USA > Ohio > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families > Part 46
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The contract was referred to the voters of the town for ratification on Tuesday. July 22. . The result of the vote was six hundred eighteen in favor of the ratification of the contract and forty-four against it.
The persons who received the franchise immediately set to work upon the construc- tion of the new system. Great trouble was experienced, however, In finding a suitable water supply and before it was finally found the franchise was assigned. in 1904. to the Wilmington Water and Light Company, at that time holding the electric light franchise. They were surressful and the village council, on July 6. 1906. passed the following resolution : "Wheress, the Wilmington Water and Light Company, having fully com- plied with all the requirements of their contract, and at the test of the said plant on June 28, 1906, all of the requirements were more than complied with; be It
"Resolved, that the said plant and report of said company be and the same is hereby accepted and approved."
The Wilmington Water and Light Company continued to furnish the town and its inhabitants with water until May 1, 1914, when Its franchise and equipment were absorbed by the Dayton Power and Light Company, which is the present (1915) holder of the franchise.
WILMINGTON GAS. LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY.
The question of erecting ans works In Wilmington began to be agitated by the citizens in the early part of 1872, who had received propositions from R. T. Cloverdale. of Cincinnati. On February 9. 1872, the town council passed an ordinance giving the company the right to Incorporate and Install their plant. By the authority of the counell, an election was held on November 4. 1872. to decide whether the citizens were willing to be taxed for the purpose of supplying the village with gas, and resulted in a vote of two hundred forty five "yes" and forty-six "no." The proposition accepted was that the village should take not less than forty Inmps, at a cost of three dollars and fifty cents per thousand cubic feet, and other consumers to be furnished at a rate of four dollars per thousand cubic feet. Ground was purchased. adjoining the railroad. of H. W. Hale. by Mr. Cloverdale, and gasworks erected. On April 10. 1573. the Wilmington Gas. Light and Coke Company was organized amul the following officers elected : D. Sanders. president : T. Q. Hidebrant, secretary ; Dr. I. B. Welch, treasurer : D. Sanders. T. Q. Hidebrant. Doctor Welch, J. S. Foster and Joseph Kirkup, directors.
The capital stock of the company was thirty thousand dollars and the contract. price with Mr. Cloverdale for the erection of the works was twenty-two thousand six hundred dollars. The organization of the above company was a mere matter of form. inasmuch as none of the men were stockholders and had no pecuniary interest in the
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enterprise, it belonging solely to Mir. Cloverdale. Later In the spring, fifty-three lamps were located as follow: Ten on Columbus street, extending from Prarie avenue to South street : fourteen on Locust street, extending from Highland street to Mulberry ; thirteen on Main street, extending from Wood to Walnut streets; nine on Sugartree street, extending from Walnut east; one at the alley on Mulberry, between Main and Locust : one on South street ; one at each of the following places on South street ; alleys between Sugartree and Main; Main and Locust ; Locust and Columbus; saw-mill alley; one on Walnut, near the bridge.
The works were completed in the summer of 1873. and Wilmington for the first time appeared under gas lights on the evening of Saturday, August 8, 1873, when the citizens turned out en masse to see the village in a new light. Monday evening was the time set for the initial illumination, and. during the day, people arrived from Cincinnati, Circleville and Washington Court House to be present at the grand opening. The citizens entered into the spirit of preparation, and South Main never looked more plensing and cheerful. As the shades of evening drew on, those of the citizens who bad installed gas fixtures began lighting up, and by nightfall the streets made a beautiful apperance. Several of the business houses attracted general attention, and the following deserve mention for their beautiful display : Clinton County National Bank, R. M. Wickersham's dry-goods store. Irons & Crane, and Peter's hardware stores. Sanders' drug store. Marbie's jewelry store, and the Gates House. In front of Sanders' drug store and the Gates House ornamental arches had been arranged, and underneath the arch, in front of the drug store, were the letters "S" and "T," and in front of the Gates House were "R. T. (."; the first signifying Sanders and Fulton, and the latter the initials of Mr. Cloverdale, the builder of the works. On the posts in front of the two banks temporary fixtures in the form of stars had been installed, which added much to the beauty and brilliancy of the street. At eight o'clock in the evening a delegation of the town council of Washington Court House, accompanied by the Wilmington council, and the officers of the company visited the gasworks and. under the guidance of Mr. Cloverdale. they were teken through the plant and shown the method of gas making. But the principal point of attraction for the evening was the banquet at the Gates House, given by Mr. Cloverdale for the officers of the company, the council of Wilmington and that of Washington Court House, with some invited guests from Cincinnati, Circleville and Wilmington. At nine o'clock the doors of the dining hall were thrown open and the guests were nshered in to a beautifully decorated and sumptuously laden table. After the luxuries had been partaken of to the fullest extent. the guests were given nuother feast in the form of toasts by different members present. All spoke congratulatory of the spirit and energy displayed by the citizens of Wilmington in the successful com- pletion of a long-cherished object. The company was then entertained with some delight- ful musie by the Wilmington String Band and Clark's Cornet Band and every one realized that the evening marked a new epoch in the life of the town.
The gasworks parsed from the hands of Mr. Cloverdale to Spmuel Covington, and from him to E. W. Hamlin, all Cincinnati men. It has been leased several times to other parties
The present officers are: G. N. Clapp, president and general manager ; A. I. Cole. secretary : S. G. Smith, treasurer; F. M. Clevenger, director. Mr. Clapp purchased the plant in 1809, He owned the plant individually for a number of years, but recently sold an interest to the other men, who now hold offices In the company. Besides furnishing light and fuel for the town. this company also manufactures coke, tar and by-products.
ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANTS.
In December, 1850, Adam Scott appeared before the village council of Wilmington and applied for an electric light franchise. Immediate action was deferred and a com-
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mittee appointed to investigate. On December 20, Mr. Harlan, the manager of the Wilmington Gas Company, the holders of the gas franchise, appeared before the council and protested against the allowing of an electric franchise. On January 3, 1890, the council called a meeting of the citizens of the town for the evening of January 20, in the city ball, for the purpose of determining what public sentiment was on the subject. A small crowd gathered at the city hall on the appointed day, and, after a rather heated discussion, adopted the following resolution :
"Resolved, by the citizens of Wilmington, in mass meeting assembled, that it is the sense of the public that electric lighting is preferable to gns. and we would recommend to the council that action be taken to the establishment of an electric light plant in our town."
A bill delegating to the village council of Wilmington the authority to submit to the citizens of the town the question of selling bonds to a sum not to exceed twenty thousand dollars for the construction of an electric light plant, was presented to the state Legisla- ture in April, 1891, was passed, and became a law.
When the council met on May 1, 1801, the gas company, whose contract expired November 1, 1-03. offered to put in an electric light plant if granted a franchise. At this meeting the council ordered the question to be submitted to the voters of the town on June 1. The result of this vote was three hundred fifty-three votes "Yes" and only fifteen votes "No."
The council received bids for a plant on April 12. 1892, and seven bids were received for a light plant and eight for a steam power plant. The plant was bought of the Fort Wayne Company for eleven thousand four hundred seventy-five dollars, and the engines front the Erie City Iron Works for four thousand two hundred and twenty-five dollars. The plant was to be installed according to specifications and running by July 22. On Mny 25. the council chose W. F. Hayes as the chief engineer, at a salary of fifty dollars a month and house rent; Joseph Merriman was made second engineer and Sam Glenn, lineman.
. During the week ending August 31. the lights were turned on several times, but did not work very well. It was found that the engines that had been purchased were too small and a change was made from a hundred-horse-power engine to one of one hundred and fifty horse-power, at a cost of six hundred dollars to the city. A board of trustees. consisting of three men appointed by the council, was placed in charge of the plant.
On January 21. 1898. the village council ordered that the question of selling ten thousand dollars' worth of bonds to purchase a new engine for the electric light plant. and for the payment of its indebtedness, which had accumulated for several years past, be submitted to the voters of the town on February 24. At this same meeting G. W. Clapp. owner of the gasworks, offered for the light plant and a ten-year franchise. sixteen thousand dollars or any amount set by three disinterested appraisers. The vote on February 24, showed five hundred seventy for, and sixty-seven against the bond issue.
The report of the trustees of the plant for March 15, 1900, showed a deficit at the beginning of the year of twelve hundred ninety-eight dollars and five cents, but a total gain at the end of the year of one thousand eight hundred seventy-six dollars, putting the plant on a self-sustaining basis.
On June 5. 1901. H. F. Gwynn. of the Gwynn Central Station Heating Company (who had received a franchise for a central heating station), made a bld of twelve thousand dollars for the light plant. The council rejected this offer after consideration.
The council, on November 1, 1901, ordered that the light plant be offered for sale and that the clerk receive bids for the same. Bids were received, hut, for some reason, none was accepted. The plant was again advertised for sale In the papers on January 1, 1903.
On January 9 the village council passed the following: "An ordinance to contract
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CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.
with the United Water and Light Company of New Jersey, for the purpose of lighting the streets, alleys, ways and commons of the village of Wilmington, Ohio, with electricity and furnishing light and power for public buildings and for use by private parties as herein set forth, said contract being dated the 9th day of January, A. D. 1903, to take effect the first day of February, A. D. 1903, to be in force for a period of ten years, to-wit, to February 1, A. D., 1913."
The company was to provide one hundred are lights, at fifty-two dollars and fifty cents per lamp per annum, on a midnight schedule, or an additional twenty-two dollars and fifty cents for an all-night schedule.
On January 21, 1903, the electric light plant was sold to the United Water and Light Company, of New Jersey, for the sum of twelve thousand dollars-to be paid "on or before May 1, 1903, with five per cent. Interest from February 1, 1903, until paid."
The trustees of the light plant continued in charge until March 1, 1903, when they made their last report, as follow :
1
Receipts.
Amount from county treasurer $7.973.73
Amount from commercial lighting. 7,797.57
Amount from commercial wiring 554.60
Amount from sale of oil barrels.
10.45
Amount from sale of old fulex
59.81
Amount from sale of old copper.
17.42
Amount from sale of old belt
10.00
Amount from sundry receipts
7.58
Amount from paid insurance
79.82
Total receipts from March 1, 1901, to March 1, 1903.
$10,510.96
Disbursements.
Amount paid for labor
$5.865.75
Amount paid for fuel 4,315,90
Amount paid for ofls
282.53
Amount paid for carbons 396.52
Amount paid for insurance
185.00
Amount paid for water
309.30
Amount paid for specials (improvements on boilers and machines)
1,405.47
Amount paid for general and sundry supplies.
1.942.72
Amount paid for interest on 1900 overdraft
3.96
14.767.22 Total
Balance amount on hand March 1. 1903 $1,743.22
Two more orders were made out after this report was prepared. amounting to $17.75. leaving $1,725.09, which was turned over to the city treasurer, R. C. Stumm, on May 6. 1903.
In 1903 the Wilmington Water and Light Company was formed and the I'nited Water and Licht Company of New Jersey gave way to it In October. 1904. In 1912 the contract with them was renewed, to take effect on February 1. 1913, and to run for ten Inore years.
The Wilmington Water and Light Company also received the water franchise and contract from the village council In 1906. This company continued to furnish the city with water and light until May 1. 1914, when it gave way to the Dayton Power and Light Company. Wilmington district, which is the present holder of both the water and (22)
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CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.
light contracts and franchises. The officers of the Wilmington Water and Light Company, at the time of Its liquidation, were Henry Leees, Plymouth, Pennsylvania, president ; J. C. Martin, Wilmington, Ohio, vice-president; A. D. Shonk, Plymouth, Pennsylvania, secre- tary; and H. B. Schooley, Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, treasurer. The Dayton Power and Light Company purchased the total of the Wilmington company's one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars of bonds and one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars of stock on January 1, 1914, and later obtained permission from the public utilities commission to absorb It, which it did on May 1. 1914. The officers of the Dayton Power and Light Company are: F. M. Tait. New York, president and general manager; E. P. Matthews, Dayton, Ohio, vice-president and general counsel; W. M. Stroup, Dayton, Ohio, vice-president ; O. H. Hutchins, Dayton, Ohio, associate general manager: Luther E. Funkhouser, Dayton, Ohio, secretary and treasurer; and F. C. Jeanot, Wilmington, superintendent of the Wilmington district.
LIGHT ARCHES.
In 1910, when the city of Wilmington was making preparations for their centennial celebration, four light arches were put up on South Street. This was merely a part of the home-coming decorations, but they added so much to the looks of the town that they were made a permanent fixture. After the centennial was over and the committees had made their settlements, they found that they had four hundred dollars left. It seemed that they were undecided how to spend this sum. After due deliberation, they decided to erect more arches. Several private donations were received and, with the amount already on hand, they had sufficient funds to erect nine additional arches. They were fitted with electric lights, adding greatly to the beauty of the town.
CITY HALL.
The question of levying a tax for the purpose of erecting a city hall and engine house was authorized to be submitted to the voters of the city of Wilmington by the council on March 17. 1876. The election was held April 3, 1876, and resulted in a vote of three hundred and eighty-three to one hundred and forty-six in favor of the project. The council was authorized by a special act of the state Legislature, dated March 17, 1877. to issue bonds not exceeding in amount fifteen thousand dollars, and to levy a tax not to exceed two and one-half mills of the valuation of the taxable property of the town.
The plans and specifications for the new structure were drawn up by William M. Cleveland, architect. The contract for Its construction was awarded to Fisher & Hughes for sixteen thousand nine bundred and eighty dollars. but in the course of erection some changes were made and the cost of the building was Increased to eighteen thousand three hundred ninety-nine dollars and forty-nine cents. Fisher & Hughes sublet the brick and stone work on the new building to McMillan Brothers, the galvanized iron and slating to Farquhar & Sparks, and the painting to Grittin & Austin. The plastering was done by P. J. Murphy, under employment of the contractor. The total cost was twenty thousand six dollars and fifty-two cents.
The first stone in this building was laid on Friday, May 25. 1877. by Robert McMillan, and the building was completed in the spring of 1578. It is an imposing structure, two stories high, with a mansard roof. The front is formed of three towers, reaching to the roof; the middle tower is surmounted by a belfry and clock, and In each roof of the other towers are two dormer windows The clock In the middle tower was, at the time of Its erection, the largest of its kind in the United States, outside of the clock on the city hall in Philadelphia. It now ranks sixth in size in this country, On the outside walls on either side are five buttresses extending from the ground to near the top of the building. four of which culminate. after making two offsets, in as many chimneys.
The hall was formally opened and dedicated under the direction of the city council
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on the evening of Thursday, April 18, 1878, when the building was presented by Mayor Hayes and received by W. B. Telfair, Esq. Music was furnished by the Wilmington orchestra and choir.
On the first floor of the building are eight rooms, as follow : East half. front room, mayor's office; middle room, for township purposes; rear room, council chamber; west half, occupied by the fire department ; large room in front, engine room; three rooms in the rear occupied by the engineer of the fire department as a residence. The entire second story comprises the auditorium. Across the rear of the auditorium Is a gallery. The stage is well equipped with several changes of scenery, a full-sized stage honse, set of flood lights and several well-kept dressing rooms. The auditorium has a seating capacity of seven hundred and seven.
In 1910 five thousand dollars was spent in remodeling the auditorium and in pur- chasing new equipment for Its stage. This was done In preparation for the Wilmington and Clinton County Centennial and Home coming.
In consideration of two thousand dollars paid by the trustees of U'nton township to the village of Wilmington at the time of the erection of the building, the city granted them a perpetual lease on a room on the first floor of the building for township purposes.
STREET PAVING.
The initial work was begun towards paving the streets of Wilmington In the fall of 1913, but was soon stopped by court injunction, and was not resumed until the spring of 1915. The estimated value of the entire work, of a mile and one fifth, was seventy-two thousand dollars. The city paid twelve thousand dollars of this amount for street crossings and the property holders the remaining sixty thousand dollars. The entire contract was let at one time to Freshwater Brothers' Company, Chester, West Virginia. It is laid with Wassal brick, manufactured at Glouster, Ohio. F. H. Beckler, of Athens, was the engineer. The mile and a fifth of paving is on three streets: Main street, from Walnut on the east to Wood on the west : South street, from Birdsill on the north to the Pennsylvania railroad tracks on the south; Locust street, from the Baltimore & Ohio railroad tracks on the east to Mulberry on the west.
The street cleaning department is in charge of Charles Harmell and James McCarty. These two men are members of the fire department, receiving fifty dollars per month for their services in this enpacity and five dollars extra for their work In sweeping the streets. The equipment consists of a sprinkler and a sweeper, the horses of the fire department being used with the sprinkler and sweeper. The streets are cleaned three times a week.
WALKER MEMORIAL BUILDING.
According to the will of the late Samuel Walker, which was made In 1900 and read In 1003, clause three of said will gave to the city of Wilmington a certain part of the Walker estate. The first settlement of this will was made by the receivers of the estate to the city of Wilmington on December 5. 1911. and consisted of $25,555.54 in cash. This was only a part of the amount due the city. The city council purchased the Interest of the heirs of this estate for $7.500 and gave Mrs. Walker's heirs $1,333.40 for their part and thus enme into possession of the entire estate, or rather funds left by Mr. Walker for the memorial building. The clause which gave this amount to the city sald that it should be used for the erection of a library and memorial building for the city.
The lot and that part of a building which had been previously constructed were pur- chased of the Wilmington Builling and Loan Association for five thousand dollars, It had heen previously owned by Ontealt & Zahn, who had placed the foundation for a garage but had been compelled to abandon the enterprise on account of insufficient funds. On March 7, 1913, the final settlement of the estate was made in the probate court and through this settlement the city came In possession of the remaining part of the Walker
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CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.
estate, to the amount of twenty-three thousand seven hundred dollars. The work on he memorial building was immediately begun and it was finished and dedicated in 1014.
This is a beautiful and modern building, located on Main street between Mulberry and South, adjoining the Martin hotel. The first floor is used as a business room, while the second story contains the Commercial Club rooms, a library room and a photograph studio.
WILSON FLAG TOWER.
The Wilson flag tower was dedicated on August 1, 1898. The dedication ceremony for this memorial was held in conjunction with the Peace-Day program. This was a gala day for the people of Wilmington and a general celebration was held. The city officials, fire department. lodges, school children and townspeople joined In the spirit of the day and helped to make the parade and dedication a sucress.
The flag staff is of galvanized Iron and the frame work is eighteen feet square at the base and tapers to a height of one hundred and twenty feet. The flag staff is thirty feet high. There is a circle of sixteen lights at the top and present a beautiful appearance when lighted. This was erected at a cost of seven hundred dollars and was presented to the town by A. J. Wilson, president of the First National Bank. A platform for the accommodation of the band, octagonal in shape and enclosed by an iron rail, stands within the tower, at a distance of ten feet from the sidewalk.
MILITARY BAND.
The Wilmington Military Band was organized in 1887, with Edwin Bath as director. At this time it was known as the Grand Army Band. Mr. Bath served as director from 1887 to 1892. when he moved to Canada. Leo Weltz succeeded to the directorship, which position he held until 1006. During this time the band was reorganized and the name changed to the Wilmington Military Band. Mr. Rath, who has served as leader since 1006. received his musical education at Kneller Hall, London, England, which is the military school of music for England. He also served six years in the English army. before emigrating to this country in 1851. Mr. Bath has been actively associated with different musical interests in this country and is a member of the Federation of Musi- cians, Local No. 1. Cincinnati.
The number of members in this band has never exceeded thirteen and only a few times has it fallen below this number. The present members are: Edwin Rath. director and solo cornet: W. H. Taylor, assistant solo cornet : Hamlin Smith. solo clarinet : C. E. Nichols. first clarinet : D. K. Palmer, second clarinet : Richard Bell, first alto: Moscow Marshall, second alto: Charles Troops, first trombone : James Keefe, second trombone; Jerome Devoe. baritone; E. Chestnut. E-flat tuba : Joe M. Walker, bass drum. and James Swisshelm, snare drum. This hand has always been recognized as a leader In this part of the state and has attained a high standard of efficiency. It has a reputa- tion of playing up-to-date, classical and popular music. Many of its members are enpabile soloists, Concerts are given by the band every Tuesday night during the summer months and meet with the heartiest approval of the town and country people. These concerts are given in the bandstand at the corner of Main and South streeets, which was built for this purpose In the Wilson tower. This is the most unique bandstand in this part of the state.
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