Town Notes

The Marietta Register, November 26, 1889:

Mr. Editor: In rambling over the pioneer city of The North West Territory (perhaps some of your readers may have heard that expression during the winter and summer of 1888) a casual observer may see many things worthy of comment. For instance, one cannot avoid seeing and coming in contact with the mud on our streets. It is simply disgraceful. Last summer our worthy solons, who turn the municipal crank for "all of us," expended many hundreds of dollars, nay, I am told it reaches into the thousands, in grading Putnam and other streets, and covering the slag used thereon with a black mask that seems a composition of all that is vile, either for the purposes of dust or mud. The result is that the streets present the appearance of the rolling waves of the sad, sad sea, while the black and red mud have united and are "deeper, darker, deadlier" than ever before.

I notice by the papers that our taxes have run up to 27.80 on each dollar of taxable property. What have we to show for it? Muddy streets, yes; rather poor light (on account of poor oil) yes, still it does seem that we are "paying dear for our whistle." Who is the "young Napoleon of finance" that controls the levy and expends our revenue?

The good news is wafted abroad that we are to have a real "Union Depot," and Dame Rumor has it that it will be erected on Second Street near Putnam. If that be so, some enterprising man, or woman either for that matter, should put up a fine hotel in that vicinity. Such an investment would no doubt prove remunerative.

For years past I have noticed a certain black oak tree located in this city that has held its leaves, apparently dry and dead, until the warmth of spring caused the expanding buds to push them off; this year the first few frosts entirely denuded the tree of its leaves. What conclusions do our weather prophets draw from this circumstance?

Other cities and towns use their electric lights in lighting stores, factories, and even private dwellings; why has it not been done here? If the city goes into the light business, why not do it thoroughly? Why not put in more dynamos and have light for private use?

The enjoyable (?) weather we have been having is another fruitful theme, but remembering the old proverb, "Change of weather is the discourse of fools," we subside.

Observer

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The Marietta Register, December 5, 1889:

The Council will hold an adjourned session Friday evening to consider the proposition of the T. & O. C. E. R. R. concerning the new Depot and fill. There should be liberality without jeopardizing the city's rights.

The section of the city under consideration might well be given over to the railroads, if they will redeem and utilize it. But unless thus reclaimed, it will be long years before anything can be expected.

Oh, the streets, the beautiful streets - with the cinder under the mud. The slag is uneven as the billowy sea, and the wagon wheels go cathud. The money we've spent on the rotten mill-ash would have graveled at least half a mile. We told the Dads, too, when the folly began, they'd soon wish all the stuff in a pile. But, "no," they protested the ash was half iron, would pack and resist lots of wear. They said, "talk is cheap," and, when we had passed, they muttered, "the City Dad swear." And now we must pay our full share of the tax, quite enough the richest will say, and tramp in the mud - the black, slimy mud - getting worse the more that we pay.

  

The Telegraph

The Marietta Intelligencer, February 10, 1848

A meeting of the citizens of Marietta and Harmar was held at the Court House on Tuesday evening, which was addressed by T. C. H. Smith, Esq., agent of the New Orleans and Ohio Telegraph Line, who presented some interesting statements respecting various telegraphic lines, and invited our citizens to subscribe stock in the Company which he represents, and thus secure an office at this place.

The amount of stock required here is only $5000. Our citizens will be called upon in a day or two for their subscriptions, and we cannot doubt that the full amount will be promptly subscribed.

We suppose it can hardly be necessary to say a word respecting the importance of this enterprize. It is enough that our citizens know that the stock will be profitable, and if taken that the line will be completed within four months, and we be thus speedily placed upon a footing of equality with citizens of towns which are now enjoying the advantages of this wonderful instrument of communication.

Two Sites for School Meet Favor

Marietta Daily Times, April 16, 1923

That the survey commission from the extension department of Ohio State University will recommend at least two possible sites for location of Marietta's proposed new high school building is learned from good authority, and it is expected that a formal report will be made to Superintendent Skinner and the Board of Education during the present week. One of the locations is on Seventh Street near the end of Tupper Street extension, and the other is on what is commonly known as Cisler's hill, on the east side of Seventh Street opposite the Marietta chair company plant.

The commission is said to have given first choice to the site at the head of Tupper Street and this would include the J. S. Goebel place with portions of both the Bartlett Estate and the Thomas Cisler homestead. The commission is very favorable impressed with this site, describing it as one of the best for high school purposes to be found in the state of Ohio.

Goebel Place Too Small

The Goebel property in itself would not be quite large enough for a High site and the additional ground would embrace a narrow strip off of the Southeast side of Beverly Place - the Bartlett estate - and a good plat of ground from the Cisler place to the north of the Cisler brick plant.

The second available site advised by the commission, on Cisler's hill, is described as ideal for the needs of the occasion, except that the approaches to it would have to be more elaborate and their construction would mean an expenditure of more money than would be required for similar work on the other site. It likely would mean the building of a viaduct either from Putnam Street hill or from Butler Street, either of which would lead directly to the proposed school grounds.

Cisler Hill Advocated

There has been a feeling for some time that the Cisler hill site is the logical one for the proposed high school, and its advocates have had a double purpose in mind. The opening of this territory by construction of a viaduct or other similar approach would make available a fine lot of building territory almost in the heart of the city and would give prospective home builders a chance for an outlet that long has been needed.

Walnut Hills and the territory adjoining it on both sides would afford building space for hundreds of homes, as the ridge winds around a half-circle and drops down to the rear of Norwood a distance of considerably more than a mile.

Approach is Great Need

All that is needed to open up this territory and make it highly desirable is a suitable approach from the main part of the city, and the high school project worked out to this end would result in a broad-gauge civic improvement of far-reaching effect upon the whole city, it is felt by friends of the plan.

Various surveys that have been made by postal employes, the census bureau and other agencies in the past have show the center of population of Marietta community to be in the vicinity of Putnam and Sixth streets, so that the findings of the University Commission in its work a week ago but affirms the fact, and the selection of one of the sites to be recommended would appear to be logical.

  

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.

Business Stands

Marietta Intelligencer, December 22, 1852

Probably most of the merchants on Front, Greene, and Ohio streets are of opinion that "the point," is always to be the principal goods-selling part of the town. They know that now and then a new grocery is started "above the run," but have no idea that any Dry Goods houses will ever be established off from the three or four squares now mainly occupied by stores.

It may be so: but we think that in ten years from this time there will not be as many Retail Dry Goods stores on the point as there now are. We believe that the best locations for fine and fashionable sale stores will be in the Second Ward.

The manufacturing business will much of it be at "the point." The business necessarily connected with the river and the railroad will be in the lower ward. The warehouses will be there, and the heavy grocery and hardware stores - wholesale and retail. But fancy and domestic dry goods business will not be done where the manufacturing and wholesale grocery business is, where drays are constantly moving, and where there is so much "noise and confusion" as we hope there will be at the point in the course of two or three years.

Not all the world, not even all of this Marietta world, lives "down town." A large majority of the population of the place is even now in the second ward; and the custom from the Muskingum and from Duck Creek must all come through there.

The general idea is that, as time past, all business must center at the point; but let a good store-room (and a really good sales-room is a rare thing in Marietta) be built on a good site in the Second Ward, and a good assortment of fancy and domestic goods to be opened there, & - "we shall see what we shall see."

 

Road Building in Marietta and Washington County, Ohio

The Marietta Register, November 30, 1923

Building Roads From Beginning to Present Time

The evolution of the road and transportation question in Washington County is one covering many years and there are many angles to the story. From the unbroken, uncharted dirt road of the Pioneers in 1788 on down through the coming of the waterway age, the steam cars, the electric lines and then the hard surface highway, is told in the many stories that are told in this Good Roads edition of The Register and it is needless to tell them again in a recapitulation.

From all sections of the county we have been favored with sketches of the vicissitudes incident to road building from the time that the citizens worked out a road tax in a haphazard way with the result that the roads were impassable much of the year, to the opening of the new Marietta-Cleveland highway.

All along the route, covering more than a century and a quarter of time, the work has gone on and with every year there has come an approach nearer the goal - now one all-the-year-round road leading out of the city and connecting with the outside world. And work is well on its way to the road to the west which will lead to the state capital

It's a long, long story and it will require the reading of the entire paper to get even an inkling of just what it has taken in time and money to accomplish the work thus far acquired.

Oldest Paving in United States at Marietta

Marietta is a pioneer in the street paving business and well toward the first line of the cities in the nation that took to improving their public ways by giving them a real hard surface. And while it was among the first, it also soon dropped back into inactivity and other towns passed her as she pointed the way to the improvement of the county roads.

It is not generally known, a fact however, that the oldest piece of brick paving in the United States still laying as first put down is the Front Street paving from Greene to Putnam streets and the square on Greene to Second and the one on Putnam to Second.

This work was completed in 1891. J. P. Hulbert was the City Civil Engineer. Council, however, employed E. Frank Gates and A. F. Cole as his assistants, and it was these boys, each one of them now having arisen to high estates in the business world, that Marietta owes the honor of possessing a piece of street paving that has withstood the ravages of time and tide - many floods having covered it - and today points to the work with pride as the first step in the labors of pulling the city and the county out of the mud.

From step to step, street to street, the work was carried on till the city has today as good system of paved streets as is enjoyed by any in the nation.

And this was the forerunner of the paving that reached out into the country and from it the ceaseless work of getting the county roads in to an all year round condition the labors have continued.

The story of the county paving began with the year 1908 and the story is told in a most able way by County Surveyor C. M. Weeks in this issue of the paper.

County Paving as it Came With the Years

By Charles M. Weeks

When the pioneers made the first settlement in Ohio they selected the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, because these two large streams afforded ready means of transportation. As the settlers began to push out into the wilderness they made paths near the banks of the streams. These to begin with were mere trails blazed through the forest but were soon widened sufficiently to allow the passage of ox-cart and sled.

The first road of record in Washington County was surveyed in 1793 and followed the bank of the Ohio River through what is now the Village of Belpre. Others followed in rapid succession and by the year 1810 almost all parts of the county were accessible, at least by horseback. These early roads followed the banks or in may places the beds of streams and the dividing ridges between watersheds where little or no grading was required.

From the years 1830 to 1845 many so-called "State Roads" were established, any road passing through more than one county being so designated. During this period the public funds were insufficient to meet the demand and private companies were organized to build roads and bridges, the stockholders to be reimbursed from tolls collected from the traveling public. The Marietta and Newport Turnpike Company and the Marietta-National Road Plan Road Company were notable examples. These roads were eventually taken over by the county commissioners and the toll gates removed.

During the later years of the nineteenth century many miles of road, especially along the rivers, were graveled and much so-called "Stoned Road" was built. These roads were temporary, inexpensive affairs and there was no adequate system of maintenance but they helped to get the people out of the mud and some evidence of them still remain. Viewed from the present day, perhaps their chief value was educational.

As there developed in the people a desire for a better type of road and in a real sense paved the way for the present hard surface highway.

In 1904 the Ohio legislature created the State Highway Department and appropriated for salaries and running expenses $7,440 and for state aid in building roads $10,000 - which was to be apportioned among the counties making request for it before the following January.

It was not until the season of 1908 that Washington County received any part of the State Highway fund for road construction.

During that year the brick road from the north corporation line of Marietta, through the Rathbone Addition to the Mill Creek Road, was built. This was the first step in paving the main roads leading from the county seat to the rural communities. The same year the Newport Pike was paved to the Duck Creek bridge, and Virginia Street was extended to the railroad crossing at Mile Run. These two projects were financed by the County Commissioners, as was also the paving of 1.25 miles on the Watertown Road the following year.

The second state aid road which was also built in 1909 extended out Greene Street from Phillips Street to the upper Duck Creek bridge. This section is 1.14 miles in length and is also of brick; the contract price was $15,490.

The residents of Waterford Village and vicinity were the first outlying community to petition for an improvement, and in 1910 work was begun on one mile of brick and macadam pavement leading from the Muskingum River toward Watertown and the west end of the county. In 1911 the contract was let for 1.21 miles of brick on the Newport road beginning at the Duck Creek bridge. Up until this time the brick pavement was the only type given serious consideration. But in preparing plans for this section estimates were made for both brick and concrete. It was found that 1.57 miles of concrete would cost $500 less than 1.21 miles of brick, even though the brick was to be laid almost directly on the old roadbed. In the meeting of the commissioners when the type of pavement was to be selected, both the county and state engineers advised concrete but the brick association had representatives present who won the decision for their product.

Such was the power of the Brick Association in those days that soon after his stand in favor of concrete pavements, this representative of the Highway Department lost his position. However, the concrete road was soon to come to its own in Washington County, where both the Ohio and Muskingum rivers abound with excellent concrete materials. In 1912 one mile of this type of pavement was built south of New Matamoras. The contract price including grading - pavement and bituminous wearing surface was $12,125.

From this time concrete pavement has been the dominant type on state aid roads in Washington County, the only exception being the brick section through the Village of Beverly and the macadam sections above Beverly and at Bartlett.

In the year 1911 the State Highway Department in cooperation with the officials of the various counties designated a system of Inter-County Highways and from this on all state funds were expended on these roads. These highways are the most important routes from County Seat to County Seat and the plan was developed with the idea of finally getting a system of improved roads covering the whole state.

Even with this restriction on the location of improvements, the County Commissioners continued to pass out the state road improvements as sort of political plums or memorials to their terms of office. During the years from 1912 to 1918, sections of pavement, each one mile or a little more in length, were built at Newport, Grandview, Lowell, Beverly, Bartlett, and Belpre, while the Newport Pike was extended through Reno, the Lowell Road through Unionville to near the foot of March Run hill, and Pike Street to Westview.

Up to the close of 1918, miles of road had been improved by state aid, out of __ miles of the Inter-County System in this county and while the showing seemed small the educational stage was passed, the automobile had become well night universal and the people were ready to pay for good roads, even at prices three times the cost of ten years ago.

In the meantime, other section of the state with more funds available and level country to build over had built continuous roads and the demand in Washington County became insistent for a way out. The State Highway Department refused longer to permit its funds to be used on isolated sections, but insisted not only that each county build on one road until its completion, but that the adjoining counties should also build on the same main line. This policy adapted about 1918, together with the fact that Federal funds were available only on certain roads, tied Washington County up to the building of the Marietta-Caldwell-Cambridge Road to its county line.

Every effort was put forth to complete it in record time and those who have recognized the difficulties in the way are satisfied with the results attained.

Those in charge of this department of the county's activities have not been content to rest on the record thus made, but even before the completion of the Cambridge road, work was well underway on the Marietta-Athens road via of Barlow and Bartlett, and the grading and drainage structures on__ miles of this road is already under contract. While plans are being prepared for the remaining portions to the county line.

A Pioneer in Ranks of Local Road Boosters

By N. N. Thorniley

Being asked as a pioneer good road enthusiast to write a short article on the early road building in Washington County, I would say that the Valley Farmers' Club played an important part in the beginning of brick road building. Commissioners Ballentine and Cutter attended a club meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. O. Scott, April 21, 1906, and they had a proposition to offer regarding the building of a miles of macadam road.

Being president of the club at this time, and familiar with conditions in the location, I was very much opposed to a macadam road on account of high water and with the loyal support of the club pointed out clearly that such a road could not be a success on account of the cross currents caused by floods, as this was the lowest, boggiest piece of road in Washington County.

So at the next meeting of the county commissioners, arrangements were made for a levy sufficient to build a brick road from the westerly end of Duck Creek bridge to the corporation line, 1540 feet of this road to be 16 ft. wide and 1166 ft. along car line to corporation to be 24 ft. wide.

This road was build of Marietta brick on sand foundation and sand filler, at a cost of $16,781.10 or 90 cts. sq. yd. for paving and 30 cts. a foot for sand stone curb. It is the best piece of brick road in Washington County today and in seventeen years has not had one dollar repair.

This road was built of Marietta material, Washington County labor, under Washington County superintendency, with Washington County capital entirely, as it was built without state aid.

The next piece of road built was Virginia Street or Mile Run road, which was built of Marietta brick at a cost of $1.04 per sq. yd. and 32 cents for curbing.

This road was followed by the first mile of the Marietta-Watertown road, built in 1908, with Marietta brick with brick curb, and never proved satisfactory. These roads were followed by state aid roads, the Muskingum Drive, Beverly road, Watertown, and Newport-Matamoras roads, all partially built by state aid, and as these roads will be discussed by others, I will not dwell upon this feature.

In 1910 Capt. Cutter came to me and asked me to talk before the Good Roads Association on bonding the county for $1,000,000 for road building. I declined for two reasons - first, I am not a speech-maker, and second, I did not know which side of the subject I was on. But at the Good Roads meeting, Hon. C. C. Middleswart made an impressive speech on this subject showing that $1,000,000 would build 150 miles of hard surfaced road at this time and also showed by blackboard illustrations the different roads intersecting the county both north and south, east and west, that would be so improved. Before Mr. Middleswart was through with his talk, I was positively sure which side of the subject I was on and I still think it would have been a wonderful thing for Washington County if we had grasped the opportunity and built these roads at this time when material and labor were both cheap. But the good roads movement was then in its infancy and there was a great deal of opposition to this bond issue throughout the count, so the opportunity of building the maximum amount of roads for the minimum amount of money was lost.

Lower End of County Getting Out of the Mud

By H. P. Curtis

The main highway of Belpre loop which connects Marietta and Parkersburg with Athens is now being graded and gravelled by the combined efforts of the county and the State Highway department. This is an important and long-needed piece of work which will eliminated the stretch of mud from one of the main outlets of Ohio to the eastern states. It is the only mail road to carry traffic out of central and southern Ohio across the Ohio River between Wheeling and Portsmouth.

The Northwestern pike from Parkersburg to Clarksburg, W. Va., will soon be completed and then another route from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River and points west will be open for the use of autos, trucks, and bus lines that will be an important artery both for commercial work and touring purposes.

The improvement of this road will remove the mud stain from the lower end of Washington County for people wishing to come through this section of the state and will also mean that residents in this part of Washington County will be able to reach markets in Marietta and Parkersburg at all times of year with whatever products they may have to offer.

It is also a step nearer the completion of the proposed Cincinnati-East Liverpool road along the Ohio River..

This road now being gravelled joins the Athens County paving job from Coolville east to the county line. The culvert and bridge work on the Athens County job are now complete with the largest part of the grading done so that another winter should see the most of the brick in place and an additional four miles of good road open to travel

This Belpre Township road has meant a great deal to the development of the southwestern part of Washington County by providing a means of travel for the residents of the township back from the river as well as for the people living near it.

During the Indian war of 1791-92, the redskins doubtless followed the general location of this road through lower Rockland, keeping watch on the settlers gathered in "Farmers' Castle," located on the riverbank below. This same soil which served as a hunting ground for the white man and a hiding place for his foe now produces garden truck and vegetables in abundance and will become still more valuable property with the completion of the road improvement now underway. Later as the land was cleared and the danger from redskins removed, the oxcarts creaked along the road hauling material to erect houses - several of which were considered mansions in the early days - and some of which are still standing in good repair.

By this road travelled the pioneer men on their way to the salt springs south of Chillicothe to bring back this precious necessity in the early years of the nineteenth century and to visit the grist mill on the banks of the Little Hocking River which was completed at the close of the Indian war. This mill has long since disappeared and little grain of any kind is milled in this section, but the improvement of the highway will bring the delivery of food stuffs to the very door of those who live along the route with the same convenience and ease that places the groceries in the kitchen of the city housewife.

The footpath, the ox-car trail and the mud wagon road have all served their generation on this thoroughfare and the eternal wheels of progress demand some better form of roadbed upon which to carry the commerce of this part of Washington County.

Good roads spell economy and speed in transportation - whether by motor or horse power - and time of handling a given product is a large factor in determining the profit or loss of the transaction.

The gravel which is now being applied will not make a job as permanent as hard surface, but it is being put on at a moderate cost by using native material already on hand and will go a long ways toward making it passable winter and summer.

There is a little piece of work below Little Hocking that has surely stood the wear and tear of time. An impassable mud hole was repaired by using a foundation of large sandstone with a top covering of gravel, fifty years ago last spring. This piece is about fifty yards long and has carried the traffic high and dry without repair until torn up by the grading before the gravel was applied this summer.

The western half of Washington County has long floundered in the mud, while the eastern half has been more fortunate along the road line for some years past. The life and prosperity of any community is largely determined by the quality of the rods that pass through and connect that community with its outside neighbors. Good roads are worth all they coast - when economically constructed - and will more than pay for themselves, not only by increasing the value of the land along these highways, but also in the greater comfort of travel, the higher respect of a community for itself, and the ability to move larger loads both to and from market in less time. Poor roads are dear at any cost.

The start is made in the western part of Washington County and the improvement of more roads should be pushed as rapidly as possible.

Dudley Gap Was Closed Turkey Day

The finished hard-surfaced road between Marietta and Cambridge will be open for light automobile traffic December 13th, a week from next Thursday, according to the present plans of the contractors and those in charge of the work.

The last gap in the concrete between here and Caldwell was filled at 3:30 Thanksgiving afternoon after a stretch of thirty-six consecutive hours of work by the sturdy crew of men on the job. The light rain that fell practically all day Thursday did not hamper the work. They went right ahead and accomplished their objective - closing the gap on Thanksgiving Day. The joint was made just at South Olive.

Representatives of the civic clubs of both Marietta and Caldwell were present when the last foot was poured, but the honor of laying the final concrete went to the workers who had staid on the job through daylight and dark, rain or shine, to get the gap closed.

To Open in Two Weeks

While it is not customary to open a new concrete road for traffic for three weeks after the last concrete is poured, the contractors are planning to "hunch" a little bit and let pleasure cars through on this new bit two weeks after the finish instead of three. Heavy trucks will be barred until the full three weeks period has elapsed, but those in charge of the work are sure that no harm will be done to open the road earlier to lighter traffic.

The closing of this gap completes the hard-surface road to Cambridge with the exception of a short piece at Tunnel Hill beyond Caldwell in Noble County, which will be paved in the spring. The grading has been done and there will be a good surface to drive over during the winter months, however.

Workmen Deserve Credit

The achievement of linking Cambridge and Marietta within the past two days was made possible through the extraordinary efforts put forth by the State Construction Co., who worked ceaselessly to complete the job. Credit is also due the Marietta civic organizations, which at the last minute furnished the contracting company with two carloads of cement, when the supply ran low, in order that last of the concrete might be poured Thanksgiving Day.

It is probable that a program celebrating the event of completing the inter-county highway will be arranged as near as possible to the date set for the official opening.

Washington County Has Entered Road Building Epoch, Engineer Carr Says

By George E. Carr

Washington County just entered the road building epoch. This great movement started in a major way in 1918 with the award of the contract for the construction of three miles of hard surface highway known as the Second Creek road. This movement has been gaining momentum as the intervening years have passed and no one would care to predict just when the peak will be reached or what it will mean to the citizenship of the county when this epoch will have become history.

The coming of the automobile created the demand for a highway connection with the outside world. It was not a matter of the greatest importance, by just what route, this connection be made, or what type of pavement be used in its construction. The Marietta-Cambridge road, due to its geographical location, was during the late war, designated as a part of the Primary Federal System of Highways and was therefore eligible to receive Federal Aid money in its construction. It was also a main market as well as an Inter-County Highway. Since this was the only route in the county upon which the State Highway Department could appropriate funds from all three sources, namely: Federal, Main Market, and Inter-County Highway, it seemed logical that the county should spend her efforts along the route upon which she could receive the most support from the state.

Road Cost $920,000.00

The Marietta-Cambridge road in Washington County, approximately 21 miles in length, was built at a cost of approximately $920,000.00. This sum was divided as follows: $500,000.00 for pavement, $280,000.00 for grading, and $140,000.00 for bridges and drainage structures. Of this sum the federal government contributed $190,000.00, the state $270,000.00, and the county $460,000.00.

We realize that this is an enormous amount of money. But time and experience have proven the false economy in building a road for today which we expect to be using five years hence. Only those who are familiar with the enormous tonnage carried by our main arteries of travel can conceive the magnitude of travel on this main thoroughfare leading from Marietta and Washington County.

The highest type of construction has been used on this road because it was realized that this would be the one route which would carry the heavy tonnage to and from Marietta. The work in Washington County has been inspected by federal and state inspectors and is claimed to be the best piece of construction on the entire route from Marietta to Cambridge. Those in charge of the work took the attitude that only the best workmanship possible was good enough for Washington County and the results are self evident.

Enter Upon Second Project

This work completed, we have immediately engaged in a second project almost as great in magnitude, the Marietta-Bartlett-Athens road. Probably no highway leading into Marietta is of greater local importance than the Marietta-Athens road, since it taps the great agricultural and fruit growing section of the county, which has no other means of transportation except that provided by this public highway.

Since September 1st, 1923, 13 miles of this road have been placed under construction, and there is no reason to doubt that the remaining eight miles to the Washington-Athens county line will be under contract by April 1st, 1924. Placing under contract in the short space of a few months, 21 miles of continuous construction is an achievement of which the county and state may well feel proud. This route has been established as a secondary federal aid road, and may receive federal funds to the extent of $15,000 per mile. The Federal government is interested in just such projects as these, and there is every reason to believe that the county will receive liberal appropriations from federal funds. It is expected that the unimproved part of this route in Athens County will be under contract early in the coming year.

Monument to be Erected on Highway

Reno G. Hoag and his son, S. Durward Hoag, of Hotel Lafayette will erect a marker at point on Marietta-Cambridge Highway near Elba where Gap was closed, "Getting Us Out of the Mud."

Sentiment throbs often times among strange people and under peculiar circumstances. Even hotel men are not "immune" from the malady.

There has been chronicled in these columns how Reno G. Hoag had the honor and glory of shoveling in and smoothing down the last few shovels-full of concrete at the place where the gap was closed so far as Washington County is concerned upon the Marietta-Cambridge Highway.

Yesterday the two Hoags, father and son, made arrangements with Mrs. Amy Alban, who owns the farm property adjacent the spot where the event took place, and leased for a term of years, the privilege to erect there on the hillside a monument or marker, designating time and place.

The exact spot is in section 27, Aurelius township, about 1/2 mile this side of Elba, toward Marietta. The space is rather an open one upon the hillside, the road at that point running close to Duck Creek.

Here, upon the bank there will be erected some suitable design by the Hoags, with wording to the effect that it was here the great event in road building took place, with date, etc.

As yet the parties interested have not decided what style of marker or monument will be erected, but it goes without saying it will be in keeping with the idea. This will be perpetuated for a least ten years, and it is hoped to have some illumination at night so those "who run may read" at all times. Of course it will be natural to expect that the two hotel men will ring in the "Hotel Lafayette" thus mixing business with this sentiment, but even at that we consider the matter a very laudable one, along the lines of progressiveness which the father and son exhibit at all times for Marietta and the county.

Local Improvements

Marietta Intelligencer, August 29, 1839

Marietta and Newport Turnpike and Bridge Company

We have no desire to puff our goodly Town and County, or to boast of the enterprize and public spirit of her citizens. But we intend to speak fully and frequently of our natural advantages and shall also endeavor to show the distant public that something is doing here in the way of improving these advantages.

One important improvement - and this perhaps is nearer its completion than any other now in progress - is that of the "Marietta and Newport Turnpike and Bridge Company." This Company was incorporated in the winter of 1837 & '38 with a Capital of Sixty Thousand dollars, one half of which is taken by individuals, and one half by the State.

The road commences at the Corporation line of Marietta, crosses Duck Creek and the Little Muskingum a short distance above their junction with the Ohio, and terminates on the Ohio river at Newport. It is sixteen miles in length and the probable cost of the road, when completed according to the plan, is forty-five thousand dollars. It is proposed to McAdamize the road the whole distance in the course of the ensuing season.

The Bridge across Duck Creek has a length of one hundred and forty-eight feet between the piers, with extension bridges of forty feet at each end, making the entire length of the bridge two hundred and twenty-eight feet. The Bridge over the Little Muskingum has a span of one hundred and seventy-eight feet, with extension bridges the same as at Duck Creek, making the entire length two hundred and fifty-eight feet. The piers upon which these bridges are erected are thirty-three feet in height and built of the most substantial masonry. The superstructure is entirely of white pine, and on the plan of Col. Long's patent. They are well painted and the ends are finished in good taste.

At Newport this road connects with the Middle Island Turnpike, which is thirteen miles in length and connects with the great North Western Turnpike leading from Parkersburg to Winchester. At Winchester this road connects with Rail Roads leading to Baltimore and Washington.

In point of magnitude, this work does not compare with some others now in progress, and of which we shall speak in some future number. We believe, however, that it will affect the prosperity of our county more favorably than many, even of its friends, have anticipated.

The road will be opened as far as the Little Muskingum about the 18th of September.

*     *     *

Muskingum Valley Turnpike

The Directors of this Company have put a portion of the road under contract and are advancing the work with all possible speed. On Saturday last, sections B, C, D, E & F, were let to the following contractors.

Sections B & C, embracing the south side of March Run Hill, a distance of 144 rods, and the north side of the same, a distance of 168 rods, were taken by James Dutton and G. W. Trout.

The Culvert at Dyer's and Section D, embracing the narrows at widow Dyer's, were taken by James Dutton.

The bridge at Mason's run and at I. Devol's were taken by William Mason.

Section E, embracing the Steam Mill narrows, and Section F, embracing Mason's narrows, together with the bridges at Wincil's, at Decker's, and at Cole run, were taken by G. W. Trout.

The Directors have secured the services of Samuel R. Curtis Esq. as Principal Engineer, and under his superintendence there can be no doubt the work will e promptly and faithfully executed.

 

Worth Considering: Goose Run

 The Marietta Tri-Weekly Register, December 14, 1889

It is now to be accepted that the low ground in Marietta is largely to be filled the coming season. The work contemplates at least two arches over Goose Run, to be built by the railroad company, and their estimate is at a cost of $5,000. It is not likely that the city will be called on to make any outlay to take care of the run now. But the time will come when it must do so again.

Next season we expect the completion of the lock and the building of the race alongside of it. Then the city must provide for an outlet to the run. We cannot say whether it has a perpetual privilege under the mill or not, but probably not. In any event the run will be an expense and an annoyance to the city and individuals until it is arched from the Muskingum river to Sixth street, or until it is taken down Sixth to the Ohio river.

It will cost $10,000 to arch it from the north side of Hart street to the Ohio river. The dirt from Butler to Hart is worth the excavation, and it can run in an open bed to Hart with a bridge over Greene for all time.

The problem is therefore to raise $10,000 and carry the run to the Ohio.

How it can be done? The railroad company will give $5,000 to get rid of their arches. The material of the arches at Fourth, Second and Front are worth $2,500 to wreck besides paying for large sewer pipe to carry off surface water now accommodated. It is worth to the property owners over Front street arch and to the rear of lots above it now exposed in the rear basement and to the lots above it now cut up by the run certainly $2,500 more, and upon a proper presentation of the subject they would doubtless assist to that amount; and here then is the whole job done without any outlay worth considering to the city.

Shall we not see this idea carried out or its equivalent?

Sewerage

The Marietta Leader, February 1, 1893

It may not be generally known that plans and specifications have been prepared for a complete system of sewerage for this city, but such is the fact and the Council by a recent ordinance has adopted them and divided the City into sewer districts. 

These plans cover nearly every street and designate the depth, size of pipe, etc. for each street. Of course the depth of sewer trenches must relate to each other in such a way as to secure a rapid flow from one to the other and finally through the main trunk into the river. 

One of the mains will go down Putnam to Front, down Front to Butler, and thence to the river just below the railroad bridge. This will be 24 inches in diameter and fully sixteen feet deep and will probably be the first to be laid.

The sewers as planned will be for sewage, not for surface drainage; roof water, however, to a certain extent will be admitted. At convenient intervals will be constructed catch basins with automatic syphons for flushing purposes. These syphons will fill with water and when full will discharge into the sewer and flush out all impurities. 

These sewers will be constructed on the assessment plan. All the property in the sewer district will be assessed according to its valuation on tax duplicate pro rata, to pay the expense of construction. 

The City issue bonds for such amount as may be necessary to complete the district sewers, and these bonds will be paid off by the assessments as they fall due. The payments can be distributed over such period as the Council may determine. In some cities the bonds run for ten or more years, thus making the burden easier to bear. 

Everyone interested ought to begin to think about this matter and add the weight of their opinion to the general expression on this subject. The Council certainly will not move in this matter if any decided opposition shall be made. It will be done, if done at all, with the expectation that it is for the best interests of the City to have a complete system of sewerage - and not to please any faction or small minority.

It is certainly desirable to put in sewers ahead of street paving, and the sewers should be started far enough ahead of paving to enable the pavers to obtain a good foundation.

If any large amount of sewer work is to be done this season, no time should be lost in getting ready, as it takes about as long to get ready to lay sewers as it does to lay street pavement.

   

New Bell Will Sound Alarm

The Register-Leader, January 9, 1907

At a special meeting of the Board of Public Safety held Tuesday evening in the Mayor's office, it was decided to place the fire alarm bell, which will be purchased, in the tower of the City Building, and in probably two weeks, the locations of fires may again be told by the numbers tapped the bell.

Bids for the bell were submitted by four local hardware firms, all on a bell made by the C. S. Bell Co., of Hillsboro, Ohio, and the bid of Seyler Brothers being the lowest, it was accepted, while Levi Cowell, having submitted the lowest bid for placing the bell in position, was given the contract of installing it in the tower.

It will be a steel alloy alarm bell, will be four feet in diameter at the bottom and will weigh about 2,000 pounds.

Before the bell is accepted Messrs. Holst and Kaiser will go to Cincinnati to inspect it and the trip will probably be made the latter part of this week.

The Board expects to have the bell here and erected in the tower in two weeks. The bell will cost $106.00 and the cost of placing it in the tower will be $75, which figures being in accordance with the lowest bids furnished at the meeting Tuesday evening. H. P. Theis, The Union Hardware and M. A Kropp were the other bidders to furnish the bell.

Other business of importance was up for consideration at the meeting, and it was decided to have the fire wagon of the West Side company completely repaired and repainted, the work to be done by J. H. Oesterle, who built the new wagon. While the new work is being done, the old wagon, which was in department No. 1, will be used on the West Side.

In the future, four chemicals will be carried on each wagon instead of two as heretofore and an extra supply of chemicals will be ordered at once.

 

Progress of Improvements

The Marietta Leader (Semi-Weekly), April 19, 1890

We never noticed before that people took any remarkable interest in shovelers, gravel-trains, dumps, fills, trestles, etc., but since the terminal company began the construction of the union depot and the approaches through the low ground, we find a great deal of interest manifested in all these things. Mr. Dale has at times had an efficient corps of citizens hovering around this improvement, watching with great interest the progress of the work.

It is safe to say that every stone in the depot foundation has gone to its place by unanimous consent. Mrs. Gross has also had a good audience at her hotel site where she is putting up the new St. Cloud. These are not mere idlers. They are as a rule, business men and others passing to and from places of business. It may safely be said that every man in Marietta capable of doing anything can find work. Numerous buildings are projected with plans more or less perfected. Never before in the history of this city was there anything like the impetus to business, building and improvement as there is now. Not even in oil times and the inflated period subsequent to the war was there anything like it.

In those days the price of real estate ran up to fabulous figures. All kinds of building material was high, labor was high, it cost more to live, but what came of it all. The collapse that followed left us worse off than before the boom struck us. The present forward movement is very different. It seems like the reserve strength of accumulated energy moving forward, steadily but surely. There is an active demand for good building sites and good dwelling houses, also a great demand for good tenements at good rentals.

The College also partakes of the general advance of the community, as is natural, and during the coming summer a fine new building [Andrews Hall] for the Marietta Academy will be built at a cost of about $25,000. Natural gas being an assured fact and the supply practically unlimited, we can offer inducements to manufacturers unequaled in any other city.

Efforts should be made at once to secure the location here of new manufacturing establishments. These we must have if we hope for growth with any expectation of realization.

*  *  *

It is rumored that the space above the new depot, formerly used by the Sheriff for a garden, will be thrown open for public use. The old barn will be moved back next to the Armory [on Putnam Street]. The Terminal Company will fill the lot to grade and lay it out in walks and flower beds. What will become of the "penitentiary" now on this lot, where the prisoners have been accustomed to pound stone, we have not learned.

New Suburb of Walnut Hills

 The Daily Register, May 24, 1902

A Stock Company is Being Formed to Lay Out Another Addition

Marietta with its rapid growth is to have a new suburban addition and it will be second to none that have been laid out and placed before the public in recent years. What has hitherto been known as Scherer's Hill, a farm of fifty-five acres lying on top of the hill above the junction of Seventh and Greene streets, was some time ago optioned by a number of Marietta gentlemen, who have since been engaged in forming a company to handle the tract. 

The company is being perfected today and will be known as the Walnut Hills Land Company, with a capital stock of $20,000. The papers asking for articles of incorporation were forwarded to Columbus this afternoon, and the charter will probably be received in a very few days. Those who applied for articles are F. L. Alexander, W. S. Pattin, F. P. Morse, G. W. Strecker, and S. A. Palmer.

The tract is one of the finest for the purpose intended that has yet been taken up. The view is one of the prettiest in the Ohio valley, commanding as it does a view of the valley for miles up and down the stream. The land starts at the point of the hill above the junction of Seventh and Greene streets and runs along parallel to Greene street on the south, parallel to Seventh on the west, and following the natural curvature of the hill, extends beyond Norwood on the east.

The company, as soon as organized, will have the land platted and placed on the market. It is likely that the platting will be somewhat novel and that an experienced engineer, who makes a specialty of this line of work, will be brought here to do the work. It is the purpose of the company to at once lay out a new road of easy grade up the hill. We predict for Walnut Hills a success from the start.

Bridget Scherer's Land, from Cram's Atlas of Marietta (1902)

Suburban Residences

The Marietta Intelligencer, February 9, 1859:

We are glad to see a beginning made towards covering the slopes of our beautiful hills with tasteful residences. Few towns can compare with Marietta in beauty of location, if we consider the town plat alone, and regard the hills which border the Muskingum on either side, merely as pleasant objects on which the eye may rest. The citizens of many a Western city would gladly pay a handsome price for such hills merely to look at; and we always prize them higher after being subjected to the monotony of view presented by so many of our towns.

But these hills, beautiful as they are by nature, may be made more so by art. Whoever erects thereon a handsome edifice and surrounds it with those marks of taste and beauty which are the natural surroundings of a fine house on such a site, deserves the thanks of all our people. He is a public benefactor.

Our twin sister across the Muskingum has taken the lead of us in this matter. But we are glad to learn that the example set by the Messrs. Putnam is about to be followed by one of our citizens. Mr. William F. Curtis has purchased from the College a beautiful lot, fronting on Seventh street, between Greene and Butler, and is making preparations to erect a tasteful house. His enclosure embraces fourteen or fifteen acres, and his house will be placed near the center. This will give him ample scope for ornament. Rightly laid out and cared for, these grounds may be made extremely beautiful.

Of the view from them, it is not necessary to speak. A finer prospect than is here presented to the eye on a pleasant day in May or June, is rarely to be met with on either continent.

William Curtis House on Orchard Street

The Marietta Intelligencer, June 22, 1859:

Improvements in Harmar

The following, as near as we can ascertain, is a statement of the improvements which are making upon the other side of the Muskingum this season. Their number is greater than we supposed, even exceeding that of improvements in Marietta; though they are not quite so extensive.

Douglas Putnam - Large stone dwelling at the end of Putnam St., on the side of Harmar hill. The main building is two stories high, and 80 feet front by 68 ft. deep; the observatory four stories high, and 15 ft. square, commanding an extensive and beautiful prospect; and the office and library two stories high, 30 ft. by 19. There is a brick building in the rear for a wash-room and store-room, two stories high, 32 ft. by 28; and a fine two-story frame building at the side, for a stable, 28 ft. by 36. John Slocomb is the architect and master builder. Nelson Alcock was superintendent of the stone work, Joseph Jones, of the brick work, and Henry Miller, plasterer. The building will be completed by fall.

Douglas Putnam House, later known as The Anchorage

Levi Barber - Two story frame dwelling, just finished, on Franklin St. There are two parts to the building - one 30 ft. by 16, and the other 15 by 24. William Barnet, builder.

Thomas Turner - Frame cottage, with stone foundation, 34 ft. by 36. William McCoy is contractor for the frame work, and Samuel Cox for the stone work.

E. Locker - Two story frame dwelling, 36 ft. by 24 - on Main St., between Putnam and Lancaster. The work on the building is done by the day, there being no contractor.

G. W. Sharp - Frame dwelling - on Franklin St. There are two parts to the building - one two stories high, the other, a story and a half, together measuring 36 ft. by 22. J. S. Sharp, builder.

N. Cordry - Frame dwelling of the same size and location. E. S. Morton, builder.

David Putnam - Two story frame dwelling, 14 ft. by 28, with kitchen in the rear, 12 ft. by 14 - on Clinton St. William McCoy, builder.

William McCoy - Two story frame, 20 ft. by 40 - on Franklin St. - to be used for the present as carpenter shop, for the owner.

Putnam, Pool & Co. - Two story frame, 32 ft. by 80, in the rear of their establishment, to be used as a ware house and stable by the manufacturing Company. The work on the building is done by the day.

Chapin & Bro. - Addition to their sawmill, on Ohio St., of two stories, 21 ft. by 73. The old part is to be raised 6 feet.

Isaac Spaulding is altering a ware house on Ohio St. into a fine dwelling house, 45 ft. by 20, and improving his former dwelling.

John Bartlett - Addition to house on Ohio St., on one side, one story, 32 ft. by 10 - on the end, two stories, 16 ft. square.

Gardner Hall - Two story frame dwelling, 24 ft. by 18, on Franklin St. George Locker, builder.

S. N. Cox - Frame cottage, 16 ft. by 24, on Franklin St., William McCoy, carpenter.

Josiah T. Hart - Two story frame dwelling, 16 ft. by 24, in McCoy's addition to Harmar. William McCoy, builder.

Gilbert Wood - Frame cottage, 16 ft. by 24, on Wood St. William McCoy, builder.

Harmar in 1875, D. J. Lake's Atlas of Washington County, Ohio. Note changes in street names. Ohio Street later became Virginia Street.

Bosworth, Wells & Co.

The Marietta Intelligencer, January 19, 1859

Messrs. Bosworth, Wells & Co. have purchased the buildings and ground on the corner of Front and Monroe streets, lately occupied by Joseph Wildt and owned by Charles Shipman. The lot is 42 feet wide on Front Street, by 190 deep. It is the intention of Messrs. B., W. & Co. to tear down the old buildings on the rear of the lot, move the dwelling house on the corner to the back end, and in its place erect two elegant brick stores, with iron fronts, having a width of 42 feet and a depth of 100 feet. These will be the largest stores in town, and if we are to judge from a partial design of them exhibited to us, they will be the handsomest and most showy structures in this part of the city. This firm has been hitherto much straitened for room; in the new building opportunity will be afforded for the full development of their progressive, enterprising spirit.

The sum paid for the buildings and lot was $3,400. The firm has already began to collect materials and will commence building about the 1st of April.

Businesses and Buildings in Downtown Marietta

Marshall House

The Marietta Register, October 2, 1863:

The old Brophy House, Ohio Street above Second, has just been opened as a house of public entertainment under the name of "Marshall House," by Henry Lighter.

*     *     *     *     *

Improvements on Front Street

The Marietta Register, September 28, 1865:

The easterly side of Front Street is improving in a very satisfactory manner - except that old frame between Phillip Schramm's shoe store and the store of Andrew Ross. That work going on there can hardly be called an "improvement," considering its fine business location on which ought to be a handsome and substantial brick block.

The new building of the First National Bank, corner of Front and Greene streets, is well nigh completed. It is a very find building - handsome and substantial, inside and out - one that would attract the attention of strangers, and one in which our citizens may take a just pride. The work has been done under the plans and supervision of M. H. Needham. Stone work - which is of the first-class - by N. S. Alcock. Painting by Klintworth. The first floor will be occupied by the Bank itself - main business room, 24 by 36; a large Director's room, and a massive vault. The second story - two rooms occupied by the Petroleum Exchange and another by the Agency office of S. Newton & Son. Third story - one room occupied by the Book Agency of James P. Matthew. What the other two rooms are occupied for we are not advised.

Messrs. Buell & Bro. began to lay the foundation of their new building Tuesday morning of this week for a first-class Drug Store on the ground so long occupied by T. P. Harshberger. It will be a brick, a nice front, three stories in height - the first 14 feet high, 27 feet wide, and 80 feet deep. It is expected to be ready for occupancy in February next.

John W. Stanley's new building, farther up street, approaches completion. It is a brick of three stories, 20 feet front and 80 feet deep, admirably arranged for a Furniture Store, with six floors rising from one to another by an easy ascent, whereon will be dealt out House Furnishing, Carpets, Sewing Machines, etc. Mr. Stanley will occupy it in course of two or three weeks.

W. F. Curtis has his new and handsome building, just below Butler Street, close upon completion - brick, ornamented with stone work by N. S. Alcock, three stories in height, 20 feet wide, 60 feet deep. It will be the handsomest front of any building of its size in Marietta. It is already rented to Le Roy Brown for a Dry Goods and Clothing Store.

The very handsome building of Bosworth, Wells & Co. - a business house "hard to head" in any other city of the size of Marietta - on the westerly side of the street, has recently been "touched up" and now looks as "bright as new," as indeed, it is nearly new. That Cincinnati scrub who lately wrote that "Marietta has nothing to offer in the shape of a handsome, modern building, public or private," could not possibly have seen the store of Bosworth, Wells & Co.

And generally, there is a "brushing up" along Front Street. The business corner of Front and Putnam is beginning to present altogether a different appearance by its present proprietors, West & Varley. The Post Office has been recently painted, improved, and now shows creditably. The Biszantz House, but one building from Front, greatly improved. Donahoe's China Store and Morse's Clothing Store, painted a short time since, etc. Besides, the "frog-ponds" in the gutters begin to disappear.