School Room For Colored Youth

The Marietta Register, December 9, 1875

At a recent meeting of the Board of education, of Marietta, a committee previously appointed for the purpose, made the following report concerning a school building for the colored youth of the city:

To the Board of Education:

The communication of A. Jackson, proposing to sell a building and lot for the Colored School, together with the order that said communication and the question of providing adequate accommodation for the colored youth, be referred to the committee on repairs - received our immediate attention.  The first school-day after this reference, we visited the Colored School, and were more than gratified to find it in so prosperous condition.  The number of scholars almost double that of any former period, and the progress and prospects of the school are very promising.  The building we found in the same condition it was after the repairs of last year, but the increased number of scholars, demanding more seats, and some for larger scholars.  Without the loss of a school-day, those seats were provided, and for the last three weeks the teacher and scholars have been enjoying the change.  The members of the Board have several times looked at the present building, and examined other property, with the impression that the present building was not in all respects suitable.  Your committee have no additional reasons to give, other than those which have heretofore been brought to the attention of the Board for building or purchasing, unless it be the increased number of scholars.

In our examinations, we have learned that 27 of the present attendants of the school live above Putnam Street, and eight below Putnam Street, and the latter quite far away from the present building.  Others, but a very few live near the corporation line north of Washington street.  Accompanying this report, will be found the names and places of residence of all enrolled, also a plat explaining the relative place of abode of each scholar.

Committee:

G. M. Woodbridge

Jacob Miller

Carver Divorce Hearing Ended

The Marietta Daily Times, December 13, 1922

In accordance with the usual procedure, Judge Thomas has withheld his decision in the Carver divorce case, which was tried in common pleas court this week, and it is expected that at least thirty days will elapse before the matter finally is passed upon.  Judging from the remarks made by Judge Thomas at the conclusion of the hearing, it is doubtful if a decree will be forthcoming.

The Carvers, Adonis and Margaret, according to their own stories, have had a stormy career during their married life.  The wife accused the husband of cursing her and beating her and the husband admitted the truth of the charge, but declared that he received similar treatment from the wife.  "When she cussed me, I cussed her, and she slapped and struck me as often as I did her," the husband told Judge Thomas during progress of the trial, then he related numerous instances of this sort.  He declared that his wife would get angry at him if he refused to humor her demands and would follow his motor truck through the streets screaming and crying until he would "crouch down in his clothes from shame."  He said he just couldn't help swearing, as it came naturally to him.

"She got my goat once when she said my father and mother were damned liars, and then, Judge, I hit her," the husband declared, adding that he could not stand for such a thing.  "I guess it was about fifty-fifty as far as rough treatment was concerned," Carver stated in court, and Judge Thomas indicated that that was about the way he viewed the matter.  He made it plain that custody of the minor child will be awarded to the mother.

Essay of Mr. Theodore Devol

The Marietta Register, March 3, 1876

As Read Before the Farmers' Club of Muskingum Township, February 5th, 1876.

Mr. President:

Having been appointed by your Honor to write an essay, and not being accustomed to writing, I feel my incompetency to write anything that might be entertaining to this Club.  I hope your generosity will excuse mistakes, and pardon my blunders.

I can think of no better subject for me to write about than the Past and the Present.  I will, therefore, take for my subject, fifty years ago and now - fifty years ago, when this beautiful valley was almost a dense forest, when the cuckoo and the countless number of birds warbled their songs in almost every bush, when the squirrel's quack could be heard in almost every direction, and anon the tohoot! tohoot! tohoo! of the owl was chimed forth from some old hollow tree, when the beautiful and limpid water of the Muskingum ran rippling down its course unmolested.

But now, how changed!  The forest has been made to yield to the yeoman's ax, defiantly ignoring that beautiful sentiment - "O, woodman, spare that tree!"  The bird's sweet song is seldom heard any more; the quack of the squirrel  has almost become extinct; and by the labor, skill and ingenuity of man, the rippling water of our beautiful river has been made to stand still.  By dams and locks, it has been made navigable [for] first class steamers; factories and mills have been erected; villages have sprung up at almost equal distances from its source to its mouth, accommodating the residents along the valley with all those conveniences which are almost invaluable.

Forty or fifty years ago, mills were few and far between.  i recall one in particular, with which your essayist was pretty well acquainted, having been raised in the immediate neighborhood.  It was known as Featherstone's Mill, located at the head of Dana's Island.  At this mill they ground grain, carded wool, and dressed cloth, and had a custom (in a dry season) of a radius of twenty to thirty miles around.  Not unfrequently men coming that distance would have to stay perhaps from three to five days, waiting for their turn in grinding.  Sometimes they would work for the neighbors for their board and horse feed.  I think some of my friends in this neighborhood can testify to having made us quite a visit while waiting for their grinding.

The products of the soil were then transported to market by water, in flatboat, pirogue, or canoe, or by land in wagons, and on their return merchandise was brought back.  The traveling was done on horseback, or in the old stage coach.  But now the stagecoach reposeth in some old back shed; the canoe has been converted into a feed trough, and in their stead the beautiful steamer, in her grand, majestic splendor, plows through our waters, conveying to and fro the products and merchandise of our country to every village and hamlet. 

Our country has also become checkered up with railroad tracks going up and down our valleys, through the hills, and across our streams.  The iron horse goes snorting by with lightning speed, conveying its myriads of passengers and merchandise from one end of the continent to the other, in a very few hours.  But to my mind the greatest achievement in all the arts and sciences is the magnetic telegraph.  To think of communicating intelligibly with the Old World, and all over this country, in the short space of a few minutes, is almost beyond human conception.  Had some great philosopher, fifty years ago, predicted this great progress in the arts and sciences, he would have been called a fool or maniac.

Fifty years ago, the plow was made and shaped from a log of wood, with handles dug from the roots of a tree, with a piece of iron for a point and land side.  This was called a hog nose or barshear plow.  The ax, the hoe, and the pitchfork, were made by the village blacksmith, rough, heavy and unwieldy.  Now these implements are made of the finest polished steel; even the steam and gang-plow have been made to work successfully in many places.  The sickle, the scythe, and the grain cradle, have all been superseded by the reaper and mower.  Fifty years ago, the buzz of the spinning wheel could be heard in almost every cabin, from early dawn until about three or four o'clock in the afternoon, when their day's work was done, being from thirty to forty knots, earning 8-1/3 cents per day, or 50 cents a week.  The loom, too, usually occupied one corner of the cabin, and a bed the other, while the good dame of the house would rock the cradle with one foot or hand, and draw from the distaff the beautiful fibre of flax with the other hand, wherewith to make the clothing for the family.

Now, all these old relics have found a resting place in the garret or some old outhouse, and we all say, peace to their slumbers.  Then the family were all clad in their homespun, made and fashioned to fit the wearer; then six or seven yards would make a dress for a lady, which would show the form of the wearer.  Now, sixteen or seventeen yards are required, and perhaps before this is completed you are accosted some morning by your sweet tempered wife with, 'Husband, are you going to town to-day?"  You answer in the affirmative.  "Won't you please get me two yards more of this goods?  I haven't quite enough to finish my dress," and the sample is thrust into your vest pocket, perhaps with a sweet kiss to boot, and of course he gets it.  Now, when this garment is completed and donned by the wearer, methinks it would puzzle a philosopher to tell from appearances whether she was naturally or artificially deformed!

If the kind friends will bear with me, I would like to relate a little circumstance that came under our observation but recently in our town, while a friend and myself were sitting on a dry goods box, talking upon the topics of the day, perhaps of the growth of our Farmers' Club. We saw approaching us some real, live, animated being; her eyes sparkled like two diamonds; her prow or figure-head was painted and burnished in the most exquisite manner; at the top of her main-mast were flying beautiful colors and plumes; and she was fashioned and modeled in the most artistic shape; also, being well ballasted, she would drive through the waves and wind without a quiver.  "But," said I to my friend, "she has a pretty long rudder for so small a craft."  Said he, "You are mistaken; you are not posted; that is her trail."  "Trail," said I, "then I'm sold.  Fifty years ago, we used to hear our parents tell about the Indian trail, and the dogs trailing up foxes, and more latterly we have read of blood hounds down South trailing up runaways; but this trail, I think, out trails them all."  There being a sudden gust of wind in the rear, about this time this trail was seen to take a turn round a lamp post, and further than this deponent knoweth not.

Could one of these fashionably dressed creatures, this lady of the period, have dropped down, as if by magic, years ago, I hardly know what the sensation might have been.  I imagine some of the more timid ones might have skulked behind the door, or climbed the ladder, while others, not so easily scared, might have disrobed her of some of her attire, to see if she was really human; and i am not sure but that the boys might have taken down the old flint-lock, for the boys were not so easily scared in those days.  But I desist from further comment.

Fifty years ago, the good Christian people assembled themselves together in the log church, the school house, or domicile, to worship God in the beauty of his holiness, and where all would join in singing the songs of Zion, and praises to his holy name.  But now, how changed!  Of the myriads who now go up to the great temple of the Lord, representing their millions of wealth, how many go up in the true spirit of His name, and how many go to show their gorgeous attires, and their glittering diamonds where a select, salaried few are chosen to chant the praises of his holy name, in all the style and splendor of the opera.  This may be progression in Christianity; it may be acceptable in the eyes of God.

Fifty years ago, the school house was built of logs, with chimney outside built of stone; a fire-place that would take in nearly one-fourth of a cord of wood; a few panes of glass for light, stuck in between a couple of logs; slabs for benches, seating from eight to a dozen scholars; writing desks made by driving pins into the logs, with a board or slab on top of them.  In a school of the above description your writer obtained his education, and came off with distinction and honor.  The branches of education taught in country schools in those days were spelling, reading, writing, geography, grammar, and arithmetic; nothing higher.  The wages paid the teacher then were, for a male teacher, about twelve dollars per month, and for a female, one dollar and fifty cents a week.  The government of schools I almost dread to relate.  The inhuman brutality of some school teachers in those days was terrible.  They would rule as with a rod of iron; would stalk about over the school room, with gad in hand, ready to come down on the head of some unruly scholar without a moment's warning; or, if the teacher was too lazy to leave his seat, he would hurl the ruler across the room at some one who might be violating some of the rules, when the guilty one had to carry the ruler up to him, and receive ten or a dozen whacks of the ruler upon the hand, well laid on, and return to his seat with a blistered hand, or perhaps the blood oozing from the ends of his fingers; or a little more mild punishment would be to hang them by the thumbs up to the joist, or split a quill and put it on their nose.  Thanks to progress and civilization, these inhuman and cruel punishments have now become obsolete.

I must, however, give credit for one custom or courtesy that was taught and practiced in those days.  The school children were taught, on entering and leaving the school room, to make their manners - the boys, with hats off, making a low bow, and the girls a courtesy.  They were also required to show these acts of respect on meeting their seniors upon the public highway.  I can look back now, in my imagination, and see the little girls depress themselves about half their length, when meeting one of the neighbors.  The contrast is now quite visible to us all.  Our schools are now governed by kindness, firmness, and decision.  The school room is made comfortable, convenient, and attractive.  The walls are decorated with evergreens, mottoes and maps, and even the organ has a prominent position in some school rooms.  There can now be acquired at many of our country schools a competent education enough, befitting him or her for almost any of the walks or business transactions in private life.

And now, to wind up my essay, or bit of history, or whatever you may please to call it, I will only add that in the next half century to come, if the same rapid strides and progress in the arts, science and literature that have been made in the last fifty years are continued, it would be hard to predict what may be in store for the next generation to come.  And to my young friends present, who may live to see fifty years hence, marvel not, I say, marvel not, if you should see some scientific genius navigating in the air successfully, for I believe it will be done.

Community Sing Most Enjoyable

The Marietta Daily Times, December 26, 1922

Under the direction of the members of the Kiwanis Club, Marietta's community Christmas tree was officially dedicated at Lafayette Place on Monday afternoon, when the annual community sing was held.  A large crowd gathered for the ceremonies and traffic on Front street was blocked off between Butler and Putnam streets for about an hour.

Prof. Arthur G. Beach made a dedicatory prayer.  Judge A. A. Schramm had charge of the ceremonies and A. T. Williamson officially presented the tree to Marietta.  The program was simple but impressive.  Several selections were sung by the Kiwanis quartet under the direction of Oscar W. Morgenstern, who also led the community singing.

The tree has been decorated with electric lights of all colors which are illuminated every evening.  The Kiwanis Club will care for the tree.

The second phase of the Kiwanis Christmas celebration will be held on Wednesday evening at the armory when a dinner will be given in honor of over 200 of Marietta's children.  Dinner will be served at 5 o'clock after which a Christmas entertainment will be given.  The Marietta High School band will furnish music.

Find Mash At Porter House

The Marietta Daily Times, December 15, 1922

An early morning raid conducted by Sheriff Roberts and the Marietta police at the home of Glen Porter on the state road in Warren township, just east of Tunnel hill, unearthed four barrels of mash and proved to the satisfaction of the officers that they had turned up another moonshine plant of considerable proportions.

The house was dark when they arrived, but they aroused Mrs. Porter and were admitted.  She told the officers that her husband was out skunk hunting and the presence of a goodly stock of fresh pelts about the place convinced them that the story was true.  They searched the place and found about four barrels of rye mash, some in the cellar and some in an old granary.  They procured samples of the mash then dumped the contents of the barrels.

Word was left with Mrs. Porter to have her husband come in and surrender at noon on Friday, when he was to be taken before Mayor Sandford.

More Than Smell Needed To Prove Man Guilty of Bootlegging, Court Says

The Marietta Daily Times, December 8, 1922

That it requires more than the sense of smell on which to convict a man of bootlegging, was the statement of Judge David H. Thomas, in common pleas court on Friday, when he intimated that he would over-rule the verdict of Mayor Sandford in the case of Frank G. Peters, convicted last summer on a charge of dispensing intoxicating liquors at his Front street cafe.

Peters was arrested by the police when they raided his place, and found what they believed to be evidence of liquor.  Peters was behind the bar at the time, and is alleged to have beat the police to it by turning over a glass of whiskey into the sink.  The police got the empty glass and declared there was sufficient corn liquor sticking to the sides of it to prove that Peters was selling corn.

When the case came on for trial before Mayor Sandford, the fact that the glass gave off a strong odor of whiskey was the chief evidence introduced by the police and on the strength of that the mayor found Peters guilty.  An appeal was taken, and it was argued before Judge Thomas on Friday morning.  Asa Ward and Everett F. Folger appeared on behalf of Peters, while City Solicitor Ogle defended the mayor's action.

While Judge Thomas expects to review the record of the case more fully, he stated informally that it was apparent that Peters has been convicted more on his past reputation than on real facts, and stated that it was apparent to him that for the first time in cases of this sort he would be called upon to reverse the finding of Mayor Sandford.

The case of Harry Needs, who was convicted of operating a moonshine outfit at his home in this city, also was argued on error, B. E. Guyton and Everett F. Folger representing him.  This case also came from the court of the mayor, and the appeal was opposed by City Solicitor Ogle.

Find Still Well Hidden In Cellar

The Marietta Daily Times, December 8, 1922

Fred Kesselring, who conducts an auto repair shop on Greene and Second streets, and his aged father, Sylvanus Kesselring, of Sand Hill, are in the county jail awaiting an arraignment before Squire O'Neill on a charge of illicit manufacture of corn whiskey.  They were arrested at noon on Friday by Sheriff Roberts and Chief Putnam and it appears that the officers got their men "with the goods on them."

There have been complaints for several months that all was not right at the Kesselring home, which is located on Cow Run, just back of Sand Hill, and on one or two occasions in the past the sheriff has searched the place but without results.

On Friday morning, several Sand Hill boys were out hunting and were ordered off of the place by Mr. Kesselring.  Their suspicions were aroused and the boys persisted in investigating.  When they became too insistent to suit the old gentleman, he grabbed up a club and smashed a 5-gallon jug that had been secreted in a sack near the hog pen.

The boys smelled the fumes of whiskey, and one of their number hurried to a telephone and called the sheriff.  The other remained on watch, and the officers made a hurried run to the place.  They had a search warrant and began a systematic search.

Knocking off a 2-inch oak partition in the cellar, they discovered a tunnel that extended back under the other part of the house, and here they found a secret cellar, all roofed over and covered with dirt so that it could not be detected by anyone on the outside.  In the cellar, the officers found 8 barrels of mash, a 6-hole hotplate, a coil and other equipment, showing that it was one of the most complete distilleries yet found in the county.

The officers brought the owner of the place to the city and then arrested the son.  According to the sheriff, both father and son have signified their intention of pleading guilty.

Elopement of "Kids" Is Interrupted

The Marietta Daily Times, December 11, 1922

Shattered romance is the reward of Leona Petrie and Luella Starling, 16 year old high school girls, who engineered an elopement on Saturday, and in less than a dozen hours after the call of wedding bells lured them from their Marietta homes they were in the hands of the law, their intended husbands behind the bars of the Ross county jail in Chillicothe.  It was a sudden ending of their dream of bliss, and today they are back with their families.

Just before 3 o'clock on Sunday morning, a long distance telephone call came to police headquarters, and the night chief of the Chillicothe force inquired if the girls and their intended husbands were wanted in Marietta.  An affirmative reply was given, then came the information that they were being held in the Ross county metropolis.

It took but a few minutes to get word to the families of the girls, and plans were laid for bringing them back.  G. M. Lindamood, brother-in-law of the Starling girl, accompanied by Officer Boyd of the local force, made a fast drive to Parkersburg, caught the 3:40 B. & O. train and just as the light of another day was breaking they walked into Chillicothe jail into the presence of the youthful runaways.

Boys Without Money

Wade and Louis Beaver, aged 19 and 16 respectively, were the intended husbands of the Petrie and Starling girls.  The boys are sons Mrs. Florence A. Beaver, a widow, of 118 North Fourth street, and when taken into custody, the lads had a total of fifteen cents in their pockets - one of them six cents and the other one nine.

Money, however, apparently was the least of their worries, for the Starling girl, who had drawn from a Marietta bank her savings account of $90, was paying the expenses of the trip, and she still had a good part of her stake left when the blue-coated men of the law broke up the pre-nuptial expedition.

Shields Younger Brother

At the city jail late Sunday evening, the Beaver boys, somewhat crestfallen but still game, told of the trip and of the plans that led up to it.  The older of the two, Wade Beaver, was firmly convinced that a prison term of at least five years awaited him.  "I know that I'm in for it, but they surely can't be so hard on Louis, for he's much younger than I am, and on top of it all he was drawn into this thing at the last minute," the elder boy declared.

Asked what he meant by the statement, he replied that it had been intended at first that Eddie McBride was to be the mate of the Starling girl in the double wedding they had planned, but the latter backed out when the final test came, then Louis Beaver was substituted.

Still Loves the Girl

Wade Beaver was the companion of the Petrie girl, and at the jail on Sunday night he still professed his love for the Ninth street maid.  "Sure I love her," he declared.  "I firmly intended to marry her, and my only regret is that we did not get away."

According to the boys, the girls went to the Beaver home, at 118 North Fourth street, just before 3 o'clock on Saturday.  Then the four went to a Front street garage and hired a taxi to drive them to Porterfield.  There, shortly after 4 o'clock, they boarded the accommodation train for Chillicothe.  Miss Starling bought the railroad tickets and paid the taxi fare from Marietta to Porterfield.

Arriving in Chillicothe, the elopers found a modest little restaurant near the depot, and there they had supper, the Starling girl continuing to act as financial agent.  After supper, they returned to the depot, there to wait for an eastbound train.  They had left Marietta with the idea in mind of going to Cumberland, Maryland, and had ridden all the way to Chillicothe just as a blind.

Buy Tickets to Cumberland

Just before the midnight eastbound train arrived in Chillicothe Miss Starling purchased four tickets to Cumberland, and this information was tipped to the railroad police, who were keeping tab on the party.  The officers followed them aboard the train and confronted them with the charge that they were wanted in Cincinnati.  Wade Beaver did the talking for the frightened group and stoutly denied that they ever had been to Cincinnati.  In order to prove his contention, he finally told the officers the story.  Then the four were led from the train and taken to police headquarters.

After reiterating their story at headquarters, the runaways were held for investigation and the Marietta police were called.  It was welcome news to the folks at home, as the story told by the girls that it was their intention to go to Canada had been believed, and Wheeling, Canton, Newark and Toledo had been notified in an effort to head them off.

Planned to Find Job

The Beaver boys in telling their story to The Times, said they had planned to go to Cumberland, Md., where they expected to locate.  The boys intended to get work there, make a stake, then marry the girls and settle down.  They had it all figured out that Miss Starling's money would be sufficient to keep the two girls until the boys could "get on their feet" and prepare to support them in suitable manner.  Then a double wedding was to be held.

Wade Beaver worked during the past season with a carnival outfit, helping to handle a "whip."  He came home about two months ago, when the enterprise went into winter quarters.  His younger brother, who says he quit school two years ago, worked in a wire mill in Pennsylvania until last October.  For the last two months neither boy has had a job.  They met the girls and began going with them, at the skating rink in the old Baptist church a year ago.

Taken to Juvenile Court

At 9 o'clock on Monday morning, the Starling and Petrie girls were brought to police headquarters by their mothers, and were sent over to juvenile court, in charge of the truant officer of the city schools.  According to the mother of the Starling girl she was 16 years of age last July.  The mother of the Petrie girl said her daughter would be 16 years of age next March.

The girls were telling their stories to Judge Schramm, behind closed doors, during the forenoon, while the Beaver boys, with whom they sought to elope, were being held at the city jail.  The girls bore out the statement of the Beaver boys that it had been planned for Wade Beaver and Edward McBride to run away with them, but on Friday evening McBride changed his mind and the younger Beaver boy, Louis, was substituted.

According to a statement issued by Judge Schramm on Monday morning the only charge that will be considered by his court so far as the Beaver boys are concerned is that of contributing to the delinquency of the two girls.

Two More Boys Are Implicated

At least six persons are implicated in the elopement case, in which four Marietta young people ran away from Marietta and were arrested in Chillicothe on Saturday night, according to facts brought out during a lengthy investigation conducted by Juvenile Judge Schramm on Monday.  The six are Leona Petrie, Luella Starling, Wade and Louis Beaver and Edward McBride and Archie Gibbs.

Gibbs has been lodged in the county jail to await a hearing, a warrant is out for McBride, and the Beaver boys and the two girls are released on their own recognizance pending a formal hearing on Wednesday morning.

According to the stories told by the girls in juvenile court on Monday, Gibbs and the McBride boy have contributed to their delinquency, and the fact that the Petrie girl is a minor brings an added charge of a statutory nature against Gibbs.

It is the belief of the court, after a careful investigation, that the Beaver boys are victims of a frame-up and this induced Judge Schramm to release them on their own recognizance.  The elder boy, Wade, is formally charged with contributing to the delinquency of the Petrie girl, while the younger brother, Louis, by reason of his age, gets off with a straight delinquency charge.

Confessions were made by the parties interested that the Gibbs and McBride boys have been keeping company with the girls.  The Gibbs boy was brought into court and in the presence of the girls admitted the truth of their charges.  The McBride boy has not yet appeared in court.

The court informed the mothers of the girls that they would be temporarily paroled on delinquency charges, and as soon as the cases are cleaned up they will be committed to suitable institutions to correct them.

Boy Fined and Given Jail Term

The Marietta Daily Times, December 13, 1922

Wade Beaver, 19, who was one of the parties to the attempted elopement of last Saturday afternoon, when he accompanied Leona Petrie, 15, from Marietta to Chillicothe, was arrested on Tuesday morning, formally charged with the crime of statutory rape.  Information that caused the lad's arrest was furnished by the Petrie girl, and when brought into juvenile court, Beaver admitted the truth of the story.

The charge against Beaver was filed in Squire Guyton's court, and the accused was placed in the county jail, along with Archie Gibbs, who was arrested on Monday on similar information furnished by the Petrie and Starling girls.  They are to be taken before Squire Guyton on Wednesday afternoon, it is expected.

Edward McBride, another boy implicated in the affair which promises to assume proportions that will startle many homes in the community, was found guilty in juvenile court on Wednesday, of contributing to the delinquency of the Starling girl.  He is the boy who was slated to elope with the Starling girl, and when he backed out Louis Beaver, 16, was substituted.  He was fined $100 and the costs and given a term of 90 days in the county jail.

Judge Schramm, in passing sentence upon McBride, said that information unearthed in the present investigation has been startling in the extreme, and has revealed a degree of depravity among young boys and girls in the city that is all but unbelievable.  He scored McBride as one of the leaders in this sort of thing, and the latter declined to reply, offering no defense nor reason why he should not be sentenced.

McBride's mother was present in court, and left the room with her son, who was being taken to jail by an officer of the court.  Out in the corridor, she upbraided her son for not telling the court the whole truth in connection with the affair, and a few minutes later induced him to return and go into conference with the court regarding the case.

The juvenile court, the prosecuting attorney, and the school authorities are combining forces to go to the bottom of the whole matter and a rigid investigation is to be conducted.

Louis Beaver, 16, who was substituted for Edward McBride as the mate of the Starling girl in the runaway of last Saturday, has been adjudged a delinquent child by the juvenile court, and is held in the jurisdiction of a probation officer pending the final outcome of the case.

Automobile Runs Into Crowd of Children

The Marietta Daily Times, December 18, 1922

Ten Inmates of County Home Hurt in Accident.  Number Are Run Over and Some Thrown Into Ravine.

Driver of Machine With Lights Dim and Glare From Another Car in His Eyes Fails to See Party of Boys and Girls in Front of Him Until He Runs Into Them.  Bodies Hurled in All Directions But Injuries of None of the Victims Are Expected To Have Serious Results.

List of Victims:
Martha Seyler
Mildred Covey
Clifford Keirns
Everett McFarland
Edna Fotch
Mrs. Letha Brookover
Charles Chidester
Eugene Fotch
Byron Schoonover
Paul Brookover
Leo Davis

When an automobile ran through a crowd of Children's Home boys and girls, who were walking along Muskingum Drive on Sunday evening, ten of the little folks were more or less severely injured, and one woman, who was in charge of them, was painfully bruised.  Four of the victims - two girls and two boys - are being cared for at Marietta hospital and it may be several days before they are able to leave the institution.  The accident occurred just at the entrance to the Home grounds, and the victims were en route from church services in this city.  Arda Fouss, of Warner, was driving the automobile that caused the trouble.

As is the custom, the children had attended one of the city churches, and having missed the interurban car that leaves the court house at 8:05 o'clock, had proposed to Mrs. Brookover that they walk home.  The woman agreed to the proposal and the hike was undertaken.  The children were enjoying the outing to the fullest extent and were just ready to turn from the paved road at the entrance to the institution that is home to them, when, without any warning, a Ford car, coming from their rear, plunged into the crowd.

The boys and girls were hurled in every direction.  The car passed over two or three of the victims, while some were hurled over an embankment into a ravine, and the remainder were knocked into the mud at the side of the road.

Defective light on the Ford car, together with the fact that another automobile was approaching from the north in such a position that the glare from its lights blinded the driver of the Ford, caused the accident.  The driver of the Ford was wholly unaware of the presence of the young people on the road until his machine had struck them.  He made a quick stop, and helped to rescue the victims, who were carried into the Home.

Superintendent and Mrs. Adamson were seated before the fire in their library when they heard the screams of the injured children.  They ran to the scene, as did other people in the neighborhood, and helped to gather up the victims.  All were carried into the home where first aid treatment was applied.  Then ambulances were summoned from the city.  both the Doudna & McClure and the Wieser & Cawlely ambulances responded, and the four children most seriously injured - Martha Seyler, Mildred Covery, Clifford Keirns and Everett McFarland, were sent to Marietta hospital.

Little Girl Most Hurt

Doctors Williams, Edwards and McKim responded to emergency calls and assisted in caring for the less seriously injured who remained at the home.  Of the four children who were sent to the hospital, the little Covey girl, aged 13 years, was most seriously injured.  She sustained a broken rib and severe bruises about the body.  She also was cut about the hands and face.  Martha Seyler, 16, was painfully bruised about the body and badly cut about the face and head.

Clifford Keirns was severely cut about the head and face, but despite his injuries proved one of the heroes of the occasion and helped to rescue and care for several other children before he finally collapsed at the door of the home.  For a time, it was believed that he was dead.  He rallied, however, and aside from the effects of the shock does not appear to be seriously injured.

Boy Struck On Temple

Everett McFarland was hit on the temple and so badly dazed that he did not recover for some time.  He also was painfully bruised about the body and cut about the head, and his ravings before he regained full consciousness carried terror into the hearts of the other children.

Many of the victims, who were not hurt to any great extent, were rolled and dragged in the mud at the side of the road, and in several instances clothing was almost completely torn from their bodies.  Later, when these little folks had been bathed and provided with fresh clothing they were found to be little the worse for their experience.  Many of them were stiff and sore on Monday morning, as a result of bumps and bruises, but most of them were able to be in the school room at the usual hour.

Didn't See the Danger

Arda Fouss, who drove the car that caused the trouble, is a resident of the Warner community, and had been visiting in Marietta during the day.  He left the city just after 8:30 Sunday evening, to drive to his house, and was proceeding up Muskingum Drive at only a fair rate of speed.

As he drove into the curve at the entrance to the Children's Home grounds, he saw a car approaching from the north, and slowed down to pass it.  His lights were fed by the magneto on his car and as he slackened speed they died down until he faced almost solid darkness, with the glare from the approaching headlights blinding him.  He saw nothing whatever of anyone in front of his car until he was right in the midst of a crowd of screaming children.

Try To Warn Children

The car that was bound toward Marietta was a Chevrolet and its occupants were Royal Spindler, Floyd Pape, Lawrence Price and Floyd Ackerman.  Their headlights enabled them to see the crowd of children on the road and they knew that the other car was going to hit them.  They sounded their horn and called to the children to get out of the way, but there was not sufficient time for the latter to heed the warning.  These young men stopped their car and helped to gather up the injured children and carry them to the home.

An investigation of the affair was being conducted on Monday, Superintendent Adamson having charge.  The evidence pointed to an accident as nearly blameless as could be imagined, and it was not expected that anything would come of it.  Apparently all of the victims were on the road to recovery.

Death Claims Former Slave - Daniel Giles

The Marietta Daily Times, December 12, 1922

Daniel Giles, colored, died at the City Hall late Monday afternoon, following an attack of neuralgia of the heart that he suffered while walking on Second street near the Union Station.  He was found in a dying condition on the street, and the police procured an automobile and took him to the City Hall, where Dr. F. S. McGee attended him.

The last of his immediate family, but little is known of Daniel Giles, other than he was born in slavery at Vicksburg, Mississippi, some sixty-odd years ago.  His father was killed in the Confederate army, and when Daniel was but a small boy his mother, Hanna Giles, brought him north, finding a home at Williamstown where they spent a few years before they came to Marietta.

Mrs. Giles soon found that she could better earn a livelihood for herself and her boy in Marietta, so she came across the river, and found quarters in Church street, living for many years in a house owned by Mrs. Jacob Dye.  She was employed about homes of a number of the older families of the city, was one of the old-time colored women who won many friends, and her death a decade or so ago was mourned by many.

The son, Daniel, had grown to manhood and had learned the barber trade at which he worked all during his early life, and many men of today will recall his Green street shop wherein they got their hair cut when they were small boys.  After the death of his mother, Daniel gradually drifted out of the trade that he had followed and for the past ten years or so, had worked at odd jobs about the city.  Recently, he had assisted with the janitor work about the court house.

Following his death, the body was removed to Doudna & McClure's parlors, where it was prepared for burial, and there it is expected funeral services will be held either on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.  Burial will be made by the side of the mother in Mound cemetery.

Options Site For Station

The Marietta Daily Times, December 9, 1922

A real estate deal of some magnitude, which likely will result in the opening of another modern gas filling station, at Front and Greene streets, is pending this week and it is believed by those concerned that it will be concluded within a few days.  The National Refining Company is said to be the prospective purchaser, and the property involved is known as the Flatiron building.

An option at an agreed price, has been given the company by A. Cassis, a Sistersville Syrian, who acquired the property some years ago, and if the deal goes through, the old building will be razed and a modern filling station will be constructed.

The Flatiron property fronts on Greene, Front and Ohio streets, and as the name implies is a triangular-shaped piece of ground splendidly adapted to the purpose to which it would be put by the Refining Company.

Farm Is Sold To Mr. Mills

The Marietta Daily Times, December 12, 1922

W. W. Mills has purchased the Beman G. Dawes farm on Muskingum Drive, adjoining Mill Gate, the country estate that has been the home of Mr. Mills for a number of years.  It is understood that the newly acquired property will be incorporated into the Mills estate.

The Dawes farm long has been one of the attractive places of the Muskingum valley and for a number of years, while Hon. Beman G. Dawes was a member of congress from the Fifteenth District, it was the home of his family.  In later years, since he became the head of the Pure Oil Company, business activities have taken him away from Marietta for the greater part of the time, and the place has served the family as a home only during a few months each summer.

To The Times on Tuesday, Mrs. Dawes stated that while the family had disposed of its old home here it does not naturally follow that they are severing all home relations with Marietta, but they intend to come here frequently in the future.  Mrs. Dawes is leaving on Tuesday evening for Columbus.

Tornado and Flood - July 1875

The Marietta Register, August 5, 1875

July, 1875, was the wettest month in Marietta since 1851.  The fall of rain was 10-1/2 inches, and no other July in that time was over eight inches, which is the figure for 1868.  September, 1868, there was 10-1/3 inches, which is the greatest fall since 1851 for any month except July last.

The mean rain-fall for July, for 1851 to 1860 inclusive, was 3-4/5 inches; for 1861 to 1870 inclusive, was 4-3/4 inches; for 1870 to 1875 inclusive, was 7-1/6 inches.  July for nine years has been:

1867 - 5 inches

1868 - 6-1/2 inches

1869 - 5 inches

1870 - 6-1/3 inches

1871 - 5-1/3 inches

1872 - 7-1/3 inches

18[7]3 - 8 inches

1874 - 6 inches

1875 - 18-1/2 inches

The average annual rain-fall is from 40 to 50 inches.

The Tornado in Marietta

During the month of July there has not been many windstorms, although rain fell fifteen days and part of the time in torrents.  It was cloudy and perhaps sprinkled more days than this.  But last Thursday morning a young tornado came dashing across town about three o'clock, and cutting a swath a few rods wide. 

It struck the first chimneys and shade trees about Second and Washington, lighting into Mr. I. C. Fuller's fruit trees rather promiscuously.  In Mr. Harris's lot on Third, some fourteen trees lost their perpendicular.  At Mr. Iams' on Fourth,it toppled some chimneys.  On Fifth it tore down a great number of trees.  W. H. Buell will have more sunshine, and Col. Mills lost some chimney tops.  Indeed, by this time if the full count were made, not less than 200 trees were blown down and many of them ruined. 

The hurricane seemed to be hugging the ground, and it went pulling down over D. P. Adams' and peaked under the roof of the large wareroom of the Chair company, and quick as thought tossed it several hundred years, over lumber and lots, tearing it into patches and splinters.  Then the building, 40x125 feet and four stories high, went crashing down, story after story, on chairs and tables, stands and bedsteads.  The wreck was fearful.  Torrents of rain were descending, and long before workmen arrived, the stream, which by this time was one of no mean dimensions, bore upon its bosom new furniture with its windings into the river.

There was stored in this building about $30,000 worth of furniture.  The building was, so to speak, destroyed, and the furniture damaged badly; some of it ruined, while some was not much injured.  The loss to the Company can not fall under $10,000, but it is not likely to exceed this amount.  The Company will have to erect a new building, but its business will go on as though nothing had happened.

The tornado did not spend itself here.  It kept its direction and went pounding along.  By this time it must be about mid-way the Atlantic ocean.

At the County Infirmary it stepped on about 30 acres of corn and this farm as well as Mr. Charles Athey and others lost a great many fruit trees and corn.  We take leave of it here for the present, and hope to learn of no more destruction on the line of its march.

Flood Incidents

Prunty's grist mill, above the mouth of Moss Run, on Little Muskingum, was swept away Monday morning.

One of the houses that went down Monday belonged to J. S. Sprague and Charles Biszantz, and came from Newell's Run.

Mr. A. Morris' house, on Third street, was struck by lightning Sunday night.

Mackey's bridge, over Little Muskingum, a covered structure, was swept away.

The trestle of the M. P. & C. Ry. across Duck Creek at mouth of Kilwell's, entirely swept away.

Thomas Dowling, at mouth of Kilwell's, lost a dry house, milk house and other out houses.

D. Pape's loss will be heavy.

In the neighborhood of Robinson's mill the corn and hay is badly flooded.

The trestle on the Old Line just above Scott's, went down, and the train reached it about 9 o'clock, Monday night.  Conductor Rardin left the train and footed it to town, carrying passengers and the bullion on his back.

No mails after Sunday morning from the West until Wednesday night.

The county bridge at the mouth of Mill Creek, and Kline's bridge near Matamoras, are swept away.  Both in Grandview township.  Also the Monroe county bridge at the mouth of Clear Fork.

Mr. Charles Barnes lost a valuable barn standing in the edge of Matamoras.

Mr. Pool reports hay, corn and wheat terribly damaged in the upper part of the county.

Mill Creek reported two feet higher than it was ever known.

W. W. Rathbone went up to the neighborhood of Lowell in a carriage and came home Monday morning by water.  The rest follows as a matter of course.  There are no bridges left in that quarter.

Salem covered bridge moved a foot on its base.

Whipple Run bridge on the Plank road swung off and broke in two.

Two bridges in the neighborhood of F. G. Gitteau's, Turkey Run bridge and three on the Plank road are out.  Of these one is at Sultor's, one at Zumbro's and one near the George Wagner farm.

Salem bridge is off abutments at Moat's.  Kilmer bridge was caught at Salem.

Gilbert's machine shop on Fifteen was destroyed by the flood.

West of the Muskingum we learn that the Ormiston bridge in Barlow is out, an open structure.  The Brown's Mills covered bridge in Palmer is out.  The Watertown bridge escaped destruction, sustaining heavy damage.  The fine covered bridge at the forks of Wolf Creek, two miles from Waterford, is gone.

The Webber saw and grist mill on Mill Creek, in Grandview, was swept away, and a total loss to its owner, Luther Rice.

We learn that Mr. Gould, of Saline, Athens county, lost 5,000 barrels of salt by the flood.

In Newport township the house and store belonging to Sheriff Davenport was undermined and greatly damaged.

We learn that Isaac McCowan's storehouse near mouth of Moss Run, with goods, books and contents was swept away Sunday evening or Monday morning.  The building floated against some sycamore trees and was broken in pieces. Total loss.

From the Muskingum section we learn that Meigs Creek bridges are all gone as far as known.  The large bridge at the mouth went at daylight, Monday morning.  Three bridges on Olive Green gone.  Ludlow, Moscow Mills and Tunnel Mill bridge gone.  Dana farm bridges gone.  Thirty or forty feet of the large fill at mouth of Coal Run with stone culvert swept clean.  Ripley's Mill on Big Run, in Adams township, badly injured.  The large bridge at mouth of Wolf Creek gone, also the first bridge on the West Fork of Wolf Creek.  Grain of all kinds, lumber rails, skiffs and all sort of craft cover the streams in that locality.

From all parts of the county reports come, as far as received, of fearful destruction.  The County Commissioners are already informed of about thirty bridges, ranging from 30 to 80 feet in length, that will need repairing and rebuilding.  Culverts and fills are damaged or washed out.  Wheat, the county over, is about ruined.  Grass is ruined by the overflow.  Corn is down and potatoes are rotting.  This is no local calamity.  It extends from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, and affects the welfare of two million of people.  The loss of life happily has been rare.  Save this, no doubt the ravages of the storm and rain will equal any thing on record in this country.  Perils by flood seldom come in July and August, when the fields are groaning beneath their load of grain and vegetables.  Floods in a single stream are common, but a rainfall of nearly 11 inches in a great district like this, in the month of July, is unheard of.  Our items gathered here and there from this county seem to be repeated everywhere, so far as we can learn.

Killed By Lightning

Last Sunday evening, during the storm, Miss Rebecca Applin, a lady about 39 years of age, whose family live in the part of town known as Texas, went to the window, as we learn, to observe the storm, when lightning struck her and produced instant death.  Other members of the family felt the shock, but were not injured.

The Gard Graveyard in Palmer Township

The Marietta Register, March 30, 1876

Palmer, Ohio, 1876

Editor Register:

I have seen a good many pieces in your paper about cemeteries and graveyards.  By request of many friends, I will write on the subject. 

I wish to say to all those that have friends buried in what is called the old Gard graveyard, in Palmer, that it is in good repair, free from brush and briers.  About five years ago there was a committee appointed to repair it.  The friends and neighbors threw in their mite liberally and raised about one hundred dollars, purchased more land, built a good substantial board fence, with locust posts.  Since then the Trustees levied a tax to keep up the repairs and from that time I have kept it in good order.

The first person buried in it was a daughter of David Gard, in 1817, fifty-nine years ago.  The next was Benjamin Danley, a brother of mine who died in 1820.  The next, I think, was Nathan Gard, in 1821. 

There are two hundred and fifty-six buried in it, an average of four and a fraction a year.  Of the two hundred and fifty-six graves there are one hundred and sixty tombstones, one hundred and four marble, fifty-two sand stone, four Louisville marble, one marble memorial for J. M. Danley and ninety-six without.  There are some others ready for setting.

I wish to state that I live within eighty rods of the cemetery, and have for twenty-nine years, and only half a mile from my birth place.  Am sixty-two years old, was at the first burial and out of the two hundred and fifty-six burials I don't think there were over ten I have not attended.  I always made it a rule to help take care of the sick, go to funerals, dig graves, etc.

I will mention some of the old pioneers who are buried here who followed the old Indian trails with their old flint lock guns, tramping down the pea vines with their moccasins, hunting the bear, wolves, deer, wild cats, turkeys, etc.  John Danley, Sen.; Joseph Palmer, Sen.; Jesse Pugh, Henry Corns; J. F. Palmer; Samuel Brown; Cornelius Gard; David Gard; William Corns; Christopher Malster; John Hurlbut; Salmon W. Cook; Benjamin Baker; Nathan Gard; Benjamin Pugh; John Nulton; Timothy Hyatt; James McMannis; and B. M. Brown, who was Sheriff over forty years ago in this county, father of C. A. and J. A. Brown of Belpre; Evan Jenkins, father of E. J. Jenkins, who studied law under Melvin Clark, now living in Kansas. 

There are but few of my old schoolmates left.  I will mention some who live near me:  Hiram Pugh; George Gibson; O. M. Cook; James M. Palmer; and Sheldon Palmer, besides several women.  Several older men who are living near have been old neighbors to me:  John Breckenridge; William Malster; John Malster; Thomas Malster; William Legget; Elias Murdock, father of J. M. and Jesse G. Murdock.

The following are incidents of the Danley family:  My father, an old pioneer, emigrated from Hampshire county, Virginia, in 1797, landed at Marietta and lived there two years, removed to Round Bottom where he remained three years, and then to Wooster, now Palmer, where he died in 1858 in his 84th year.  His wife died in 1849 in her 72d year.  They raised nine children, five sons and four daughters, and of that number, two, myself and sister Betsey, five years older than I, who married Joseph Leonard, now living in Waterford.  Five of the seven are buried in this cemetery - Benjamin; John; and Joseph.  Joel lies in Bary, Pike county, Illinois, "peace to his ashes."  Eliza and Amy lie with the rest.  Polly, who married John Corns, was buried on a farm now owned by Robert Greenlees. 

I married over forty years ago the daughter of Edmund Perry, who learned the tanner's trade in Marietta with Mr. Bartlett.  We raised three lovely children, two sons and one daughter, but the higher power saw fit to take them from us in the prime of life.  Charles, aged 19, died in 1854; Sara, aged 18, in 1862; and John in 1862, aged 13.  We live alone waiting for the messenger to call us home to meet our children and friends gone before.  May those who read this, interested in our welfare, think how pleasant it is to be remembered.

Robert I. Danley

The Community Christmas Sing of 1913

The Marietta Daily Times, December 19, 1913:

Interest in "Sing" Growing

A Christmas Sing, in which a thousand school children and citizens will take part, will be held on Christmas Day on the steps of the Court House and promises to be a most interesting event.  A big Christmas tree will also be on hand and will be decorated with pretty lights.

The sing will be held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will be under the direction of Prof. James Bird, music teacher and instructor in the public schools.  Children from the fourth to the eighth grades in the public schools will take part, with the students of the high school.  All the citizens are invited to take part and the choirs from the various churches of the city will be on hand to assist the school children.

Much interest is being taken in the plan and if the weather permits there will be a great time.

The Modern Woodman band has donated its services and will furnish instrumental music.

Should those in charge of affairs decide that the weather is unfit to hold the sing, a signal of some kind should be given to inform the people that the affair has been called off.  It has been suggested that in case of bad weather, the citizens be notified by the ringing of the fire bell.

The Marietta Daily Times, December 20, 1913:

The Christmas "Sing"

The "Sing" in front of the court house on Christmas afternoon, for which preparations are going forward, promises to be one of the most fitting celebrations of the holiday Marietta has ever known.  It is such a wide departure from the usual modern way of observing Christmas, and is so much more in keeping with the real spirit of the birthday of the Christ Child, that the plan appeals to all classes of people.  It is good, too, that the public school children are to be the principal performers in this municipal observance for Christmas, for Christmas is most properly the children's holy day.

As announced, the plans call for the illumination of a big pine tree in front of the court house late in the afternoon.  About it will gather the school children and such church singers as are willing to take part, and songs especially appropriate for Christmas Day will be sung by a chorus which it is hoped will be an immense one.  The people in general are invited to join in the celebration, which promises to be a most enjoyable and appropriate one.

Such a celebration is certain to make a profound impression, and a happy one.

The Marietta Daily Times, December 23, 1913:

City's Tree Brought In

A tall, stately cedar tree, which will be the Municipal Christmas Tree, was chopped down Tuesday morning on the Stacey farm near Devol's Dam and was hauled to this city Tuesday afternoon.

The tree, which is a beauty, was donated by Mr. Stacey and stands 30 feet high.  It will be erected Wednesday morning by a gang of workmen under the direction of Contractor E. H. Stewart.

The lighting and wiring of the tree will be done by the B. S. Sprague Electrical Company and it is understood that the decorations will be looked after by a number of ladies of the city.

The tree will be erected on the terrace at the corner of the Court House building, and about it the Christmas Sing will be held.

Mayor Leeper has announced that the street will be roped off to stop traffic on Putnam street, between Third and Second streets, between 4 and 5 p.m. on Christmas day, when the sing occurs.  Police will also be stationed to prevent any possible accidents.

The Marietta Daily Times, December 24, 1913:

Big Tree Is Ready For Sing

Workmen Wednesday morning placed the big Christmas tree in position on the Court House lawn, with the aid of heavy ropes and timbers.  As soon as the tree was erected, men from the B. S. Sprague Electrical company began wiring the tree and placing the lights in position.  The large tree, which is a very fine one, will be decorated with 200 red, white, blue and green electric lights and will present a very pretty appearance.  The lights are four, eight and sixteen candle power.  A large star will be placed in the top of the pine.

All school children, parents, and members of the choirs of the city who will take part in the Christmas Sing, which will be held promptly at 4 o'clock on Christmas afternoon, are requested to gather at the Court House at 3:30 o'clock.  The Modern Woodman band, which has donated its services, will occupy the steps of the court house.

Four songs will be sung by the hundreds of school children and citizens.  The program is as follows:

     1.  "Oh Come All Ye Faithful"

     2.  "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear"

     3.  "Silent Night"

     4.  "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem"

Following these four Christmas carols, "O Tannenbaum" will be sung in German.  All the tunes will be played by the band before the songs are sung.

Big Crowd in City

Marietta was thronged with Christmas shoppers Wednesday, and every store in the city was crowded throughout the day.  Everyone had money and the Christmas spirit prevailed throughout the entire crowd.

Restaurants and lunch rooms were unable to take care of all the hungry visitors and it was not an unusual sight during the day to see the shoppers eating sandwiches and drinking hot coffee on the streets in the business district.

The M. C. & C. shoppers' special was made up of five coaches and brought all the people who could get into the cars or stand on the platforms.

The Marietta Daily Times, December 26, 1913:

Marietta Enjoys Its First Community Celebration of Xmas With a "Sing"

Beastly weather, the most disagreeable this region has experienced on Christmas day in years, did much to spoil the community Christmas celebration that was held at the court house, Thursday afternoon, but even then the occasion was one worth while and the celebration was enjoyed by a big crowd of people, estimated at from 1,000 to 1,200.  This was the first municipal celebration of the holiday Marietta has ever known, but it is probable that others will be held as many people are in favor of making such an observance an annual event.

A big Christmas tree, erected on the court house lawn, was illuminated with red, white, blue and green electric bulbs.  Massed on the steps of the building, with Prof. James Bird as director, were a number of children from the public schools, with a number of members of the choirs and congregations of the churches of the city who sang five numbers of most appropriate character.  The vocalists were accompanied by the Woodman band, which was stationed at the top of the court house steps.

Just off from the singers was massed a big crowd of spectators, men, women and children, while on the opposite side of Putnam street a crowd packed the sidewalk for some distance.

Rain, which had fallen during the greater part of the day, cold and drizzling, held off while the exercises took place.  But the tree and the equipment for electric lighting it were as wet as water could make them, and it was a big task to make fuses so that the colored lamps could be lighted, illuminating the fine pine to its highest tip.

The Sprague Electrical company, which had provided for the illumination of the tree free of charge, the municipal lighting plant having undertaken to bring the current to the tree, had been informed that the exercises would be postponed until today, and consequently did not give the tree attention that it would otherwise have received.  It could not be lighted when the exercises were begun.  A fuse at the transformer of the pole at the corner had been burned out previously and the city department had failed to replace it.  The Sprague company went to work with a will as soon as the condition of affairs was discovered and before the exercises were over the tree was illuminated and presented a very pretty sight, shining out briskly in the gathering dusk.

The program of exercises opened with the singing of "O Come, All Ye Faithful," by the chorus.  A joyful carol, "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear," followed, and then the chorus sang "Silent Night," which was probably the most enjoyable number on the program, as the voices sounded clearer and stronger, reinforcements having come with the arrival of belated singers who had evidently thought that the weather would prevent the celebration.

The Nativity was then sung, and the choral numbers were brought to a close by the rendering of the splendid German hymn, "O Tannenbaum," in which many of the men and women among the spectators joined.

Store Is Attractive

The Marietta Daily Times, December 2, 1913

One of the very first stores to put up its holiday decorations is that of Henry & Parker.  Festoons of fireproof evergreen ropes have been hung throughout the store and the outside has been paneled with southern pine decorations.  It makes an exceedingly attractive setting for the holiday goods now being put on display.

Muster Roll Found

The Marietta Daily Leader, December 23, 1897

Muster Roll Found Containing Names of Nathaniel F. Bishop's Company of Volunteers.

The finding of an old muster roll by Mr. D. S. Nye recalls the organization of a company of volunteers in Marietta which has probably been forgotten by many of the men even whose name appear upon the list.  The Roster of Ohio Soldiers contains no reference whatever to the organization of this company, which was mustered in on July 5, 1862, and mustered out September 22d, 1862, by Colonel William A. Whittlesey.

Captain, Nathaniel F. Bishop
1st Lieut., Joseph E. Hall, Jr.
2d Lieut., D. A. Belden
1st Sergt., D. P. Bosworth, Jr.
1st Corp., William Cherry
2d Corp., Wesley Clogston
3d Corp., Horatio Booth
4th Corp., Daniel Wood
5th Corp., Jacob Unger
6th Corp., John Sauder
1st Musician, William Regnier
2d Musician, Stephen Davis

PRIVATES
Ethan H. Allen
David B. Anderson
Alonzo P. Brigham
Charles P. Blair
Joseph Booth
Charles Brookover
Anselm Clogston
John Clogston
James Clogston
Hugh Donahue
Thomas Davis
Canon Dunnigan
Isaac Fulkerson
Nathan Fawcett
John Plug
John Goodman, Jr.
Thomas Highland
William Hilderbrand
Charles Hoff
Alfred Hoff
William Hoff
Alexander Hill
Nathaniel Hambleton
Theodore F. Hall
William Iams
George L. Jones
Isaac Kennedy
Charles K. Leonard
James Lane
John Loftus
Patsy McDonald
Benjamin Nye
James Oliver
Alden Pierce
Berdon Pierce
Joseph L. Reckard, Jr.
Lewis Russel
George Racer
Andrew Rheinhardt
Jacob Rake
Horatio Soyez
John Slattery
Philllip Sollar
John Linden, Jr.
Wesley Williams

The length of service was two months, seventeen days.  Pay of Captain, $334.95; 1st Lieut., $283.61; 2d Lieut., $270.78; Orderly Sergeant, $60.31; Sergt., $52.61; Musicians, $39.78 each; private soldier, $42.36.

Barkeep and Brass Rail Relegated to Museum but Bottles Show Old Labels

The Marietta Daily Times, December 23, 1924

"What's yours?"

That cheery query of the barkeep of the days of old when Tom and Jerry arrived at the saloons about this time of year, has been taken up by the bootlegger.  And, 'tis said, even in Marietta it is possible to get most anything desired in the line of wet goods, provided, of course, one believes what one reads on the bottle labels.

If these stories are true all that will be lacking in some quarters of this law-abiding city to make a real pre-Volstead Christmas will be the mahogany bar and the brass rail that have almost gone out of existence with the huge mirrors and the little corkscrew.

Scotch and Canadian whiskeys, gin, ale, cognac, and other so-called imported brands have been brought in to supply the Christmas market here, say persons who ought to know whereof they speak.  And then, besides, there is the usual run of Made in Marietta products that are, according to the manufacturers, much more wholesome and safer than the importations.

While it is true that most of the liquor that is being brought into Marietta is faked and some of it is believed to be "bad," some real Canadian rye is said to be making its appearance in "select circles" here.  In order to get in on this a person must have both social standing and money.  Some of the styled "old time stuff" is put up with all the trimmings of those days of yore, including the green stamp of the revenue department.

"Moonshine at its best" is the slogan of the Marietta distillers who are making every effort to meet the competition of the outsiders who are operating with their "fancy bottles and labels."  Persons who have already bought their liquor are certain that it will have at least a few days of "age" by Christmas.

In one part of the city it is said that it is possible to get alcohol for $5.00 a gallon.  Consequently many gin makers are able to get their "kick."

The price of the liquor in Marietta now varies from $6 to $12 per quart and then again it depends entirely on who is buying and from whom, according to an authority.