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DEAD MAN'S CURVE When approaching Clymer from Indiana. Route 286 descends a steep hill (almost a mountain). The highway curves severely to the left just before Second Sample Run, and it's easy for a driver to let his or her speed get out of control. This bend in the road has been referred to as "Dead Man's Curve" because several people have lost their lives there. In 1956, a young man named John Zelinko lost control of his vehicle there and was killed. John had just graduated from Indiana State Teacher's College the day before, (The college is now the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.)
Here is a current photo of Dead Man's Curve. Perhaps it's appropriate that there is a sign that reads "Cemetery Road" posted ahead of the curve to act as a reminder to slow down. ABOUT DIXON ROAD Dixon Road, Dixon Run, and Dixonville were all named after early settlers by the name of Dixon, most likely Joseph and Samuel Dixon who were brothers. (They lived in Blacklick Township shortly before the Revolutionary War.) About 1922, the first paved road was built along Franklin Street, and it went through Sample Run to Indiana. Part of this roadway was Dixon Road, which starts at where Stony Brook Restaurant is currently located by Tenth Street. Dixon Road is segmented and never was completed. There remains a missing gap west of Two-Lick Creek across from the area of Hub Little League Field. Regarding the name Dixon, about 1907 George Dixon and family had a store on Franklin Street, which was run by his children Roper Dixon and his sister Margaret. There was also a Dixon's Garage where the old Roller Rink was located, which is now a closed chemical company. It is not known if these people were descendants of the early Dixons. Many other people with the name Dixon have lived in the area. ABOUT THE OLD INDIANA ROAD AND ROUTE 286 The unpaved road from Indiana to Clymer was once called the "old Indiana road," and it lay entirely to the west and north of Two-Lick Creek. (That portion of it that ran through Sample Run was named Dixon Road.) To get to Clymer, however, one had to pass through or over Two-Lick Creek. One could either cross the old iron bridge at Sherman Street, or one could ford the Two-Lick on the south part of Morris Street. (Before the old iron bridge was constructed there may have been a wooden bridge.) This road was named Route 80 in 1825 and was taken over as a State Highway in 1917. In 1922, the first part of Route 80 to be paved with concrete was the Franklin Street to Sample Run section. The remainder of the road was completed by November 1924. and thereafter streetcar traffic began to decline. A small section of old Route 80 and its concrete pavement exists to this day. To see it take Route 286 from Clymer toward Indiana When climbing the steep hill after leaving Sample Run, turn left onto Stable Road, go a short distance, and then turn right onto Sample Run road. Route 286 with its wide passing lands on the crest of the hill high above Second Sample Run was constructed in 1956.
An old
concrete section of Dixon Road named Sample
Run Road. |
