USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Cincinnati in 1826 > Part 3
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The Western Market House is on Sixth street, between Plum and Western Row. It is about 150 feet in length, and has two rows of brick pillars. Market days, Mondays and Thursdays.
U. S. BANKING HOUSE.
The Banking House of the Branch Bank in this city, an engraving of which is here presented, stands on the east side f Main, between Third and Fourth streets. The front is built of freestone, and is forty feet exclusive of the wings, which are of the same materials and 10 feet each in width. The remainder of the building is of brick. It is two stories n height, and ornamented with a handsome cornice. The front of the building presents one of the chastest specimens f architecture within the city.
MEDICAL COLLEGE EDIFICE.
The edifice for the Medical College of Ohio, a view of which is given in this work, is situated on Sixth street, etween Vine and Race. It is 54 by 36 feet, and two sto- ies in height, besides the basement. When finished it will be divided into thirteen rooms, the two largest of which are lesigned for the public lectures, and are calculated to hold 150 pupils each. The seats in these two are arranged in the form of a semi-decagon, and rise in such a manner as to afford distinct view from the most distant parts of the rooms .- ['he anatomical lecture room is well lighted by windows in he sides, and by a large octagonal sky-light. The other rooms will be appropriated for the use of the Medical Soci- ties, the general meetings of the class, the private anatom- cal pursuits of the professors and students, and the janitor. The building will be finished in the course of the ensuing summer.
HOSPITAL.
The edifice of the Commercial Hospital and Lunatic Asy- um of Ohio, is a large brick building, three stories besides he basement in height; 53 feet in front by 43 in depth .- The wing is two stories in height, and is 28 by 44 feet. The building contains 13 rooms, and 34 lunatic cells. It stands upon a lot in the north west part of the city, contain ng four acres, which belongs to the establishment.
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CINCINNATI.
CINCINNATI COLLEGE EDIFICE.
The edifice belonging to the Cincinnati College (formerly ppe constituting the Cincinnati Lancaster Seminary) stands muct near the corner of Walnut and Fourth streets, in the rear of hes the First Presbyterian Church. It is a capacious two story lon brick edifice, consisting of two oblong wings, extending from fam Walnut, parallel to Fourth street, 88 feet in depth, and con-new nected by apartments for stair cases, 18 by 30 feet. Thistle intermediate portion, supports a handsome dome, originally he designed for an observatory. The upper story of each wing is divided into three rooms. The entire building is capablebo of receiving about 1000 pupils.
THE CINCINNATI THEATRE.
This edifice, which is situated on the south side of Colum- bia street, between Main and Sycamore, was commenced by a company of 30 or 40 persons in 1819: but, being erected on ground leased at a high rate, the debts of the establishment.
C eg e for several years, accumulated faster than the receipts; and in 1825, it passed, by a public sale, into the hands of two individuals.
Since our citizens have recovered from their various em- barrassmente, the Theatre has been more liberally attended : -and the managers will doubtless soon be able to count upon sufficient patronage to justify them in frequently al- luring to the west the most distinguished actors of the sea- board.
The lot, which is covered by the edifice and eastern wing, is 50 by 100 feet in size, and is bounded by an alley, over which a west wing is to be added, for a saloon. The central portion is about 40 by 100 feet, including a wing projecting 10 feet in the rear, and an Ionic portico of 12 by 40 feet in front. The interior, which is tastefully finished, is equally divided between the performers and the audience; having, for the accommodation of the latter, a pit, two tiers of boxes, and a spacious gallery, with commodious lobbies, punch room, &c. The whole, when improved and com- pleted, according to the plan of the present owners, will be capable of containing about 800 persons.
CINCINNATI WATER WORKS.
The city is supplied with water from the Ohio river. The the water is raised by a steam engine of about forty horse power, pake into a reservoir on the adjacent hill, at an elevation of 158
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eet above low water mark, and about 30 feet above the pper plain of the city. Two lines of wooden pipes con- uct the water from this reservoir into the city, and from hese, smaller pipes, amounting to about 40,000 feet, are laid long the principal streets, supplying at this time about 500 amilies, besides many manufacturing establishments. A ew and enlarged reservoir has just been commenced, capa- le of containing upwards of 300,000 gallons, and during he ensuing summer iron pipes, of 8 and 10 inches in diame- er, will be laid from the engine house, which stands just bove Deer-creek bridge, to the reservoir, and from thence hto the city. The distributing pipes will be extended as ast as they are needed.
In 1817, the Town Council granted, by ordinance, to the Cincinnati Manufacturing Company," the exclusive privi- ege of supplying the city with water, for the term of 99 ears, upon the condition of their paying annually to the orporation the sum of 100 dollars, and furnishing in all ases of fire, the necessary supplies of water. To accom- lish this, they were bound to place a fire plug at each block long which the water should be introduced; and to fill all uch cisterns or reservoirs, free of expense, as might be con- tructed in future by the corporation; the water from which o be used only in cases of fire. The Cincinnati Manufac- uring Company, in 1820, transferred to Samuel W. Davies his privilege,-he refunding to the company its expenses incurred in the commencement of the work. On the first lay of July, of the same year, the water was introduced on he upper and lower plains of the city, as required by the ordinance. Subsequent to this, the proprietor made repeat- ed, but fruitless efforts to engage the citizens in the under- aking; and with scarcely a hope of being enabled to com- lete the necessary works, he offered the whole establish- nent to the Council at a price stated to be below the actual cost. The proposition was submitted to the voters of the ity, who decided against the purchase of a privilege, which vught never have been granted away, and which sound pol- cy required should be regained by the corporation at the earliest opportunity. As a last resort, the proprietor ob- ained, during the winter of 1825-6, an act incorporating he " Cincinnati Water Company." Stock was immediately aken by a few individuals of the city, to an extent sufficient o make all the improvements and additions necessary for
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completing the establishment. It is to be regretted, that the fee corporation should have bartered away, for a small annuity, a privilege, which, 'if properly managed, would in time have alınost exempted the city from taxation : and that such an exclusive grant should have been made, without any re- strictions, as to the charges thereafter to be imposed by the company, for the use of the water, is perhaps not less sur-
cea prising than that the citizens should have decided against the purchase of the works, when recently offered.
PRESERVATION FROM FIRE.
There are in the city four Fire Engines, each having a company of 25 men, under the command of a Captain : one ul Hose Company of 25 members, and having under their charge the about 1800 feet of substantial Hose: one Hook and Ladder Company of 30 men, properly equipped with hooks, ladders, e and ropes: a company for the preservation of the Fire Buckets, and a Protection Society composed of about 50 members. There are a Chief, and one assistant Engineer; nay 16 Fire Wardens, and about 150 Firemen, who keep their Engines in excellent order, and in cases of fire are prompt, active and persevering.
The City Council have recently erected, in different parts of the city, five substantial brick cisterns, each of sufficient capacity to contain upwards of 5,000 gallons of water .- These are kept constantly filled, and being connected with the pipes which conduct the water along the streets, may, in cases of fire, be replenished as fast as the water is drawn from them by the Engines. These cisterns affording, partic- ularly in the season when fires are most frequent, the chief and only certain supplies of water, should speedily be in creased to treble their present number.
FUEL.
Wood is the chief article of fuel; which is boated down the Ohio and Licking rivers, or brought in wagons from the adjacent country. Coal, from the mines above, is brought to the city in considerable quantities, but is not yet extensively used, except in the manufacturing establishments.
MARKETS.
Cincinnati has six market days in each week. On four of these, the market houses exhibit in great abundance, beef, veal, pork, and mutton of an excellent quality : fine turkeys,
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eese, chickens, ducks, and quails: pike, perch, eels, cat, nd sword fish; to which may be added the soft-shelled turtle. pension and bear meat are not unfrequently offered. The egetable market is extensive and excellent, abounding in e Il the roots and herbs common to the middle states,-em- racing the different varieties of the potatoe, cabbage, peas, r eans, carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets, radishes, cellery, nions, cucumbers, pumpkins, egg plants, &c. &c. Among he domestic fruits, may be enumerated fine flavoured ap- les, peaches, pears, cherries, plums, quinces, raspberries, rawberries, currants, gooseberries, black-berries, cranber. es, crab apples, pawpaws, fall, winter, and fox grapes, ulberries, and the nuts of the hickory, walnut, hazel, and esnut trees: melons of the various kinds, and finely fla- enoured, are both cheap and abundant. By our steam-boats, rs e are supplied with oranges, figs, pine-apples, and other uits of the south : also, raisins, almonds, prunes, dried cur- Gants, filberts, &c. &c. From November until April, oysters ay be had, imported in kegs and canisters, hermetically osed. They are occasionally brought from New-Orleans pt the shell. Salted salmon, mackerel, shad, codfish, and errings are common.
CHAPTER IV.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES, AND PUBLIC CHARITIES.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY.
'This Society was established in this city in 1791, and in- rporated in 1807. The pastor is the Rev'd. Joshua L. ilson. The Church belonging to this Society is situated the West side of Main street, between Fourth and Fifth. is a brick building, 68 by 85 feet, and has two cupolas, one each corner of the front. In the rear it has an octagonal ojection for a vestry. The basements of the turrets con- in the stair cases. It has 112 pews, 5 aisles, a large galle- , and a bell. The plan of the building is not however in od taste,
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CINCINNATI.
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY.
The Second Presbyterian Society, was organized in 1817. The Rev'd. David Root is pastor. Its place of worship is a frame building on the east side of Walnut, between Fifth and Sixth streets.
EPISCOPAL SOCIETY.
This Church is under the care of the Rev'd. Samuel Johnson, and was formed in the year 1817. Their place of worship is a convenient brick building, 40 by 55 feet, two sto- ries in height, neatly finished, and situated on Sixth street between Walnut and Vine.
METHODIST SOCIETY.
The Methodist Society was established in 1804 and incor. porated in 1811. They occupy two churches; one a capa cious stone building with brick wings, situated on Fifth street between Sycamore and Broadway. The other a brick buil ding, two stories in height, standing at the corner of Fourth and Plum streets.
ENON BAPTIST SOCIETY.
The Enon Baptist Church was formed in 1820. The Rev'd. James Challen is pastor. Their place of worship is a brick building on Walnut, between Third and Fourth streets, capable of seating about 700 persons. The congre gation consists of about 250 members.
NEW JERUSALEM SOCIETY.
The New Jerusalem Church was organized in 1811. I is under the care of Rev. A. Hurdus. Its place of worship is on Centre, between Fifth and Sixth streets.
THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH.
This Society was incorporated in 1817, and is under thi care of the Rev'd. William Burke. Its place of Worshi] is a frame building on Vine street, between Fourth an Fifth.
FRIENDS' SOCIETY.
The Society of Friends was formed in 1813. Their Meet ing House stands near the western part of the city, between Fourth and Fifth streets.
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CINCINNATI.
GERMAN LUTHERAN AND REFORMED CHURCH.
This Church was instituted in 1814, and is at present un- der the care of the Rev'd. L. II. Myer. Its place of wor- ship is a neat brick building on Third, between Broadway and Ludlow streets.
FIRST BAPTIST SOCIETY.
This Church was constituted in December 1813. Its place of worship is on the corner of Vine and Sixtha streets.
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AFRICAN CHURCH.
This Society holds its meetings in a frame building, erected for the purpose, standing east of Broadway and north of Sixth street.
ROMAN CATHOLIC SOCIETY.
This Society was organized in this city in 1818. In 1823 the Rev'd. Doctor Fenwick was appointed Catholic Bishop of Cincinnati, and in the course of a few months afterwards a frame church was erected on Sycamore, above Sixth street. In 1826 an additional building of brick was added. The stated number of the Clergy is a Bishop and four Priests. It is in the contemplation of this Society to establish, within a short period, a Theological Seminary, and a College for the education of youth. Several intelligent ladies belonging to the religious order of the Poor Clares have recently arrived from Europe, and connected themselves with this congrega- tion Their object, in part, is to keep free schools for the in- struction of poor children. They have already opened one with a class of 60 pupils. Arrangements are making by the Society to procure suitable buildings for the accommodation of these sisters, when they will be prepared to receive young ladies as boarders, and instruct them in all the higher branches of education.
The Cathedral belonging to this congregation is a neat spe- cimen of Gothic architecture, the plan of which, with some slight alterations, was furnished by Mr. Michael Scott of this city. The building is 110 feet in length; 50 in breadth: 30 from the base to the cornice : and has five handsome windows in each side, 15 feet in height. There are 88 pews on the first floor. The gallery is large and has the orchestra in the centre, which is shortly to receive a splendid organ. The
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Altar is arranged in good taste, and ornamented with a farg and beautiful painting by Verschoot, representing the inve! titure of a religious. There are several other valuabl paintings hung around the walls. The interior of the church is handsomely finished, and presents a spacious and elegar room, capable of seating about 800 persons.
The edifice for the literary College is to correspond in i exterior with the Cathedral, and be connected with it in th rear by the frame church originally occupied by the Society the whole will then form three sides of a square and whe properly ornamented with a steeple, will present a magnif cent appearance.
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JEWISH CONGREGATION.
This Society was established in this city in 1822. It has number of members, and is increasing. A frame buildin west of Main street, and between Third and Fourth, is at pr sent used by the Society as a Synagogue.
UNIVERSALISTS.
A society of Universalians is about to be organized in th city. It is in contemplation by the members to build church in the course of the year 1827.
REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This Society was organized a short time since, and is ul der the care of the Rev'd. C. B. McKee. It has yet n place of public worship, but the Society has it in contempla tion to erect one during the ensuing summer.
HUMANE SOCIETY.
This Society, whose object is the resuscitation of drowne persons, consists of about 300 members, and was formed 1819. It has procured a fine set of apparatus, consisting three boats, with four sets of drags for each; a moveab' bed, with a stove for heating it, and a pair of bellows, wit different sized nozles. The apparatus is deposited in house at suitable places on the river bank. The officers are President, three Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, an seven Directors.
THE MIAMI BIBLE SOCIETY was formed in 1814, for th purposes of distributing Bibles among the poor.
THE FEMALE AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY was formed i 1816.
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THE FEMALE ASSOCIATION, for the benefit of Africans, was instituted in 1817.
THE WESTERN NAVIGATION BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY bløwas formed in 1818.
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THE UNION SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY was established in 1817.
COLONIZATION SOCIETY.
A society, with the above title, has recently been formeu ty in this city. It is intended to be Auxiliary to the American het Colonization Society; but its funds are to be appropriated to the expenses of forwarding to Africa the free blacks of Cincinnati, who may be found willing to be sent to that country. The number of members is already about one hundred.
MASONIC INSTITUTIONS.
CINCINNATI ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER, No. 2, was instituted in 1817. William Greene, High Priest.
THE N. C. HARMONY LODGE, No. 2, was instituted in this city in 1791. Arva Wilson, W. Master,
THE MIAMI LODGE, No. 46, was formed in 1818. Wil- liam Greene, W. Master.
LAFAYETTE LODGE, No. 81, was formed in 1825. William Rossell Foster, W. Master. Morgan Neville, past Master.
LAFAYETTE, Honorary Member. General Lafayette, af- ter whom this Lodge is named, and whose anticipated re- ception in this city, was one cause of its being organized at the particular time it went into operation, was made an ned honorary member on the evening of the 11th of May, A. L. in 5825, and in person signed the by-laws of the society on the 00 19th of May, A. L. 5825.
itt COMMERCIAL HOSPITAL AND LUNATIC ASYLUM. Isel and th
This public charity had its origin in the year 1821. In e a the preceding December, Gov. Brown recommended to the Legislature, the establishment of a Commercial Hospital. At the same time, Dr. Drake, then labouring to fix perma- nently the foundations of our Medical School, suggested to the Trustees, who superintended the paupers of the city, the advantage of uniting with the state and establishing an In ..
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firmary, for the common benefit of the poor confided to their care, and the diseased boatmen of Ohio, and other states of the West, who might at any time grant to her citizens, en- gaged in commerce, similar relief. The Trustees adopted the suggestion, and its author was made the bearer of their petition. To this, he added another from the Faculty of the Medical College, and a third from himself, proposing the addition of a Lunatic Asylum. To the honor of the state, the project completely succeeded. The General Assembly appropriated ten thousand dollars, in various kinds of de- preciated bank paper; and gave, for the permanent support of the establishment, half the Auction duties of the city. The Trustees supplied an eligible site, and an edifice was erected, which for three years, has been devoted to its proper and praiseworthy objects.
A signal reduction of taxes for the support of the poor, has resulted to us, from the execution of this benevolent and comprehensive plan; the paupers of the city, when ill, have been rendered more comfortable; many citizens of Ohio, when engaged in commerce, and strangers, without pecuni- ary means, have enjoyed the benefits of the charity; while the unhappy victims of insanity, for whom it is the duty of society to provide, have received suitable accommodations and assistance.
THE KIDD FUND.
The late Mr. John Kidd, of this city, bequeathed, at his decease, in the year 1818, one thousand dollars per annum, forever, for the " education of poor children and youth of Cincinnati." This fund arises from the rents of a piece of ground situated at the south-west corner of Main and Front streets. By his will, the Rev. Joshua L. Wilson and the Rev. O. M. Spencer were made the Trustees, with power to transfer the same to the Trustees of any literary incorpo- ration. Such transfer was made, in the year 1819, to the Trustees of the Cincinnati College. The first receipts from this liberal bequest, were in October, 1819; and between that period and October, 1825, the sum of $6,000 was re- ceived. During the first half of these five years, from 75 to 100 children constantly received instruction, upon the Lancasterian plan; and for the two and a half succeeding years, owing to the great reduction in the price of tuition, 375 pupils were constantly enjoying the munificence of this charity.
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In 1825, an adverse claim to the fee simple of the ground, hus bequeathed by Mr. Kidd, was asserted, and the lessee f the premises was enjoined from paying over the ac- ruing rents to the Trustees, until the final adjudication up- n the title. When this will take place, and what may be :s result, are uncertain. Should the decision be adverse the title of the donor, it is much to be hoped, that a harity, which promises such lasting and substantial bene- ts, may be continued by the successful party, according to he wishes and directions of Mr. Kidd.
THE WOODWARD FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Mr. William Woodward, of this city, with a liberality hich entitles him to the gratitude of his fellow citizens, has ecently conveyed in trust for the support of a free grammar chool, for the education of the poor children of the city, a aluable tract of land, containing six acres, lying a little north f the line of the canal, and between Broadway and Main reet. So soon as the canal is completed, it is the intention f the trustees to divide this tract into suitable building lots, had to lease them, subject to a revaluation every fifteen years. is computed that the rents in 1828 will be sufficient to au- orize the opening of a school with at least 60 pupils. The eed of trust is made to Samuel Lewis and Osmond Cogswell, ad provides for the annual election, by the voters of the ty, of a third trustee. On the decease or resignation of le trustees named in the will, their successors are to be ap- inted by the Mayor and Aldermen, and in case the City ourt should be abolished, the same power is given perpetu- ly, to the judges of the court of Common Pleas of Hamil- n county. Mr. Woodward owns, in common with the junty of Hamilton, another tract of land adjoining the one ready described, worth about $9000. He proposes, in case e Commissioners of the county will do so likewise, to make similar conveyance of this tract for the education of the or children of the whole county. This liberal and praise- orthy proposition, should certainly be met by the Commis- ners in a corresponding spirit. In that case permanent ovision for extending the rudiments of an English educa- on to the poor children of the city and county, will be se- red for an unlimited period, to an extent calculated to nfer the most substantial benefits upon that interesting ass of our population.
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A charter incorporating the trustees of this public charity, by the name of " The Woodward Free Grammar School of Cincinnati" has just been passed by the Legislature, as well as a law, authorizing the Commissioners of the county to convey the tract above referred to, according to the propo sition of Mr. Woodward.
CHAPTER V.
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS.
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF OHIO.
Early in 1819, Dr. Daniel Drake made to the Legislatur a personal application for authority to establish a Medica School in Cincinnati. The bill submitted by him was enac ted on the 19th of January, and has since been several time amended.
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The institution opened in the autumn of 1820, when it ha a class of 30 pupils. After two prosperous sessions, ther succeeded an interregnum of two years, during which th founder of the institution was induced a second time to ente the school of Kentucky, then rapidly rising into a distin tion which does honor to the Western States.
A new organization of the Ohio College was effected i 1825, and the respectable number of the present class, (82 confirms the judgment of its projector as to the superior na ural and social advantages afforded by our city for such a institution. Among these are, the facility of reaching it t water from the most distant parts: the great cheapness living, from its being an emporium of agricultural product its latitude being more favorable to anatomical pursuits tha southern climates : its numerous and mixed population, fu nishing ample means for demonstrations in anatomy and su gery : and finally, its general hospital, contributing to th same important object, and affording to professors and pupi various opportunities for studying, practically, the nature diseases. Of this establishment the professors of the Co
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