A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume I, Part 19

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1262

USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume I > Part 19

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The administration of the water works was originally entrusted to a board of three trustees, elected by the people for three years .* During all the

* Act of March II, 1853.

From an old cut

Erie street cemetery entrance and fence as first erected. 1870: the oldest graves can be seen through the central arch

Ever for Clucasup

From an old cut Woodland cemetery, 1870

Soldiers' Monument. Woodland Cemetery

Fountain in Woodland Cemetery

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

mutations of the city government from that day to 1891, when the federal plan was inaugurated, the board of water works trustees remained quite unchanged. The federal plan placed the water works under the care of the depart- ment of public works, presided over by a director of public works, appointed by the mayor. In 1902, when the uniformity decision of the Supreme court annulled the federal plan, the water works were placed under the care of the board of public works, consisting of three members elected by the people. In 1909, when the Paine law went into operation, the board of public works was disbanded and a director appointed by the mayor again resumed control. There has, from the beginning, been a superintendent and engineer. Originally these two offices were held by one man, but as the work became complex, two men were necessary and with the development of the system, a multitude of assistants and employees have become necessary. These will be under civil service rules, when the new civil service board, appointed in January, 1910, has completed its classification.

CHAPTER XIV.

CEMETERIES.

The first burial in Cleveland was that of David Eldridge, a young man em- ployed by the Land Company in its second surveying party. He was drowned while crossing the Grand river in 1797. Alonzo Carter, son of Lorenzo Carter, was present and describes the burial : "We got some boards and made a strong box for a coffin. We put him in and strung it on a pole with cords to carry him up to the burying ground. Built a fence around the grave." 1 The grave was made in the first burial place of the village, lot No. 97 and part of 98, on the east side of Ontario street, at the present corner of Prospect avenue. The second burial was that of Peleg Washburne, a blacksmith's apprentice of Nathaniel Doan, who died of dysentery, in 1797. At least one Revolutionary soldier was buried there, David Clark, 1806. December 2, 1825, Hiram Hunt, who owned lots 97 and 98, gave notice that he intended to occupy them for building purposes and that no further interments would be permitted there.

ERIE STREET CEMETERY.

In 1826 the village secured a tract of land on Erie street for a cemetery, which was at first called the City cemetery, and later the Erie Street cemetery. The entire tract contains ten and a quarter acres but at first only two acres were used. There was popular disapproval at locating a burial ground so far out of town. No records of the interments and sale of lots before 1840 are in existence. It is not definitely known whether any records were kept or whether they were destroyed. In 1840 the entire ten acres were replatted and laid out in twelve sections with from two to three hundred lots in each section, and from that date a careful record has been kept. The lots were virtually all sold by 1860. In 1870

1 Whittlesey's "Early History of Cleveland," p. 396.

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and 1871 the iron fence that surrounds it and the imposing Gothic gateway still standing on Erie street, were erected. The arch cost eight thousand, two hundred and ninety-six dollars.

The first interment was in September, 1827, that of Minerva M. White, the infant daughter of Moses and Mary White. The oldest graves are found just inside the Erie street entrance. All the remains were removed from the old Ontario Street cemetery and interred in the two long lines of graves that run east and west, just inside the entrance. Among the graves that should be cher- ished by our citizens, tenderly cared for and conspicuously marked with appro- priate monuments are those of Lorenzo Carter, James Kingsbury and Abraham Hickox. Lorenzo Carter died in 1814 and was buried in the Ontario Street cemetery. His grave was removed to the Erie cemetery, where a slab marks the place, just to the left as one enters by the Erie street entrance. To the shame of the city, these graves are entirely neglected.

Among other pioneers buried in this cemetery are the following: Dan Kelley, A. W. Walworth, Chas. R. Giddings, Horace Perry, Seth Doan, Captain M. Gaylord, Nathan Perry, Samuel Dodge, Zalmon Fitch, and Peter M. Weddell.

On the right of the path that enters from Erie street and facing the entrance, a stone was erected in 1844. It was an oblong slab of sandstone with this in- scription :

JOC-O-SOT. The Walking Bear a Distinguished Sauk Chief. DIED AUGUST, 1844. Erected by the citizens of Cleveland and a friend of Cincinnati.

On the back of the stone an Indian's profile and a bow and arrow are traced. The falling of a branch from an oak tree that was being cut down, broke the stone into three pieces about 1890. It was riveted together but the habitual neg- lect of the city has left the pieces to disintegrate. Walking Bear had been in Washington on a mission of peace, and was overtaken with sickness when on his way home. He was landed at Stockley's pier, where J. G. Stockley cared for the poor chief until his death a few days later, of quick consumption. The "Cleveland Herald," September 3, 1844, contains a notice of his death, as having died that day. It also appears that the funeral was held at the Second Presbyterian church on the 4th. The date on the tombstone is evidently an error.

Many bodies have from time to time been removed from Erie cemetery by relatives to other burial places, and in recent years the city has quietly been buying the lots and removing the remains to other cemeteries, intending ulti- mately to use the ground for other purposes. The city has allowed this, the oldest existing burial place in the city, to fall into decay, with the characteristic American disregard for historical values.

In Memory of LORENZO CARTER Who Dird Frby 8* 1814 agecl 47 Years 4 Months & 2

Days,

THE GRAVE OF LORENZO CARTER Erie Cemetery

ABRY HICKOX

THE GRAVE OF ABRAM HICKOX Erie Cemetery

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

WOODLAND CEMETERY.

After the cholera epidemic, in 1849, discussion began for a new burial place. Erie cemetery was no longer out in the country but "dwellings have sprung up all around it." 1 In 1852 the city purchased sixty acres of the "Bomford tract" from Benjamin F. Butler on Edwards road, for thirteen thousand, six hundred and thirty-nine dollars and fifty cents. The land was lo- cated just beyond Willson avenue. Edwards road was changed to Kinsman street and later to Woodland avenue. The cemetery from the first was named Woodland in token of the fine grove of forest trees on it. H. Daniels, of New York, was called to plan the ground. An Indian mound, sixty feet in diam- eter, in the cemetery, was preserved and a walk built around it. At first only twenty acres were platted, seven hundred lots and three miles of avenues were laid out. June 14, 1853, the ground was dedicated to its sacred use; addresses were delivered by Samuel Starkweather and Rev. F. W. Adams. The first inter- ment was on June 23, 1853.

In 1870 a stone gateway with chapel and waiting room on either side was erected at a cost of seven thousand, five hundred dollars.

MONROE CEMETERY.

Monroe cemetery, containing twelve acres, was opened November 12, 1841. It is located on the west side of Monroe avenue and Mill street (West Thirtieth). In 1874 a stone gateway, resembling the one on the Erie Street cemetery, was erected and two years later the office and waiting room were added, all costing seven thousand, seven hundred dollars.

AXTELL STREET CEMETERY.

The old Axtell Street cemetery in Newburg, sometimes called the Eighteenth Ward cemetery, was one of the oldest burial places in the county. It was opened early in the last century, the exact date is not recorded. John W. McGuffey, for a great many years sexton, affirms in a letter to the author that it was first opened "about 1800." It comprised eight acres on Axtell street (East Seventy- eighth) about one-fourth of a mile north of Broadway. In 1880 the city sold the land to the Connoton railroad and in the winter of 1881 over three thousand bodies were removed to the new Harvard Grove cemetery, which had been provided by the railroad company.

Many of the Newburg pioneer families were buried in this old cemetery, among them the following: Miles, Holly, Hubble, Morgan, Hamilton, Burk, Wiggins, Quayle, Edwards, Gaylord, Jewett, Ames.

LAKE VIEW CEMETERY.

At a meeting of gentlemen held May 24, 1869, the Lake View Cemetery Asso- ciation was organized and two hundred acres were purchased on Euclid ridge,

1 "Herald," Vol. 32; No. 44.

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

bordering on Euclid avenue. The name Lake View was given it by Judge Sher- man. There were twenty acres of natural forest on the site and a bountiful stream of water. A. Stranch, of Cincinnati, was consulted as landscape engineer. The first officers of the association were: J. H. Wade, president ; C. W. Lepper, treasurer ; L. E. Holden, clerk; O. D. Ford, superintendent. The land cost originally one hundred and forty-eight thousand, eight hundred and twenty-one dollars and eighty-four cents and sixty-five thousand dollars were immediately spent in beautifying the grounds. Many of the distinguished men of our city are buried in this cemetery, and there are the Garfield monument, the Wade memorial, the Hanna memorial, the Burke memorial, the John Hay memo- rial and other notable and beautiful monuments.

RIVERSIDE CEMETERY.

This was first opened to the public in 1876, when the Riverside Cemetery Association purchased the old Brainard farm overlooking the Cuyahoga valley near the junction of Scranton avenue and Columbus street. The cemetery con- tains one hundred and two and one-half acres of land and cost one thousand dollars an acre. E. O. Schwagerel was employed as landscape architect to design the grounds. The first officers were: Josiah Barber, president; George T. Chapman, vice president ; Alfred Kelley, treasurer; J. M. Curtiss, superin- tendent. The cemetery was opened with a centennial memorial service held November II, 1876. A number of distinguished guests were present, including Governor Rutherford B. Hayes. Many trees were planted by the various guests and officers of the association.

CATHOLIC CEMETERIES.

St. Joseph's, the first Catholic cemetery in Cleveland, was consecrated by Bishop Rappe, January 22, 1849. It comprised fifteen acres on Woodland avenue beyond Willson. The first burial took place in 1850. At first only four acres were used. In 1878 Bishop Gilmour ordered the entire tract graded and allotted. Since 1878 the beautifying of the cemetery has been due largely to the efforts of the Rev. Chancellor George F. Houck.

St. John's cemetery is located on Woodland avenue, near St. Edwards and Holy Trinity churches. About thirteen acres were purchased May 4, 1855. The first burial took place in 1858. In this cemetery all the priests of Cleveland who died while holding parishes here, are buried. The cemetery was platted accord- ing to the older ideas and is not laid out as a park.

St. Mary's cemetery is located on Burton street and Clark avenue. It con- tains five acres and was opened in 1861.

Calvary cemetery comprises one hundred and five acres on Leland avenue, six miles south of the square. One half of the cemetery was opened November 26, 1893. The first interment was made the following December.

Te following cemeteries are now in the city: Agudath Achim, Lansing avenue, near West Fifty-seventh, southeast; Anshe Chesed, Fulton road, corner Bailey avenue, southwest; Anshe Emeth, Fir avenue, near West Fifty-eighth street, northwest; B'nai Abraham, Fir avenue, near West Fifty-eighth, north-

GRAVES OF JOHN DOANE AND HIS FAMILY Presbyterian Church Cemetery, East Cleveland

家 BAEEY

Wa: あ

GRAVES OF JAMES KINGSBURY AND HIS FAMILY Erie Cemetery

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

west; Brainard cemetery, Broadview road, near Chesterville; Broadview, Broad- view road, near West Thirty-sixth, southwest; Brooklyn Heights, West Thirty- fifth, southwest end; Calvary (Catholic), foot of East Ninety-ninth, southeast ; Denison Avenue, Denison avenue, opposite Twenty-second place, southwest ; East Cleveland, Euclid avenue, opposite East One Hundred and Twenty-third; Erie Street, East Ninth, corner Sumner avenue, southeast; Harvard Grove, Lans- ing avenue, near East Fifty-seventh, southeast; Highland Park, Kinsman road and Warrensville; Keneseth Israel, Lansing avenue, near East Fifty-seventh, southeast; Lake View, office 12316 Euclid avenue, corner One Hundred and Twenty-third; Mayfield, Mayfield road, opposite Coventry road, Cleveland Heights; Monroe Street, Monroe avenue, foot of West Thirty-second, south- west; Moses Edelstein, Lansing avenue, near East Fifty-seventh, southeast ; North Brooklyn, Scranton road, corner Wade avenue, southwest; Ohavei Emuna, Harvard avenue, near East Fifty-ninth, southeast; Ohew Zedek, 5903 Lansing avenue, southeast; Riverside, West Twenty-fifth, junction Scranton road, south- west; St. John's (Catholic), Woodland avenue, near East Seventy-first, north- east ; St. Joseph's (Catholic), Woodland avenue, corner East Seventy-ninth; St. Mary's (Catholic), West Forty-first, corner Clark avenue, southwest; St. Mary's (Polish), Brecksville road, Newburg; West Park, Ridge road, Brooklyn township; Woodland, Woodland avenue, corner East Seventy-first, southeast.

CHAPTER XV.

FIRE PROTECTION.

In 1829, a hand fire engine, the first in the village, was brought to Cleveland. But this engine was evidently not used very much for in 1833 the first volun- teer company was formed when the "Live Oak No. I" was purchased and a group of volunteers, under the guidance of Captain McCurdy, worked the engine at fires. The following year a regular fire company was formed, and Captain McCurdy was chosen foreman. A new engine was purchased for them, called "Eagle, No. I." A regular fire department was soon organized, and "Neptune, No. 2," "Contest, No. 3," "Phoenix, No. 4," "Forest City Hook and Ladder Company, No. I," and "Hope Hose Company, No. I," were added within two years. In April, 1836, "Cataract No. 5," was organized.

On May 17, 1836, the council passed an ordinance regulating the newly estab- lished department. "The fire department of the city of Cleveland, shall consist of a chief engineer, two assistant engineers, two fire wardens, in addition to aldermen and councilmen (who are ex officio fire wardens), and such fire engine men, hose men, hook and axe men as are, or may be, from time to time, appointed by the city council." The duties of each of these officers are then prescribed, and penalties fixed for damaging the department property, or for obstructing the firemen at their work.1

1 Council Records, May 17, 1836.

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

At a meeting May 4, 1836, the council established the first fire limits of the city, as follows: Following the center of Cuyahoga river from the lake to the center of Huron road, thence easterly along the center of Huron road to the center of Erie street, thence northerly in Erie street to Lake Erie, thence westerly along the shore of Lake Erie to the Cuyahoga river. This virtually embraced the boundary of the town.

Number I was located on Superior street, just west of Water street; No. 2, on Seneca street, where the Blackstone building now stands; No. 3 seems to have been too small an engine for practical use and was early counted out ; No. 4 and the hook and ladder company were located on St. Clair street, where the present No. I has its engine house and the department its headquarters.

In 1850 the following companies comprised the department: "Eagle, No. 1 ;" "Forest City, No. 2;" "Saratoga, No. 3;" "Phoenix, No. 4;" "Cataract, No. 5;" "Red Jacket, No. 6;" "Forest City Hook & Ladder Company, No I." In 1852, Hope, No. 8, and in 1853, Neptune, No. 7, were added. In 1854, when Ohio City was annexed, the west side companies, "Washington, No. I," and "Forest, No. 2," were made Nos. 9 and 10 of the Cleveland department. In 1857, "Alert Hose Company" was equipped, followed in 1858, by the "Protection Hose Company."

In 1859, the department comprised the following companies :

(I) "Forest City Hook and Ladder Company, No. I." (Forty men.) In a two story brick building on Frankfort street, near bank.

(2) "Live Oak Engine Company, No. I." (Forty men.) In a one story frame house, near Pittsburg railroad workshop.

(3) "Forest City Engine Company, No. 2." (Forty men.) In a one and a half story brick building on Erie street, near Kinsman. (Woodland.)

(4) "Saratoga Engine Company, No. 3." (Forty men.) On Oregon street, near Erie, in a two story frame building.

(5) "Phoenix Engine Company, No. 4." (Fifty men.) Frankfort street, near Bank street, in a two story brick building.

(6) "Cataract Engine Company, No. 5." (Fifty men.) In alley neat Superior street, a one and one half story frame building.

(7) "Neptune Engine Company, No. 7." (Fifty men.) Perry street, near Orange, two story brick house.

(8) "Hose Engine Company, No. 8." (Forty men.) Huntington street, near Ohio, in a two story brick building.

(9) "Washington Engine Company, No. 9." (Fifty men.) Church street (west side) in a two story brick building.

(10) "Torrent Engine Company, No. 10." (Forty men.) Lorain street over Pearl street, in a one and a half story frame building.

(II) "Alert Hose Company, No. I." (Thirty men.) Long street, in a one and a half story brick building.

(12) "Protection Hose Company, No. 2." (Thirty men.) In the alley near St. Clair street, one story frame building.

Total: One sixty man power engine ; four thirty-two man power engines ; five twenty-two man power engines; one hook and ladder carriage; eight hose carts ;

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

four hose carriages; six brick houses and five frame houses; four thousand, five hundred feet rubber hose, eight hundred feet leather hose; five hundred members.

The volunteer companies were housed in buildings rented for the purpose near the center of the various districts, but "Phoenix No. 4" had a new engine house built for it, on Water street, and on the evening of January 2, 1844, they moved into the new house drawing their engines through the streets accom- panied by a torchlight parade, the booming of cannon, and a band. After the moving ceremony, a banquet was served at the Mansion House.

The water supply for the volunteer engines was at first secured from cisterns scattered at strategic places about town, usually on street corners. One of the largest of these wells was on Bank street, near Superior; it was eight feet in . diameter. If the fire was near the river or canal, they were drawn upon for a supply. The town did not take good care of these cisterns, and they were often nearly empty and polluted with mud. 1

Each company had about forty men who served without pay. They were exempt from jury service, and from paying poll tax or working on the high- way; and after five years of service these exemptions continued during life. They were required by law to meet eight times a year for public drill, and received one dollar a day for each drill. The chief engineer had a salary of one hundred and fifty dollars per year, usually spent by him in prizes to the companies. The chief was elected by the people. "Each company furnishes their own uniform, composed of such material and made in such style as may suit their common taste."

The engines weighed from one to three tons and were operated by hand power by means of long levers running along the sides of the machine. The limit of the engine's capacity was a stream one hundred feet high, but this was pos- sible only by greatest exertion, and then only in spurts. Each engine was supplied with a hundred feet of hose, and if the fire was far from a cistern, the hose of several engines was required to make the necessary connections.

Alarms were given by those who first saw the fire, usually by shouting and by the ringing of bells. An ordinance required that all school bells and church bells be used to spread the alarm. The bell in the old Baptist church on the corner of Seneca and Champlain streets was most frequently used as a fire bell. The city did not furnish a central alarm until many years later. Upon the sound- ing of the alarm, the firemen would hasten from their work, to the engine house. They usually kept their helmets and coats in their homes, or at their places of work. The member who first arrived at the engine house took the trumpet and assumed command until the arrival of the captain or his assistant. The engine was run out as quickly as possible, and hauled to the fire by means of two long ropes. Everyone was expected to help. The streets were then often in such bad condition that the engines were hauled on the sidewalks, to the annoyance of the pedestrians who often complained bitterly. On the other hand the fire- men were frequently molested by the citizens and jeered at by idle bystanders. This led to feuds which sometimes broke out in open warfare. The firemen got the

1 See "The Early Fire Department of Cleveland;" George F. Marshall, "Annals Early Settlers Association," No. 9.

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

better of the "dudes," as the following ordinances passed by the city council in 1844 testify.

"The marshal and every constable shall repair immediately, upon the alarm of fire, with his staff of office to the place where the fire may be, and there report himself subject to the directions of the mayor, or any alderman or councilman, for the preservation of the public peace, and for the removal of all idle and suspected persons, or others not actually or usefully employed in assisting to extinguish such fire, or in the preservation of property, in the vicinity thereof.

"Any person who may repair to a fire shall be obedient to the orders of the mayor, alderman, councilman, fire warden, the chief engineer, and assistant engi- neer in the extinguishing of fires, and in the removal of property, and in case any person shall refuse to obey such orders, he shall forfeit the penalty of five dollars and be subject to imprisonment forthwith. The citizens and inhabitants shall respectively, if the fire happens at night, place a lighted candle or lamp at the front door or window of their dwelling, to remain there during the night, unless the fire be soon extinguished, under penalty of two dollars."

Any of the firemen could "require the aid of any citizen, or inhabitant, in drawing any engine or other apparatus to the fire, or near about the fire, or in working any engine at the fire, and upon neglect, or refusal to comply with such requirements, the offender shall pay a penalty of five dollars."

All the fire companies responded to every call. There was an intense rivalry between them as to who should put out the most fires, and tradition has it that the almost daily alarms, about 1852, were due to this zeal.

This intercompany competition was not free from jealousy, and the news- papers were careful to deal out their meeds of praise in equal proportions. In 1843, one of the town papers forgot itself, and eulogized the heroism of No. 4 at a severe fire on River street. No. 5 met and resolved, that all the companies deserved equal praise. The monthly competitive drill required by ordinance added to this rivalry.1 At the annual fireman's ball, an occasion of state, usually held in the ballroom of some hotel, all these rivalries were merged into good fellowship.

"At the tap of the old Baptist bell, repeated in quick succession, the town would become alive in the instant, day or night. That old-time call to immediate service had an electric power in its tone, it wrought a spirit of rivalry among the boys that had no limit. An alarm of fire was certain to break up a prayer meeting, a circus or a horse race, or a courting match. Most of the men who were prominent in the volunteer service forty years ago have long since left the ranks of life, and run their engine in. Their record stands in bold relief in the hearts of those who knew how faithfully they served for their city's good." 2

Some of the most distinguished men of the city were members of the volun- teer fire department. This list includes, Gen. James Barnett, Col. John Hay, Jabez Fitch, M. M. Spangler, W. H. Hayward, Edward Hart, and many others.

1 See statement of Hon. John W. Allen, "Annals of Early Settlers Association," No. I.

2 See George F. Marshall "Annals Early Settlers Association," No. 9, p. 246. A list of the early volunteers is there given.

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

There was a great deal of opposition to the expenditure of public money for the support of the fire companies and for equipment. When in 1829, the village bought a fire engine for two hundred and eighty-five dollars, the trustees who voted for the purchase, were all defeated for reelection, and in addition they had to pay for the engine.2

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A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume I, Part 19

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1262

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1262