20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 41

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 41

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Cyrus D. MeLaughlin the first time was postmaster July 17, 1845, and he removed

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the office to a room in the Old Buckeye tain Avenue, in the room that is now occu- Hotel Building on East Main Street, about pied by "The When" clothing store.

where McCullongh's harness store is now.

Dr. Isaac Hendershott became postmas- ter May 29, 1850. He removed the office to the east side of South Limestone Street, the second door north of the Second Pres- byterian Church, where now is located Willis' phunbing store.

In April, 1853, Cyrus D. Mebnugblin became postmaster again, and after a time the office was removed to the Odd Fel- lows Building on the west side of Foun- tain Avenne, where Henry Oldham's pres- ent store is located.

William C. Boggs was commissioned July 13, 1855, and continued the office in the Odd Fellows' Building.

On April 8, 1861, Robert Rodgers was commissioned postmaster, and he removed the office to the old King Building, lo- cated on the southeast corner of Main and Limestone Streets, where the Gotwald Building is now situated.

James Johnson, Sr., was commissioned postmaster October 26, 1866, but was not confirmed by the United States Senate, and he was succeeded by Ellen Sanderson, on March 11, 1867. After she was post- mistress, the office was removed to the cor- ner room of the then Lagonda House, sit- uated where the Bookwalter Hotel is now located; afterwards to the corner room in the Black Opera House building on the northwest corner of Fountain Avenue and Main Street.

John A. Shipman became postmaster January 29, 1877, and for a time he con- tinued the office in the Opera House Build- ing and afterwards removed it to the Ar- cade Building, corner of High and Foun-

James JJohnson, Sr., was again commis- sioned postmaster December 19, 1884, and continued the office in the Arcade Build- ing.

Francis M. Hagan became postmaster September 27, 1887, and continued the office in the Arcade Building.

Perley M. Cartinell was commissioned February 25, 1890, and it was during his administration that the post office was finally moved to a bome of its own in the United States Building on the northwest corner of Spring and High Streets.

Thomas D. Wallace was commissioned March 15, 1894, and James H. Rabbitts April 21, 1898.

SNYDER PARK.

For a long time there had been a strong desire growing, among those interested in the welfare of Springfield, for a park, but the question was, how were we to get it? John and David L. Snyder, residing west of the City of Springfield for more than a half century, had acquired the lands through which flowed the streams of Mad River and Buck Creek in close prox- imity to the city. They were noted as men of extraordinary business capacity, appa- rently little interested in public matters, attending principally to their own affairs and accumulating a great fortune. The thought never entered the minds of those who knew nothing of their affairs that these brothers would make such a magnifi- cent gift to the city of Springfield, and so when it was announced in 1895 that they proposed to donate to the city the magnificent grounds now occupied by a

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park, containing 217 acres of land to be used for park purposes, a genuine sur- prise was felt. The only condition at- tached was that the city should expend the sum of $20,000 to put the land into condition for park purposes. This was done before 1:97 to the satisfaction of the donors.

During the lifetime of the Snyders, and in memory of their deceased brother Will- iam, they erected the iron bridge connect- ing the different parts of the park aud located not far from the pavilion, and when D. L. Suyder, the last of these broth- ers, passed away in 1898, it was found that by his will he had endowed this park with the sum of $200,000.

Thereafter the citizens of Springfield, largely through the instrumentality of the late Gov. Bushnell, erected to the memory of the donors of this magnificent play- ground the stately arch that spans its main entrance-there to remain as a re- minder of the public spirit of these de- ceased brothers. It is governed by a bourd, the membership of which at this time consists of David F. Snyder, Paul A. Staley, Frank McGregor, and T. D. Wal- Jace. John Foos and William H. Blee were for a long time members of this board.

FOUNTAINS, ETC.

In 1890 Oliver Kelly donated to the city the fountain upon Fountain Square, at a cost of $8.000. This worthy donation has added very much to the attractiveness of the city. The fountain ou Center Street between Main and High, used principally før watering horses, was erected through the generosity of Mrs. Jolm L. Zimmer- man.

HOTELS.

Hotels, or taverns as they were called in early times, while not sustained or con- trolled by the municipality, have yet, ow- ing to the nature of their business, some- thing of the character of public build- ings.

In earlier times these buildings did not assume the immense proportions which they have generally at the present day. Sometimes they were of a few rooms only, but as such they were eagerly sought for by the traveler who made his journey from place to place on horseback or by stage coach. Necessarily his journey was slow and frequent stopping places were needed.

Foos TAVERN.

Griffith Foos bas the honor of estab- lishing the first public house or tavern in the city of Springfield. This hotel was opened in 1801 and continued until 1814. It was a double log house located on the south side of Main Street, a little west of Spring.

LOWRY HOTEL.

In 1803 Archibald Lowry erected a large two-story hewn log house, which was prob- ably located on or near Primrose Alley, about half way between Main and Iligh Streets. Archibald Lowry was a brother of David Lowry and the father of James Lowry, who afterward platted an addition to the city. How long this building was ocenpied as a hotel I am not aware.

In August, 1803, the Court of Common Pleas, then held iu Xenia, granted licenses to Archibald Lowry and Griffith Foos to keep a tavern in Springfield on payment of $8.00 for each liceuse.

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LUDLOW HOTEL

Cooper Ludlow kept a public inn on the corner of Main and Factory streets. This was probably the third hotel in the city and the first in "Old Virginia." This was in 1812.

Ross TAVERN.

In 1815 William Ross erected a two- story brick house on the southeast corner of Main Street and Fountain Avenue, which was for some time used as a tavern and went by the name of Ross Tavern. It was afterwards occupied by Mr. Wer- den before the building of his hotel.

HUNT'S HOTEL.

About the time that Clark County was created, John Hunt was the owner of a ho- tel on Main Street. Its exact location is not known at this time. He may have occupied the old Lowry hotel or, possibly, the Ross Hotel. It was at this place that the first Court of Clark County was held.

MACELROY HOTEL.

At the time that the county was created, in 1818, James MaeElroy kept a boarding- house and hotel on the northeast corner of Main Street and Fountain Avenne. This was a log house.

NORTON HOTEL.

east of the alley on the north side of Main between Center and Factory Streets.

WERDEN HOTEL.

The most noted tavern that Springfield had in early days was that known as Wer- den's tavern. William Werden enme to Springfield in 1819 from Delaware, Ohio. He first occupied the MacElroy Tavern. Afterwards he occupied the Ross Tavern, and in 1820 he bought property on the northwest corner of Main and Spring Streets, but did not occupy it until 1829, when he built his large hotel. This was known as a public hostelry all over the country; it was a general stopping place for stage coaches and was at that date con- sidered one of the best hotels in the coun- try. The sign of this old hotel was that of a stage conch with horses under full speed, suspended on a tall post at the upper edge of the sidewalk. In Beers' History it is said that the room used for his office and bar was not more than 20 feet square and his whole house with all its rooms was not larger than one now required for a large family. It maintained its position as the first hotel of the place mitil the Buckeye came. He built another house on Spring Street, which was called the "Judson Honse." This was particu- larly intended for the use of the drivers of stage coaches. Daniel Aiken ran the hotel after Werden.

BUCKEYE HOUSE.

Also at the time that the county was The Bnekeye House was built in 1830 created, James Norton kept a tavern in by Pearson Spinning and was located on a small one-story brick house on the lot the northwest corner of Main and Lime- occupied by the old Teegarden residence, stone Streets. Mr. Spinning himself con-

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tinued for a number of years to manage times and Mr. Williss being a strong this hotel, and along in the fifties it was the leading hotel of the town.

HAGENBACH HOTEL-SPANGENBERGEE.

What has been known for a number of years as the old Spangenberger House on East Main Street, was erected some time after the National Road was built. For a number of years it was known as the Ilagenbach Hotel and for a long time was the headquarters of the German element of the town. It was quite a hotel in its time, and is still used as a boarding- house.

MURRAY-CHERRY HOUSE.

In 1854, on the northeast corner of Main and Limestone Streets, Peter Murray erected a hotel which is now called the Cherry House, It was afterwards remod- eled a number of times before it assumed its present condition. Mr. Murray went into bankruptcy and the hotel was after- wards conducted by various persons. In 1865 it was purchased by Jacob Seitz for the sum of $25,000 and it has remained in the Seitz family ever since. During its period as a hostelry it has had varions names, such as "Murray House," "Wil- liss House," "Knaub." "St. James," and the "Cherry House." This house has seventy-two rooms for guests.

WILLSS HOUSE-NATIONAL HOTEL.

Democrat, his refusing on one occasion to give a meal to some Union soldiers, came near causing a riot. This was for- merly called the National Hotel.

AMERICAN AND WESTERN HOUSES.

The time of the opening of these hotels is not now known. They were located on West Main Street, about midway between Factory and Center, the American on the north side of the street and the Western on the south side. In stage-coach days, the American especially, which had a large yard in its rear, did a great deal of busi- ness. Their use as hotels was discou- tinued about 1885. The building formerly occupied by the American Hotel is now used as a harness shop and pump store.

LAGONDA-BOOK WALTER HOTEL.

As Springfield began to assmne urban importance, it was felt that the hotels which it then had were scarcely adequate to a place of its pretentions; so in 1868 a number of enterprising citizens organ- ized the Champion City Hotel Company.

The old Mason property, formerly occu- pied as a private residence by General Mason, was purchased for $20,000 and the building which was known as the Lagonda Hotel was erected. Forits day it was con- sidered a very good hotel, costing $130,000 and having 140 rooms. As a business venture it was never a success, and finally the stock was practically all acquired by John W. Bookwalter. It was opened as a hotel in 1869 with L. W. Cook and Son as landlords. It was continued as a hostelry

Mr. Williss also at one time ran a hotel in a building which formerly stood where the Bushnell Building now stands. This hotel was in full operation during war until it was destroyed by fire in 1895.

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After the Lagonda House was burned, Mr. Bookwalter erected the present house and gave it the name of the "Bookwalter Ho- tel." Mr. Bookwalter was somewhat slow in erecting this building and its vicissi- ons. It is now run on the European plan, Mr. E. M. Baker conducting the cafe in what was intended to be the lobby of the hotel. This hotel has 120 guest-rooms.

When the old manufacturing company of Whiteley, Fassler and Kelly was dis- banded and Mr. Whiteley built East Street Shops, Oliver Kelly became the owner of the site of the old shops, which site is now that of the west part of the Arcade. Ile acquired by purchase the remainder of the property extending to the alley and began the building of the Arcade in 1883. Short- ly thereafter the hotel part was opened; with E. L. Munger as landlord, and it has continued to be the lending hotel of the town ever since. It was struck by light- ning in 1888 and in 1896 had a very dam- aging fire. H. L. Rockfield is the present manager of the hotel. There are 115 guest-rooms.

PALACE HOTEL.

The Palace Hotel, situated on the southwest corner of Fountain Avenne and Washington Street, was built in the same year, 1885, as the Arcade, by Robert Flack, Sr .; it is now owned by Robert Flack, Jr.

PALMER HOUSE.

This hotel was built in 1885 and is im- mediately south of the Palace Hotel.

OPERA HOUSE.

BLACK'S OPERA HOUSE.

Halls for entertainment are generally tudes as a hotel have been somewhat vari- indientive of the size and progressiveness of the place in which they are located. and when Springfield began to assume the airs of a city and to enjoy the prosperity which was coming to it from its various indus- tries, a play house, or building for public ARCADE HOTEL. entertainments, conventions, and other ve- casions of that kind, became a pressing ne- cessity.

Up until 1869 the old hall in the Market House was the only place in the city where concerts or any kind of entertain- ments or conventions could be held. An- drew C. Black had been a merchant in Springfield for twenty years previous, he having come here in 1847. In 1868 he he- gan the erection of an Opera House on the northwest corner of Main Street and Fountain Avenue. This building was fin- ished in 1869 at a cost of about $100,000. It had a seating capacity for about 1,000 people. It was located on the second floor, the first floor being occupied by store buildings, Mr. Black for many years hav- ing a dry goods store on the corner. Afterwards the post office was located there, it being succeeded hy M. M. Kauf- man's clothing store. In the next room Samuel J. Lafferty had a queensware store, and the room west of that was occu- pied at the time of the fire by Mitchell Bros,' plumbing establishment.

This building was opened as an Opera Honse February 4. 1869. The first play given therein was "The Drummer Boy of Shilo."

Mr. Black afterwards remodelled the

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building. However, some time before it was torn down it had become ruther sec- ond class in the character of its entertain- ments, the "Grand" having succeeded in monopolizing those of the first class. The people were somewhat averse to climbing the stairs, and the "Grand." being on the ground floor, had the advantage.

Some time prior to its final destruction it was purchased by Ross Mitchell and in February, 1903, a disastrous fire broke out, presumably in the clothing store of M. M. Kaufman that quickly destroyed this building and the rear part of the Y. M. C. A. Building immediately north of it. Some buildings standing west of it were also destroyed and Mr. Mulholland. who had conducted a jewelry store in this city for a half century, was caught in the debris of his store and lost his life.

The ground laid idle for several years subsequently, when it was purchased by N. H. Fairbanks and his associates and the Fairbanks' Building erected thereon.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

seeing that its construction was fully up to the times. It has a very large stage and has recently been remodeled so that almost any of the theatrical companies can use it. For a number of years it has been operated by Mr. Lamar Dalie.

FAIRBANKS THEATRE.

The Fairbanks Theatre was erected in 1906 and was opened on Thanksgiving Day of that year with "Ben Ilur." It is lo- cated immediately south of the Y. M. C. A. Building. It is surrounded by the Fair- banks Building proper and is partly npon the ground formerly occupied by Black's Opera House. This theatre is thoroughly modern and will seat from 1,500 to 1,600 persons.

THE NEW SUN.

At this writing an opera house is being erected on the northwest corner of Center and Main Streets, called the "New Sun." It promises to be a play house of very creditable arrangements, not quite so large in capacity as the Fairbanks, and will likely be used for entertainments of a class that would not use the Fairbanks or the Grand.

In 1881 the Grand Opera House, located on the west side of Limestone Street, a short distance north of the Big Four Rail- way, was completed. It is located on the ground floor and from that time until the To ereet this building there was demol- ished what was known as the old Wigwam. This Wigwam was erected there about 1864. The ground was then owned by Benjamin II. Warder and a number of enterprising citizens erected the building, which was intended for campaign pur- poses. After the erection of the City Hall a building for the campaign meetings was not so badly needed. The Wigwam was erection of the Fairbanks Theatre it occu- pied a commanding position in the theatre line of this city. It has a seating capacity of about 1,200 and is still considered a very good theatre. It ocenpied a part of the site of the old Leffel Water Wheel Works, which are now situated south of Lagonda Avenue, along the Big Four Rail- way. It was erected by John W. Book- walter, and he took considerable pride in converted into a livery stable and latterly

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into an implement store conducted by kept store here in 1842. In the second Frank Muff of New Carlisle.

This is a vaudeville theatre and one of the best in the state. It has a seating ca- pacity of 750 and cost $35,000. It was opened December 1, 1907.

OFFICE AND STORE BUILDINGS.

In viewing Springfield as it exists to- day with respect to its office and store buildings, it will be noted with surprise how many of them have been erected within the last twenty-five or thirty years; few indeed along in the business part of the town would antedate that period.

KIZER BUILDING.

The Kizer Building, along Primrose Alley on the south side of Main Street, was erected in 1853 and was connted as one of the good buildings of its time. On the second floor some of our most noted lawyers had their offices. George Spence was in this building from its erection un- til his death. General Keifer, Judge Hagan, Milton Cole, W. H. Dugdale, George Arthur. Patrick Higgins, A. H. Gillett, W. M. Rockel and other attorneys were at varions times in this building.

OLD KING BUILDING.

On the southwest corner of Main and Limestone Streets was the Okl King Building, erected a good many years be- fore the Kizer Building. In the lower part the postoffice was located from '61 to '67. In early days it was known as the Lyon property. David King, Sr.,

floor Samuel Shellabarger was at one time located and there also was T. J. Pringle, William M. Hunt, the Cochrans, David and A P. Linn, Judge William White, C. F. Yakey, A. T. Byers, Frank Right- meyer and other lawyers. This building was demolished when the Gotwald Build- ing was erected in 1892. Before its de- molishment the lower floor was occupied by a hardware store conducted by Phil Wiseman, J. S. Kitchen and others.

UNION HALL BUILDING.

The Union Hall Building was begun June 27, 1850, and in 1874 it was very much improved, assuming its present ap- pearance. In 1905 and '06 a wing was continued back to the alley. The Odd Fellows have occupied this building for many years. Until the erection of the new Johnson Building on West Main Street the Masonic bodies met here also. On the second floor for a considerable period was located the public library. The lower rooms are now ocenpied by, commencing at the north, Rontzahn & Wright's shoe store; Pierce & Co., book store; Leo Braun, jeweler, and H. M. Oldham, millinery.

COMMERCIAL ..

In 1875 there was constructed what was up to that time the most modern building in Springfield, although now quite behind in its modern conveniences, to-wit, the Commercial Building. This building was shortly after its construc- tion the principal office building of the town and at various times S. A. Bowman,

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T. J. Pringle, W. A. Scott, D. Z. Gardner, used to stand on this corner. Graves' Amos Wolfe, C. S. Olinger and John L. Zimmerman had their offices in this build- ing, Mr. James Johnson, Jr., having been located in this buikling ever since his ad- mission to the bar.

In this building Kinnane & Wren first opened up their dry goods store and Mr. Wren remained there until he moved in the department store on High Street in 1904. M. M. Kaufman occupies the north room helow and MeCrorey's five and ten cent store the south.

BOOK WALTER.

Along about the eighties or a few years thereafter .J. W. Bookwalter erected the building on the southwest corner of High and Limestone Streets. This corner was formerly occupied by the Episcopal Church. For a long time J. E. Adams had a restaurant in this building.

BUCKINGHAM.

About the same time the building on the opposite corner now owned by Chand- ler Robbins was ererted by Dr. Bucking- ham. Before its erection the lot was of- eupied by Dr. Buckingham's stately old residence. This residence had huge columns in front, taken from southern architecture.

MITCHELL.

The year 1882 witnessed the erection of the first five-story building in Spring- field; this was the Mitchell Block, erected on the northeast corner of High and Limestone Streets. The Baptist Church

cloak house is in the corner room, while next is the Street Railway waiting room and then Toppy Troupe's cigar store. On the second floor are P. J. Higgins, C. E. Ballard and William H. Griffith, attor- neys; J. S. Elliott, insurance, and C. R. Converse, dentist.

ARCADE.

Int 1883 the Areade was constructed. Perhaps not all of it was finished in that year. It was built in the site of the old Whitely, Fassler and Kelly plant. The corner room was the office and is still in the building. The rooms on High Street are occupied by the When Clothing Honse; in the corner room are Pursell's tailoring establishment and Long's con- fectionery. On the Market Street space there is Nisley's Arcade shoe store, Alt- schul liquor house. Buchholtz's drug store, Morey & Hoagland's tobacco store, Corry's barber shop. the I. C. & E. Trac- tion Line office, Miller's music store. Becker's meat store and the Pacific Ex- press Company. Fronting the Arcade, beginning at the north, are Ehrenhart's millinery, Limhocker's hook store, Hof- man's jewelry store, the Wells Fargo Ex- press Company and Ramsey's tailoring establishment. Nelson's Business Col- lege has for many years occupied the third floor.

.JOHNSON.

About the same time that the Arcade was built Johnson's five-story building on West Main Street was erected opposite the First Presbyterian Church. For

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some time after its completion the stone Streets. This was on the location Masonic orders met on the fifth floor. of the Old Bnekeye Hotel. Afterwards The lower Hoor is now occupied by Rosen- steel & Weber, furniture dealers, and by Krupp's grocery. Previous to the eree- tion of the Johnson Building a disastrous fire burned the buildings that were lo- ented on most of the ground. for many years the Baldwins conducted a dry goods store here. Then the property was purchased by a Mr. Jones and remod- eled and for some time he conducted a dry goods store and carpet establishment here, afterwards conducted by Myers & Son.

ZIMMERMAN.

In 1889 John L. Zimmerman purchased from Martin T .. Rice ground on East Main Street, where he afterwards erected the eastern part of the building in which he now has his office. In the lower rooms of the building torn down Mr. Rice con- dueted a shoe store: on the second floor there had previously been a hotel con- dueted on the European plan, n Mr. John- ston having operated the same for a time. The lower floor is occupied by the Springfield Hardware Company. In 1891 Mr. Zimmerman added to this build- ing the room on the west now occupied by the Kredel & Alexander clothing store. In 1895 he purchased property which was formerly occupied by the old saloon called "Number Seven," immediately east of Troupe's drug store, and erected a build- ing there, the lower room of which is now occupied by Oscar Young's shoe store. About the same year he purchased prop- erty on Limestone Street, on which for- merly for many years was located .J. D. Stewart's grocery, and erected there what is now a continnation of the Gotwald Building. The lower floor is ocenpied hy the Citizens' Bank. the Commercial Club occupying the second floor.

In 1898 he purchased the property on the northeast corner of Main and Lime-

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20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 41

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993