It will help for the reader to try to think of what the river might have looked like before the dams were built. The water level would have varied depending on rainfall, and people would have known where the shallow points were. These became convenient fords where riders on horseback, buggies, and even wagons might be able to cross the river under the right conditions. One of these fords was approximately where Martin Road would extend across the Scioto River from the east bank to the west bank. There was another in the vicinity of the Hayden Run Road bridge where, before the dams were built, there was a small island in the middle of the river which was part of the crossing. Before a reliable bridge was built, Elisha Hayes operated a crude ferry built with lumber from a single walnut tree he cut from his farm about two miles northwest of Dublin. Because people had to cross the river itself in the riverbed, there were times when people might have had to wait for hours or days on one side or the other before they could cross if the water level was high. That made the coach house and tavern business very good in the village.
