Plans For Raising Streets Launched

The Marietta Daily Times, February 26, 1913

Enthusiastic Meeting of Property Owners Is Held.

Plans for the raising of the lower business streets of Marietta, which have been in the making for some time, were formally launched at an enthusiastic meeting of property holders held at the court house Tuesday evening.  Reports were received from some of the private committees that have been at work and steps looking toward an active campaign taken.

The most definite action taken was to fix the minimum elevation at 46 feet.  This means that if the plans are put through all streets will be brought to a level which will require a stage of at least 46 feet to flood them.  The Front street level is now practically 38 feet.  A committee was appointed to make arrangements for an excursion to Pittsburgh, to give the people who are interested an opportunity to go to that and neighboring cities  where streets and buildings have been raised, inspect the work and learn some of the details of such work.

B. B. Putnam presided at the gathering, and A. F. Cole acted as secretary in the absence of T. B. Bosworth.  About 75 percent of the property owners on Front street between Putnam and Greene, a number from Putnam, Greene and Second streets, and members of the city council were present. With a very few exceptions the speakers were all in favor of the proposition and most of them were enthusiastic.  Nearly all of the property holders on Front street have declared their willingness to go ahead with the plans and stand their part of the expense.

A representative of a Pittsburgh construction company, which has done much work in connection with the raising of business blocks and residence properties was present and told something of the work.  It is an easy matter to do this work and it is accompanied by very little disturbance of business.

The excursion committee plans to arrange for a trip to Pittsburgh within a short time.  It is the intention to arrange things so that but little time will be required and it is thought that a large number will accompany the party.

Strong arguments for the proposed action were advanced.  It was pointed out that real estate in all parts of the city has depreciated during the past ten years, and that the decline in value in the flood district has been very heavy.  That abandonment of lower Front street, which is the natural business center of the city, would result in a tremendous loss of business, it was urged.

Rough estimates of the cost of the work on Front street are from $20 to $30 per front foot, this figure including new sewers and the paving of the street with new block.  By using the old brick this expenditure can be reduced.  The figure includes the filling and paving of the streets and the putting down of cement sidewalks in front of all the properties.

Turner Case

The Register-Leader, May 7, 1907:

Turner Case Being Tried Before a Jury in Court Today.

The first non-support case to be tried before a jury, in the history of the Common Pleas Court of this county, was in progress during the day.  The case is the one of Charles Turner, who is charged by his wife with failing to provide for her and her child.  Prosecutor Follett is conducting the prosecution, while Attorney J. A. Gallaher is looking after the interests of the defendant.  About thirty witnesses were examined and the case was given to the jury, late this afternoon.  If convicted by the jury, Turner stands in a good way to make a trip to the penitentiary.

The Register-Leader, May 8, 1907:

Verdict Found in 20 Minutes.

"Shorty" Turner Charged With Failure to Provide for Family Found Guilty.

Will Be Sentenced Later.

Law Provides That Court May Send Offenders to Penitentiary in Case He Sees Fit - Another Non-Support Case on Trial.

It took the jury just twenty minutes to reach a verdict of guilty against Charles Turner, better known as "Shorty," after hearing the evidence in the non-support case against him.  Turner was charged with failing to provide for his wife and children.  He was indicted by the last grand jury, but was out of the city.  Later he was arrested in Parkersburg and brought back for trial.  About thirty witnesses were examined.  The case consumed all day and was given to the jury late in the afternoon.  It was one of the first non-support cases ever tried before a jury in this county.  Turner can be sent to the penitentiary if the court so decrees.  Sentence will be passed later.

The case of the state against Bert Roush, charged with non-support, was taken up this morning.  Roush was indicted three years ago, but since that time has been under bond to provide for his daughter.  C. C. Middleswart represents the defendant.

Interments in Marietta Cemeteries

The Marietta Daily Times, March 13, 1908

Number of Interments That Have Been Made In the Cemeteries of Marietta.

There has for some time been some curiosity as to the number of interments made in the city of Marietta since the cemeteries were opened and last evening at the meeting of the Board of Public Service, Clerk James F. Hovey presented a full and interesting report on the subject.  This report is the result of much hard work and gives an excellent idea of the present cemetery conditions.  It is as follows:

The Hon. Board of Public Service.

Marietta, Ohio.

Gentlemen:

Thinking that the record of the burials which have been made in the several cemeteries of the city would interest you at this time, in that you are contemplating platting a new section of Oak Grove Cemetery, I have taken the trouble to look up the records to get the total number of interments that have been made to date.

We take no note of time except in its fleeting.  The vast army that have gone before us, those who in the long ago builded the home we now enjoy, rest peacefully in the several burying grounds which, even they in their foresight, arranged for their bodies to rest in after life's fitful career ended, in peace surrounded by the fruits of their work, the City, which stands a monument to their lives.

The records of the several cemeteries of the city are today complete, yet in years gone, little effort seems to have been made to record the last resting place of the citizens.  Supt Price of the cemeteries has carefully kept the record and from all sources I find that the City's dead to date number 8,520.

The first burial in Mound Cemetery was that of Col. Robert Taylor on Sept. 20, 1801.  The bodies of several citizens who died prior to this and buried in private grave yards were afterwards removed to Mound Cemetery.  They were Rowena Sargent, died in 1790, Benjamin Tupper in 1792, and [Josiah Munro] died in 1801.

No record was kept of the burials in those days, but after a careful search Mr. William T. Westgate, a former superintendent of cemeteries, from the stones marking the resting place, he compiled a record and from that on there has been an accurate record kept.  Prior to 1858 there is a record secured by Mr. Westgate of 991 burials.  Since that time up to March 7th, 1908, there have been 2,249 bodies laid to rest in the shadow of the relic of the Mound Builders.  This brings the grand total up to 3,340.  It is estimated by Mr. John N. Price, the present efficient Superintendent of Cemeteries, that there are at least 300 burials prior to 1858 of which there is no record.

In Harmar Cemetery, prior to the annexation of the village of Harmar to Marietta, there is no record of the burials made there.  The oldest stone there is erected over the grave of Josiah Gilman and bears the date of 1806.  Two other old ones are those of Jane R. Woodbridge, 1808, and Noah Fearing, 1809.  Since the annexation which was perfected in 1890, the records are complete and show 313 burials up to March 7th, 1908.  Prior to that time Mr. Price estimates the number of interments at 500.  This would bring the total up to 813.

The records of St. Mary's Cemetery are much the same as those of both Mound and Harmar Cemeteries and it is only in the last few years that an accurate record has been kept.  Rev. F. M. Woesman by careful search is able to find 493 burials made there, the first being that of Michael McCarty in 1838.  Mr. George Wieser who is now keeping a careful record of interments estimates that there are about 300 more than this which were made before the records were placed on an accurate basis.  This would bring the total up to 793.  The St. Mary's Cemetery comprises three city lots and on one of them was the home of Governor Brough.  In this house was a chapel and prior to 1838 some few burials were made in the "Church Yard."

In May 1860 Council closed a deal whereby the city came into possession of Oak Grove Cemetery and On Nov. 7th, 1860, the first burial was made therein, that being the remains of Miss Jennie A. Stratton.  The records of Oak Grove are complete in every detail and up to March 7, 1908, there have been 3,274 interments within its inclosure.

Therefore, the grand total of burials which have been made in the several cemeteries of the city are as follows:

Mound - 3,640
Harmar - 813
St. Mary's - 793
Oak Grove - 3,274
Grand Total - 8,520

This is an average of a small fraction less than 80 burials per year.

The size of the several cemeteries are as follows:

Mound - 5-1/2 acres
Harmar - 3 acres
St. Mary's - 1 acre
Oak Grove - 25 acres
Total - 34-1/2 acres

Respectfully submitted,
James F. Hovey, Clerk.

Speed Limit

The Marietta Daily Times, May 10, 1907

Speed Limit Is Exceeded By Automobile Drivers In Many Instances.

There are said to be about seventy-two automobiles and electric machines in Marietta and it is doubtful whether or not many of the owners of them know the law in regard to the speed in which they may be run.  If they do some of them at least completely ignore it.

There have been some accidents in this city and many narrow escapes by reckless driving.  There is a State law that the speed of such machines shall not exceed more than eight miles an hour in the cities and twenty miles an hour in the country.  It has been noticed that some of them are run at the rate of twenty-five and even thirty miles in the business portion of the city and even faster in other parts of the city.  The owner of every machine is supposed to pay a license to the Secretary of State of Ohio, who will give him a number.  This with the first two letters of the name of the state must be put on the machine.

At the last meeting of the Board of Public Safety the matter was brought up and a committee appointed to look up the law.  It is probable that another meeting of the Board will be held at which steps will be taken to have the drivers of the machines conform with the law.  Notice will be given afterwards the law will be enforced.

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.