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.

Sale of the Soap Factory

The Marietta Times, September 9, 1869

Desirable City Property at Auction.

Will be sold to the highest bidder, without reserve, on Saturday, September 11, 1869, at 11 o'clock A.M. on the premises:

Five City Lots,

Numbered 30, 37, 38, 45, and 47, situated in Marietta, west of Montgomery Street and fronting on Fourth and Fifth Streets, together with the buildings and appurtenances thereto attached.

On said lots are one frame dwelling, 1-1/2 story high, in good repair; one frame Soap Factory, 40 by 50 feet, 3-1/2 stories high; one stable, besides three other small buildings.

Also, at the same time and place, one good steam boiler, 20 feet long and 42 inches in diameter, cast iron heads; one cast iron (100 gallon) kettle; one wrought iron (800 gallon) kettle; 8-1/2 barrels of rosin; several large and small tanks suitable for oil; 3,000 lbs. of family Soap, 7 soap frames, 100 soap racks, and a large lot of second hand lumber.

Terms easy, which will be made known at time of sale.

Daniel Murdock.

Charles Jones, Auctioneer.

 

A New Marietta Industry

The Marietta Tri-Weekly Register, December 18, 1890

The Liedecker Tool Company paid a fair price for the Franks' property on Second Street and have industriously labored for the last three months in cleaning and painting the extensive buildings and putting in new and expensive machinery for lathe, forge and drill work. three or four forges are already in place, with derricks hung to swing the great red chunks of iron and steel to and from the ponderous steam-hammer, which works so nicely that it can break the crystal of a watch and leave the works unharmed, or flatten, at a single blow, a huge roll of iron or steel.

The boilers are new and the machinery throughout moves noiselessly. A great tank for water is erected and is the work of William Harris of Marietta.

Much of the work in putting in place the intricate machinery was done by Thomas Goldsmith, a former Marietta boy, who is now a good machinist. He works under the immediate supervision of Messrs. W. G. Hayes and I. S. Shryrock, two of the proprietors, who thoroughly understand their business. A. N. Dyer is the blacksmith now at the forge, a veritable John Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame, in skill and determination.

This firm will be enabled to cut the most delicate thread in iron or steel, or rift the heaviest output of the blue-flamed forge. 

About 1837, John O. Cram, A. T. Nye and Mr. Hendrie erected a foundry on this identical spot, and subsequently Franks & Hendrie's great oval sign - "Machine Shop" - hung over the gateway.

It is no child's play to set this great industry in motion for very little of the old machinery left in the building by Captain Franks could be utilized readily and remodeled to suit modern ideas; for at one side of the building lies, rusty and forlorn, one of the engines of the "Miles Greenwood" build of "ye olden time."

The upper rooms will be utilized for sleeping apartments, in part, and for lighter machinery and storage. Natural gas sheds its radiant heat throughout.

Not only are they experts in machinery adapted to every branch of the oil business, but this enterprising firm understand all the intricacies of gas fitting and plumbing as well as heavier work.

An establishment of this kind in the center of a fast developing oil territory, and with the advantages of gas, coke, coal, rail and river transportation, etc., cannot fail to successfully compete with foreign plants.

 

Running Cisler's Brick Plant to its Full Capacity

The Marietta Times, November 27, 1890

Monday morning the Times reporter, on invitation, visited the Brick Plant of Thomas Cisler. On arrival we found that Mr. Cisler was running his plant to its full capacity, employing from twenty-five to thirty men.

His new pressed brick machine turns out some fine bricks, which, when they come out of the machine, seem almost hard enough to use without burning. This machine is of the Boyd pattern and has a capacity of 10,000 brick daily. The dry clay is shoveled into it and, after being ground, is run through sieves and carried into the press by buckets and a chute, where it is, in the mold, subjected to a pressure of three hundred tons. From the press the bricks are carried on trams to the kiln.

When the reporter visited the plant the workmen were busy putting in the last bricks in the kiln and preparing it for burning, which was begun that afternoon. In this kiln there are about 200,000 common brick and 100,000 pressed brick. It will be ready to open about Christmas.

In making his pressed brick Mr. Cisler uses red clay which he gets from "College Hill," which he recently purchased from the college. This clay contains considerable iron, which gives color and strength to the brick.

The building in which both the common and pressed brick are made is about 200 feet by 50 feet, and contains all the machinery, engine, boiler and dry room for the common brick.

It is Mr. Cisler's intention to build another kiln, making three in all, in the spring and should trade justify it will put in another pressed brick machine.

Lewis Mixer, Tinner

American Friend & Marietta Gazette, May 9, 1829

Lewis Mixer, Tinner, respectfully informs the public that he has recently established the Tinning Business in Marietta, at the dwelling house of Mr. Isaac Mixer, at the corner of Ohio and Third streets, where he will have on hand a general assortment of Tin Ware, at the lowest prices.  He will be ready, at all times, to accommodate his customers with Job Work of any description, who may be pleased to favor him; and hopes by his attention to business to merit the encouragement of the public.

Old Copper and Pewter will be received in payment.

Marietta, April 8, 1829.

Local Oil Field Holds Place of Pre-Eminence

Sunday Morning Observer, January 20, 1917

Discovery of "Spring Oil" Brought Much Attention.

In looking back over some old records the other day to find some data on the oil production in this section we came across some facts and figures that brought us to the conclusion that there is one product in which Washington County is and has for many years held decided preeminence - petroleum.

For the years 1873-1874, the Secretary of State's report for Washington County shows and aggregate of 2,209,928 gallons of oil produced and for the rest of the state 185,280 gallons.  Thus this county produced about twelve times as much petroleum as all the other counties combined.

In another statement we found that the production came from the following: Cow Run, 510,000 barrels; Macksburg, 104,000; Newell's Run, Pawpaw and Fifteen, 6,000; a total of 620,000 barrels.  At three dollars a barrel, which was the probable average price at that time, there was a value of $1,860,000.

In a brief account of this county published in New York, in 1834, by John Delafield, Jr., mention is made of petroleum - called "spring oil," or "seneca oil" - as having been known to the hunters and early inhabitants of the country since the first settlement.  "It can be used," he says, "in lamps as it affords a brilliant light. It is very useful and therefore much employed in curing the diseases of and injuries done to horses.  It is perhaps the best substance known for the prevention of friction in machinery."

Most of the oil used by druggists through the states was sold through a Marietta concern - Bosworth, Wells & Co.  This was a heavy oil and came principally from the neighborhood of Hughes river in West Virginia.

New Foundry

American Friend & Marietta Gazette, January 24, 1829

The subscribers respectfully inform the public generally, that they have commenced a new foundry in Marietta, called the "Washington Foundry," situated on the West side of the Muskingum River, a few rods north of the Steam Mill.  Having supplied themselves with the very best quality of Pig mettle, and from their long experience in the business, they flatter themselves that they can give every satisfaction.  All kinds of castings can be had on the shortest notice, either wholesale or retail at the most reduced prices, for cash or approved country produce, at the market price.

Dobbins & McElfresh.

Marietta, Jan. 22d, 1829.

N.B.  One half a cent per pound will be give for old castings, delivered at the Foundry.

 

Marietta From the Very Beginning Was Industrial Center of The Great West

Sunday Morning Observer, January 20, 1917

When a manufacturer decides to change the location of his plant, he does so because he feels the necessity of improving in one or the other of five factors of his business - transportation, labor, power, raw materials, or markets.

The competition of modern business is keen. The standardization of machinery and the availability of skilled supervision makes it possible for every manufacturer, if he will, to produce high-grade goods.  Economy and efficiency in production are the aims of present-day industrial operators.

It is the part of good management to locate a plant in a place where wasteful and costly transportation of raw materials and finished products may be eliminated and power and fuel may be obtained at a moderate cost and where living conditions are conducive to peaceful relations between employer and employe.  It is of the greatest importance that a manufacturing plant once started may be kept in continuous operation.  Railroad congestion, fuel shortage or unfortunate labor conditions must be avoided, and the location which affords manufacturers a combination of conditions which assure him uninterrupted production is the one which is certain to inspire his confidence and secure his industrial plant.

Marietta could be the largest manufacturing center in the nation because she offers the manufacturer an economical, profitable and well-balanced combination of industrial advantages.

Marietta is situated on two of the great waterways of the nation, the Muskingum tapping the north and  with the construction of but a single dam at or near Dresden, could be in touch via water with the Great Lakes.  The Ohio comes to us from the mountains of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, via Pittsburgh and goes on to the Mississippi and on to the Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific via the Panama Canal.

We are in the heart of a settled gas producing country and which experts say will give us gas for fuel for at least 25 years.  Surrounded by coal on every hand that can be reached by both water and railroad.  Two of the nation's greatest railroad systems have lines to our doors and both of them are in readiness to give us better facilities with the increase of trade.

No oil field in all the world is more productive that the fields in and about Marietta and the settled condition of the business assures many years of profitable drilling and operation.

Marietta had her industrial beginning with the foundation of the town, a site selected by the wise men who founded the nation and with Washington, Putnam, Cutler and others.   Marietta was founded and begun to build for the reason of her excellent location.

The great manufacturing of the West had its beginning here.  The first flour mills in Ohio were on Wolf Creek, about a mile from its mouth, erected in 1789, by Col. Robert Oliver, Major Haffield White, and Captain John Dodge.  Mills were commenced soon after on Duck Creek by Enoch Sheperd with Col. E. Sproat and Thomas Stanley, but the Indian War and the flood interrupted.  In 1798 a floating mill was built five miles up the Muskingum by Captain Jonathan Devol, which for some years did nearly all the grinding for the inhabitants on the Ohio and Muskingum for fifty miles above and below the mill.

The "Marietta Steam Mill" in Harmar was completed in 1811.

The first tannery was established by Col. Ichabod Nye in 1791.  In 1813 a cotton factory was built for a company of which William Woodbridge, Joseph Holden, and S. P. Hildreth were directors.  Dr. N. McIntosh was the contractor.  His son, Col. E. S. McIntosh, laid the brick.  The building was on Putnam Street, between Fourth and Fifth, and some twenty years after was converted into the old "Academy" building by the college and later was removed to another location.

Shipbuilding was commenced at Marietta in 1801 by B. I. Gilman and was soon after entered into by William Knox.  The business was prosecuted with vigor and success.  Marietta suffered greatly by the embargo act in December, 1807.

With the Knoxes at the helm, this branch of business flourished for many years and ships and steamboats were built by them till but a few years ago.

Along in the 40's some eight or ten ocean going ships were built here, one of which, the "John Farnum," built for A. B. and I. R. Waters, was sent to Ireland with a cargo of corn in charge of Asa B. Waters.

In January 1829, Dobbins and McElfresh started an iron foundry called the "Washington Foundry," situated north of the old Harmar Steam Mill.  About a year later it was bought by A. T. Nye and was soon after moved to the building erected for a woolen mill and where the business is still carried on by The A. T. Nye & Son Co.

The old Franks foundry on Second Street was established by Franks & Hendrie in about the year 1840.

Efforts to establish cotton and woolen mills in Marietta were never very successful though at Beverly a number of woolen establishments carried on a prosperous business for many years.

The manufacture of chairs and furniture in Marietta began back in 1797 and was continued in a direct line to the establishment of the Marietta Chair Company and today remains one of the largest plants of its kind in the country.

For a number of years the Putnams carried on a gigantic bucket and tub manufacturing business and the products went to the four quarters of the country.

Early in the history of the town and country the hills of Washington County were found to contain a grade of sandstone that produced the very best grindstones to be found in the nation, and from a very small beginning in the early years that business has grown till today it is one of the best in this section of the country, and Washington County sandstones sell at a premium.

There is one other advantage that Marietta has and one which has received but little attention and that is the water power that is afforded on and along the Muskingum River.  Tons and tons of power go to waste every year.

Marietta looks toward the future with confidence that her present industries will continue to grow and that many new large plants will be located here.

 

Superior Coal

Marietta Intelligencer, December 10, 1851

We have plenty of coal in this county, superior to the Wheeling, and fully equal to the best Pittsburg.  At present it is not accessible by any improvement which renders its transportation to our market, cheap.  We hope, however, that ere long our dwellings, shops, and manufactories may be warmed by fuel from the interior of our own hills.

 

Yesterday we received a box containing from one to two bushels of very superior coal, from Mr. Calvin O. Robinson, of Salem.  He obtained it from a vein on the farm of Mr. Ephraim Gould, of that township.  He says that, after deducting for waste in digging, pillars, &c., it will produce 1000 bushels to the square rod.

 

We want no better coal for any purpose.

Baylies Phillips, Hatter

American Friend, & Marietta Gazette, February 28, 1829

Baylies Phillips, Hatter, thankful for past favors respectfully informs his customers and the public generally, that he has neither new fashioned, nor old fashioned hats on hand - but if his old customers will condescend to pay him all that they owe him, he will then be enabled to furnish himself with stock to make hats of the newest fashion and of the best workmanship.  Nothwithstanding, he has on hand a quantity of good wool hats, of good quality which he will sell as low as any in the Western country - for CASH or country produce.

 

Marietta, Feb. 24th, 1829.

Valuable Property, Cheap for Cash

American Friend, January 26, 1821

For sale, by the undersigned, a cotton factory, containing 144 spindles, and the necessary appendage.  Situated on Sixth Street, Marietta, with one half acre of land and a barn 16 by 20 feet attached thereto.  The machinery may be purchased separately.

Also,

A convenient two story dwelling house, 35 by 40 feet, with four rooms in the first and six in the second story, pleasantly situated on Ohio Street, near the confluence of Ohio and Muskingum rivers, with a good garden and a barn.

Also,

Several tracts of wild land in Washington, Athens, and Meigs Counties.

A credit of one or two years, on good security, may be had for two thirds the amount of purchase.

Griffin Greene.
Marietta, Dec. 8, 1820

Mill-Stones

American Friend, February 18, 1820

Mill-Stones, O ye! the refiners of grain,
Roll from my quarry again - and again.
Fashion'd by A. Wolf, of skillful pow'r,
And certain to yield the best of flour.
Contrasted with which, Laurel Hill, Raccoon,
Shew vain as to phiz of man a baboon.
Situate 'tween Duck Creek and Muskingum;
From Marietta ten miles, on New year's run.
Cheap - lasting - tenaceous - flinty - whole;
None better t'insure the miller his toll.
Enquiries are answer'd (if free postage)
By me, your obseq'ious - Edward P. Page.
O what a bother to fumble for rhyme;
Hard, as mill-dam roar with music to chime.

Marietta, Feb. 11th, 1820

Manufactures in Marietta

Marietta Intelligencer, February 14, 1850

We see on every hand unmistakable evidence that a feeling has been awakened among nearly all classes of our citizens in favor of building up manufacturing establishments in Marietta. Those who have long felt an interest in the matter, but from various causes have “held back,” are now taking hold if the business, in one department and another, in good earnest, and those who a few years ago regarded such projects with indifference, or opposed them, have become satisfied, from the success of the experiments in the shoe business, and other branches of manufacturing, that the selling of dry goods is not the only kind of business at which men can make a living in Marietta. They see that the sale of goods, which was almost the sole business here for some years, does not give employment to so many persons as now derive their support in making up leather – a business that has grown up within eight years. And does any one suppose that, if merchandizing had continued to be the principal business of the place, our masons and carpenters would have found as constant employment as has been offered them for a year or two past? Would real estate have increased in value, and rents have advanced 50 to 100 per cent within three or four years, if the number of laborers had not been increased by commencing here the manufacture of articles formerly made abroad? Not at all. Every man can see that an entirely new impulse has been given to the prosperity of the place, by the success of experiments in manufacturing that were considered visionary. But, as usual when we get on to this hobby of town manufactures, we are forgetting the purpose with which we commenced this article – which was to speak of some of the new establishments that will commence operations this year.

First, the Woolen Factory is certainly to be built. We understand that differences of opinion among the stockholders as to the most eligible location, at one time threatened to “blow up” this company. But those differences have been happily reconciled by selecting a site which is perhaps better than either of those first contemplated. The property of Mr. Preston, near the mouth of the Muskingum has been purchased, and contracts made for the erection of a building 100 feet in length by 45 in width. The machinery will soon be under way, and it is hoped will be in operation in the course of the season. So the “Marietta Woolen Factory” may be considered a “fixed fact” – about which we shall have more to say hereafter.

The Steam Leather Manufactory, formerly owned by Mr. Thomas Vinton, but which has not been in operation for ten or twelve years, was last season purchased by Messrs. W. L. Rolston, N. L. Wilson, D. C. Skinner, and W. S. Nye, who are making additions to it, and will have it in complete operation in the course of two or three months. This will give employment to a good many men – will make a good market for hides, and tan bark, and will supply our numerous shoe establishments with a part of their stock. Why may not the many thousands of dollars annually sent from Marietta for the purchase of leather be paid out to laborers here, instead of sending our wheat and pork and beans away from home to pay for labor performed elsewhere?

Planing Machine and Sash Factory. Messrs R. P. Robinson, J. O. Cram, J. E. Hall, G. H. Richards, and O. Franks, have bought property near the old brick church on Third street, and expect to have machinery for planing, and for making sash, in operation early in May. We do not know the number of men they will employ, but we know that the employees of the concern will not be the only men benefited by it. Every man who has a house to build will reap some advantage from the establishment of this factory.

Cooperage. Slack barrels are now manufactured here by the excellent machinery of Messrs. Cram. A new, different, and more extensive establishment will soon be put in operation by Mr. A. B. Waters. It is for the manufacture of tight barrels, and the machinery is considered the best in use in the country. We know nothing of its operation, but some idea of its capacity to turn out work may be given by stating that the machine Mr. Waters has contracted for will work six millions of staves per annum. Probably it may not, at first, be worked to its utmost capacity, but whenever it is, employment will be given in the concern to from 100 to 125 men. The engine for running the machine has been bought, is now ready to put up, and will probably be running before another winter comes.

These are some of the more important establishment certainly to be put in operation here during the present year.

The favor with which the project for building a Cotton Factory is received by those who have reflected upon the subject, inclines us to the belief that we may soon make an important addition to the above list. It is believed that money invested in a Cotton Factory will pay the stockholders heavier dividends than stock in a Woolen Factory, tho’ we believe the latter will be of more general interest to the community, and has wisely been first commenced. It is said that a man who has had much experience in the business, and has always been successful, can now be obtained at a fair price to take charge of the erection of a building and the purchase of machinery, and that he will himself take stock. Such an opportunity of securing the services of a practical, experienced man, ought not to be neglected by the friends of the project. Now is the time to move in the matter.

Hand in hand with these local improvements should be prosecuted enterprises of equal importance to the town, and of vital interest to the agriculturists, who are to furnish the laborers here with food. Better roads must be built. At present half the farmers in this county are more than 50 miles from market. It actually costs many who live within 20 miles of Marietta more to get their produce to town than it would to bring it 50 miles if we had good roads. And they are not the only – though perhaps they are the most severe—sufferers. What merchant has not made a long face and drawn a heavy sigh, every day in the week, for two months past as he looked over his sales book? Goods plenty and “cheap for cash or produce” have laid undisturbed upon the shelves, because the produce could not be brought there, and men with cash could not come with it over such roads as we have – and will have, until plank roads are built. Improved roads are of vital public interest, and unless they are soon made in this county, every private enterprise will suffer and languish. Simultaneously with the improvement of roads, another enterprise should be undertaken, to wit: The erection of a Wire Suspension Bridge across the Muskingum. This is a work that will alike promote the prosperity of the two towns, and make them really one, as they now are in sympathy and interest.