Select Names For Cemetery

Marietta Daily Times, May 2, 1921

Names for avenues in Oak Grove Cemetery were selected at a meeting of the committee appointed by officers of the Women's Federation of Clubs, held at the home of Mrs. C. H. Turner, 314 Fifth Street, Sunday afternoon.

The committee was appointed some time ago at the request of Service Director A. J. Watson, who was directed by the state attorney general to provide for the naming of the avenues.

Although full authority to select the names was given to the committee, the list will be submitted to the service director before it is given out.  It is the suggestion of the committee that names of the avenues be indicated by low white marble markers, with the names carved across the top.

A fitting ceremony in connection with the formal adoption of the names will be held at the cemetery on Memorial Day.

The committee is composed of the following:  Mrs. Charles H. Turner, Miss Elizabeth Anderson, Miss Maria Woodbridge, Miss Rowena Buell, Miss Willia D. Cotton, Mrs. W. D. Bedilion, Miss Mary Putnam, and Prof. Arthur G. Beach.

Women Organize To Work For A Memorial Hospital

Marietta Daily Times, June 23, 1921

The women's movement to provide free hospital service for Marietta and Washington County achieved permanent organization of its forces at a meeting at the court house, Wednesday afternoon.  The organization will be known as the Memorial Hospital Association; its object the establishment of a modern hospital of ample size to serve the needs of Marietta and Washington County, and to provide such service free whenever necessary.  Active work will begin in the fall.

A large representation of women were present.

On motion of Miss Katherine Nye, the temporary organization was made permanent:  Mrs. Thomas Sheets, chairman; Mrs. Edmund S. Merriam, secretary; Mrs. O. G. Hawk, treasurer.  The advisory board will be limited to ten members.  Those already appointed are Mrs. John A. Gallaher, Mrs. Edward S. Parsons, Mrs. B. O. Skinner, Mrs. James S. Devol, Mrs. O. C. Dunn, Mrs. E. A. Coil.  This list will be completed later on.

A most helpful and encouraging feature of the meeting was the reading of a letter from American Legion, Marietta Post No. 64, pledging the most generous and wholehearted support and co-operation with the women's movement for a hospital.  

Statements of W. E. Daker and Charles Weber, of the Chamber of Commerce, were reported, expressing appreciation of the initiative of the women in this movement, and promising co-operation and assistance in every way possible.

The chairman reported information regarding the new city hospital at Parkersburg.  Purchased and equipped by the citizens, and given over to the city free of debt.  It has 60 beds, and is under the management of a superintendent and three trained nurses who are paid by the city.  Assistant nurses are supplied by the young women who constitute the training school.  The city is pledged to appropriate a certain sum to meet a deficit, but so far, something more than a year, there has not been any deficit.

The women of the Memorial Hospital Association appeal to all the women of the town and county to rally to the work of founding a permanent memorial to the heroes of the World War.  Is it not fit that this memorial shall take the form of permanent service to the community, as they served their country.  And that its benefits shall go largely to their comrades in arms who are suffering from wounds and the effects of poison gasses, and who are not adequately cared for at present, as reported in the letter from the Legion referred to above.

The First Court in Washington County and the Northwest Territory

The Marietta Register, October 27, 1881

Upon opening the October term of Court, the conspicuous feature of the Court room was a large oil painting on the wall above the Judge's bench, by Sala Bosworth, of this city.  The subject of the painting was the First Court held in the Northwest Territory at Marietta on September 2, 1788.  

This painting is in size about 3 by 4 feet, and is full up to the other work of this well-known artist.  The whole tone of the picture is dark.  The Judges, Gen. Rufus Putnam and Gen. Benjamin Tupper, sitting in the background on a platform somewhat raised above the floor are prominent figures.  The scene is taken at the time Col. Ebenezer Sproat, the Sheriff, was making proclamation of the opening of the Court.  

Williams new History of the County gives the following account of the opening of the Court:

 "The first Court held in the Territory was that of the Court of Common Pleas at Campus Martius, September 2, 1788.  A procession was formed at the Point, where most of the settlers resided in the following order:  The high Sheriff with drawn sword; the citizens; the officers of the garrison at Fort Harmar; the members of the bar; the Supreme Judges; the Governor and Clergymen; the newly-appointed Judges of the Court, Gens. Rufus Putnam and Benjamin Tupper.  Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler, one of the Directors of the Ohio Company, then here on a visit, opened the Court with prayer, and Col. Ebenezer Sproat, the Sheriff, made official proclamation that 'a Court is opened for the administration of even handed justice, to the poor and the rich, to the guilty and the innocent, without respect of persons.'  Gen. Putnam, alluding to this first Court, says:  Happily for the credit of the people, there was no suit, either civil or criminal, brought before the Court."

Several ladies appear in the painting, the costume of one of whom behind a Judge's chair makes her an important factor in the make up of the colors of the painting at least.  On the whole this work is well done.  If it had been within the rules of art, however, we would like to have seen the picture divided, one part showing the make up of the procession from the point to the Campus Martius, with a sprinkling of Indians in the background or foreground or somewhere.  This, however, might be a subject for a companion piece.  There are several more fruitful subjects, that properly studied and properly brought out, on canvas, would add much to our knowledge of the early history of the county, and in view of our approaching centennial would find an appropriate place and ought to command a ready sale.

S. J. H.

To Let

The Ohio Gazette and Virginia Herald, March 7, 1808

That beautiful Garden, formerly occupied by the late Ebenezer Sproat, Esq.  For further information, enquire of

Thomas G. Prentiss.
March 7, 1808.