History of Cincinnati, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 61

Author: Ford, Henry A., comp; Ford, Kate B., joint comp
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, O., L.A. Williams & co.
Number of Pages: 666

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About this time Dr. J. M. Locke delivered a course of twenty-four lectures on chemistry and natural philosophy to the institute and public, and Barnum gave a lecture on "Humbug." A society of the younger members was formed, called the "Philomathean," for intellectual cul- ture; but it was short lived.

The thirteenth exhibition of the institute was given May 9-25, 1854, and netted a profit of one thousand and forty-eight dollars and sixty-six cents. It was the first one held in the new institute building. The four- teenth, May 9 to June 2, 1855, netted five hundred and fifty dollars and thirty-one cents. The committee in charge reported that, in the number of exhibitors and articles displayed, as well as in their novelty and value, this exhibition was superior to any previous one held by the institute, and the premiums awarded are not only greater in number, but also mostly of the higher grades.

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During the year 1855-6, Dr. Locke delivered another elaborate course of lectures on chemistry and physics ; Dr. W. W. Dawson, eight lectures on geology, and Pro- fessor John Locke a short course on "Animated Nature." The lectures were not a financial success.

The next year a highly favorable arrangement was made with the board of education of the city, by which the Mechanics' institute and Public School libraries were consolidated in the building of the institute, a part of which was leased to the board for ten thousand dollars. The institute was also thus relieved from the cost of care and issue of its own library, and of gas, fuel, etc., for library and reading-rooms. The debt on the building and lot was completely cleared, and only some minor and easily managed indebtedness remained. The trustees accordingly surrendered their trust, and made a clear deed of the property to the institute. December 16, 1856, due acknowledgments were made and honors ren- dered to Messrs .. Greenwood and Allen, by electing them as a board of emeritus trustees and advisory directors for life. The next March Mr. John P. Foote was added to this board, in token of his long service as president and his usefulness otherwise to the institute.

During 1856 the plan of a mechanical museum for permanent exhibition was under the advisement of the directory; but not much interest was manifested by others in the project, and it had to be dropped. The school of design, however, was organized in the fall of that year, and has since been prosperously maintained, the total enrollment to the year 1879, inclusive, being four thousand four hundred and twenty-five.

The lecture arrangements for the season included the novelty of two brief lectures on different topics the same evening-twenty-six lectures on chemistry by Professor E. H. Foote, and the same number on anatomy and physiology by Professor W. W. Dawson, on Thursday and Friday evenings, with thirteen lectures on physics, and as many on geology, by the same gentlemen, on Wednesday evenings. The new feature failed to draw, however, and again the courses proved a financial failure.

The Young Men's Polytechnic association of the Ohio Mechanics' institute was organized about this time, and continued with much success during the winter of 1856- 57; but did not survive beyond the second season.

The fifteenth exhibition of the institute was held Sep- tember 10 to October 8, 1857. An additional building- the frame work of gas-pipe and the roof of sheet-iron, attracting much attention from visitors-was erected for it ; and the large expense (eight thousand dollars) thus incurred resulted in a net loss of three hundred dollars. It was thought, however, to have been the most success- ful and important of any exhibition ever held in the west. Lectures were delivered during the next winter by Professors Zachos, Vaughn, Ward, Warriner, and Allen, Dr. Samuel Silsbee, and Messrs. W. M. Davis and J. R. Hamilton. The attendance upon them was still small.

In 1858, the outstanding indebtedness, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven dollars and sixty-two cents, was paid-the institute thus, in little more than

four years, accomplishing the superb feat of clearing over fifty thousand dollars debt. The sixteenth exhibition, held September 6th to October 2d of this year, yielded a profit of one thousand six hundred and eighty-eight dol- lars. The seventeenth, occupying the entire month of September, 1859, lost the institute nearly two hundred dollars, though receipts were over five thousand dollars. It was held in Pike's Opera house. During this year im- portant improvements and repairs were effected upon the building, and a large increase made in the periodicals provided for the reading-room. The opening lectures of the courses proposed for the winter were so poorly at- tended that the rest of the programme was given up al- together.

A special effort was made for the eighteenth exhibition, which proved to be the last under the auspices of the in- stitute, and it netted a profit of three hundred dollars. The large building erected for the Catholic institute was used, as well as the building of the Mechanics' institute. Fifteen hundred dollars were given in awards. The win- ter lectures were again omitted.

Then came the war. No exhibition, no lectures, noth- 1 ing new, could now be undertaken. Rents in the build- ing were reduced, and the revenues of the institute be- came very small. Attendance upon the school of design decreased so much (to less than one-third of the former number), that at one time its temporary suspen- sion was seriously contemplated. "The main duty of the board," says the Historical Sketch, "was to keep the institution free from debt, and work quietly along the different branches of the same." The school of design was continued, and in 1862 moved from Greenwood hall into the fourth story of the institute building, which had been vacated by the Eagle lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. This change gave the board the large hall to rent for exhibitions, concerts, etc. In 1863-4 the attend- · ance upon the school increased to one hundred and fifty and the institute treasury gained a balance of more than one thousand seven hundred dollars, after paving over eight hundred dollars for improvements in Greenwood hall. The balance in March, 1865, had increased to three thousand and forty-nine dollars and fourteen cents, and there were no debts. After the war the association pros- pered, financially, and by March, 1866, had four thousand dollars invested in United States bonds. Repairs and alterations were made the year before to the amount of two thousand three hundred and forty-five dollars and eigh- teen cents, and improvements costing one thousand six hundred dollars the next year. In 1866-7 the school of design had two hundred and eighty members; the treas- ury balance increased to seven thousand dollars, and lec- tures were delivered by Rev. Drs. A. D. Mayo and I. W. Wiley, and Professor Daniel Vaughan. About seven hundred dollars were now spent annually for reading matter, mostly technical and scientific. Classes in nat- ural philosophy and chemistry were organized the next winter, with lectures upon the respective topics by Wil- liam M. Davis and J. F. Wisnewski, but neither class in- structions nor lectures were well attended. The large hall was entirely remodeled, and fine portraits of them-

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selves given for it to the institute by Messrs. Charles F. Wilstach, Miles Greenwood, and Marston Allen. It was the most prosperous year known in the history of the school of design, the attendance reaching two hundred and eighty-eight. The next year found nine thousand dollars in the treasury. There were no lectures, but the school of design was still highly successful.

In April, 1868, a circular was issued by the institute and sent far and wide, proposing a "grand exhibition of arts and manufactures" in the Queen City Skating Rink, in September of that year ; but of five hundred persons and firms to whom it was sent, only twenty-six returned responses, and the project was therefore abandoned.

August 12, 1868, Mr. Marston Allen, an emeritus director of the association, died in the eightieth year of his age. He was much mourned by the members of the institute and citizens in generally.

In 1869-70 important changes were made in the store- rooms on the first floor of the institute building, where- by the rents were increased six hundred and fifty dollars a year. The balance in the treasury March, 1870, was twelve thousand one hundred and thirty-five dollars and twenty-four cents. A resolution was adopted October 5, 1869, for the holding of a grand industrial exhibition during the fall of the next year-a movement which, with the co-operation of the chamber of commerce and board of trade, resulted in the magnificent series of ex- positions held that year and since, whose history is de- tailed elsewhere. The public library removed to its own building during the year 1869-70, and, after consider- able negotiation and calculation, the institute paid to the board of directors the amount of the lease money agreed upon July 31, 1856, ten thousand dollars, less one thou- sand five hundred dollars for books of its library lost or damaged, for the cancellation of the lease. In 1871-2 a new roof was placed upon the institute building, and other improvements made-all together costing the so- ciety two thousand seven hundred dollars. Further changes were made 1873-4 in the Vine street stores of the building, to the value of one thousand and fifty dol- lars, and repairs were made to the main hall the next year, involving an expenditure of more than three thou- sand dollars. A class in natural philosophy was organ- ized the next year, but not with much success. At the exposition of 1875 the institute offered large special premiums of its own for the best cut off stationary steam engine, and for the best stationary steam engine, slide valve, not less than twenty-five nor more than sev- enty-five horse-power. In 1876 another temporary in- vestment was made by the institute of two thousand dollars in Federal securities. The next year, partly as a means of escape from the halls in case of fire, being warned by the then recent terrible calamity at Brooklyn, the stairways and entrances to the halls from the differ- ent floors were thoroughly remodeled, and several new ante and wash-rooms were provided, with a costly steam apparatus for heating. About ten thousand dollars were expended on these improvements. When the great Music hall was projected the institute gave one thousand dollars towards its erection, and afterwards five hundred

toward the construction of the wings, or Exposition build- ings proper.

In the fall of 1878 the directors of the institute organ- ized a new " department of industrial improvements," for the purpose of, examining into the merits of alleged new improvements in the industrial arts, and conferring awards upon such as, after thorough investigation, are found worthy ; this action, the prospectus of the depart- ment says, "being taken in furtherance of the original objects of the Ohio Mechanics' Institute, viz .: 'To pro- mote improvements in manufactures and the mechanic arts."

November 20, 1878, occurred the semi-centennial an- niversary of the foundation of the institute. It was in contemplation to have a formal observance of this day, with fitting ceremonies ; but it was finally determined in- stead to issue an historical sketch of the society, as had been done at the quarter-centennial, twenty-five years be- fore. It contains about one hundred pages, and repre- sents very creditable work, in the points of industry and literary skill. We have found it invaluable in the prepar- ation of this synopsis.

The School of Design was very successful during the year 1878-9, its enrollment mounting to two hundred and twenty. A system of awards for attendance and other merits was introduced, in the shape of medals and certificates of progress, and worked well. An agree- able incident of the year was the complimentary entertain- ment, consisting of instrumental and vocal music, recita- tions, sketches, etc., tendered to the school and its friends on the evening of January 11, 1879, in Grenwood hall- an affair which passed off very happily.

During 1879 -- 80 the enrollment was two hundred and thirty-five, and ten teachers were in charge. The system of awards was continued with success, and gold badges of chaste and appropriate design were added to the med- als and certificates. The announcements for the twenty- fifth annual session of the school, which began October 22, 1880, set forth three departments-mechanical, for machinists, metal workers, pattern makers, founders, blacksmiths, etc .; architectural, for carpenters, masons, wood workers, builders, etc .; and artistic, for free-hand drawing, perspective, crayon, etc., for painters, plasterers, carvers, gilders, cabinet-makers, etc .- besides special classes in original designing, for advanced pupils in draw- ing and for instruction in designing as applied to manu- facturers; modeling in clay, as applied in the several branches of industrial art; and drawing from life. Mr. John B. Heich has been principal for a number of years of this very useful arm of the institute's work.

Still another interesting feature was added to the in- stitute in carly December, 1880, by the organization of a department of science and arts, to which admission may be had for the small sum of three dollars. Several pro- fessors of the university and other prominent scholars in the city signified at once their intention of joining it.

During 1879-80 there were kept on file in the read- ing room one foreign and fourteen domestic dailies and twenty-six weekly papers, and sixteen monthly periodi- cals, mostly technical. "The board of directors espe-

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cially request," says their announcement, "a general use of the reading room," yet, to prevent growing abuses, it was resolved this year to welcome none to its benefits ex- cept those possessing cards of admission, which can be obtained by any well disposed person simply upon appli- cation to a director, and are good for six months, re- newable thereafter, on continued good behavior of the recipient.

The financial condition of the institute, after all its vi- cissitudes and pecuniary dangers, is sound and safe. During the fiscal year 1879-80 there were received, on account of rents alone, seven thousand nine hundred and eighty-five dollars, from memberships six hundred and eighty-nine dollars, and small amounts from other sources. The "Day will trust fund," a sum in the hands of the treasurer for the benefit of the institute, amounted to three thousand one hundred and forty-eight dollars and fifty-four cents, from which substantial benefits were real- ized. A satisfactory balance was in the treasury at the close of the year; the institute was . practically far out of debt; and its future was radiant with promise. It has had a notable past, and it will have a yet more noteworthy future.

The leading officers of the institute, since its organiza- tion, have been as follows:

Presidents-1828 to 1847, John P. Foote; 1847 to 1854, Miles Greenwood; 1854 to 1871, Charles F. Wil- stach; 1871 to 1881, Thomas Gilpin. It is thus seen that, during the fifty-two years of the society's existence, it has had but four presidents, with an average term of thirteen years each.

Vice-Presidents-Calvin Fletcher, 1828-39; George C. Miller, 1840 -- 41; G. Muscroft, 1841-2; W. S. Merrill, 1843 -- 4: Jacob Ernst, 1844 -- 5; Joseph G. Rust, 1846-7; Benjamin Bruce, 1847 -- 5.1; R. C. Phillips, 1851 -- 2; Charles F. Wilstach, 1852 -- 3; George Graham, 1853 -- 4; William Huddart, 1854 -- 6; George D. Winchell, 1856 -- 8; H. H. Smith, 1858-9; E. M. Shield, 1859-60; H. E. Nottingham, 1860 -- 1 ; Isaac Greenwald, 1861 -- 2; Andrew Erkenbrecher, 1862-3: Eli C. Baldwin, 1863 -- 6; Isaac Greenwald, 1866 -- 9; P. P. Lane, 1869-71; John F. Wiltsee, 1871-2 ; James Dale, 1872 -- 81.

Secretary-D. T. Disney, 1828-9 and 1830-1; John L. Talbot, 1829-30, 1831-2, 1837-8, and 1841-2; John Laugh- lin, 1832-4; Clement Dare, 1834-5; Joseph Gest, 1835-6; B. Fisher, 1836-7; L. T. Wells, 1838-9; Robert Lawson, 1840-1; 1841-2, Charles W. Thorp (to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Mr. Talbot); Thomas G. Shaeffer, 1842-4, and 1845-7; J. W. Applegate, 1844-5.

Recording secretaries-J. L. Whetstone, 1847-9; Hen- ry M. Ritter (vice Whetstone, resigned); H. W. Stephen- son, 1849-5:, and 1854-5; J. W. Thomas, 1851-2; W. G. Neilson (vice Thomas, resigned); George W. Kendall, 1852-3; James A. Semple, 1854-5 (vice Stephenson re- signed); C. D. Meader, 1855-6; Caleb C. Whitson, 1856- 61; W. W. Innes, 1861-2; Hugh McCollum, 1862-72; E. A. Townley, 1872-3; H. W. Stephenson, 1873-9; 1879-81, W. B. Bruce.

Corresponding secretary-John B. Foote, 1847-8; John G. Anthony, 1848-50; John L. Whetstone, 1850-1, 1852-

3, and 1854; W. B. Chapman, 1851-2; George W. Kendall, 1853-4; A. L. Burke, 1854-8 (1854-5 vice Whet- stone, resigned); John F. Wiltsee, 1858-9; B. R. Alley, 1859-60; W. W. Innes, 1860-1; W. P. Swain, 1861-2; George T. Jones, 1862-3; A. Erkenbrecher, 1863-6; Thomas Gilpin, 1866-71; Frank Millward, 1871-8; P. P. Lane, 1878-9 (to fill vacancy caused by death of Mr. Millward); Harvey Jones, 1879-81.

Treasurer-Clement Dare, 1828-9, and 1830-4; Lu- man Watson, 1829-30; George Graham, 1834-6; Joseph Gest, 1836-7; G. C. Miller, 1837-9; J. L. Talbot, 1840-1; James Pearce, 1841-2, 1843-5, and 1846-8; John W. Ap- plegate, 1845-6; H. W. Stephenson, 1848-9, 1858-9, and 1871-2; J. A. James, 1849-50; L. T. Wells, 1850-2; Benjamin Bruce, 1852-4; W. B. Chapman, 1854-8; John T. Wiltsee, 1859-71; Hugh McCollum, 1872-81.

Clerk of the board of directors-John B. Heich, 1856-81.

The record of officers-elect for 1839-40 is lost; also that of 1842-3, except as to president and secretary.

THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY.

Thisrenowned institution, one of the crowning glories of Cincinnati, owes its origin, in the first instance, to the en- terprise and energy of just one man-a young lawyer and teacher named Ormsby M. Mitchel. While serving as professor of mathematics, natural philosophy and astrono- my in the Cincinnati college, he found his instructions seri- ously hampered by the lack of a sufficient equipment of apparatus; and his plans for its procurement gradually grew in his teeming brain until they included the mag- nificent project of an astronomical observatory, with one of the finest telescopes in America and other instruments and apparatus to correspond. He began in the spring of 1842, by an effort to excite the interest of the local pub- lic in astronomy by a series of lectures upon the subject, and faced an audience of sixteen at his opening-a strange contrast to the audience of two thousand which crowded one of the largest audience-rooms in the city upon therepetitition of his last lecture. Broaching his pro ject in due time, in three weeks he had secured the for- mation of the Cincinnati Astronomical society and a sub- scription of seven thousand five hundred dollars, in three hundred shares of twenty-five dollars each, for an obser- vatory. Mitchel sailed from New York June 16th, of the same year, for Europe, carrying in his heart the hope of a great equatorially-mounted, achromatic, refracting telescope. Not half a dozen glasses fit for such an in- strument then existed; but he found an unfinished one, of twelve inches, in the cabinet of Mertz, successor of the celebrated Frauenhofer, at Munich, which he had tested and very thoroughly approved. Notwithstanding scarcely three-fourths of the requisite amount had been subscribed, he had the nerve to close a contract for the mounting of this at a cost of ten thousand dollars, and in a hundred days from the date of starting was at home again, having meanwhile taken time to visit and inspect carefully sev- eral of the great observatories abroad, undertake some special studies there, and make some important acquain- tances among foreign astronomers. He reported his suc-

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cess to an immense gathering of the members of the as- sociation and other friends of the enterprise; and the pe- cuniary prospects of the scheme decidedly looked up thenceforth. Mr. Nicholas Longworth gave the society permission to select any four acres out of twenty-five of his property on Mount Auburn, to be held for the uses of the observatory. The next succeeding events can best be told in the eloquent words of Professor Mitchel himself, as he tells the story in one of his brilliant lec- tures :

On the ninth of November, 1843, the corner-stone of the observatory was laid by John Quincy Adams, in the presence of a vast multitude, with appropriate ceremonies, and followed by the delivery of an address replete with beauty and eloquence. The season was too far advanced to permit anything to be done toward the erection of the building dur- ing the fall; and, indeed, it was not the intention of the board of di- rectors to proceed with the building, until every dollar required in the payment for the great telescope should have been remitted to Europe. At the time of laying the corner-stone, but three thousand dollars, out of nine thousand five hundred, had been paid. This was the amount re- quired in the contract, to be paid on signing, and the remaining sum became due on finishing the instrument.

The contract having been made, conditionally, in July, 1842, it was believed the great refractor would be shipped for the United States in . June, 1844, and to meet our engagements the sum of six thousand five hundred dollars must be raised.

This amount was subscribed, but, in consequence of commercial difficulties, all efforts hitherto made to collect it had been unavailing; and in February, 1844, the board of control solicited the director of the observatory [Mitchel] to become the general agent of the society and to collect all old subscriptions, and obtain such new ones as might be necessary to make up the requisite sum. The accounts in the hands of the previous collector were accordingly turned over to me, and a systematic effort was made to close them up. A regular journal was 'kept of each day's work, noting the number of hours employed, the persons visited, those actually found, the sums collected, the promises to pay, the positive repudiations, the due-bills taken, payable in cash and trade, and the day on which I was requested to call again. These intervals extended from a week or ten days to four months. The hour was in general fixed, and when the day rolled round and the hour arrived, the agent of the society presented himself and referred to the memoranda. In many cases another and another time was appointed, until, in some instances, almost as many calls were made as there were dollars due. By systematic perseverance, at the end of some forty days, the sum of three thousand dollars was paid over to the treasurer, as the amount collected from old subscribers. Nearly two thousand dollars of due-bills had been taken, payable in carpenter work, paint- ing, dry goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, plastering, bricklaying, blacksmith work, paints and oils, groceries, pork-barrels, flour, bacon, and lard, hardware, iron, nails, etc .; in short, in every variety of trade, materials, and workmanship. The due-bills, in cash, brought about five hundred dollars in the course of the next thirty days, and a fur- ther sum of three thousand dollars was required for the last remittance to Europe.

It was determined to raise this amount, in large sums, from wealthy and liberal citizens who had already become members of our society. The list first made out, and the sums placed opposite the names of cach person, is now in my possession. On paper the exact amount was made up in the simplest and most expeditious manner; eight names had the sum of two hundred dollars opposite them, ten names were marked one hundred dollars cach, and the remaining ones fifty dollars each. Such was the singular accuracy in the calculation that, when the theory was reduced to practice, it failed in but one solitary instance, One person, upon whom we had relied for two hundred dollars, de- clined absolutely, and his place was filled by another.

I called on one of the eight individuals marked at two hundred dol- lars, and, after a few moments' conversation, he told me that, in case one hundred dollars would be of any service to me, he would gladly sub- scribe that amount. I showed him my list, and finding his name among those reckoned at two hundred dollars, he remarked that he woukl not mar so beautiful a scheme for the sum of one hundred dollars, and accordingly entered his name in its appropriate place.

At a meeting held in May, of the board of control, the treasurer reported that the entire amount was now in the treasury, with the

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History of Cincinnati, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 61

Author: Ford, Henry A., comp; Ford, Kate B., joint comp Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Cleveland, O., L.A. Williams & co. Number of Pages: 666

Author: Ford, Henry A., comp; Ford, Kate B., joint comp
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, O., L.A. Williams & co.
Number of Pages: 666