Basin at the Mouth of Market Square Run

 Marietta Intelligencer, September 5, 1839

The authorities of the Town have commenced the excavation for this work in good earnest. Under their direction about four hundred loads of earth are daily removed. Twelve hundred loads have been placed at the foot of Post Street for a new landing at that place. This is done partly at the expense of Messrs. Marshall and Lewis who own property in that vicinity. Mr. Soyez has purchased one thousand loads for a new landing in front of his premises. Large quantities of earth have been placed on the old landings at the foot of Front and Market Streets.

After the excavation is completed, we believe it is proposed to place guard locks below the bridge, and above the bridge both dry and wet docks will be erected. The water from the run will be taken across the commons by a culvert, nearly on the line of Butler Street. A portion of the earth from the culvert will be taken to fill the low ground on the east side of Front Street, and this street will thus be made straight.

We understand the water for the mills will be taken from the basin about midway between the bridge and the river by a mill race about 30 feet wide. The length of the mill race will be about 350 feet, and will require an excavation of about 6529 cubic yards.

Warehouse and Lumber Destroyed

 Marietta Daily Times, April 12, 1924

Blaze Gives Firemen Their Most Stubborn Fight in Years.

Pump Water on Fire All Night.

Property is Fully Insured and Building Will Be Rebuilt.

Fire of unknown origin raged for several hours on Friday evening in the heart of the Marietta Chair Company yards, burning a destructive course through a large storage house that was filled with manufactured lumber. It was one of the most spectacular blazes that have occurred in the city in a number of years. The loss is estimated by the company at $50,000.

The building destroyed was 100 feet long by some 30 feet wide, with a shed running along one side. The structure was two stories in height, and it was filled almost completely with what are known as "squares." These consist of lumber sawed to shape to be used in the manufacture of chairs, and they had been stacked solidly in the storage house to season for use in the factory. The majority of the stock in the building was of oak, although there was one lot of black walnut.

Whole Fire Force Out

Marietta's entire fire fighting equipment was rushed to the scene and the regular men of the department were assisted by volunteer forces, among the latter a number of the Marietta Chair Company employees who have been trained to use the company's own fire prevention equipment. Water for fighting the flames was obtained from the large high-pressure mains that run past the chair factory on Seventh Street, and six strings of hose poured hundred of thousands of gallons into the stubborn blaze. Water in reduced quantities was kept plying on the burning mass until after daylight on Saturday morning.

Workmen in the main plant of the chair factory discovered the fire just before 5 o'clock on Friday afternoon. Superintendent Pirrung was in the factory at the time and as soon as the alarm was sounded had the city department called. In the meantime fire extinguishers and company hose were brought into play but were not capable of coping with the flames.

Employee's Autos Damaged

As nearly as could be told the fire started in the northeast corner of the storage house. Directly in front of that point, the shell had been arranged as a shelter wherein factory men placed their automobiles. Several machines were in the place at the time and three of these were badly damaged, one being almost entirely destroyed.

As the flames swept through the solidly-packed lumber that was stored in the building, they found ready fuel and in less than a quarter of an hour they were rolling into the air to a height of nearly 100 feet, while vast clouds of gray smoke were thrown up. There was not a breath of air stirring and this was most fortunate, as the burning structure was closely surrounded by other buildings and great ricks of lumber. A wind from almost any direction might have caused further disaster.

Crowds Watch Flames

Thousands of people thronged to that section of the city to watch the fire, and the hills that overlook the Goose Run valley gave excellent points of vantage from which to witness the spectacle. Most of the streets in that part of Marietta were clogged with automobiles all during the early evening. The crowds hung about the scene until late in the evening.

S. W. Thurlow, general manager of the company, was absent from the city on Friday, but Col. John Mills, head of the institution, was there, and he with his assistants, Messrs. Pirrung and Hecker, directed operations and looked after the placing of the men who were detailed to assist the department. Agents of the company saw to it that coffee and sandwiches were supplied for the firemen, and these were served by Ensign Phelps of the Salvation Army and by Chief Putnam of the police. These men staid on the job during the evening, then detailed their assistants to follow up the work as the night advanced.

Col. Mills Gets Fall

While two or three of the volunteer firemen were overcome by the smoke and fumes arising from the burning lumber, none of them had any serious trouble. Col. John Mills sustained a fall when he stepped on a loose board as he walked through the lumber yards and suffered painful bruises over his left eye and along the side of his face.

As soon as the location and nature of the fire had been determined, officials of the water works department issued orders to the pump station engineers to speed up their machinery, and this was done with the result that they not only pumped added pressure against the hydrants being used but maintained a full head in the city reservoir all during the evening, thus being ready for any emergency. There are three high pressure mains along Seventh Street directly in front of the scene of the fire, so that there was no chance of water shortage. A 90 pound pressure was maintained until the fire was under control, and this was augmented by the fire department pumper.

It is announced by the Marietta Chair Company that the damaged property was all insured, and as soon as losses are adjusted the work of clearing away the wreckage and replacing the ruined building will be undertaken. Operation of the factory will not be affected.

Woolworth Company Starting Work

Marietta Daily Times, April 2, 1924

Work is starting this week on remodeling of the Union Block, which is to house the F. W. Woolworth Company's five and ten cent store in Marietta, and it is expected that the place will be open for business within 60 days.

The store will occupy two-thirds of the Union Block, the parts that are owned by the Blume estate and by Carrie Greenway. A new front will be put in, an elevator will be installed, and it will be made a thoroughly modern building.

A building permit was granted to a representative of the company on Wednesday. It is estimated that the repairs to the building will cost $13,000.

Mariettans Watch Moon Cross Sun - Solar Eclipse

Marietta Daily Times, Saturday evening, January 24, 1925

Solar Eclipse Not Total Here But Is Great Spectacle.

Only Sliver Of Sun Is Visible.

 Drop Of About 2 Degrees In Temperature Is Registered.

The world's most widely advertised spectacle, the most impressive display the skies can show, the much-heralded solar eclipse "played" Marietta on Saturday morning almost simultaneously with many other cities of the United States between 7:53 and 10:13 o'clock.

When the eclipse was at its zenith here the morning took on the appearance of evening with the sun's best efforts a feeble yellowish glow. All Marietta paused in the rush of the Saturday morning business to observe the phenomenon. Smoked glasses, old bits of film, bits of colored glass and patent eye shades were employed to break the strong rays of the sun, even though it was working under a handicap. The glow cast by the sun when the eclipse was at its zenith was rather enchanting. It made the blue sky stand out in peculiar contrast. The temperature here is reported to have dropped two degrees during the eclipse.

People Stand in Groups

People gathered in little crowds in various parts of the city, wherever a choice bit of smoked glass was offered for the viewing of the spectacle, and watched the moon swiftly passing between the sun and the earth. It was estimated that when the eclipse was at its zenith here, about 30 percent of the sun was hidden. The nearest totality here was at about 8:59 o'clock.

Weather conditions in Marietta were ideal for viewing the eclipse as the morning dawned clear. The Young Lady Across the Way reported that another advantageous condition was the fact that the sun was partly shaded by the moon, making it much easier to look at. But even at that many people found that even with their smoked glasses the sight was not the best for weak eyes.

Temperature Tested

John Kaiser reports his observations of the eclipse as follows: "The day dawned clear, and the east was perfectly clear of clouds, despite the promises of unsettled weather from the weather bureau, things assumed a more hopeful aspect."

"After the usual preliminary illumination the sun rose as proud and majestic as ever. And on the dot the eclipse began to put in its appearance; the upper right hand part of the sun was the first covered.

"I had climbed up on the roof of my home in order to get an unobstructed view of the entire sky. As the eclipse became more pronounced I noticed that the amount of frost on the roofs gradually increased. I hung out a thermometer at eight-thirty, just thirty-five minutes after the eclipse had begun, and at eight-forty took a reading and found it to be nineteen degrees farenheit. Ten minutes later there had been a drop of two degrees, and this was as cold as it got during the eclipse.

"It is wonderful that the human mind can figure out with such rare accuracy such occurrences. I found Professor Coar's advice about the use of old films just the thing, especially in connection with the use of field glasses.

"Fortunately the prevailing winds were from the south, so Marietta observers were not bothered by the smoke of the city."

Rain Heavy and General Streams Up

Marietta Daily Times, Saturday, March 29, 1924:

The heavy rains of Friday night have caused the Ohio River and its upper tributaries to rise, and big stages are in sight for both the Ohio and Muskingum. The Muskingum is putting out a large volume of water, the rainfall at Zanesville having been heavy - the government gauge registering 2.18 inches in 12 hours. The stage of water at Zanesville was recorded as 21-1/2 feet and rising at the rate of 9 inches an hour at 9 o'clock Saturday morning.

The rainfall at Pittsburgh was .90 of an inch, and the stage there was 15-1/2 feet and rising at 10 o'clock Saturday morning. The rainfall was general over the Ohio Valley. The Marietta gauge showed 25 feet and rising Saturday morning. The rainfall for Friday night was 1.40 inches locally.

Traffic and bus service were interfered with Saturday morning on account of the overflow of Duck Creek, which inundated the highway above Whipple and between Lower Salem and Warner. Several feet of water covered the road at these points. The Pennsylvania track was inundated at Schramm's crossing, but not sufficiently to hold up the train service. The water receded during the day.

Storm Causes Heavy Damage

Rural sections of Washington County, especially in the northern and western parts, were hard hit by the storm that swept southeastern Ohio during Friday night and early Saturday morning, and heavy damage was done, especially to the public roads.

In the vicinity of Rockland, the storm assumed almost cloudburst proportions and tore away a new fill and concrete culvert that had been put in on highway No. 7 during the fall and winter. Engineers were sent to the scene on Saturday, to determine the loss and to devise ways of making repairs.

In the vicinity of Lowell the rainfall was especially heavy and the Cat's Creek valley was swept more severely than in Many years. The creek reached the highest stage of which there is any record, and bridges and culverts in that section suffered heavily.

Marietta Daily Times, Monday, March 31, 1924:

Crest Will Be Reached On Tuesday

At 2 o'clock on Monday afternoon, the gauge in the Ohio river at the foot of Second Street showed 37.3 feet, and the rate of rise for the previous two hours had been 1-1/4 inches per hour. This would indicate that Marietta would have very close to a 38 foot stage when the crest is reached. It may possibly exceed that figure a trifle.

Between 7 and 10 a.m. on Monday, the rate of rise at Marietta had been three inches per hour. Then it began slowing up slightly and by noon the rise was not more than two inches per hour, which continued to lessen during the next two hours.

The Ohio was falling as far down as Dam No. 12 above Wheeling at noon on Monday, and a crest stage of 40.5 feet had been recorded at Wheeling, which is a few miles below Dam 12. The Muskingum was falling during almost its entire length. The crest was reached at Zanesville on Sunday afternoon at 23.1 feet. The Wills creek water, however, was expected to make the rate of fall slow for the next 12 hours at least.

Howe's Prediction

At noon on Monday, Director Howe of the Parkersburg weather station predicted a crest stage of between 39 and 40 feet for Marietta, to be reached early Tuesday. At the same hour the Marietta wharf boat was advising the public that a crest stage would be reached around 39 feet.

Past Ohio River flood experience has shown that the Ohio at Marietta will continue to rise for 18 hours after it reaches a crest at Wheeling. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that the rise here will continue until early Tuesday forenoon.

While 36 feet is generally recognized as the danger line in Marietta, the city can stand over 37 feet without serious damage. After that each mounting inch of water counts severely in the lower sections of the city, and once the 39 foot mark is reached, many houses will have to be abandoned.

Part of the City Flooded

Much of that section of Marietta east of Greene and Seventh streets was inundated early Monday. Water was in some of the houses in the low grounds, while along the higher strip close to the river, the streets were being shut off. Just before noon on Monday, the flood crept across lower Third Street below Greene. At the same time, both Second and Third streets had been shut off between Greene and Butler streets.

Along upper Front Street and above the fair grounds, the waters also were approaching some of the houses, while along Gilman Street, from Lancaster to the corporation line, and along Virginia from Franklin toward Mile Run, all traffic had been blocked.

Front Street Level

A stage of 38.5 feet will put water on Front Street in the vicinity of Union Street, and but little more will be required to bring it into the gutters at Front and Monroe streets.

Street car traffic to Norwood was to be abandoned on Monday afternoon, but bus lines were operating to that section by way of Putnam and Seventh streets.

Official readings from the weather bureau at 10 o'clock on Monday were: Franklin, 9.1, falling; Parker's, 9.5, falling; Lock 7, 31.8, falling; Pittsburgh, 25.1, falling; Beaver Dam, 37, falling; Lock 12, 38.4, rising; Lock 13, 42.4, rising; Zanesville, 22.8, falling, 3 inches; Marietta, 36.8, rising.

Marietta Daily Times, Tuesday, April 1, 1924:

Flood Reaches Crest Early Tuesday With 39.1 Feet.

Water Now Falling At This Point.

Good Portion of Marietta Inundated But Damage Is Slight.

Street and Rail Traffic Held Up.

Believed Conditions Will Be Back to Normal On Wednesday.

Having reached a stage of 39.1 feet at Marietta, the flood of 1924 is passing into history today. By early Wednesday, unless the unforeseen happens, the streets of the city should be free of water and business should be normal.

Reports at the Marietta wharf boat Tuesday afternoon were to the effect that the Ohio River had fallen 5.5 feet at Pittsburgh, Pa., and 5 feet at Wheeling, W.Va., and that the Muskingum River had fallen 1.5 feet at Zanesville. No rainfall was reported.

During all of Monday afternoon and night, the waters of the Ohio advanced with diminishing speed until just after 3 o'clock on Tuesday morning, when they became stationary. Until shortly before 6 o'clock, they stood without perceptible change, then began to fall and by 5 o'clock, two hours later, had dropped away .2 of a foot. As the day wore on the rate of fall increased.

A good portion of the city was covered by the water on Monday night and Tuesday morning, and some sections that were not flooded were marooned and traffic was blocked. Second Street from Butler to the river was flooded, and much of that section to the east as far away as the corporation line was under water. Front Street, both above and below Butler, was flooded, but none of the store floors between Butler and Greene were wet.

Water in Some Stores

Along Front from about the line of the Leader Store to a point above Union, the sidewalks were flooded and a number of the stores had water in them, some having as much as five or six inches.

Four of the city schools, dismissed on Monday, were still closed on Tuesday, but were expected to resume work on Wednesday at the regular hour. The water did not reach the floors of the buildings, but shut off the basement heating plants at Pike, Willard, Harmar and Putnam. Pike and Willard buildings were surrounded by water.

Railroads Handicapped

All railroads entering Marietta were handicapped to a greater or less extent. The B. & O. from this city to Belpre was cut off at several points, and there was water over the rails both on Butler Street and in West Marietta. The Pennsylvania lines were under water from the station at Second Street as far out as the old Fultonburg yards. Trains on this road established a temporary terminal east of Seventh Street. The interurban lines were shut off along the Muskingum division, and the city lines were cut off both on Greene, Front and Second streets.

Johnboats and other high water craft were numerous in certain portions of the city. They were out in large numbers along lower Second and Greene streets and through the east end. There was not sufficient water over Front Street to bring them into that territory. Boatmen ferried passengers to and from the Ohio River bridge.

Many Use Automobiles

Many business men in the downtown sections patronized the bus lines and the various taxi companies, and automobiles forced their way through the muddy waters. Occasionally one of them would get beyond its depth. Then the motor would stop and a towing job would be in order. In a few instances these stalled cars were abandoned where they stopped.

Mail deliveries in many sections of the city were held up by the waters but should be back to normal on Wednesday. Rural carriers out of Marietta were held up on several of the routes.

In that section of the city above Putnam Street, water was on the streets at Scammel and Third, Wooster and Second, and along upper Front Street, but few if any of the houses were inconvenienced except that their cellars and basements were flooded.

Aside from loss of business, Marietta will not suffer to any great extent from the 1924 flood.

Bridge Floor Has Blown Up

Traffic over the Marietta-Cambridge pike will be handicapped until temporary repairs can be made on the Mill Creek bridge, above the Children's Home, where the floor "blew up" on Monday afternoon. It was a wood block floor and after being under water for nearly 24 hours, the blocks apparently swelled to such an extent that they buckled and were forced out.

A considerable number of the wood blocks thus liberated, floated away in the flood, and this will necessitate the ordering of new material before the repair work can be completed. It is expected that as soon as the water leaves the road at that point, temporary planking can be put down.

State highway engineers stated on Tuesday that plans will be undertaken soon to replace this bridge with a modern concrete arch span. The old bridge is too narrow for heavy traffic and one of the piers has settled so that the structure is out of line.

As far as state and county engineers knew on Tuesday, no other highway bridge in the county had been damaged by the flood.

Some Valuable Additions

 Marietta Daily Leader, April 7, 1899

Mr. George Weiser, the undertaker, has made some very valuable additions to his business equipment in the way of wagons for the conduct of business.

He has had the home firm of J. H. Oesterle, the Wooster Street carriage builders, make for him a casket wagon or ambulance which in point of design and style of finish is much the finest that has ever been seen here. It is quite an innovation in the way of a casket wagon, as it has large plate glass panels in the sides and ends and is thoroughly up-to-date in every particular, being constructed of the very best material known to the carriage builder.

The other addition is a funeral car, which was purchased from the Riddle Coach and Hearse Co., of Ravenna, O., who made the shipment of the car to Mr. Weiser in a car of their own. In order to get the hearse into this car it was necessary to take off the regular wheels and put on a set of smaller ones to allow it to enter the freight car. 

It has a very massive and elegantly carved body, everything being of the heaviest and best wood obtainable. The workmanship is perfect. The wheels are equipped with rubber tires and the bearings are of the latest improved pattern, which makes them very easy running. There is no doubt that the car is the finest in this section of the state.

Mr. Weiser has been to great expense in getting these very handsome additions to his equipment and can feel justly proud of the selections he made when ordering the vehicles.

Cars Are Hit By a Runaway on Putnam Street

 Marietta Daily Times, April 29, 1922

When he suddenly concluded to run away, a large bay horse owned by the American Railway Express company and driven by Walter Mugrage, created a sensation on Putnam Street Saturday afternoon. Incidentally the runaway mashed up a new Maxwell car parked in front of The Times office, wrecked a Chevrolet car in front of the court house, and knocked about a ton of mud off a Ford on Second Street. The "Lizzie" was the only one of the three to escape damage.

Murgrage left the horse standing on Third Street while he delivered a shipment to the Marietta Laundry. The animal was eating grass at the curb when, without any further ceremony, he bolted. Rounding into Putnam Street on a dead run, the express wagon careened into the Maxwell car, smashing up two fenders and a hub cap. 

By this time, the runaway was "just hitting the high spots" so to speak, and the Chevrolet was sideswiped with telling effect. Fenders and running board were ripped away. 

Turning down Second Street, the flying horse swung the wagon against the rear end of a Ford that was parked at the curb, spilled part of the freight out of the express wagon, and never even made a mark on the Ford. From there to the Union Depot, the runaway followed an open course, stopping in his accustomed place alongside of the train shed.

T. N. Fenn, agent of the American Railway Express, is preparing to settle up the damages, and in the meantime a score or more of people are thanking their lucky stars that they were able to get to places of safety when they saw the runaway coming. This is the second time that the horse has run away recently, he having upset the wagon when he started the first time.

 

Historic Spots Marked

 The Marietta Times, December 17, 1891

Marietta, Ohio, November 20, 1891.

To the New Century Historical Society:

Your committee appointed at a recent meeting of the Society, to mark historical spots in and around Marietta, in attempting to discharge this duty, have found themselves surrounded with difficulties innumerable, and in this report, which is respectfully submitted, they but offer the results of broken history in support of their conclusions.

The Well at Fort Harmar, which for years has been disappearing in consequence of the crumbling of the river bank and the innovations of man, after diligent search was identified, and unmistakably marked by being covered at its mouth by an immense mill stone.*

The place of the Landing of the Pioneers April 7, 1788, (to one of your committee pointed out by one of that number, Amos Porter, many years since), was as nearly marked as possible, and the marking was as follows: An iron rod one inch in diameter and three feet eight inches in length, was driven even with the surface of the ground, near the mouth of Monroe street, on the bank of the Muskingum river, on the lower side of the gully, 71 feet from the southwest corner of the Dudley Devol house, which point is 10 degrees E of N from the iron rod. From the iron rod to the upper corner of the Nye Foundry, 122 feet 4 inches in southeast direction. The iron rod was placed 33 feet 2 inches in a direct line to outer curb of pavement 20 degrees northeast.

Picketed Point - Marked as follows: An iron rod, three feet eight inches long, driven even with the surface of the ground at the southwest corner, near the confluence of the rivers. This rod placed near the centre of the road now traveled, 122 feet 4 inches, 15 degrees W of N from the lower corner of office of Nye Foundry.

The southeast corner, marked by iron rod drive in landing 58 feet from the west corner of the Flat Iron Corner store house built and formerly owned by Dudley Woodbridge (near Boiler Corner); direction from rod 15 degrees west of north.

The northeast corner, marked as other corners, is back of the Ebinger building, now occupied by Mr. Sulzbacher, 90 feet from the east line of Front street, 12 feet 6 inches from the northeast corner of building, 106 feet from the south line of Butler street.

The northwest corner, marked by iron rod placed near Muskingum river bank 106 feet south of south line of Butler, 36 feet west of building.

For a more full account of the subject matter treated in this report, inquiring minds are referred to the invaluable work of Dr. S. P. Hildreth, entitled Pioneer History, published in 1848.

Your committee would respectfully ask further time for investigation, and to be allowed in the future to report upon other points of interest.

Committee:

George M. Woodbridge

William H. Leeper

J. D. Cadwallader

Note - *This is the stone spoken of as follows in Delafield's Washington County History in 1831, page 28: "In making a pair of mill stones out of a block from a quarry in Salem township, there were discovered the marks of some ancient working of the same stone, and on penetrating to the depth of a few inches, there was an iron wedge discovered, firmly imbedded in the rock. The stone with this wedge in it is now the upper mill stone in Mr. Merriam's mill in Salem township." Mr. M. in after years removed his mill to the Muskingum near mouth of Bear Creek, and this stone in 1887 was taken from the river by Capt. Sayre, Sidney Ridgway and G. M. Woodbridge.

Local Movie Pleases Big Audiences

 The Marietta Daily Times, July 24, 1928

Marietta had a real Hollywood setting for its first local comedy movie that was shown at the Hippodrome theatre on Monday afternoon and evening. Large crowds attended the showing of "Marietta's Hero," with Tom Battin, Alice Yost, Frank Buckley, Orien Hiett, Howard Clark and Roma Morgenstern as the principal characters in the United Photoplay Producers picture, the scenario acted and filmed under the direction of Corey Cook last week.

All of the local people, including scores of citizens who were incidental actors in the picture, played their parts well. Tom Battin, the hero, as Jimmy Ryan, the policeman, was exceptionally good, his action in the plot bringing him into many scenes, one of which was the thrilling capture of a bandit who robbed Wittlig's jewelry store.

The Times had a part in the picture, the newspaper a medium for the broadcasting of events, as they were acted. The scenes in the picture were followed up closely by the reporter-actor, Howard Clark, who landed the scoop for the paper in reporting the robbery that was important enough to require an "extra." The film early in the scenes showed him loafing on the job in the news room when he was virtually "kicked out" by Editor Tom O'Donnell, who started him out on his beat.

There was plenty of comedy and romance. The scenes were laid in different parts of Marietta, the "Anchorage," the home of Edward McTaggart, entering largely into the setting. The plot was thrilling. The acting centered about Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jones, played by Frank Buckley and Miss Orien Hiett, the first scene the rear dooryard of the McTaggart home, the home of Jones the hen-pecked husband, and wife. He has a letter from a cousin who is leaving for South America, stating that she is sending "Baby Mary" to him on the next train. Difficulties begin when he goes to the Pennsylvania railroad station for the baby.

Arriving on the same train with the "baby" (who is a grown-up flapper acted by Alice Yost) is "Lizzie Wiggins" (Roma Morgenstern), a cousin of Mrs. Jones. In the meantime Jones, after meeting Jimmy Ryan and the reporter in front of Beagle's drug store, goes down Putnam Street with the policeman and in front of the Corner drug store he is introduced to John Boyle, who gives the policeman a nice fat cigar which he pockets. The trio are seen going down Front Street to the Marietta Furniture store where Jones buys a baby buggy for "Baby Mary's" transportation home.

The scene at the Pennsylvania station was climaxed when "Baby Mary" makes herself known to Jones and the pair walk off for a look over the city. Lizzie Wiggins, with her roller skates in hand, was amazed to see Mary walking away with her cousin's husband, and hastens to tell Mrs. Jones of her "chicken chasing" husband. 

The hen-pecking wife and her cousin on roller skates go after the pair whom they spy on Front Street, below the railroad track. Jones and "Baby Mary" run up Greene Street to Seventh, dodging up by the Chair Company plant and "Goebel Place," where they are followed by the irate wife.

Jones and "Baby Mary" finally get down on Greene Street, where in order to get away from Mrs. Jones, he buys an automobile in which he starts up Front Street. Mrs. Jones and Lizzie get Raymond Lane, of the Lorentz garage, to drive them after the fleeing Jones. The chase leads along City Park, up Sacra Via and down Third. A rube in overalls (Francis Seeley), who is standing in Sacra Via park, is scraped by Mrs. Jones' car and he loses his overalls. 

The chase ends at Second and Putnam streets, where the new car of Jones is smashed in a collision with the bandit car. There the climax of the picture takes place. Jimmy, the policeman, and the reporter are on the job and, with the arrest of the bandit, the reporter writes his story, a second scene in The Times editorial rooms.

The bandit, "Deck" Davis, is seen coming out of the Wittlig store covering everyone with his "gat." He holds up John Boyle and commandeers his automobile. John takes a passing car and gives chase, along with the policeman, and everything and everybody is rounded up at the wreck scene.

Following the family reconciliations, the scenes shift to the stage of the Hippodrome. Mrs. Jones sends "Lizzie" to be cleaned up at the St. Clair beauty parlor. The scenes then shift to The Anchorage, where Clark calls on "Baby Mary." The loaded cigar that had been given by the policeman to the reporter is innocently handed to Jones, as is also The Times, with the glaring headlines about the robbery. While Clark is courting Mary, the cigar explodes, and the reporter is kicked out, and seen tumbling end over end down the terrace of the McTaggart premises. The policeman slips in and courts Mary while Lizzie lets Clark know that "she might let him pay her board."

Pianoforte, Furniture &c.

The Marietta Intelligencer, September 10 1846

N. Cram will offer at his residence at Private Sale from 2 to 4 o'clock P.M. on the two last days of this week, being about to relinquish House Keeping.

Pianoforte, High Post Bed Steads, screw & swelled beams, low and Cot beams, Dining and Breakfast Tables, Carpets, Wash Stands, large hair Mattress, Looking Glasses, Mahogany hair-cloth stuffed Easy Chair, Nurse Chair, Scroll top Grecian cane bottomed Chairs, Side Saddle, Cook Stove, Copper Boiler &c. "Cook's favorite," Iron Ware, Hot Air Stove with Urn, Sett Bed Curtains, hair covered Sofa Bed, Barrel Molasses, Bag Coffee, 1/2 barrel Sugar, 1/4 barrel No. 2 Mackerel, &c. 

Terms Cash under $100, over that sum, six months satisfactory notes.

  

Education in Marietta

 Marietta Gazette, February 28, 1835

Marietta, at this time, affords advantages for educating the young and rising generation, equal to any town of its size in the great west. We have a regularly incorporated College, on the manual labor system, with able and experienced professors, and well attended by scholars. A Female Seminary, the teachers in which it would be supererogation in us to praise. A school under the management of the Rev. J. T. Wheat, the worthy pastor of the Episcopal Church; and several common schools, all of which are in successful operation.

The town is healthy, boarding cheap, and the society equally moral and intelligent with that of any town. Parents and guardians would no doubt find it greatly to their interest to examine the seminaries of learning in Marietta before sending their children and wards to any other place. The Ohio river, and two or three different lines of stages, give all the requisite means of conveyance for those who wish to come from distant parts of the country.

County Jail Empty Only Once in Last Four Years

 Marietta Daily Times, December 14, 1922

Seventeen prisoners took breakfast on Thursday morning at the county jail and immediately thereafter John W. Britton, a bootlegger, was given a new pair of shoes and his liberty. He kept his agreement to leave Washington county and took the first train for Chillicothe where his home is located. Britton was arrested in a raid staged at Reno one night last summer and had served an even four months in jail. He was sent up by Mayor Sandford.

Eight of the seventeen men and boys in jail on Thursday morning are doing time for violating the different provisions of the Crabbe act and a majority of them have been sent over from the court of the mayor. Fred "Blinky" Hendershot is the "dean of the prison," having been confined for almost six months. He was sent up by Mayor Sandford on the 26th of June and his time will not be up until some time in February, if he serves it all.

When Sheriff Roberts came into office four years ago, the outgoing sheriff turned over to him seventeen prisoners. Within a few days that number was reduced and on Thanksgiving Day of 1920 the prison was entirely empty and the big doors stood open. They continued that way for two weeks, during which Sheriff Roberts spent several days at his Waterford township farm. Then the juvenile court committed a delinquent boy to the jail and it is recalled that he made a vain attempt to destroy the courthouse and jail by setting fire to his bed.

From that until the present time the prison never has been empty and the number of prisoners has fluctuated, dropping to a bare half-dozen, then climbing back to seventeen. About a year go, on the day that Sheriff Roberts took a party of eight boys to the Mansfield reformatory, the number of prisoners on the books mounted to eighteen, but several of them did not enter the jail, merely coming to the sheriff's office to surrender. Therefore, seventeen is the high record for the past four years - a number that has been twice attained.

Milliner & Mantua Maker

The Marietta Intelligencer, October 29, 1846

Miss Ellen Young respectfully informs the Ladies of Marietta and Harmar that she is ready to commence the above named business at her Residence on 5th street, East of the College, at the house of M. Deterly, where she can be found at all times by those who choose to favor her with their custom. 

She intends to have on the newest Eastern Fashions.

All orders from the country shall receive immediate attention.

N.B. She will also attend to Embroidery and plain sewing.

Marietta Oct. 14, 1846.

The Barque "Muskingum"

Marietta Intelligencer, January 30, 1845

The Barque "Muskingum," a single deck vessel of 250 tons burden, Custom House measurement, was launched from the Marietta Ship Company's Yard on the 24th Inst. The Muskingum is a beautiful modeled vessel, nearly one hundred feet in length, twenty-five in breadth, and twelve feet hold. She is built of the best quality of white oak and black locust timber. Her plank are of clear white oak, & her ceiling is also entirely white oak, three inches in thickness. Her wales &c. are of white oak, four by seven inches, sixty feet in length. Her treenails are locust, and she is very heavily copper fastened. The deck floor is of clear white pine. The three lower masts are of white pine, eighteen inches through, and her spars of hard pine.

The master builder, Capt. Ira Ellis, of Portland, Maine, was employed by the day, and his instructions to have her equal in strength and finish to the best vessels built at eastern ports, he has endeavored faithfully to observe. All the men employed in her construction have been hired by the day, and thus all temptation to slight any part of the work has been removed. The manner in which their work has been done, given gratifying evidence of their skill and fidelity.

Her riggers are Messrs. Francis & William Lowe of Boston. Her rigging is of the best domestic hemp, spun at Marietta and Pittsburgh, steamlaid.

The "Muskingum" will leave Marietta about the first of March, under command of Capt. William R. Wells of Portland, Maine. She will be freighted at Cincinnati for either Liverpool or Boston. 

The vessel is owned by some half a dozen business men of Marietta, and so flattering is the promise of a profitable return for their enterprize, that the Company contemplate building more, and perhaps larger vessels, during the present year.

Snowball Fun

Marietta Intelligencer, January 13, 1857

We witnessed a scene in front of our office this morning, which recalled most vividly our boyhood's days in the long snowy winters of New England. Invited by the mildness of the morning and the peculiar adaptedness of the snow for snowballing, an editor and a couple of merchants tried their hands at this sport and made a target of each other's heads. 

The doors and shops and sidewalks were soon filled with eager spectators of the sight. The excitement rapidly increased; one, and then another, and another entered the lists, until very soon the street was full of men turned boys again, each one fighting on his own hook.

Here was a hardware dealer disputing his ground manfully with the man of leather and prunella; there a jeweler pouring in the grape, cold, but heavy, upon the head and shoulders of his neighbor of the "fancy goods" trade. 

Yonder, Mynhear Editor, bare-headed, sustaining a shower of balls that made his raven-like hair as hoary white as if frosted with three score and ten winters, while he in turn filled every orifice of his adversary's caput with the pasty snow. 

Here again was the vendor of pills and patent medicines in close embrace with his friend of the Furnishing Depot, rolling each over and over in the snow, and each anxious to wash the other's face as he came uppermost in the tussle. 

There a Democrat and a Republican pitching into each other "like a thousand of brick," throwing heavier balls and with more effect in this mimic fight than in the real battle of November last. 

And thus the fight raged for half an hour, when, exhausted and breathless, the forces drew off to repair damages and recuperate their wasted energies. It was a rich scene, the like of which we have not witnessed for many a year, and which in all probability will not be repeated during our lifetime.

About six inches of snow fell last night. The weather is quite mild to-day, cloudy and threatening rain. 

A $6,000 Performance

 Marietta Daily Times, October 9, 1913

Admitting that it is unkind to call attention to the city's experience with the late lamented pontoon bridge when the city administration, particularly Director Meisenhelder, is trying so hard to let the public forget it, our excuse is that it cost the people $6,000 and they are interested in it to that extent.

The bridge disappeared almost before the public had become familiar with it. In the first place, the apron at the west approach was so arranged that when a heavy rain came, water ran down the approach and into the boats, sinking a section of the bridge. Then a real storm came during the night. For three or four hours after daylight the following morning there was opportunity for making the bridge secure, for the water came up gradually. But nothing was done until the river was a raging torrent Then there was no use in attempting to do anything. The bridge was carried out and dashed to pieces.

If there was any other responsibility for this than his own, Director Meisenhelder has never taken the public into his confidence, and consequently the people hold him responsible, for he is the head of the department.

This is a sample of the sort of management the city has had for the past three years. The men who have been performing such $6,000 disappearing "stunts" for the people are working energetically for the election of Col. Riley. They seem to think they know where they will be after the election if he is elected. If the people want a change they can get it by defeating Riley by voting for David Okey.

Following the destruction of Marietta's Putnam Street Bridge during the Flood of 1913, a temporary pontoon bridge was built across the Muskingum.

Attempt to Swindle

 Marietta Intelligencer, January 2, 1845

A few days since a stranger called at the Grocery of one of our citizens, Mr. Lindner, and pretending to have a large quantity of counterfeit coin in his possession, offered to dispose of it at a low rate. Mr. Lindner, wishing to detect the rogue, affected to be willing to buy the coin, and an agreement was that the transfer should be made of $250 of good money for $500 of the counterfeit at Belpre in this County on a subsequent day.

Mr. Lindner after advising with Justice Browning of Belpre agreed that a seizure should be made of the Coin and the villain, in the very act of transfer. He was accordingly arrested with an accomplice, and a box, which was in appearance like a box filled with specie, was discovered hidden under the bank of the Ohio. On examination however it appeared that instead of being filled with counterfeit money, it contained nothing but some old iron and sand. The plot undoubtedly was to induce Mr. Lindner to bring a large sum of money, and if possible persuade him to buy the box as containing the specie, but if he should refuse to do so, to take his money from him by force. 

They were committed to jail, but being brought up before the Associate Judges of the Common Pleas were discharged - they having done nothing which under the defective provisions of our Laws is punishable.

The oldest of the two calls himself Simmons - sometimes James and at others William. He is a man of some 50 years of age, with prominent features, and of a rather repulsive appearance. The younger is about 25 or 30, and calls himself Joseph Wright. We advise people to be cautious, as they will probably attempt to swindle in other places. They represent themselves to be from Guernsey County.