MarionMade!: Total solar eclipse holds meaning for locals and tourists alike
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A few thousand tourists came to Marion County to watch the solar eclipse April 8. And, about 1,000 of them watched from the Ohio State University Marion campus.
“Families brought chairs, picnic lunches and games,” said Greg Rose, dean and director of The Ohio State University at Marion. “It was fun to see a different kind of ‘tailgating’ on campus.”
Visitors came from around Ohio, 20 other states, Argentina and the Czech Republic. A chartered bus brought 40 family members from Washington, D.C.
Ohio State astronomers were on campus with safe telescope viewing stations.
Lights downed for prime viewing experience
“It was wonderful that so many people − both near and far − were able to come and experience the amazing eclipse from our beautiful campus,” said Dr. Amy Adams, executive vice president of planning and advancement for Marion Technical College. “Our campus is a hidden gem.”
“The heartfelt appreciation and many nice comments from those attending made the planning Ohio State Marion and Marion Technical College did together to welcome everyone to campus very rewarding,” Rose said.
Ohio State Marion Professor Anna Willow brought her family from Delaware to Marion to see an extra 59 seconds of totality.
“It was absolutely worth it,” Willow said.
Organizers shut off campus lights to provide a magnificent viewing experience.
Willow said, “It was wonderful to be able to see totality in an open field without any streetlights," Willow said. We could see a 360-degree sunrise.”
Ohio State Assistant Professor Katie Rask came with her mother from Columbus and an uncle from South Carolina.
“Congratulations on an amazing event. What a great turnout and a huge success all around. My uncle had a wonderful time,” Rask said.
“I will always remember this day. I’m so glad we got to spend it together,” said Terry Blackshear, Rask’s mother.
Where did the birds, bunnies and squirrels go?
Ohio State Marion also partnered with Towson University to collect data for a NASA eclipse project. ABC-6 from Columbus broadcasted live from the campus. The Marion Parks Department and the Ohio Department of Wildlife monitored the birds and animals during the eclipse.
Lora Tackett and her husband noticed a change from her back porch in Marion. Their backyard was full of birds and animals until the totality.
“Right as it got dark, there were no birds, no bunnies, no squirrels, no animals. It was totally quiet. My husband asked, ‘Did you scare them?’ Once the sun came back out, they came back out,” Tackett said.
Bev Ford, executive director of the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said guests came from Japan and Canada. About 500 people attended the Appleclipse at Lawrence Orchards. The warm welcome may bring tourists back, as attendees promised to return to pick apples this fall.
Sonja and Gerald Fleming had 16 family members from as far away South Dakota and Virginia watch from their home in Waldo. They enjoyed eclipse-themed snacks, had a cookout and then went to the Waldo Dairy Bar.
“Everyone enjoyed it,” Sonja Fleming said.
“While Marion did not experience the influx of visitors that was reported, Marion County was very fortunate to be the selected viewing site for people from across the State of Ohio, from coast to coast in the U.S., and even around the globe,” Ford said. “City and county officials reported things went smoothly.”
The weather wildcard turned out to be a winner
The Marion County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) spent three years planning for the eclipse with public safety, public health and public works.
“We had great planning assistance from our schools, our businesses and our community members,” said Sarah McNamee, director of the Marion County EMA. “Each of those pieces came together to make Eclipse Day a success.”
The one wild card was Ohio’s weather. It was a beautiful 70-degree, sunny day.
“It exceeded our expectations. We had perfect weather and a beautiful view to see the eclipse. After almost three years of planning, we were so worried that the weather wouldn’t cooperate and are so grateful that it did,” McNamee said.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Thousands descend on Marion for the total solar eclipse
