Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Amusement Park Will Be Opened

The Register-Leader, May 9, 1908

Messrs. Schlicher & Weber of this city have leased Fern Cliff Park for the season.

A long felt want is to be supplied. Marietta is to have an amusement park at the present terminus of the Muskingum branch of the Parkersburg, Marietta and Inter-Urban Company's line, that will surpass anything of the kind in Southeastern Ohio, and one that will rank among the best of the state.  Fern Cliff is to be converted into an up-to-date resort, where the people of this city can while away the summer days as they have not been permitted to do heretofore.

An agreement has been reached between the Parkersburg, Marietta and Inter-Urban Company and Messrs. Carl P. Schlicher and Theodore C. Weber, by which the two latter men take over and assume the privilege of using that property in Muskingum Township known as Fern Cliff Park for furnishing and maintaining such attractions and amusements as are usually found in parks of such a nature.

The contract was today signed by all parties concerned and Messrs. Schlicher and Weber will immediately begin making arrangements for extensive improvements which they contemplate making this month.

Mr. Schlicher stated today that the park will be opened to the public under the new management, no later than May 25th, and the formal opening will be in the nature of a basket picnic.

The park could not be in better hands than the ones who have taken it upon themselves to operate for the people of this city as a source of summer amusement. Both are experienced in the amusement line and are ever ready to afford whatever service they can in giving the people of this city a means of thoroughly enjoying themselves.

A more desirable place for such a park could not be found in this vicinity than the site chosen, several years ago, by the Parkersburg, Marietta and Inter-Urban Company. There is plenty of shade at the park and the ride to it is one of the most beautiful to be found along the Ohio and Muskingum rivers. It is about a twenty-five minute ride to the park and the accommodations, which are at the present time very good, will be bettered. The dancing pavilion will be reserved by the street parties. On Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings the park management will conduct dances, music for which will be furnished by the Marietta Orchestra.

The managers will cater to the best classes and will have charge of the renting of the dancing pavilion for the street car company. Admittance to the park will be free, but compensation will be charged for the various amusements, including merry-go-round, ocean wave moving picture shows, shoot-the-chutes, vaudeville shows and many other amusements for which the management will contract in the very near future.

The park will be lighted by the street car company, and Messrs. Schlicher and Weber will hire a caretaker, who will be at the park from 9 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. Special effort will be made to keep the park clear of rubbish and the best of order will be maintained. In case of drunkenness or disturbance the offender will be immediately prosecuted.

Fern Cliff Park will be the popular resort for Mariettans during the coming summer, and there will hardly be a pretty day that some private party will not be picknicking there.

The management is negotiating with the owners for a reduced rate to the park.

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Lost Husband

American Friend, November 12, 1819

Hamilton Lapham (if living) is hereby notified that Polly, his wife, is now in the town of Marietta, at the house of Joseph Morris, where she has resided since the 15th of December, 1818, during which time she has not had any communication from, nor tidings of her husband. From the last accounts had, he was on the Miami, in the township of Greenville and county of Darke. If he is dead or removed from that place, any person giving information thereof, by addressing a letter to Polly Lapham, Marietta, O., will confer a lasting obligation on his disconsolate wife and four small children.

Polly Lapham.
Marietta, Nov. 9th 1819.

Editors of papers throughout the State of Ohio are requested to give the above a gratuitous insertion and much oblige.

P.L.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

April Seventh 1892

Marietta Register, Tri-Weekly, April 9, 1892

The gray cool morning of April seventh, 1892, came in heralding a pleasant day. At an early hour, flags were unfurled and residences and business houses were decked with the loyal colors, the read, white and blue.

The business meeting of the Pioneer Association took place at 10 A.M. at the Mayor's office, City Hall.  The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:  Douglas Putnam, President; W. D. Devol, Vice President; William G. Way, Secretary; F. A. Wheeler, Treasurer; Dr. H. B. Shipman, Corresponding Secretary; Dr. N. J. Morrison, Necrologist.

Much interest and enthusiasm was manifested throughout the meeting, some new lines of work introduced, and plans laid for an entertainment on the 12th of October, 1892, which is to be historical in its nature and its aim to assist in further enhancing the sentiment and interest of the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago next year.

It was noted that six deaths had occurred during the year among the members of the Pioneer Association. The most recent is that of Mr. William Warren of this city.

Mr. Lawton, Barlow; Mr. Israel W. Putnam, Belpre; Mr. W. D. Devol and Mr. Theodore Devol and others out of town were present.

For the afternoon Mr. Douglas Putnam, long the President of the Society, and his estimable wife, extended an invitation for a reception at their palatial home to the Pioneer Association, the faculty and students of the College, and their friends generally.  Broad as the invitation implied, the hospitality of the home also seemed unbounded, and those receiving with Mr. Putnam, Mr. Henry Fearing, Mr. F. A. Wheeler, Mr. A. Pixley and J. W. L. Brown were taxed to a great degree to keep up the social handshaking which was constant from before 3 o'clock to even a later hour than was named for the reception to close.

Refreshments were served to the throngs of visitors, and at 5:00, the hour when the representation from the College and Academy came in, the numbers were so great that it proved almost a crush and a jam.

A few selections were rendered by the students, such as: "Oft on a Stilly Night," "Auld Lang Syne," etc., which was followed by an address by Mr. H. G. Blish of the College, which was appropriate to the occasion and exceedingly entertaining.

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Putnam were the first to greet the visitors and make them feel at ease in the hallway. Among the guests who assisted Mr. and Mrs. Putnam in entertaining, were Mrs. Danforth, Andover, Massachusetts; Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Putnam, Ashland, Kentucky; Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Morrison, who were untiring in their efforts to see that everyone had a pleasant time and were well cared for at the lunch tables; Mrs. Sleigh and Miss Putnam, nieces of the host; with Miss Dimond, who had many friends around her most of the afternoon.

The occasion was a birthday anniversary, as well, it being Mr. Putnam's eighty-sixth birthday, and also the birthday of W. F. Curtis, who did not feel able to be present.

Mr. W. F. Moore, 102 years of age, came from Crooked Tree, Noble County, to attend the Pioneer Association, but felt too feeble to be present at the reception. The seventh of April, 1892, will be long and pleasantly remembered as one of the happiest celebrations that the past has placed on record.