Emancipation Anniversary

 The Marietta Register, July 29, 1864

The colored people will hold a Celebration on Harmar Hill, Monday, August 1st - forenoon and afternoon. Dudley Asbury of Harmar makes an address before dinner, and John M. Langston of Oberlin, one of Ohio's best speakers, at 2 o'clock P.M. A table will be furnished on the ground for dinner at reasonable rates. In the evening there will be a Festival at Marshall's Hall in Marietta, the proceeds to be devoted to the benefit of the Colored Church.

Incorporation of Harmar

 Marietta Gazette, January 13, 1837:

The "Town of Harmar"

We knew there was an attempt to set off the second ward of Marietta - Point Harmar - into an independent borough - and we were for it, but we did not expect the divorce would be so sudden and unceremonious. The act is passed. Marietta is disorganized, and we have been legislated for without our consent. We can have no municipal government under the present charter without the concurrence of the three wards. And so we are not only dismembered, but disorganized, without our being consulted. Our Democracy would have deemed it necessary to submit to the PEOPLE a matter in which the PEOPLE are so much concerned. But the nature of imported Democracy may be quite of another cast.

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The General Assembly of this State having passed an act to incorporate the Town of Harmar, which now constitutes the 2nd ward of the Town of Marietta, and by the said act repealed so much of the act to incorporate the Town of Marietta, as come within the provisions thereof.

As an inhabitant of the Town of Marietta, I feel somewhat interested in regard to its corporate rights, and while I approve of the separation, I doubt whether the means used have been the most proper for the attainment of the object, but as this doubt is created by the result, perhaps it may be removed by a candid answer to the following queries -

1st. Has a Legislative body power to repeal an act of incorporation granted by a previous legislature without the consent of the body corporate? If so, why is the effort frequently made in the legislature to insert a clause reserving this power in acts of incorporation? Have not our Judicial Courts frequently made decisions on this subject?

2nd. If the power is not in the Legislature, might not a portion of the inhabitants of the 2nd ward assemble and elect at the next annual election, Trustees to represent them in the Council of the Town of Marietta, and if so, where is the power to exclude them?

3rd. If the power is in the Legislature and the repeal is to take effect, will what remains of the act to incorporate the Town of Marietta be sufficient for the exercise of the corporate power?

Querist

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Marietta Gazette, January 20, 1837:

Town Meeting

At a meeting of the citizens of the First and Third Wards of the Town of Marietta, held at the Court House, January 17, 1837, to adopt such measures as our necessary in consequence of an act of the Legislature to incorporate the Second Ward as a separate Town by the name of Harmar, Dr. John Cotton was called to the Chair and John Lewis appointed Secretary. After the object of the meeting had been stated, 

On motion, Messrs. Arius Nye, James M. Booth, and Caleb Emerson were appointed a Committee to report a Bill for the reorganization of the First and Third Wards of the Town of Marietta to an adjourned meeting to be held at the Court House on Monday next, January 23, at 2 o'clock P.M.

John Cotton, Chairman

John Lewis, Secretary

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Marietta Gazette, March 3, 1837:

Ohio Legislature

Incorporation of Marietta. Early in the present session the legislature, acting with great promptness, disorganized the Town of Marietta by erecting one of its wards into a Town by the name of Harmar. To the thing itself, if it had been decently done, we had no objection - provided it were done as it should be. Nay, many of us signed a petition for a bill, not the bill, to be passed - expecting, as the mere separation could not be done without disorganizing us, that it would be a subject of "compact terms." 

But so it was, we were thrown at once out of gear. Harmar almost unanimously rejected their charter and asked for another. Marietta asked for a new charter to enable her to go on - as she could not organize under the old charter without the tree wards - one of which was Point Harmar. She also asked for such alterations as experience had shown were needful for her prosperity.

The project was submitted to the people in town meeting - and its various items were discussed and modified - adopted or rejected as the majority thought best. Nothing was asked, it is believed, which had not previously been granted in charters to other Towns. We are sorry to say that it has been bandied about and delayed in a manner not very friendly. We have gone past the time for notifying our annual election - which should have been on Monday next. And we learn that unpleasant provisions are to be forced on us. Time will shew.

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Marietta Gazette, April 21, 1837:

This best of all towns of ours used to be divided by the Muskingum and, as every one knows, that portion which lay west of the river went by the name of Point Harmar.  Well, after jogging along together some thirty odd years, sometimes wrangling a little and sometimes harmonizing, as married folks will occasionally, Mrs. Harmar took it into her head to set up for herself, thinking she was big enough to go alone.  We of the two eastern wards said to her, stay or go as suits you best, and luck to you anyhow.

Whereupon, off went bill for a new charter for the Town of Harmar, and it was passed by the Legislature before half those who were to be governed by it knew that it existed, even in embryo. This caused a deal of staring on both sides of the Muskingum. Those on the east side gathered together to concoct a new charter for themselves, for in lopping off Mrs. Harmar the Legislature had so maimed the old one that it could work no longer. So the people of the east made out a project in town meeting as best suited them. And then came a most admirable display of nice legislation.

The Town of Marietta is the best of all Towns, but it was laid out as no other town ever was. The streets are almost outrageously spacious. This may be well enough, as it may keep quarrelsome people, if we should ever come to have any, at a good distance apart. But the city squares are more outrageously spacious still, so that it is quite a journey to go round one - something not far from half a mile. We asked leave to cut them up with new streets, &c., which was granted. There were streets and alleys in wrong places.  We wanted the privilege of taking worse grounds and giving better and more of it. There are also several bits of streets which lead nowhere and are of no public use. We asked leave to vacate them, disposing of the grounds for the use of the Town, providing that every man owning an adjoining lot should consent, and two-thirds of our Council would vote for it.  Moreover, there were two short streets very much wanted for the use of the Town for which substitutes could be procured, as was believed, which would better accommodate all concerned. We asked leave to vacate unnecessary streets, &c., with the consent, as we have said of all the adjoining lot holders. And what did we get? Why, leave to vacate with the consent of the owners of all the lots in town, of two thirds the voters in town meeting, and two thirds the Town council! Now to get the consent of all the lot owners would be as impossible as to get our late Legislature to have attended to their proper business.

The Bill for Marietta Charter was forwarded, as was supposed, early enough to have it passed so that the annual election might take place on the first Monday in March; but to provide against failure in that respect, a clause was inserted, empowering the Mayor, whose office was not to be vacated till his successor should be appointed, to notify an election. This was not observed by our lynx-eyed legislators, who were so careful to guard the interest of uninterested lot holders in unnecessary streets. So they made a special act to confine our first election to a special day.

So much for Marietta. Now for Sister Harmar. 

When the first incorporation of Harmar was bolted on the citizens, they took it in ill part and gathered together and rejected it almost unanimously; made out and forwarded a new bill, which after a long time was passed. Whereupon, our friends of Harmar wrote to Columbus for a certified copy, and there came a copy, not of the last act, but of the first act for the first incorporation which had been repealed; all duly certified!  On a fresh order, however, the existing law was forwarded after the time specified in it for holding the first election. So the matter is up for the present. The time pointed out by the citizens of Harmar for holding their elections was the first Monday in March. But as the bill slept too long for that, they altered it to the second Monday in April - and it came to hand on the third Monday. But another item of nice legislation herein occurs. The Town Council were to be elected on the second Monday in April, and in the month of March were to choose the town officers.

One more item.  It was intended the Town of Harmar should be bounded on the east by the Muskingum River, and the west by certain lots. By some lapse the boundaries stand as follows:  "All that part of the Township of Marietta which lies on the west side of Muskingum river, which lies east of 252-acre lot No. 35, and of the 108-acre lot No. 22, and the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers."

Bones Uncovered in Harmar Excavation

The Marietta Daily Times, July 22, 1952

Bones of Man and Deer Unearthed in Excavation for Harmar School

Human bones which may be those of an Indian or an old settler were unearthed this morning during the excavation for the new Harmar school building. The bones, which were discovered by a construction worker, were found approximately four and a half feet below the earth's surface.

Portions of a skull were found, although the pieces were not large enough to form the shape of the head. The complete skeleton has not yet been unearthed. Teeth found with the skeleton are in good condition and revealed that the person was apparently a young adult at the time of death.

Ralph Whipple, professor of natural science at Marietta College, viewed the bones, but said he could not determine whether they are those of an Indian or old settler. However, he felt the bones did not have any particular scientific value.

At this time, no arrangements have been made to preserve the bones. With the bones exposed to the air, decomposition will begin immediately.

Workers have also unearthed bones of animals. Teeth found are thought to be those of a deer.

Whether the bones were those of an old settler will probably be never known. If they are, the bones probably date back to the 1700s, as Harmar was built in 1786 to establish protection for settlers and to prevent squatters from settling on land.

 

Lower Salem in Flames

The Marietta Weekly Leader, July 6, 1886

The Thriving Little Village Almost Annihilated - Loss Fully $30,000!

 

Wednesday morning about one o'clock a fire broke out in the livery stable of Judson Hovey, Lower Salem, which was located on the main street of the village, and before the seemingly angry and fierce element could be subdued, it has destroyed no less than fourteen buildings along Main Street, creating a loss of at least $30,000, and leaving the village in a desolate condition.

A great number of the young men are members of the Salem Rifles and were absent in camp at the time of the fire, or else much of the property destroyed might have been saved. Nevertheless those left at home worked with a will and by almost superhuman efforts saved buildings that seemed on the point of succumbing to the fiery ordeal under which they were placed.

It is thought that the fire was the work of an incendiary.

The losses are as follows, as far as learned by us:

-Lauer & Co., loss $300, fully insured.

-George Lauer, tobacco house, loss $200.

-Mrs. Rees Thomas, store, dwelling, goods, &c., loss $6,000, insurance $3,000.

-George Kilzer, dwelling and contents totally destroyed, loss $2,500, insured for $1,500.

-Charles Haas, shoe shop, tobacco store, millinery stock, loss $3,000, insurance $800.

-George S. Hovey, hotel and contents, loss $5,000, not insured.

-Judson Hovey, two stables, grain, hay, &c., one horse and village hall, Armory of Salem Rifles, loss $5,000, no insurance.

-Doan & Bros., cigars and tobacco, loss $400, no insurance.

-Hazen, grocery, loss $1,000, no insurance.

A lot of gun cartridges belonging to the "Salem Rifles," stored in the cellar of the Armory exploded, creating considerable damage. Also other property in the building was either damaged or destroyed.

This is the greatest calamity that has ever befallen the thriving little village, and it will take a long time for her to recover from her losses.