USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 105
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PRESENT CITY BUILDING.
The inception of the present beautiful city building dates back nearly thirty years. The agitation for a new building was brought to the point in 1887 where it was decided to ask the Legislature to pass a special act author- izing the city of Urbana to issue bonds and levy a tax for the purpose of erecting a city building. The Legislature granted the request of the city authorities by passing Senate bill No. 261, on March 24, 1888, which gave the city the authority to issue bonds and levy a special tax for this purpose.
The city council on May 7, 1889. decided to proceed with the con- struction of the building and at the same meeting ordered advertisements placed in the local papers asking for plans and specifications for a building to cost not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars. Bonds were issued on
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June 30, 1890, in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars, dated August 1, 1890. The council had previously accepted the plans and specifications of Williams & Otter, architects of Dayton, Ohio, and set July 1, 1889, for the opening of bids. All the bids on that day were rejected for the reason that they exceeded the estimated cost of the building. It was necessary to make changes in the plans in order to provide for a building that could be erected within the amount the city had at its disposal. The contract was finally let, June 30. 1890, to Henry E. Myers in the sum of twenty-four thousand, one hundred and forty-nine dollars.
The building stands at the southeast corner of South Main and East Market streets, across the street from the Grace Methodist church. The building is a handsome brick structure of three stories, with stone trimmings, the first floor being arranged to provide quarters for all the city officials. As originally planned and built, it provided for an auditorium and stage. the city being under the impression that it could derive a substantial yearly income from the rental of the auditorium to theatrical companies, and it remained the city theater until the Clifford theater was opened in 1905, a period of about fifteen years.
The city officials at the time of the construction of the building were: C. H. Ganson, mayor; C. A. Ross, clerk ; J. W. Flaugher, solicitor ; Horace M. Crow, auditor ; D. M. Bunnell, president of the council; S. M. Mosgrove, J. C. Curley, I. K. Davis, Henry Helps and Martin McDermott, councilmen. Of this number Ganson. Ross, Bunnell, Mosgrove. Curley and Helps are deceased.
THE PASSING OF THE SALOON.
The memory of the oldest inhabitant of Urbana goes back yet to the time when it was possible to obtain any kind of a drink that distilling and brewing ingenuity could concoct. In the olden days-the days of a century ago-whiskey was as common and proper a drink as coca-cola is today-and considerably cheaper. The farmer who drove into town a hun- dred years ago, could get a quart of whiskey for a dime, and many of the farmers of that day could drink a dime's worth without any noticeable effect upon their powers of locomotion. Either the whiskey has changed in quality or the farmers have changed in stability, for a quart of the mix- ture sold in Urbana in 1917 would make a wagon-load of farmers forget that legs were ever made for any use at all. It is not the purpose of this brief dissertation on the saloon to expatiate on its merits or demerits, al- though if its defenders were catalogued, it would be found that most of them
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had passed through the jails, prisons, penitentiaries, asylums (both insane and poor), institutions for the feeble-minded or such other institutions as are designed for dependents, delinquents and defectives.
Urbana had saloons for a hundred years. If there was any virtue in them the city should have known it. The time was, and not so long ago, when to go down West Court street after dark was to take one's life in one's hands. And there were other unsavory spots over the city, all of which have disappeared along with the saloon, which made them what they were. Unfortunately, the disappearance of the saloon itself in 1906 did not mean the disappearance of all intoxicating liquors in the city. Someone has said that we used to have shoecobblers, but now we have bootleggers, and that while the former class of citizens were entirely desirable and per- formed a useful service to society, the latter fall into the class whose services can be dispensed with, and to the distinct advantage of society. A boot- legger in the town is about as useful an animal as a rattlesnake in a yard full of children-and fully as dangerous.
For more than a hundred years-from 1805 to 1906-liquor flowed freely in Urbana: while other towns and cities in the state banished the saloon. the fair city of Urbana clung to the institution as if it were some- thing very much to be desired. Prior to 1906, frequent efforts had been made to abolish the saloon, but all efforts in this direction had been thwarted by those interested in maintaining the status quo. The city council passed an act on Monday night. January 20, 1906, basing its right to do so on the Rose act, which provided that no intoxicating liquors should be sold in Ur- bana on or after May 25. 1906. The final vote of the council showed six for the abolition of the saloon and four who thought it should be retained for the good of the town. The newspapers reported the next day that some two or three of those who voted for the abolishment of the saloon did so under protest-presumably against their better judgment. At the time of the passage of the resolution of the city council there were twenty-two sa- loons in operation.
The voters of the city expressed their opinion on the question on Octo- ber 5. 1906, and they declared by their votes that the saloons should be closed November 4, 1906. On that day the licensed saloons closed their doors and have not been permitted to operate during the eleven years which have since elapsed. There is little doubt that the saloon will never again be seen in Urbana.
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POSTOFFICE.
The postoffice history of Urbana is peculiarly mixed up with the polit- ical, religious, financial and fraternal life of the city. For more than a hundred years postmasters have come and gone and one postmistress has appeared on the scene. To tell in detail why one man has been appointed and why another has not, would be to go outside the realm of local politics and into the field of national affairs. Strange as it may seem, there have been times in the little city of Urbana when aspirants for the postoffice have gathered around the wires on election night waiting with bated breath to hear whether New York was going Republican or Democratic. If the for- mer, then some local Republican heaved a sigh of relief, for it meant the postoffice for him, and, conversely, the Democratic aspirant slowly and sadly wended his way homeward to wait for the election four years later.
From the days when John Reynolds handed out the first letter in Ur- bana down to April 1, 1917, the postmaster of Urbana has been dependent for his position upon his political affiliation. An order of the President of the United States on April 1, 1917, placed the postmasters of all first, second and third-class postoffices under civil service, and from henceforth no postmaster can be dismissed except for cause.
It would take a volume to tell of the successive campaigns waged by local politicians for the postoffice cach succeeding four years. Twenty com- missions have been issued for the postoffice of Urbana and, with the excep- tion of the first two or three commissions, there have been two or more applicants at each succeeding four-year period. It is not possible to follow the thread of postoffice history with any degree of certainty prior to the forties. Since that time the postmasters, their politics and their places of business are fairly well defined. In tracing back the history of the office the historian found a wide variety of factors entering into the appointment of the various incumbents. It is popularly supposed that a postmaster is appointed for some political service, and, generally speaking, this may be said to be true in the case of Urbana. The nineteen men who have held the office have had a wide variety of occupations-merchants, newspapermen, farmers and politicians.
John Reynolds was the first postmaster and while very little is known of the volume of business he transacted, yet there is a certain amount of interest attaching to this first incumbent of the office. He had a little store on the site of the present Douglas Inn and here came the settlers from up
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and down the Mad river valley to do their trading. According to the best accounts the initiative for the establishment of the postoffice came from Reynolds himself. There was a postroad in existence in 1805 from Cin- cinnati to Detroit and it happened that Urbana was not far from the route which had been established by the postoffice department. Upon the solic- itation of Reynolds, Postmaster-General Granger ordered the establishment of an office at Urbana, with the understanding that the patrons of the pro- posed office would guarantee the expense of its maintenance. Reynolds took it upon himself to assume the obligation and with this understanding he received the appointment as postmaster. The mail was carried at his ex- pense and the proceeds of the office for the first few years failed to equal the cost of its maintenance. It is certain that Reynolds continued in the office for several years and it was largely a labor of love and public service with him, since the office was not self-sustaining for several years after its establishment.
FURTHER POSTOFFICE HISTORY.
John C. Pearson was the successor of Reynolds in the office and took charge of it at the beginning of John Quincy Adams' administration in 1825. Pearson was a substantial citizen and built the first two stories of the present Douglas Inn, having the office in one of the lower rooms of the building. The records are so incomplete that it is impossible to follow the terms of the several incumbents of the office, but it is certain that they served in the following order : John Reynolds, John Pearson, William Hunt, Samuel K. Ward. Decatur Talbott, John A. Corwin, James Taylor. William H. Fyffe, James Taylor, Newton Ambrose. William A. Brand (died in office May 14, 1879), D. C. Hitt ( 1879-1884), S. B. Price (1884-1885, removed on account of irregularities in office), S. L. P. Stone ( 1885-1889), H. H. Williams ( 1889-1893), W. T. Wear ( 1893-1898). Mrs. Joseph P. Smith (appointed June 7, 1898, died in office September 13, 1898). Edward F. Hutches ( 1898-1899). R. H. Murphy ( 1899-1907), L. G. Pennock ( 1907- 1913), W. A. Lowry ( 1913, present incumbent ).
The postoffice has been located in several different places during the past hundred years, but it is not possible to determine where all these loca- tions were, or the number of years it was stationed at each location. John Reynolds kept the office in his store and John Pearson did likewise. Some time in the thirties the office was in a building across from the present loca- tion on South Main street. approximately where Sharp's garage is now lo- cated. In the forties and for many years after it was in a building south
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of the court house on West Court street, the building standing on the site of the law offices of Deaton, Bodey & Bodey. There is a difference of opin- ion as to whether the present building is the same which was used as the postoffice. but the preponderance of evidence points to a building on the site, which was later torn down. The room now occupied by the Western Union Telegraph Company in the Douglas Inn housed the postoffice sometime in. the seventies. The Odd Fellow building was erected in 1874 and shortly afterward the office was located in the room it now occupies. It has been located there continuously since 1898, but the twenty years previous saw it switched back and forth between this room and the room now occupied by the Ideal theater at the corner of North Main and West Court streets. It is said that the shifting of location was due to a curious combination of reli- gion, fraternal affiliation and financial consideration; furthermore, that the office was moved on one occasion from its present location to the Ideal theater site despite the fact that the Odd Fellows offered their room for one- third less rental. Politics may have had something to do with it, although all these moves may have been made from purely patriotic motives.
URBANA POSTOFFICE IN 1917.
If John Reynolds, the first postmaster of Urbana, could step into the office of W. A. Lowry, the present incumbent, and stay with him for one day he would recognize a change in conditions, which would be hard to real- ize. It will be recalled that Reynolds guaranteed out of his own pocket, the expenses of the office when it was established more than one hundred years ago. It is not known what the receipts of the office were during the first year that Reynolds was postmaster, but the last report of Postmaster Lowry showed receipts of $26,885.60. John Reynolds not only found time to attend to all the duties of the office. but he also operated a store, was engaged in banking, had charge of a farm and had his part in about everything else in the early history of the town.
But how different are things in 1917. The office is only a stone's throw from where John Reynolds handed out his few letters a hundred years ago. The one employee of 1817 has given way to twenty-five employees in 1917. The few dollars which John Reynolds received seem a meager compensa- tion compared to the salary which Postmaster Lowry receives. The first postmaster received mail only once a week, and there were times when more than a week elapsed between the arrival of mails. It was several years before the town had daily mail. But in 1917 the postoffice receives seven- teen mails each day and sends out thirteen.
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Everyone had to go to the office until 1888 in order to get their mail. In that year city delivery was established and window delivery was discon- tinued. At first there were three carriers, but the number has been increased until there are now six regular carriers and one substitute. Rural free de- livery was established on January 1, 1899, two carriers being started on that date. Subsequently other carriers have been added from time to time until in 1917 there are nine rural mail routes radiating from the local office. These nine rural-route carriers travel a total of 235 miles and serve 3,991 patrons. The last innovation in the internal affairs of the office was the establishment of postal savings department on September 1, 1911. The statistics on this phase of the postoffice business are not made public. The general experience of cities with this department has shown that it is largely used by foreigners, native Americans preferring to invest their money in local enterprises or place it in local banking institutions.
The business of the postoffice for the first quarter of 1917 closing March 31. 1917. indicated that the receipts were $6.521.04. the largest of any corresponding quarter for the past seven years. The receipts for the twelve months ending March 31, 1917, were $26.885.60, and this amount was $2,000 larger than any previous year in the history of the office. The receipts have gradually increased and are now averaging around $6,000 a quarter. A statement of the receipts of the office for the last seven years follows, covering the fiscal year ending on March 31. of each year: 1910. $20.680.26; 1911, $21,628.44: 1912. $21.728.45: 1913. $21,979.78: 1914, $23.409.16: 1915, $22,617.68: 1916, $24.602.59: 1917, $26,885.60.
Postmaster Lowry has been very fortunate in retaining postoffice em- ployees. He has had but two changes since taking up his duties nearly four years ago. C. C. Steinberger was appointed rural carrier to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Hendrickson, and Ray Allison was appointed assistant postmaster to succeed Judge David W. Todd, who, desiring to re- tire. resigned. The postoffice force now consists of the postmaster. five clerks, six city carriers, nine rural carriers, messenger boy and special deliv- ery hoy. The office is not self-sustaining, due to the fact that eight railway mail clerks are paid from the receipts.
SACRIFICES "PORK" TO PATRIOTISM.
The postoffice has been in the present building since 1898. although as before stated. it had been located there at other times previously, only to be removed for political. fraternal or financial reasons to other quarters. The
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efforts of the city to get a new postoffice building have extended over sev- eral years. In fact, the government made an appropriation of thirteen thou- sand dollars for a postoffice site in 1911, the location being on the northwest corner of Miami and Walnut streets. The lot was bought from Flora Epps, E. M. Crane and C. H. Ganson and includes half a square of land. The general appropriation bill of the last Congress included an appropriation for a new postoffice in Urbana, but Congressman Fess, representative from this district, cast his vote against the bill. His reason for so doing was the fact that it contained so many appropriations for useless expenditures that it was justly nothing more than one of the so-called infamous "pork" meas- ures. He made the remark at the time in the halls of Congress that Urbana was willing to forego a new building in view of the general conditions which faced the republic today. His words were taken up by the press of the country and widely commended, one magazine of national circulation, Col- lier's Weekly. even giving his words special editorial comment.
THE URBANA PUBLIC LIBRARY. By Mrs. Frank Houston.
The Urbana public library is a splendid monument to the women of Urbana. Its history is unique and full of interest. At the close of a cen- tennial exposition given under the supervision of a committee of prominent women in the spring of 1888, a balance of one hundred dollars in the treas- ury suggested the possibility of a public library in the near future. Some months later a course of readings given by Miss Hamlin gave new inspira- tion to the idea, and resulted in the calling of a public meeting of the women who were especially interested. The money was readily appropriated as the nucleus of a library fund. On March 14, 1890, a meeting was held at the home of Mrs. J. H. Patrick, on Main street, and it was finally decided to form an association for the establishment of a public library. After some discussion of ways and means, fourteen names were enrolled: Mrs. A. C. Deuel, Flora Ayers, Mrs. George McConnell. Mrs. Robert Young. Mrs. J. I. Blose, Mrs. Emma Eichelberger, Mrs. George Hitt, Mrs. Emma Weaver, Mrs. Joseph Fisher, Mrs. John Kirby, Mrs. William Given. Mrs. M. H. Crane. Miss Clifford Warnock. and Mrs. D. B. McDonald. Nine of these were chosen as a temporary board of managers with Miss Warnock as secretary. Later fifty-four more names were added. On March 29, 1890, a meeting was heldl at the home of Miss Ayers and a permanent organization was effected by the adoption of a constitution and the election of officers
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and managers. Later a stock company was incorporated according to the laws of Ohio, with the stock valued at five dollars a share. Very soon more than a hundred shares were subscribed for.
The Three Homes of the Library .- During the first year the library was housed in a room of Doctor Bennett's home on Scioto street, for which ten dollars per month was paid. In the spring of 1891 a room in the new city building was secured and on April 10, 1891, the new quarters were first occupied, and a formal reception given in honor of the event. The constant growth of the library soon made it necessary to seek larger accom- modations, and after a diligent search for the right place, the managers were fortunate in being able to purchase the building now occupied. This was originally the United Presbyterian church, but had been sold to a German association, which transferred it to the library association for the sum of five hundred and fifty dollars. At a cost of about twenty-five hundred dol- lars the old building was remodeled and fitted up in a style suitable for the library home. On December 10, 1898, the library was moved and a public reception given which was well attended by the many friends and patrons of the library.
Twice the association has declined the offer of a Carnegie building, preferring to retain their own. In honor of the library's twenty-fifth anni- versary, many needed improvements were made, the library being closed for a brief period of two months. The opening was held on September 8, 1916, and many friends welcomed the room as it now appears. When the managers planned to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary by improvements greatly needed, a fund for that purpose was started by the officers, man- agers and book committee, each subscribing ten dollars. The appeal to the good people of Urbana brought a very gracious response and valuable gifts made it possible to go beyond the original plans without touching the city's library appropriation. Valuable books, fine shelving, beautiful light fix- tures, and other furnishings were added by thoughtful friends. Among the gifts of earlier years are remembered two handsome windows in memory of A. C. Deuel and wife by the former pupils of the public schools, and a bronze statuette of Shakespeare from the hands of J. Q. A. Ward, given by his wife.
Maintenance of the Library-When the public library was first estab- lished its chief assets were faith and courage. The visible means of support consisted of one hundred dollars from the centennial fund, one hundred and fifty dollars from an old library association, the sum being secured from the sale of stock which amounted to about five hundred dollars, and the
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annual fee from each patron of one dollar, for library card. A Christmas bazaar held in Bennett's opera house in December, 1890, netted over seven hundred dollars. Other sources of revenue included a lecture course, sup- pers, socials, and various kinds of entertainments. In the summer of 1898 the women assumed the management of the hotel at the camp meeting grounds and from this received eight hundred dollars.
In this manner the library was maintained, all debts paid, and a suffi- cient sum saved to pay for the new building and improvements. In 1905 a change in support was inaugurated whereby the library became a free public library. An appropriation from the city council, allowed by an act of the Legislature, required the issuance of free cards, and secured a stated income, which, though very small, has been increased from time to time.
Officers of the Library-Following is a list of the officers who have served the association since its organization :
Presidents, Mrs. Edwin Hagenbuch, 1890-91; Mrs. Frank Houston, 1891 to the present time.
First vice-presidents, Flora Ayers, 1800-91 ; Mrs. J. P. Smith, 1891-92; Addie Williams, 1892-96: Mrs. C. F. Colwell, 1896-97; Mrs. George Weaver, 1897-98; Mrs. A. F. Vance, Jr., 1898-99; Mrs. Robert Young, 1899-1905 ; Mrs. C. F. Colwell. 1905-09: Mrs. H. H. Hubbell, 1909 to the present time.
Second vice-presidents. Mrs. C. T. Jamieson, 1890-91 ; Mrs. W. McK. Vance, 1891-92; Flora Ayers, 1892-94; Mrs. Joel Read, 1894-95; Ella Mc- Donald, 1895-96: Mrs. Robert Young. 1896-97; Mrs. M. Galligher, 1897- 98; Mrs. J. L. Bassett, 1808-99: Mrs. D. B. McDonald. 1899-1902; Mrs. C. F. Colwell, 1902-05: Mrs. H. H. Hubbell. 1905-09; Mrs. W. W. Wilson, 1909 to the present time.
Recording secretaries. Mrs. J. L. Bassett, 1890-94; Mrs. W. A. Cool, 1894-95; Mrs. J. L. Bassett, 1895-96; Mrs. F. C. Heflebower, 1896-1900; Alice I .. Gaumer. 1900 to the present time.
Corresponding secretaries, Mrs. H. Vance, 1891-94; Mrs. D. W. Conroy, 1804-97; Alice L. Gaumer, 1897-1900; Mrs. Harry Pappersett. 1900-01 : Mrs. E. H. Humphries, 1901-02 : Mrs. J. L. Bassett, 1902-14; Mrs. William S. Given, 1914 to the present time.
Treasurers, Mrs. W. M. Rock, 1890-94: Mrs. Robert Young, 1894-95; Mrs. E. S. Eichelberger. 1895 to the present time.
The following ladies have served on the book committee at different times : Belle Wood, chairman from 1800 to 1905; Mrs. Edwin Hagenbuch. 1906 to the present time: Mrs. A. C. Deuel, Mrs. Frank Houston, Mrs. G. W. MacCracken, Flora Avers, Ella McDonald, Mrs. William Foster, Mrs.
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J. P. Smith, Mrs. J. B. Hitt, Mrs. J. I. Blose, Mrs. George Batchelder, Mrs. M. H. Crane, Margaret James, Mrs. Harriet C. Milne, and Mrs. W. McK. Vance.
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