USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of the city of Cleveland: its settlement, rise and progress, 1796-1896 > Part 33
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THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
Hill became chief of the department; he was removed in 1874. John A. Bennett, first assistant chief, was then promoted to chief, and he, in turn, was succeeded by James W. Dickinson, then assistant, in 1880. In 1886, Cleveland's first fire-boat, the "Joseph L. Weatherly," was built and placed in service upon the river.12
By an act of the Legislature, passed on April 29, 1873, the management of the department passed into the hands of a Board of Fire Commissioners, composed of five mem- bers, to hold for a term of five years. This was amended in March, 1874, and the board made to consist of the mayor of the city, the chairman of the City Council Com- mittee on Fire and Water, and three citizens, who should be nominated by the mayor, with the approval of the Council. The first board consisted of Charles A. Otis, mayor; A. T. Van Tassel, chairman of the Council Com- mittee; H. D. Coffinberry, W. H. Hayward, and H. W. Luetkemeyer. Under the changes made in the form of municipal government - to be related under a later date - the management of the department passed into the hands of a director of fire service. The extent to which the department has grown, may be understood from the fol- lowing figures, taken from the annual report of the de- partment, made in the beginning of 1895, for the preced- ing year: The loss from fires during the year amounted to $592,714.90, which was over one million less than in 1892, the reduction being largely due to the increase in the number of engine houses. The department answered 1,000 alarms. New buildings had been erected in the city to the number of 2,622, at an estimated cost of $4,171,690. During 1894, there had been added to the service three new hook and· ladder companies, four new engine companies, one water tower, and the new fire-boat
12 For some of the facts in the above, the writer is under obligations to the " Fire Service of Cleveland," published in 1889, by the Firemen's Re- lief Association. The detailed history of most of the fires of Cleveland, with losses, etc., is there furnished, with much other valuable information, for which room can hardly be found in this work. As a work of reference, it is of no small value.
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THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
"John H. Farley." The fire boat "J. L. Weatherly," heretofore described, had been replaced by a new boat, " The Clevelander." There were 352 men employed by the department proper, with 8 additional serving as build- ing inspectors, electrician, etc. The apparatus in actual service consisted of 20 steam fire engines, one fire-boat, twenty-two hose wagons, two hose carriages, nine hook and ladder trucks, one aerial ladder, one water tower, four two-wheeled chemical engines, seven officers' bug- gies, one director's buggy, one boiler inspector's two- wheeled cart, two telegraph wagons, one telegraph pole truck, eighteen exercise wagons, and three delivery wag- ons. These figures suggest that Cleveland has, indeed, traveled a long distance, in the way of fire service improve- ment, since those early days when the irate taxpayers criticised the expenditure of a few hundred dollars, for the purchase of one little hand-engine.
Returning once more to the general narrative, we find the spring of 1865 bringing to Cleveland, as to the entire land, a great joy and a great sorrow - the triumphant end of the war, and the martyrdom of Abraham Lincoln.
The wild joy over the victory was tempered with sor- row for the loss; and when the body of Lincoln, on its last homeward journey, lay in state in the city, all classes united to do honor to his memory, and the whole city draped itself in mourning, and gave no thought to pleasure or business, until the sacred form had been carried on to its last resting place.
The growing importance of Cleveland, as a manufactur- ing point and center of distribution, was emphasized by the Board of Trade, in 1866, in the publication, for the first time, of anything like a detailed statement of the amount of business done here in any one year. The fig- ures here given for 1865 are taken from that work,13 and their presentation at this point seems especially pertinent,
13 " Annual Statement of the Trade, Commerce, and Manufactures of the City of Cleveland, for the year 1865." Reported to the Board of Trade, by J. D. Pickands. Cleveland, 1866.
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THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
as the real revival after the war had just commenced, and Cleveland was placing her foot on that ladder of success- ful manufacturing that has carried her up to such wonder- ful things.
Taking up the general results, as presented in these re- ports, we find that the amount of coal shipped to this market during the five preceding years had varied from 400,000 to 900,000 tons; the total for 1865 was 465,550 tons. The aggregate value of the iron ore trade for the year was $1, 179,200. Of pig iron and scrap, there were sold and used here about 23,000 tons, of a value of $1,051,000. Of pig iron controlled and sold by Cleveland parties, but not coming into this market, the amount was about 29,000, of a value of $1,450,000. Of manufactured wrought iron, the aggregate sales of railroad iron, bar, plate, hoop, sheet, spikes, nails, etc., were over $6,000,000, of which a large portion was manufactured here. There were then, in or near the city (Newburg had not been annexed), two blast furnaces, six rolling mills, two forges, eight foundries, three spike, nail, rivet, nut and washer facto- ries, employing three thousand hands, and with an aggre- gate capital of some three million dollars. Their product for 1865 was as follows: 20,510 tons railroad iron, 7,925 tons merchant iron, 2,250 tons forgings, 705 tons boiler and tank iron, 4,627 tons nuts, washers, rivets, nails, spikes and bolts; 8,500 tons gas and water pipe, car wheels, etc. In lumber, total feet received, 84,038, 160; shingles, 54,744,850; lath, 14, 153,000; cedar posts, 50,000. The total amount of business in the hide and leather trade for the year reached about a million and a half of dollars. There were engaged in the trade five wholesale hide and leather dealers, about as many more dealing ex- clusively in hides; three tanneries, and three sheepskin factories. There were some thirty established refineries of crude petroleum, with an aggregate capital of over $1,500,000, and employing over three hundred workmen. Aggregate capacity, 1,800 to 2,000 barrels per 24 hours; total value of petroleum products, not less than $4,500,-
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THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
000. The wholesale dry-goods trade was set down "in millions," but no figures are given. Boot and shoe sales, $1,250,000. Manufactures and sale of clothing, from two and a half to three million dollars. Cattle packed, 25,300
head; hogs, 18,850. Near ten million pounds of wool were received. The banking interests were represented by a capital of over $2,250,000, with an average circula- tion of $1,750,000, and average deposits of $3,700,000. Over sixty steam engines were turned out, 40 boilers, and as many stills for oil. The general value, in these and allied lines, reached a half million dollars. The machine car shops used up stock to the value of $700,000. The manufacture of railroad cars reached a value of half a million dollars. Stoves to the number of 18,000 were made. Agricultural implements to the value of $350,000 were produced. Wooden ware, value of stock, $225,000; planing mills, $250,000; 200,000 barrels made; 15,500,000 shingles made; furniture, $600,000; carriage making, $200,000; musical instruments, $100,000; 1,500 tons of refined copper were produced ; lamps, lanterns, etc., made, $25,000 ; paper, $215,000 ; woolens, $350,000 ; marble and stone works, $400,000; 600 tons of white lead made; 50,000 gallons of lard oil made; 547,000 pounds of stearine candles; 212,000 barrels of flour; cigars, a prod- uct valued at $600,000; 43,000,000 feet of gas were pro- duced, and 90,000 bushels of coke; malting and brewing business, $800,000; 57 iron and wood bridges were built, at a cost of $505,000; lightning rods sold to the value of $131,000; burr mill stones, $75,000; 20,000 kegs of powder made ; 7,000,000 bricks made; hats and caps, $50,000. Estimates upon some other lines of business, upon which exact figures could not be obtained, were added, as fol- lows: Wines and liquors, $2,098,600; groceries, $4,840,-1 000; hardware, $1,417,000; carpets, $230,000; crockery and glassware, $610,000; furniture, $600,000; jewelry, $375,000; books, etc, $800,000; harness and trunks, $200,000; ship stores, $200,000; sewing machines, $250,- 000; shipbuilding, $300,000; drugs, $913,000; railroad
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THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
receipts, $10,500,000 ; telegraph and express receipts, $600,000; miscellaneous business, $51,000,000.14
This very gratifying summary of the business of Cleve- land for 1865, proves that the city had been fairly set upon the highway of commercial and manufacturing impor- tance. These results speak well for a community that had begun to take on the first forms of villagehood but fifty years before, and justify the wisdom of those who selected the mouth of the Cuyahoga River as the place upon which to plant the capital of the Reserve.
Perhaps the main event of local impor- tance, of 1866, was the establishment of the metropolitan po- lice system. A law passed by the Ohio Legislature, at its previous session, went into effect on May Ist of that year. Under its provisions, the power which be- OLD CENTRAL POLICE STATION. fore had been lodged in the hands of the mayor and city marshal, with the management of the funds in the City
14 The following comment from the " Herald," in September, 1865, will show how the situation was viewed from the home standpoint: "Cleve- land now stands confessedly at the head of all places on the chain of lakes, as a shipbuilding port. Her proximity to the forests of Michigan and Canada affords opportunity for the selection of the choicest timber, while the superior material and construction of the iron manufacturers of the city give an advantage. Cleveland has the monopoly of propeller build- ing, its steam tugs are the finest on the lakes, whilst Cleveland-built sail- ing vessels not only outnumber all other vessels on the chain of lakes, but are found on the Atlantic Coast, in English waters, up the Mediter- ranean, and in the Baltic."
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THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
Council, passed to a Board of Police Commissioners, con- sisting of the mayor and four others, appointed by the governor of the State. This board was to have charge of all police matters. Police officers were to hold office dur- ing good behavior, and other reforms were inaugurated. The force at this time numbered fifty, and the expendi- tures for the year were $51,710. The first board consisted of H. M. Chapin, mayor; W. P. Fogg, James Barnett, Philo Chamberlain, and Nelson Purdy. The law was so changed, in 1872, that the board members were elected di- rectly by the people, and the first commissioners under this system were John M. Sterling, Jr., Jere E. Robin- son, George Saal, and J. C. Schenck. A new station house on Champlain street had been erected in 1864.15
Another notable event of 1866, was the opening, in No- vember, of the new Union Passenger Depot, on the lake front, at the foot of Water and Bank streets. The occa- sion was marked by a banquet given by the railroads own- ing and using this great and needed structure. These were the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati; the Cleve- land & Pittsburg; the Cleveland & Toledo; and the Cleveland, Painesville & Ashtabula railroads. The de- pot was at that time regarded as one of the largest and best appointed in the country, being constructed entirely of stone and iron, and measuring 603 feet in length and 108 feet in width. 16
15 Like the fire department, the police service of Cleveland has kept pace with the general growth. On January Ist, 1895, it was shown in the an- nual reports that the expenditures for the preceding year amounted to $491,571.86; a new central police station had been completed; the force was composed of 317 members; there had been 9,751 arrests during the year.
16 The following is from the report for 1866, of L. M. Hubby, president of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati line: "The new passenger depot at Cleveland, costing some $475,000, and in which this company has one- fourth interest, was so far completed as to be opened for use on the 12th day of November last. . Its erection was indispensable, as the old depot, being erected, over the waters of the lake, upon piles, from gen- eral decay had become unsafe for the passage onto it of heavy locomotives ,and trains of cars loaded with passengers."
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THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
Two great institutions of Cleveland, the Public Library, and the Western Reserve Historical Society, may both be said to have had their inception in the year now reached. Of the last-named, it also may be said that the plan of or- ganization was first suggested in 1866, by Hon. Charles C. Baldwin, who was then vice-president of the Cleveland Library Association. On the evening of April 11, 1867, a meeting was held in the rooms of the above-named as- sociation, at which were present Charles Whittlesey, Joseph Perkins, John Barr, H. A. Smith, Charles C. Bald- win and Alfred T. Goodman. The records of that gath- ering say: "The object of the meeting thus assembled was to take steps toward the formation of a historical so- ciety in the City of Cleveland. The meeting was not or- ganized in a formal way, but Colonel Whittlesey acted as chairman. A discussion was held as to the name the as- sociation should take, the following being finally adopted, viz .: The Reserve Historical Department of the Cleve- land Library Association."
On due authorization from the Cleveland Library Asso- ciation, a historical section was established on May 28, 1867, in accordance with the following, signed by the req- uisite number of members: "The undersigned members of the Cleveland Library Association hereby associate ourselves as a department of history and its kindred sub- jects, in accordance with the provisions of its amended constitution, and agree to proceed immediately to organize said department by adopting the proper rules and regula- tions, and the appointment of officers." The names signed to this agreement were as follows: M. B. Scott, A. T. Goodman, Peter Thatcher, W. N. Hudson, J. D. Cleveland, George Willey, E. R. Perkins, John H. Sar- gent, W. P. Fogg, George R. Tuttle, Samuel Stark- weather, J. C. Buell, Henry A. Smith, C. W. Sack- rider, J. H. A. Bone, Joseph Perkins, A. K. Spencer, H. B. Tuttle, C. C. Baldwin, T. R. Chase, Charles Whit- tlesey.
The following officers were chosen, at a meeting held
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some days later : President, Charles Whittlesey1}; Vice-Presi- dent, M. B. Scott; Secretary, J. C. Buell; Treasurer, A. K. Spencer; ex officio Curators for one year, Peter Thatcher, A. K. Spencer, Amos Townsend; Curators for one year, J. C. Buell, H. A. Smith; Curators for two years, C. C. Baldwin, M. B. Scott ; Curators for three years, Joseph Perkins, Charles Whittlesey. The following was then adopted: "This department shall be known as the Western Reserve Historical Society, the principal ob- ject of which shall SICETYI be to discover, procure and pre- serve whatever re- lates to the his- tory, biography, genealogy, antiq- uities and statis- tics connected with the City of Cleve- land and the West- ern Reserve, and generally what re- lates to the history of Ohio and the Great West."
In 1868, Mr. Buell tendered his WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY BUILDING. resignation as sec- retary, and Mr. Baldwin was elected. Rooms were engaged in the Savings Bank Building, on the Public Square, and 11 Charles Whittlesey was born in Southington, Conn., on October 4th, ISos. He was brought by his parents to Tallmadge, Ohio, in 1813. He received an education in the common schools, and at an academy, and in 1827 became a cadet at West Point, from which he graduated in 1831. He served in the Black Hawk War, and also tendered his service to the government during the Seminole and Mexican wars. He opened a law
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THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
the work described in the above resolution was earnestly and vigorously entered upon. The society long since took its place as one of the great historical organizations of the country. Its stated publications are ranked among those of the highest value. It now occupies, and owns, the entire building in which it was once a tenant, and its possessions, in its line of relics and historical material, are valuable beyond price. It has been enriched, again and again, by the donations of generous friends, and under the direction of such men as Charles Whittlesey, Charles C. Baldwin and Alfred T. Goodman, has grown to be an authority and a power in the domains of original historic research. 18
The Cleveland Public Library, which had its real origin near the same time as this great sister organization, was established by the Board of Education, under the provis- ions of a legislative statute passed in March, 1867, au- thorizing the levy of a tax of one-tenth of a mill, for library purposes. The nucleus of the library was a col- lection of some two thousand books belonging to the public school library, and kept in the East High School building.
A room was engaged on the third floor of the Northrop & Harrington Block, Superior street, in September, 1868, and fitted up for library purposes. It was opened to the
office in Cleveland; was part owner of the " Whig and Herald;" became assistant geologist of Ohio. In this and like capacities, he gave a public service of inestimable value. He offered his service to his country in 1861 ; and resigned in 1862 because of ill-health. As a writer upon historical and scientific subjects, he added many valuable contributions to the litera- ture of the West, while his service as president of the historical society above-named was of an enduring and valuable character. He died on October 18th, 1886. An appreciative memorial of Colonel Whittlesey, from the pen of Judge Charles C. Baldwin, may be found in Tract No. 68, Western Reserve Historical Society .-
18 The full history of this great society may be found in Vol. III, Tract No. 74, p. 123, of the publications of the Western Reserve Historical Soci- ety, in a sketch written by D. W. Manchester, entitled: “ Historical Sketch of the Western Reserve Historical Society." A list of some of the Society's most important possessions is there given.
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public on February 17, 1869, and formally dedicated in the evening of the same day. An address was delivered by E. R. Perkins, president of the Board of Education, and fitting remarks were made by Rev. Anson Smyth, H. S. Stevens, Mayor Stephen Buhrer, and W. H. Price.
The Library had been fitted up under the direction of L. M. Oviatt, who had been chosen librarian. On the day following the dedication, it was opened for the issuing of books, and from that time up to August 31st, nearly four thousand members were registered. In 1873, the Li- brary was removed to the Clark Block, just west of its original location. In 1875, Mr. Oviatt was compelled to resign, because of failing health, and was succeeded by I. L. Beardsley, who had an extensive knowledge of books, and no small business experience. A second removal occurred, this time to the new City Hall. On the com- pletion of the new Central High School building, it was once more removed, in April, 1879, to its present location, in the old High School building on Euclid avenue, occu- pying the second and third floors. In 1884, Mr. Beards- ley resigned, and was succeeded by William H. Brett, who has since ably and successfully occupied that important position.
For some three years after its establishment, the Li- brary was directly under the control of the Board of Edu- cation. In accordance with the provisions of an act, passed by the Legislature in April, 1867, the Board of Education, on October 2, 1871, elected a Board of Library Managers, which continued in control of the Library until July, 1873, when four of its members resigned. The Board of Education did not fill the vacancies, but re-assumed direct control.
On April 8, 1878, an act was passed by the General Assembly, authorizing the Board of Education to elect a Library Committee, of not less than three nor more than seven members, not of their own number, who should serve for two years, and in whose hands should be placed the control of the library, with the exception of fixing
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the salaries. On April 18, 1883, an act was passed chang- ing the designation from School to Public Library, and by other measure, near the same time, the entire control was placed in the hands of the committee. The name committee was also changed to Public Library Board, and by another measure, passed April 28, 1886, the number of members was fixed at seven, each of whom was to serve three years, and all of whom were elected by the Board of Education. The first president of the Library Board was Sherlock J. Andrews, while his successors to date have been Rev. John W. Brown, General M. D. Leggett, John G. White, Dr. H. C. Brainerd, Henry W. S. Wood, and John C. Hutchins. 19
Brief mention may be made of a number of other or- ganizations, of an educational or benevolent order, that found their origin in these prolific years of expansion and growth. The Cleveland Bethel Union was incorporated in 1867, for the support of mission work, and for the main- tenance of a boarding home for seamen and others in need. In 1868, a building at the corner of Superior and Spring streets was purchased, and the work has since been carried on therein, with results of a most gratifying char- acter. In 1873, the relief work which had at first been extended only to the lower wards, was made to embrace the whole city. As an outgrowth of this work, the So- ciety for Organizing Charity was created, in 1882, for the purpose of carrying on such investigations as would prevent imposition, and decrease pauperism. In 1886, this society and the Bethel united in one organization, under the name of the Bethel Associated Charities, the
19 A very entertaining history of this institution may be found in the " Magazine of Western History," Vol. VII, p. 55, from the pen of W. H. Brett, the present librarian. It is entitled: " The Rise and Growth of the Cleveland Public Library." An examination of the annual report of that institution, for the year ending August 31st, 1895, furnishes some suggest- ive figures, as to its growth and present extended usefulness. Books on hand, 96,921. Issued from the main and branch libraries, 595, 169 volumes. Visitors to the reference rooms, 105,854. Books consulted, 78,923. Branch libraries, 3-one on Pearl Street; one on Miles Avenue; one on Woodland Avenue. Number of employees, 37.
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work being continued along the lines so successfully fol- lowed before.
In 1867, a bankruptcy court was instituted in Cleveland, under the authority of the third United States bankruptcy law, and Myron R. Keith was appointed registrar for the Northern District of Ohio, which office he held until the repeal of the law, in 1878. The Women's Christian As- sociation was organized in 1868, in response to a call from H. T. Miller, who believed that the women of Cleveland could be organized for combined Christian work, along the lines followed by the Young Men's Christian Association. The response was general, the association came into be- ing, and was duly incorporated. Work in the mission field commenced immediately, and a small boarding home for young working women was established. In 1869, Still- man Witt gave the association a building on Walnut street, and this work in an enlarged form was carried on therein. The Retreat for the reclamation of fallen women was founded, and by the generosity of Joseph Per- kins 20 and Leonard Case, a large structure, to be used as a home for such women, was erected on St. Clair street. A hospital and nursery department were added in 1883, also by donation from Mr. Perkins. Other lines of work con- ducted by the association are the Home for Aged Women, on Kennard street; the Educational and Industrial Union, the Young Ladies' Branch ; the Home for Incurable Women and Children, etc. Each of these branches, with-
20 Were a list to be made of the men who have been most active in con- nection with charitable and reformatory work in Cleveland, the name of Joseph Perkins would stand at or very near the head. He was the son of General Simon Perkins, whose public record has been already referred to. He was born at Warren, Ohio, on July 5th, 1819. On the death of his father, great business responsibilities fell upon him. He removed to Cleveland, and in 1853 became president of the Bank of Commerce. From that time onward, he was actively, or through his capital, connected with many of the banking, railroad, and other business organizations of the city. His whole life was devoted to many forms of charitable labor-in the church, the temperance cause, the care of homeless children, the re- form of the fallen, the education of the masses; and his money went in unstinted measure, wherever his heart was enlisted. Mr. Perkins died at Saratoga, New York, on August 26th, 1885.
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