettaohio.org/bridges.

Well, that is a lot of info on just a few of OhioÕs Covered Bridges. Want to know more; I have lots of great info in my covered bridge book visit www.ohioscoveredbridges.com or you can view or purchase my photographs from my website www.jack-perry.pixels.com/collections/covered+bridges+of+ohio. Watch for my in-depth articles and photographs of some of my favorite places in Ohio and surrounding states.

By Jack R Perry
Originally published in Hills Living Magazine, April 2016


I was born in Ohio and have retired in Ohio after living in Virginia, Illinois, Arizona and Kentucky. Ohio isnÕt Montana, Utah or California but I can tell you we have lots to do if youÕre a nature lover, sports fan and even love going out for dinner. We have the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) that preserves and reclaims the rural landscape along the Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cleveland in Northeast Ohio. You can Ski in the Winter and attend concerts in the Summer. Lots of hiking trails and many beautiful waterfalls to visit, the most notable is Brandywine. You can even ride an old steam engine through the Park.

We have over 140 covered bridges to visit. We are second in the nation in the number of covered bridges. Ashtabula County Ohio has 17 covered bridges and an annual covered bridge festival. You can even Trout Fish under a covered bridge. Many of OhioÕs covered bridges are deteriorating, but many are being rebuilt for new generations to enjoy. Be sure to visit a few or all of them. You can find out more about OhioÕs Covered Bridges in my book ÔThe Covered Bridges of Ohio Covered: A Photo GuideÕ or you can see them all on line at fineartamerica.com

One of OhioÕs major resources is Lake Erie, a natural playground for boating and transportation. We have Cleveland Metro Parks, also called the Emerald Necklace because of their beauty. Ohio has miles and miles of bicycle trails running along the Tow Path of the old Ohio & Erie Canal. The Towpath trails will take through the CVNP. Rural Ohio makes a wonderful Sunday drive. You can visit wineries, see unique 16 sided barns or even Mail Pouch Barns. These wonderful old barns are deteriorating fast, so donÕt delay. DonÕt forget the Ohio River on our Southern border and the Mighty Muskingum which divides Ohio in the middle in Southern Ohio. Old 19th century Inns & Mills still exist where you stay the night right on the river. Years ago Ohio was a major producer of soft coal from surface mines. The land has now been reclaimed and is called the AEP ReCreation Land. ReCreation Land is a 60,000-acre outdoor recreation area. You can fish with over 350 stocked lake/ponds, camp at over 380 campsites or mountain bike. The 1200 mile Buckeye trail runs though the ReCreation Land. DonÕt forget to visit Miners Park and see the ÒBig MuskieÓ Bucket. "Big Muskie" was the largest dragline ever built for surface mining coal. The skies are so dark there you might even catch a glimpse of the Milky Way on a clear night.

These are just a few of the places I love in Ohio. I have included photographs of some of the places I have mentioned for your enjoyment on my website for viewing or purchase. You can find many more of my photographs from around Ohio and other great outdoor places I love on my website at fineartamerica.com. Watch for my more in-depth articles and photographs of some of my favorite places in Ohio and others states.