Marietta Watermelons

Marietta Intelligencer, September 8, 1852

Nearly or quite all the fine melons yet offered in our market were brought from Marietta and that vicinity. They are raised there in immense quantities, and we were somewhat surprised to learn that no work is done toward cultivating them. After the vines begin to run, so as to interfere with ploughing, the weeds are thereafter suffered to grow at will. The soil is sandy and finely adapted to the melon. Great quantities of fine apples are also grown there.

A more beautiful body of land than that of the Marietta bottom, as it is called, we have never raved over, and we think it strange that the town, which is most eligible located, has not more rapidly improved. But it will become a very important point and property, we learn, is recently advancing rapidly in value. The bar opposite the town makes it nearly impracticable to land at the wharf in low water, and the Virginians, it is said, refuse to suffer the wharf boat to lie out on the bar, so that Point Harmar (below the mouth of Muskingum) has advantage in her landing. This obstruction removed and the wharf now in progress perfected, we think speculators in town property, or those who desire a delightful and profitable residence, could hardly select a more advantageous point of operation.

Pittsburgh Dispatch

  

Front Street

Marietta Intelligencer, August 12, 1841

There is now a prospect of the speedy completion of some of the improvements long ago commenced upon this thoroughfare. Instead of the present circuitous route, the completion of the bridge over the "cut," will make it direct, safe, and pleasant. The abutments of the bridge are to be 21 feet high, of solid masonry, and connected with them is a Guard Lock which controls the water power of the Muskingum Improvement. Mr. Cram, the contractor, hopes to complete his job by the 1st of October.

53 Years of Freedom To Be Celebrated

The Register-Leader, August 19, 1916

A celebration more elaborate than that held three years ago, which marked the semi-centennial of the abolition of slavery in this country and brought a large crowd of people of the colored race from miles around, is being planned this year, the occasion being the fifty-third anniversary of the freedom of the negro from the bondage of slavery. The fittingness of a celebration of this kind finds ample justification in the marked progress of the race during its fifty-three years of freedom and everything points to the largest celebration of the kind ever held in Ohio.

The celebration this year will be of the nature of a Home Coming Week, during which former residents of this county and state are to be invited back to join in the celebration which comes to a close on Emancipation Day, September 22. 

Thursday evening a concert at the Auditorium theatre here by Miss Rachael Walker, prima donna soprano, who has won fame in the musical world and distinguished herself among the people of her race. The appearance of Miss Walker here promises to furnish a fitting climax to the week of festivities. Miss Walker is a former Cleveland, Ohio, girl. She is a finished singer, has been complimented by royalty and also by Mme. Patti. She is a pupil of the famous teacher, the late Mme. Marchesi.

The concert will be held Thursday evening, September 21, and local talent will contribute to the entertainment. The presence of Wright's Orchestra of Columbus will also be a pleasing feature. 

The celebration will begin with special services at the Wesleyan M. E. church here on Sunday, September 17. Monday evening a reception will be given at the church according to the tentative arrangements. Tuesday, a picnic and dance will be held at Fern Cliff Park, and on Wednesday, a lawn fete will be held at Sacra Via Park. Thursday evening Miss Walker will appear in a musical at the Auditorium, and Friday a general celebration of Emancipation Day will be held.

A big parade will be held in the morning. William Peyton of Rockland, an ex-slave said to be past 107 years old, will lead the parade, which will proceed to the fair grounds where the festivities will be held, including speeches and athletic events.

Governor Willis has been invited to address the holiday crowd and a colored speaker of national reputation will be included in the program of addresses. Gloucester, Athens,  Middleport and Pomeroy will join with Marietta in the celebration of Emancipation Day, and large delegations are expected here on that day from Zanesville, Cambridge, Noble County, and the many other points in this section of Ohio and West Virginia.

A committee has been appointed by the Chamber of Commerce here to cooperate with the committee which has the arrangements for the celebration in charge and this furnishes even greater assurance of the success of the affair.

  

Amusement Park on the Stevenson Farm

The Register-Leader, August 7, 1916

Stevenson Farm East of the City May Be Turned Into Amusement Park For Marietta Next Spring.

Marietta is to have a first class amusement park next year, if plans now being considered by local businessmen are carried out. The park will contain a roller coaster, merry-go-round, skating rink and many other devices.

It was learned today that the fifteen-acre grove of Russell Stevenson of Newport Pike would probably be the location of the park, and an option has been secured on the property. It would make an ideal site for an amusement park, according to those who have visited the spot with the promoters.

The plan of the promoters is to fence the grove, and inside, to have a large number of devices that will provide amusement for holiday seekers. One of the proposed features will be a large swimming pool with bath houses that will probably prove a great attraction on warm summer days. A large dancing hall will be erected on the grounds, and this is expected to attract many to the new park.

Plans are now underway for the organization of a stock company to equip and operate the park, and it is understood that sufficient local capital has been secured already to give some assurance that the plans of the promoters will go through.

Nothing will be done with the new park this year, it is announced, as the season is too near a close. Work will be continued, however, in the organization of the park company, and the different amusement devices will be erected at the park during the late fall and winter, so that everything will be in readiness for an early opening next spring.

The only drawback to the Stevenson farm site, it is said, is the fact that at present there is now no means of transportation to and from the proposed park, which is about a half-mile up Newport Pike, beyond the Duck Creek bridge. The difficulty will be overcome by next spring, the promoters state.

 

Marietta Boy in Hospital in Calais, France

The Register-Leader, August 10, 1916

Joe Pflug Wounded in Face - Parents Here Receive Word From Him.

Joseph Pflug, 39 years old, of the Canadian contingent of the British forces in France, was wounded on July 29 by a gunshot wound in the face, according to official notification received Wednesday afternoon by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Pflug of 402 Warren Street. No details were given of the occurrence in the notification, which was from the Canadian army headquarters at Ottawa, Canada, which stated that Pfug was in a hospital at Calais, France, recovering from a wound in the face.

The message was forwarded by the Ottawa office from the report issued by the army authorities in France. Pflug enlisted in the Canadian signal corps two years ago, shortly after the outbreak of the war. 

His parents are greatly worried over the message, fearing that he might have been blinded. It is quite possible that they may receive no further word of their son until his condition takes a turn for the worst, or he is discharged from the hospital.

Besides his parents, Pflug has a number of other relatives in this city. He left Marietta about five years ago, and until the time of his enlistment, he was employed in the lumber camps of Quebec.