USA > Ohio > Hardin County > A twentieth century history of Hardin County, Ohio : a narrative account of its historical progress its people and principal interests, Vol. I > Part 28
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KENTON HIGH SCHOOL
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ing system was put in, and an improved method of ventilation. For many years this large building sheltered all the children of school age, and the upper rooms for some time unfinished, furnished a place for entertainments, a play room on rainy days, educational gatherings and the first high school commencements that were held in Kenton. It was with genuine regret that the news was heard one evening in January, 1899, that the old Central Building, as it was then called, was on fire, A large quantity of coal had been stored in the basement, and by some means it caught fire. Though the fire department was called at once
OLD CENTRAL SCHOOL, KENTON, OHIO
and did noble work, the building was doomed, and for weeks it could be seen for miles around until the coal finally burned out and the walls were pulled down for safety. The same year work was begun on a sub- stantial two story brick building on the same site, known as the Grammar School building. It is well built, well heated and lighted. and is planned with reference to getting the pupils out quickly and easily in case of fire. This building is used for all pupils who have finished the primary course in the ward buildings, until the high school age is reached, when they are sent to the large building on East Columbus to finish the course. Eight teachers, one of whom is principal, comprise the teaching force in the grammar school. The basement is used as a play room on stormy
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days, and the whole building is thoroughly up to date in every respect. It cost about twenty-two thousand dollars.
The second building erected for school purposes in Kenton is the East Kenton school, a substantial brick building on East Columbus street, which unfortunately has a very poor play ground. It is well built and well situated, as regards light, and convenience for the pupils who attend, and has the reputation of turning out orderly, well trained pupils, but a better play ground would improve it very much. This building together with the lot cost about twelve thousand dollars, and was opened in the fall of 1877. Like each of the other ward buildings, it contains four rooms, cloak rooms and halls. The basement is used for fuel and the heating plant.
Very soon after this people in South Kenton began to think a building in their vicinity would be more convenient for the little children, than the old one up town, and pressure was brought to bear, whereby a location was purchased in 1880 on South Main street, looking toward a building there. Like the East Kenton site the play ground is not large enough, but the building is well built and equipped with modern blackboards and other appliances necessary to good school work. It cost including the site $10,500. It is a great blessing to the rapidly increasing population of South Kenton, as many of the little children had to walk more than a mile to school before it was built, and an able corps of teachers lay the foundation for good educational work in the higher grades year after year. It is freely predicted that the next school building will be erected in Riverside, as that part of South Kenton is rapidly growing and many of the pupils have to go long distances to get to school at present.
In 1887, two more buildings, each costing $10,000, were added to the list, one at the corner of Eliza and Cherry streets, in the northern part of the city. and the other in the western part on a high, beautiful location on Glendale street. These buildings are built on the same gen- eral plan, containing each four recitation rooms, halls and cloak rooms with basements for heating plants and other purposes. They are very much like the South and East Kenton buildings, and at each a corps of four teachers, one of whom acts as principal, carry on the educational work. Much good work has been done in all the ward buildings, and the present efficient teachers are sending to the higher grades well trained pupils each school year.
The largest and best of Kenton's school buildings was erected in 1895-6 at a cost of forty-five thousand dollars, including the location. It occupies a very high, beautiful lot running from Columbus to Carrol with High street on the cast, and is admirably situated in every way. It is built of pressed brick, and the style is such that it will remain for years a monument to the wisdom of the architeet, being severely plain, and in harmony with the best type of public buildings of large cities.
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KENTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL
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The beautiful porches in front add to the imposing appearance, and everything within is designed for the comfort and convenience of the pupils. The basement contains the heating plant. the toilet rooms, the bins for the large supply of coal and also several finished rooms that have been used for kindergarten occasionally and for other purposes. There is also a store room for necessary supplies, and the whole first floor or basement is well heated, lighted and ventilated. On the first floor proper and upstairs are the nine recitation and study rooms which are well lighted and well equipped in every way. One hundred pupils can be accommodated in each of these rooms, and the assembly room seats 225. There are offices for the superintendent and the principal of the high school, and all necessary halls which are wide and airy. The building also contains a beautiful auditorium which seats five hundred, and in which class day exercises, entertainments and various lectures and school programs are given. The chapel exercises at the beginning of the day are held here, and in many ways the pupils are helped by mingling with those of other grades. The superintendent has wisely instituted the asking of noted educators and visitors to the city to speak to teachers and pupils in the auditorium at chapel exercises, and it has resulted in great good.
At present the corps of teachers numbers thirty-four, including the superintendent and special instructors in music and drawing. The monthly pay roll amounts to about $2.000. and the total expenses of running the schools per year is about $30,000. Each year from thirty to forty pupils are graduated from the high school, and good work pre- vails in every department.
Superintendents of Kenton Public Schools: 1856-7. Mr. Littlefield; 1857-8, J. L. Bull; 1858, J. W. Driscoll: 1861-3, C. H. Adams; 1863-4. Henry Ingersoll ; 1864-5, S. G. Hair; 1866. A. B. Johnson ; 1866-8, James B. Finch: 1868-9, W. II. H. Avery: 1869-71. J. II. Myers; 1871-6. Sutton E. Young ; 1876-92, Edward P. Dean ; 1892-4, Henry B. Williams ; 1894-1901. Edward P. Dean ; 1901-2. J. A. Culler : 1902-4. J. C. Conway ; 1905-6. Charles J. Britton, and 1906. Norman E. Hutchinson.
Kenton High School Principals: 1865-6. W. C. Rogers; 1867-8, A. B. Johnson ; 1868-9, Edward Galbraith; 1870-2. C. T. McCoy ; 1873, Russell ; 1874-5 Miss Emma Stickner; 1876-7, John Spindler ; 1877-8, Frank Wilbur; 1878-85, George E. Crane; 1885-1900, J. A. Culler ; 1900-02, George W. Walker; 1902-03. R. B. Nason; 1903. H. E. Giles ; 1905. J. T. Glenn, and 1909. R. II. Nichols.
ST. ANTHONY'S INSTITUTE. In 1872. shortly after Rev. A. S. Siebenfoercher took charge of the Catholic church in Kenton, a small frame school building was erected on North Cherry street immediately back of the church. Before this building was finished the priest gathered together the children of Catholic families, and opened a little school in
Vol. I-18
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the church gallery with Mr. John B. Dick as teacher. In 1874 Sister Irene, Sister Leocadia and Sister Mary Cecelia took charge of the school, and it has been in the hands of the Sisters of Charity every since. In . 1875 an addition was built to the school, and this building was used until 1896, when the present building was completed.
ST. ANTHONY'S INSTITUTE, CATHOLIC PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, KENTON, OHIO.
Father Siebenfoercher, in the face of some opposition, desired to build a suitable school building, one suited to the city and the needs of the growing congregation, so out of his private funds he purchased the residence occupied by Misses Mattie and Lizzie Waddle at the corner of North and Wayne, just opposite Antonio Hospital, and the building was dedicated by Archbishop Elder in the same year the founder of it celebrated his jubilee as a resident of Kenton and priest of the church. This building cost $19,000 and has four fine school rooms, an assembly hall and the necessary halls and closets. At present there are five in- struetors ranging from the primary grades up to a well equipped high school. One of the features of the course is a thorough drill in com- mercial work, and the graduates of this school go immediately into offices as a result of the careful training along practical lines. The building was named for Rev. Siebenfoercher, St. Anthony's Institute, and is a monument to his zeal and energy as a progressive leader of the Kenton Catholic church, as is also the hospital opposite.
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ANTONIO HOSPITAL. Antonio Hospital, which is named for its founder and chief benefactor, Rev. Anthony S. Siebenfoercher, is lo- cated at the corner of Wayne and North streets, Kenton, Ohio, and is an institution to which all citizens of the city point with pride. It had a very modest beginning. for when opened in 1897. it had but nine rooms and no ward. From that it has grown to its present proportions and is a credit to the city in every way. Rev. Siebenfoercher out of his private purse bought the site-the old boarding house at the corner of Wayne and North next to his own residence-and together with other expenses donated in all about $10,000 as a beginning for the hospital. Through the kindness of the late Asher Letson, Wayne street was opened, and the place much improved. In 1900 a frame addition had to be built, and this added a ward of four rooms to the building, but still it was too small.
ANTONIO HOSPITAL, CATHOLIC CHURCH AND PARSONAGE, KENTON, OHIO.
In 1905 the present substantial brick hospital was begun, but it was not completed until July 11, 1907, on which date it was dedicated by Rev. Henry Muller, archbishop of Cincinnati, with imposing cer- emonies. This added twenty-five fine rooms to the institution and cost $36,000. It is 50 by 80 in size, and in addition to the rooms mentioned, is well equipped with halls, baths and sun porches. The cornerstone was laid May 30, 1905. In this new addition there are three private suites with baths and toilets, and there is a private entrance on Wayne street. The old frame structure is now used entirely for domestic pur-
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poses, and all patients are kept in the brick building. It is well heated by a fine hot water system, and is lighted throughout with gas and electricity. The plumbing is the best to be had, and every detail is complete. Round corners, absence of dust catching woodwork, perfeet means for ventilating the entire building, wheel chairs for patients, a fine operating room and skilled attendance are features of Antonio Hospital. The operating room deserves special mention, being fitted up with the newest and best appliances for surgical operations, with tiled floor, enameled walls, glass tables and all other means to insure absolute cleanliness. Last year (1908) one hundred and twenty-six patients were cared for, and there were but twelve deaths. Considering the fact that the hospital receives many emergency cases, such as vietims of runaways, fights, railway accidents and other hopeless patients, the death rate is very low.
Antonio Hospital is proud of the fact that no one, except those suffering from contagious diseases, has ever been turned away. The charity work has in the past made a heavy drain on the institution, but the citizens of Kenton have been generous, and the Sisters of Charity have managed to carry on the work though carrying heavy burdens at all times. The work of building the addition has been very expensive, so that they are not able to do as much charity work just now, as they would like to undertake. Aside from the hard work and generous contributions of the founder, many other persons have been interested in the hospital. Mrs. Susan Zenteraft, for many years Father Sieben- foercher's housekeeper, gave more than two thousand dollars to the institution when she died; Mrs. Mary McGuigan has contributed largely of her means to help it along, and now resides there; the late Joseph Palueci made a bequest of two thousand dollars in his will to it, and many others have given smaller sums.
Through the generosity of Mrs. George Leighton, Mrs. Albert Ahlefeld, Maurice Powers and the Commercial Club, Schindewolf and Son and the Kenton Driving Club, all of Kenton, rooms have been fur- nished for the hospital, and Kenton merchants have been very generous in contributing furniture, supplies and dry goods. The Sisters feel especially grateful to Mr. F. L. Damon, Nourse and Caine, Sehiek and Company, Mr. W. J. Ochs, Mr. II. C. Koller and other friends. Hun- dreds of smaller contributions in the shape of canned fruits, vegetables and money are received each year. The annual lawn fete is a source of revenue to the hospital, the one held in 1909 bringing in three hundred dollars. The pay patients also help to make the institution self- supporting, and Hardin county is very proud of the only hospital within her borders.
Sister Maria Teresa opened Antonio Hospital, and has been in charge of it ever since, with a corps of able assistants. She was formerly engaged in hospital work in Colorado, and is well fitted for the place.
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The whole building is clean, well lighted, well ventilated and sanitary, and hundreds of patients from Hardin county and elsewhere have reasons to remember the work of the Sisters with gratitude. Especially do the doctors rejoice in the fact that Kenton has a hospital worthy the name, as it has made possible the saving of many lives, and furnishes a convenient place for their patients with many comforts and luxuries for their well being that the best of homes can not have. If it con- tinues to grow and increase in merit at its present rate, it is impossible to predict its future.
KENTON POSTOFFICE. The Kenton postoffice was established in 1833 at Ft. McArthur, with Robert McCloud as postmaster. In 1834 the site was changed to the new town of Kenton, and Alexander Thompson was appointed postmaster. The first office in Kenton was on Ohio street, probably near the corner of Main as that was where Mr. Thompson, afterwards Judge Thompson, lived. The mail was carried overland from Bellefontaine to Findlay at one time, and at another from Lima by way of Huntersville to Marseilles. After the Big Four railroad was completed mail service was established.
The location of the postoffice has changed many times since that first eabin on Ohio street. For a time it was in Ankeney's drug store; onee on the east side of the square; in the room now occupied by the American Express Company on North Detroit street; then on West Franklin street in the room occupied by D. M. Flanagan and Company, and in 1905 was moved to its present location.
The Kenton office was fourth class until 1865, when it was raised to the third class. Later it was made second class, and has remained so ever sinee. City free delivery was established January 1, 1891, with three carriers. Rural free delivery was established at this office with one carrier in September, 1899.
At present it requires the postmaster, assistant postmaster, five elerks, five eity letter earriers, nine rural letter carriers, one special delivery boy, eleven substitutes and one mail messenger to handle the mail. The revenue of the office for the last fiscal year was more than $24,000.
The present force consists of Willis C. Kohler, postmaster; A. L. Clerk, assistant postmaster ; Loren V. Arn, Laura E. Lewis, H. G. Heitt, May M. Iehler and William H. Oates, clerks ; William II. Haudenschild, IIenry J. Pfeiffer, Edgar P. Morrison, Stephen HI. Smith, Adelbert I. Sorgen, earriers.
The rural carriers are: George W. Felty, J. K. Winters, Earl B. Richards, James Ewing, Ray W. Brelsford, H. Clyde Long, Simon P. Winner, E. J. Yauger, Riley W. Ratcliffe. The special delivery mes- senger is Boyd Riee, and the mail messenger, Chester F. Southard.
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Items regarding Kenton postoffice: First office called MeArthur, established in 1833.
1833, Robert MeCloud, postmaster. Site changed to Kenton and name to Kenton.
1834, March 6, Alexander Thompson, postmaster.
1838, January 19, Robert B. Truman, postmaster.
1841, August 25, Lewis A. Miller, postmaster.
1843, January 23, Obed Taylor, postmaster.
1843, April 22, John P. Gordon, postmaster.
1846, September 16, John F. Ankeney, postmaster.
1849, February 26, Daniel Barron, postmaster.
1849, May 15, James S. Robinson, postmaster.
1853, February 28, Albert Zugschwert, postmaster.
1861, April 8, Augustus Traegar, postmaster.
Office made third class in March, 1865.
1869, October 8, Peter Grubb, postmaster.
1871, January 21, Samuel H. Born, postmaster.
1873, March 23, Herman Sagebiel, postmaster.
1886, March 4, John P. Cook, postmaster.
1890, March 7, A. M. Rice, postmaster.
1894, May 6, Albert G. Ahlefeld, postmaster.
1898, July 2, John L. Clark, postmaster.
1906, April 13, Willis C. Kohler, postmaster.
KENTON WATER WORKS SYSTEM. Before Kenton had a water works system the citizens of the town all had their own wells, and for fire protection large cisterns stored full of rain water were located at various parts of the town. On June 22, 1881, Lewis Merriman, James M. White, W. F. Damon, Thomas Espy and William H. Young formed a stock company known as The Kenton Water Works Company, with a capital stock of $60,000. A reservoir was dug just east of the Big Four railroad, south of the Scioto river, and a pumping station established near by. At first about four miles of water mains were run through the city and forty fire plugs placed at convenient places. This company oper- ated the water works until April 1, 1887, when the city of Kenton, for $67,000, bought them and has since owned the entire system.
At present over seventeen miles of pipe are required to connect every part of the city with the plant, and it costs from $10,000 to $12,000 to operate the works every year. The city wells are located in the Cal- houn Park about one and one-half miles south of Kenton, and furnish the town with an abundance of pure. cold spring water. It takes about 300,000 gallons of water to supply the city normally, and of course much more during a fire. 'About $13,500 are collected from consumers each year. Victor H. May is the superintendent.
The members of the board of public safety are D. M. Flanagan and
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Joseph Timmons; members of board of public service, J. B. Fletcher, W. P. Steffen and O. P. Wilson.
Members of the City Council of Kenton: W. C. Ries, president ; T. R. Castor, George Dorn, L. F. Kreinbihl, William A. Johnson, R. W. Scott, Philip Strahm and F. E. Lunney.
Kenton Police Force : E. H. Gary, chief of police; J. H. Bonham, W. A. Roth, W. H. Black and J. F. Nevitt, merchants' police.
KENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. The oldest inhabitants of Kenton tell of the first fire fighting apparatus the city ever owned, but no one seems able to tell how it came into possession of the authorities. This engine was ealled "Old Raindeer," and was drawn by volunteers to the scene of the fire, where everybody helped or hindered the work of extin- guishing the flames. It was not until 1872 that the city authorities put down eisterns at convenient places, and purchased the Simon Kenton engine and hook and ladder trucks. About this time firemen's tour- naments were all the rage, and the Kenton "fire laddies," as they were called, took many prizes in the celebrations in neighboring towns. The city hall had been built in 1870, and it was here that the new engine was placed for convenience. Among the fire fighters of those early days could be mentioned sueh men as Chief James Young, Simon Price, David Mentzer, Harvey Stevenson, George Smith, Albert Sormus, John B. Burkhart, Pete Lunney, John Rush, Ed. Williams, C. C. Russell, Henry Alt, Louis Price, Parl Mulvey, John Maines, Frank Zender, Joseph Zenders, W. J. Gelhaus, John Miller, Lou Hufnagle, John Haas, John Rollison, Joseph Beaumont.
After this a new outfit was purchased, and the Star Hook and Ladder Company organized. Citizens who went to fires in those days say that before any water could be thrown on most oceasions, a free for all fight between the old company and the new took place, and at one fire two men were so badly injured that they had to be carried home. However, peace was restored later on, and in 1881 a hose reel was pur- chased and the pressure instead of being supplied by an engine was derived direct from the newly installed water works system, which system is in use at the present. At first one horse drew the hose wagon, but later a team was purchased, and at present two teams are constantly ready for service.
In 1881 the members of the fire department for the first time re- ceived money for their services, the wonderful amount of twelve dollars per year being paid to the firemen, and fifty per year to the chief. About this time the chief was W. H. Young; assistant chief, Chas. Canaan ; captain, Simon Price, and firemen, Isaac Collins, W. J. Gelhaus, Henry Alt, John Maine, John Burkhart, Clint Russell, Sheldon Kennedy, John Bales, John Rusch and Adolph Alt.
In 1907 the old city hall and headquarters for many years of the
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fire department was deemed unsafe, and a new location was selected on West Columbus street, between Detroit and Market. Ilere in a eom- fortable brick building with quarters for the drivers upstairs, the depart- ment is now lodged. The building was opened February 20, 1908, and cost approximately $9,000. There are accommodations for the fine fire horses downstairs, and the city prison is also loeated in the baek of the building. The equipment, which is thoroughly up to date, is valued at nearly $4,000. The chief of the department receives a yearly salary of $175, the assistant chief $150, the fire marshal $125, each of the two drivers $720 and the firemen each $100. At present there is one vaeaney on the list of firemen. There are fourteen on the roll as follows: Chief, W. J. Gelhaus; assistant chief, Jolin C. Bales; fire marshal, Isaae Bolen- baugh ; drivers, Reuben Kettle and Adolph Alt; assistant driver, Isaae N. Roby; fireman, Samuel J. Pence, Joseph Urban, Edward Gisel, E. E. Johnson, Lester A. Baker, Earl Forbing, Ora Maddox, George Kelly and Frank Burkhart.
The members of the fire department have bravely responded to many calls, and have done valiant work in saving property, but there are a few fires that everyone in Kenton remembers as being partie- ularly disastrous. Among these was the fire that is known as the "Big Four Fire," May 27, 1881, when the square between Columbus and Franklin near the Big Four depot was totally destroyed. Tiffin and Bellefontaine had to be called on for help, and for a time it was thought the whole town would go. The loss was about $50,000. On October 29, 1891, the Schindewolf fire, which destroyed several houses in different parts of the town, besides doing great damage to the furniture store and home of Theodore Schindewolf occurred, but no help was asked of other towns. Volunteer firemen assisted the regular workers, and finally the fire was gotten under control. At noon on April 23, 1902, the alarm was sounded and the news spread rapidly that the Champion Iron Com- pany's buildings on the tract of land just west of the Big Four railroad, between Franklin and Columbus streets, were on fire. The department responded at once and almost all the citizens turned out to lend a hand, but by the time the flames were under control the plant was ruined. Bellefontaine sent aid by a special train, but the only thing that eould be done was to keep the fire from spreading to other parts of the town. In spite of the high wind that was blowing, this was done, and the fire confined to the Champion plant. Kenton is justly proud of her fire department, and too much credit can not be given to the brave men who risk life and limb in all kinds of weather to protect the property owners from loss by fire.
THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC. The time has come when every thoughtful parent and student recognizes the fact that the study of musie, to be effective, must be pursued in the same systematie and progressive method
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that is employed in acquiring any other branch of knowledge. Rec- ognizing this fact, and realizing that the old fashioned system that teaches one to play the piano, with no real knowledge of music either as a science or an art, was neither a progressive nor successful one, in the light of the few who attain even a small degree of perfection among the many who study music, Miss Flora D. Price, a teacher of many years experience, established the "School of Music," where modern methods could be pursued. In this work she was most ably seconded by Mrs. Maude Miller Machetanz, who teaches a most excellent kinder- garten method for beginners ("The Fletcher Music Method"), which enables pupils under ten to read music rapidly, to analyze any piece of music, to recognize and name any scale, interval and chord or to write or play it; to memorize systematically ; to modulate from any key to any other easily, and to formulate their own musical thoughts cor- rectly and transfer them to paper; in other words, to compose.
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