Pike Street School to be Re-Opened

The Register-Leader, October 3, 1916

Requests by residents of the East End, presented to Marietta city board of education several weeks ago for the opening of the Pike Street school, were granted at a meeting of the school board Monday evening. Pike Street school, which has been closed for several years, will be reopened about November 1. Just how many grades will be taught at Pike Street has not as yet been determined, but this will be known within a week or two. Pupils in the lower grades of Willard and Norwood schools will be transferred to the Pike Street school.

The board instructed Supervisor of Buildings, Whiston, to make the necessary repairs on the Pike Street building in order to use the building for school purposes. Mr. Whiston stated that it would probably be the first of next month before these repairs could be completed.

Action on the opening of the Pike Street school was delayed by the board until it became known just how many children would be accommodated there. The big increase in the number of enrollments in the Norwood and Willard buildings makes it imperative that another school building be opened.

Many Students Enrolled

An increase in enrollment of nearly 200 pupils in the city schools at the end of the first month of school this year was reported by Superintendent Skinner, over the enrollment at the end of the first month one year ago. Mr. Skinner reported the following comparative enrollments:

High school:  1916 - 503; 1915 - 455

Marion school:  1916 - 290; 1915 - 289

Washington school:  1916 - 725; 1915 - 710

Willard school:  1916 - 346; 1915 - 321

Norwood school:  1916 - 341; 1915 - 306

Harmar school:  1916 - 426; 1915 - 389

Terberg school:  1916 - 69; 1915 - 63

Fairview Heights:  1916 - 27; 1915 - 36

Totals:  1916 - 2,727; 1915 - 2,569

This is the largest enrollment ever reported for the Marietta schools, and Superintendent Skinner reported that only three or four rooms in the entire city had any empty seats. The eighth grads in all the buildings are especially crowded, an unusually large eighth grade, composed of 53 pupils, being enrolled at Willard school.

Increased enrollment in the Fairview Heights district has necessitated the reducing of that school from a four-grade school to a three-grade school. The pupils of the fourth grade in that district have been transferred to the Harmar school.

Enrollment of First Grade Pupils

Superintendent Skinner asked for a modification of the rule covering the enrollment of first grade pupils. He wants a rule made that children entering the schools for the first time should do so but once a year. The present rule provides that all children whose sixth birthday is before Jan. 1 can enter school in September, and all whose birthdays are after Jan. 1 enter at the beginning of the second semester. Mr. Skinner asks that the rule be changed so that all children whose birthdays fall before March 1 be permitted to enter in September, and that no new first-grade pupils be permitted to enter at the second semester. The board instructed the superintendent to make a careful examination into the question and bring the matter to its attention again.

The salaries of Mrs. Whiting, janitress of the Terberg building, and Mrs. Lillie Wolfe, janitress of the Fairview Heights building, were increased from $7 to $8 per month, respectively.

 

General Rufus Putnam's Army Chest

The Marietta Register, May 16, 1878

Through the courtesy of our well known and respected fellow citizen, Col. William R. Putnam, American Union Lodge No. 1 of Free and Accepted Masons have been put in possession of a very valuable relic, the old hero's army chest. It is made of pine, 3-1/2 feet long, 18 inches wide and 16 inches deep, with a till across one end. On the outside is the name in well shaped letters, R. Putnam, Lew't Colo'n 22 Reg. The chest shows unmistakable signs of antiquity and rough usage.

In 1740, there were 80 males of the name of Putnam in America, two of whom became conspicuous in the history of our country and Free Masonry. Rufus was born at Sutton, Worcester County, Mass., April 9th, 1738, joined the Revolutionary Army at Cambridge, 1775; made a Mason in American Union Lodge No. 1, July 26th, 1779. The place of meeting of the Lodge when he received the degrees was at the "Robinson House," on the east bank of the Hudson, about two miles below West Point. 

Eleven years after (June 28th, 1790), he was present at a meeting of the Lodge in Campus Martius, Marietta, Ohio, at which time he was elected Junior Warden. This was the first Lodge opened in the Northwest Territory. He was elected Master of the Lodge in 1791, served six years and gave great satisfaction. In 1808, a convention was called at Chillicothe to organize a Grand Lodge of Ohio. At this meeting Putnam, at the advanced age of 70, was unanimously elected Grand Master of Masons in Ohio.

He continued his membership in American Union Lodge until his death, which took place in Marietta, May 4th, 1824.

Any person having old Masonic books, papers or relics of any kind, pertaining to American Union Lodge or Masonry generally, are most earnestly solicited to present them to Old No. 1, and the undersigned is duly authorized to receive them.

George T. Hovey

Oak Grove Memorial Building

Marietta Daily Times, October 11, 1917

Beautiful Community Mausoleum Building of Granite, Marble and Bronze, to be Located in Oak Grove Cemetery.

One of the most important movements along the lines of civic improvement ever attempted in this, or any other city, is now on foot and within a few months Marietta will be able to boast of one of the most beautiful and magnificent mausoleums to be found in the state. For some months past the Marietta City Council have been carefully investigating the subject and arrangements are now fully completed to carry the project to fulfillment.

Thoughts Turned to Sanitation.

In studying the histories of all races through past ages, it is found that when a nation had reached a high degree of civilization, it turned more and more to sanitary improvements, and in keeping with these sentiments, a better means was sought to take care of their dead than that found in earth burial with its accompanying horrors of decay, putrefaction and decomposition. Under high civilization earth interment has always been regarded with horror and a better and more sanitary method of above ground entombment was resorted to. The proof of this change of sentiment in the heart of the nation is found in the pyramids of Egypt, the Catacombs of Rome, the tombs of the Caliphs, the thousands of tombs along the Appian Way, and in our own country by the thousands of tombs and vaults which have been built within the past few years, and the costly and imposing tombs we have erected out of respect for our Lincolns Grants, and McKinleys.

High State of Civilization.

The people of the United States are living today in a higher state of civilization than any other nation in the world's history, and as a result sanitation and humane undertakings of every kind are daily being forcibly promoted throughout the length and breadth of the land, and it is this general wave of sentiment towards better things, sanitary and humane, which has made the community crypt mausoleum popular, offering as it does at a small cost of a better method of taking care of the dead than ever attempted before.

Mausoleum in Many Cities.

Over one thousand cities and towns in the United States have erected community mausoleums within the past five years, these buildings containing nearly five hundred thousand crypt or compartments, and while Marietta is therefore far from being the first to adopt this progressive idea without doubt one of the most beautiful of its kind, and will stand a delight and inspiration to all loyal citizens, and as a monument to their intelligence, humanity and sentiments.

Oak Grove Memorial Building.

Inspection of the approval and accepted plans and specifications of the building which will be known as the Oak Grove Memorial Building, reveals one of grandeur and beauty. The style of architecture is colossal, grand and imposing. The exterior is of granite, massive and indestructible, and durable throughout all the time. The interior is one vast expanse of marble, beautiful and everlasting. Massive bronze doors and cathedral windows make the structure particularly beautiful and imposing as it is possible for human ingenuity to construct.

Within this mighty structure, a monument, which for magnificence, dignity and durability cannot be surpassed, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, husbands and wives can be side by side through the long eternal sleep, each preserving the human form, separated only by the walls of their chambers, calm, peaceful and a source of constant satisfaction to those of the living who know that they have done the best thing possible for their loved ones, and are themselves saved the pangs of sorrow incident to the thought of the unpleasant consequence of earth burial.

One of the most beautiful sites, almost the highest point, in Oak grove Cemetery has been selected as a location for this building, which will be erected under the patented construction of the American Mausoleum Company, for thirty years the leading mortuary architects of the country.

When the building is completed, a sufficient endowment fund will be created, the interest from which will be used to maintain the building, and thereafter it will be governed by the rules of the Marietta City Council.

Mr. Charles R. Raynor, field manager of the American Mausoleum Co., whose offices are in Cleveland, and granite plant at Clyde, Ohio, will take full charge of the subsidiary company, which will be known as the Marietta American Mausoleum Company, with offices in the German National Bank building. Mr. Raynor is one of the pioneers of the "Community Mausoleum" in this country, being responsible for the erection of a number of these buildings, over an area extending from New York state to California.

This gentleman speaks very highly of our beautiful Oak Grove Cemetery and goes so far as to say that he considers it the most beautiful and best kept cemetery in any city of its size, and does not except but very few larger ones. It was in connection with a chance visit to Oak Grove that he decided on this project and says the location for this building is absolutely the best of any he has ever been connected with.

Subscription lists for space in the building will be open in the course of a few days. The prices will be moderate and will compare more favorably with those of earth interment. Office of the company, 300 German Bank building. Phone 714-R.

Joseph Stephens, One of Marietta's Oldest Men, Taken

The Register-Leader, August 2, 1916

Was "Forty-Niner" - He With Others Crossed Plains to Golden Gate.

Joseph L. Stephens, a "Forty-niner" and one of Marietta's oldest residents, died Tuesday evening at 6:30 o'clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mary L. Goodloe, 321 Sixth Street, death being due to old age. He was ninety-two years of age and was born at Paris, Kentucky, being one of a family of thirteen children.

He spent his early life in Bourbon County, Kentucky, coming to Marietta to reside in 1848. Shortly after his arrival in this city, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary A. Nolcini, who died a number of years ago.

In March 1849, he with five others made the trip across the western plains to California, where he prospected for gold, returning to this city in 1852. Following his return to Marietta, he engaged in various business enterprises.

Mr. Stephens was a member of the St. Luke's Episcopal church, and is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Mary S. Goodloe of this city, and by one brother, Charles Stephens of Paris, Kentucky.

Funeral services will be held Friday morning at nine o'clock from the late residence, 321 Sixth Street, and Rev. J. M. Hunter will officiate. Friends have been kindly requested not to send flowers.