Kate proposed going to 2 spots in one day. The Ohio Amish community by Mesopotamia, which houses the oldest running General Store, and the James Garfield National Historic Site. John Pointed out that going to the David Berger Memorial would be near an alternate route back, and we should consider adding it.

Needless to say, we had a busy day visiting all three locations. This article will focus on the Ohio Amish Community around Mesopotamia, Ohio.

On the way into Mesopotamia was the Pine View Bulk Store. Kate did not fully know what to expect compared to the Wisconsin Amish community. The store turned out to be like Wisconsin’s Bent and Dent store. The main difference was fewer items and more electricity. The cashier was a nice Amish man who used an electric cash register. The cash registers in Wisconsin are non electric.

From here we proceeded to the End of the Commons. We never found the Beginning of the Commons. Apparently, “The Commons” is another name for the town square. Since it is at the edge of the green space in the town square, it is the “End of the Commons”. Depending on the direction you are headed, it would also be the “Beginning of the Commons” General Store.

Out front, there is extra parking for your oversized horse and buggy! Everyone with a 25 hand or taller horse must park here!

Before entering the store are a bunch of picture boards, Amish Buggy, etc. Kate could not resist them.

The store was on the tourist trap side. Most things were badly over priced, and the mixture of items was eclectic and touristy. The worst part was the store was not owned by the Amish. The store was started by an enterprising family who knew the local Amish community needed a local store. Link to end of common store information: https://endofthecommons.com/about-end-of-the-commons-general-store/

We found some jam for sale, but the flavors were questionable. Does Traffic Jam taste like asphalt and exhaust? What types of frogs are used in F-R-O-G Jam? Is it like American Cheese where they just throw in whatever they have on hand? Do they check to make sure they did not toss in Poison Arrow Frogs? Nope. Not worth the risk.

Just remember, if you smelt it, you dealt it. These boxers do not change that.

These animal print bon-bons were neat too look at, but too pricey to buy.

Who knows what Bigfoot smells like? We would have bet that he smells like big feet, but Archie McPhee knows that he smells like Pine! A $5.99 Pine, no less!

They also had random other things to provide touristy photograph opportunities. With that giant 8 hp pull-start motor, we bet that thing goes a blistering 5 mph!

Any Steelers fans (or haters) out there? We are not sure if that is a totem sale price or a mascot ransom demand. Either way, it is ugly with a capital UGH!

Instead of Hollywood, we have showbiz politics.

The store also housed a deli, fudge shop and bakery. Unlike the Wisconsin Amish bakeries, that kitchen had all the modern appliances and electricity. We purchased 3 “should be world famous” fry pies ($2.39 each) and 4 double stuffed chocolate cookies ($3.99 for 4). The fry pies were good, but not as good as Wisconsin. The cookies were awesome and better than Wisconsin. But then Wisconsin doesn’t have stuffed chocolate chip cookies.

In the commons out front, they have a small memorial that you have to drive around. It is a combination World War I, World War II, and Civil War memorial.

This part is the Civil War Memorial.

And this is the World War I and II memorial.

The next stop was the James A. Garfield Historic Site, the “Lawnfield” home of the 20th President.