Supernatural Knocking

The Marietta Intelligencer, February 14, 1850:

Some time since we were requested to publish a detailed account of a mysterious "Knocking at the Door," at nights which alarmed the people of Rochester, N.Y., who attributed it to spiritual agency. Not having much faith, we declined inserting the report of a Committee appointed to investigate the matter, or to notice particularly the statements of the press. The mystery was explained by a learned professor in the American Journal of Science as the effect of the vibration of a dam over which water falls. It turns out, however, to have been a trick played upon the wise ones by some mischievous girls. It was a piece with the mysterious ghost-talkings of some Pugh family in Wood County, Virginia, a few years ago - which most of our readers here-abouts well remember.

Brother Jonathan, Vol. 4, No. 5, Feb. 4, 1843:

The Last Ghost Story - A Mr. Pugh, formerly of Wood county, Va., who died some years ago, is said to have revisited this wicked world within the last two weeks, and every night holds a conversation with his children. We are prepared for any exhibition of credulity and superstition which may be offered us. The success of Mormonism and Millerism makes every thing in that way possible.

Marietta Intelligencer, January 19, 1843:

Ghosts. We have a strange account of the appearance of ghosts to the people across the Ohio in Wood County, Virginia. A Mr. Pugh, who deceased some years since, has come back to this sinful world and every night holds conversation with his children. So goes the story. Our correspondent "Nimshy" thinks it strange that"Pugh should rise first," as indeed do all the old gentleman's acquaintances.

 

Macksburg Landmark

Marietta Register, August 2, 1890

Mr. and Mrs. George Butts and Miss B. Rice of Marietta are entertaining a party of "young folk" from the city at their beautiful country residence here. The sound of their merriment and music reminds us, almost sadly, of a decade or more agone, when their sainted mother, the late Mrs. George Rice, was "Lady of the Manor." Never was hospitality more royally dispensed than by her hands. Never was woman more revered and loved than she. A comforter to the sorrowing - a "Mother Bountiful" to the needy, a friend to all, endeared her to every one within her influence, while her womanly sympathies, generous deeds, and true nobleness made an impress on this people lasting as time. When tidings reached us of her death in an eastern city, whence her family had bourne her, hoping for relief, every heart was filled with sorrow, and when the funeral car bearing her remains to her home in Marietta passed through our village, all was hushed and mute with sadness. She is now but a hallowed memory, a pleasing recollection that we cherish as something dear and sacred.

The Rice homestead, historically, antedates anything in our neighborhood. In the year 1815, John Baptiste Regnier, M.D., a native of Paris, France, a gentleman of wealth, rare culture and finished education, came to this country, even to the Valley of Duck Creek - then a wilderness - and pitched his tent, intending to make this his permanent abiding place. With skilled builders, himself the architect, he began the erection of a French Chateau. (The same modernized is now the Rice house.) Ere the completion of his elegant home, Dr. Regnier was stricken by fever and died in 1821 in a little log hut across the creek, almost opposite his beautiful "villa," which was finished and occupied by his widow, children, and children's children a score or two of years; thence it went to strangers.

Mr. Regnier may well be called the father of Aurelius Township - by him it was organized and named (being County Commissioner), by him the forest was cut down, and the country opened up, by his efforts a post office was established, known as Regnier's Mills, P.O., and he was the Postmaster. He built the first mills on the waters of Duck Creek, a grain and saw mill. This saw mill sawed the lumber used in the building of his house, and in the making of his coffin. Mr. Fuller, a carpenter of Marietta, one of the workmen on the unfinished house, made the coffin. He donated the land and laid out a cemetery and was himself the second person to be buried there.

As a physician there was none like unto him; of great intellectual capacity, he was also a man of fine sensibilities and kindly sympathies, and his tender treatment of suffering was as efficacious as his medicine. Mrs. Regnier was of English birth, Content Chamberlain, a good woman,worthy to be the companion of such a man. After his death, she in a measure took his place at the sick-bed. Their children were Alfred, Hannah (Mrs. W. W. MacIntosh), Feliz, Julius, Francis, John, and Aurelius. Mrs. Aurelius Regnier still lives in Marietta. Felix is the only one of the children living.

Not a vestige of the ancient glory of the "Regnier Chateau" is to be seen in the "Rice Cottage," formerly of brick it is now a frame structure, while the spacious rooms, lofty ceilings and broad halls have been remodeled into a more comfortable and convenient home, only the east wing remaining and that enclosed in frame. The grounds were never so beautiful.

Accident

The Marietta Intelligencer, January 13, 1859

The second daughter of Prof. E. B. Andrews, a little girl of about five years, was severely burned this morning by her clothes taking fire.  She had locked herself in a room, and, as is supposed, in playing with the fire, her clothes ignited.  Her screams aroused the family, but as two doors were locked, the room could be entered only by a very circuitous route.  Before anyone gained access to it, she had unlocked a door and gone out, and was found out doors.  The burns are on her back and shoulders, and quite severe.

Hippodrome Will Open

Marietta Daily Times, May 18, 1911:

First Performance in New Theater to be Given Tonight.

Pretty Play House is Completed and Strong Show Secured.

The new Hippodrome, on Second Street next to the Union depot, will open this evening with a strong bill. Workmen have been engaged night and day for the past week, in putting the finishing touches to the new playhouse, and the opening will take place as advertised.

As a theater for vaudeville, the Hippodrome leaves little to be desired. The stage is large, being 24 feet wide and 23 feet deep. On each side there are two dressing-rooms of ample size, and on either side a toilet room. There are five drops which will remain in the house always, and will be used by any performers who do not carry their own scenery. There is room for at least fifteen drops. The seating capacity is 657.

There are two curtains, one of asbestos, which is in front of the canvas curtain. The latter has a handsome painting of an old mill scene on it, and this adds a great deal to the appearance of the interior of the structure.

The stage is especially well lighted. The border-lights are larger in size, and the foot-lights are greater in number than those in the Auditorium.

The owners of the theater have exerted every effort to have a building which would be adequate for their needs, at the same time be a credit to the city, and how well they have succeeded will be shown to their patrons when they pay a visit to it.

Theodore Weber is the president of the company, C. A. Frantz, secretary and treasurer, and Albert Schafer, manager.

The bill this evening is a strong one and the orchestra will be under the direction of Carl Becker.

Marietta Daily Times, May 19, 1911:

New Hippodrome Opens With Capacity Houses

Vaudeville House Has Good Bill for Its Opening Attraction.

Two audiences of over 600 each greeted the performers who opened the new Hippodrome Thursday evening. While the box office was open from 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the crowd which swarmed around the entrance of the theater before each performance was so large as to wholly block the sidewalk.

The theater is an exceptionally good one, and while no attempt has been made so far to decorate the interior by paintings or wall decorations, yet it is a pretty edifice. It is of ample size to accommodate the large crowds which will be attracted by the high-class acts that will visit the city, the seating capacity being over 650.

The headliner of the bill for the opening evening was the 5 Alarcons, who are Mexican street singers. They are all splendid vocalists, and the soprano singer is a star. Raymond Knox, who is billed as "That College kid" is also a good singer and the song which he sings, "Only Dreaming," is good for not less than three encores. Brelle and Retlaw do a singing, talking and dancing turn, and seemed to please the audience. They will be at the Hippodrome for the balance of the week.