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• Broughton Sights – A Trip through Jackson Township, Paulding County

Broughton Sights – A Trip through Jackson Township, Paulding County

What makes Broughton sights so special is the silent story hidden between the old field roads and the few but proud buildings. I remember driving over the dusty intersection of County Road 2 for the first time and immediately got the feeling in a chapter from the 19th. Broughton was founded in 1855 when brave settlers colonized the fertile land of Jackson Township and used the small village as a trading base for the surrounding agriculture.

A short detour to Paulding, the county capital, makes one understand the importance of the place in the regional network; but Broughton keeps his own charm, because here the time is seemingly slower. I crossed the old wooden bridge over the St. Marys River – a piece that was still built by the first pioneers and today is a popular photo motif for locals who like to capture a bit of nostalgia.

When you arrive by car, Route 2 of Paulding is recommended; the ride takes hardly 15 minutes and leads you directly to the heart of the village, where a small supermarket and a café with the best homemade apple cake awaits in the area. If you prefer to come by bus, you can use the weekly service from Paulding to Broughton – it's not exactly an express, but it will take you to the destination reliably.

I don't understand the whole hype around the big cities, but here, between the fields and the quiet murmuring of the river, I find a rest that you rarely experience in tourist hotspots. And this is the true highlight of Broughton's sights for me.

Broughton Sights & Attractions

This guide invites you to stroll with me through the inconspicuous but self-willing broughton in Jackson Township – yes, just the small corner in Ohio, which you can easily overlook if you are not looking for a place where the grass grows a bit longer.

I prefer to start with the Broughton United Methodist Church because the building says at first sight: “Here we have more history than an Instagram filter.” The church ship from red brick comes from the 1880s, the organ game still sounds as if someone had set the volume to “Gotte’s voice”. I once sat there on a Sunday morning with a friend while the church called a bit too loud “Amen!” – no joke, that was almost a workout for the ears. Parking is usually easy, except when the annual harvesting Thanksgiving Festival starts and everyone from the area brings their tractor parade.

Only a few destinations surprise their visitors with a cemetery landscape that has more character than some city center. The Broughton Cemetery is just a short walk from the church building. The old tombstones tell stories of families who have been here for generations, and the whole thing has this easy melancholic charm you can only find in rural cemeteries. I once discovered an old veteran burial stone, whose inscription was almost completely swallowed by the moss – a perfect spot for a thoughtful photo if you don't have a fear of ghosts.

A short detour leads to Broughton Schoolhouse, a former classroom that today serves as a community center. The wooden benches are still there, and the old chalkboard chatter literally echoes through the air when the kids do art projects there this afternoon. I remember trying a play here as a teenager and the acoustics were so good that we almost forgot the audience, consisting of a few curious farmers, that we had no professional stage.

If you have enough of historic walls, you will find a detour to Licking River – more precisely to the small viewpoint on Broughton Road, where you can see the river in its quiet, slightly sluggish splendour. The water glitters in the sunlight, and I have thrown out my fishing several times there, just to realize that the fish here prefer to enjoy the quiet water than to indicate. A perfect place to make a picnic as long as you do not underestimate the loud squeaking of the mosquitoes.

A short field path continues to lead to Broughton Bridge, an inconspicuous steel beam bridge spanning the Licking River. It is not the most romantic suspension bridge, but it has this sturdy, “we hold the already” look that gives you the feeling of being part of a small but stable community. I once saw an old tractor crossing there, which made more noise than a rock concert – a real highlight when you want to experience the land life in its loudest form.

And because Broughton is not completely insulated, you can close to Buckeye Lake State Park Don't forget. The lake is only a few minutes away by car, and although technically not in the village, it is an indispensable retreat for the locals. I spent a few hours there in the summer to swim and enjoy the quiet water plunder – a contrast to the more dusty paths of Broughton.

So, if you're looking for Broughton's sights the next time, remember that the true treasures are not in shiny advertisements, but in the quiet corners that require a little curiosity and a little patience. And if you ask me if I understand the hype about this small town – honestly, not really. But the mix of history, nature and the occasional tractor that moans over the bridge is easy for me great.

Other special sights in the vicinity of Broughton, Ohio

The first stop of my little Odyssey was Paulding County Historical Museum, an inconspicuous brick building that holds more stories than one would expect in a day in Broughton. I discovered an old photo of a horse car that reminded me that this area was once a hub for cattle buoyancy – a detail that a little bit relativizes the modern highway buzz here. The museum is just a few minutes south of Broughton, and parking is almost always a Klacks, as long as you don't just shut down the annual 4 H festival there.

A short trip to Paulding leads to Paulding County Courthouse, an imposing building of red sandstone, which has been guarding the legal life since 1896. I have to admit that I visited the courthouse more because of its architecture than because of any negotiation – the high, vaulted windows and the artistic stonework are a real eye-catcher. The courtyard is a popular meeting place for locals who spend their lunch break there; a perfect place to sniff a bit of local flair while waiting for the next courtroom drama to begin.

A bit further east, just 20 miles from Broughton, this is Maumee River State Park. Here you exchange the dusty land for juicy meadows and a river that actually radiates a little wilderness. I spent a few hours on my bike, exploring the trails along the Maumee, enjoying the quiet strollers of the water – a rare moment of tranquility that you rarely find in this area. Parking is well signposted at the main entrance, but on sunny weekends it can be done quickly, so it's better to come early.

Directly next to the park Defiance Dam & Riverwalk, a popular photo motif for Instagram-Aficionados who want to post the picture from sunset over the reservoir. I did a picnic there with some local friends while we heard the sound of the turbines – a soothing, almost hypnotic noise that leaves the city sounds far behind. Access is free, and parking is usually easy at the foot of the dam as long as you do not come to the main event on the weekend.

Back in Paulding, when the summer is full of bloom, it turns Paulding County Fairgrounds in a true spectacle. I visited the annual Paulding County Fair for the first time, and although I cannot fully understand the hype around the rumble attractions, I must admit that the local cuisine – especially the freshly grilled corn bulbs – is really great. The Fairgrounds is a venue for everything possible all year round, from old-timer car exhibitions to Rodeo shows. Parking is almost always a children's game, except Saturday night when the terrain is overrun by thousands of people.

Another, often overlooked jewel is the Paulding County Airport, a small airfield that is used more for hobby pilots than for commercial flights. I once made a flight with a local pilot who showed me the area from the bird's eye view – a look you never get from the road. The airport is just a few miles north of Broughton, and parking for visitors is practically free as long as you are not standing there during a flight show.

Conclusion

So if you drive over Broughton the next time and feel that the city itself does not have enough to offer, it is worth making a trip to these highlights – from historical buildings to natural paradises to seasonal festivals. These Broughton Attractions show that the surrounding area of Jackson Township has more to offer than one would suspect at first glance.