USA > Ohio > Medina County > History of Medina county and Ohio > Part 63
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William Asire, total loss about. $7,000
Insurance. 900
A. Andrews, loss in money and clothes, about ... 300
H. G. Blake, total loss about. 10,000
Insurance. 8,000
J. M. Beebe lost household furniture, value not known.
J. A. Rettig lost property to the amount of ..... 300
C. E. Bostwick, total loss about. 2,300
J. B. Beckwith, total loss about. 500
Dr. J. L. Bean, total loss about. 700
E. Brenner (hotel), total loss about 2,500
S. H. Bradley & Son, total loss about. 9,300
Insurance. 5,500
T. A. Blackford, total loss about. 6,000
Insurance. 1,000
G. A. L. Boult, total loss about. 8,000
Insurance. 4,000
G. D. Billings (Dentist), total loss about. 700
Mrs. Maria Bennett, total loss about. 100
Mrs. H. M. Butler lost furniture and clothing.
John Barrow, total loss about. 1,500
J. W. Blanott lost boot and shoe store.
C. Castle, total loss about. 4,300
Insurance .. 2,000
W. H. Canfield, total loss about 200
Frank Charis, total loss about. 300
Commercial Bank, loss about .. 1,700
E. J. Fenn was insured for $3,000 and received for loss 460
J. H. Greene (Gazette), loss about. 4,000
Goodwin & Hinman loss over insurance. 600
A. Griesinger, loss over insurance 800
A. Houck (International Hotel), loss about 6,500
J. W. Hatch total loss about. 1,000
S. Humphreville loss about. 2,000
High & Bradway total loss. 6,000
J. F. Hobart, insured for $700 and received for loss. 100
George W. Hobart, loss above insurance about .. 800
Mrs. O. M. Johnson, loss above insurance about 200
L. Leon, insured for $5,000, and received for loss. 730
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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
S. P. Lampman, loss $500, no insurance.
Odd Fellows, on furniture in hall, insured for $400, received. $100
J. P. Miller, insured for $1,000, saved goods amounting to $3,000, loss 2,000
3,500 McDowell Brothers, loss over insurance.
Dr. P. E. Munger, loss $100, no insurance
Dr. L. S. Murray (no insurance) .. 300
A. Matteson, total loss over insurance, about ... 1,300
0. & S. S. Oatman, loss about $2,000, no in- surance.
A. I. Root's jewelry store, loss over insurance .. 1,000
Renz & Brenner, total loss about. 5,500
Insurance. 1,000
Dr. J. W. Robinson, total loss about. 500 No insurance.
W. O. Sanders, total loss about. 4,500 No insurance.
R. P. Seaton, insured for $1,000, received for loss 302
Selkirk Bros., loss about. 4,000
No insurance.
H. Shuler, loss about. 700
No insurance.
W. H. Sypher, insured for $300, and received .. 100
William Shakespeare, tailor's tools, loss about 50
Dr. S. J. Smith, loss over insurance 2,500
L. W. Sacket (photographer), loss. 1,500 No insurance.
Tiffany & Co., insured for $6,000, loss. 2,500
S. B. Woodward, loss 500
No insurance.
D. A. Wells, insured for $900, received for loss 750
H. J. Walker, loss over insurance. 1,200
P. Warren (American House), loss over insur- ance. 200
J. B. Young, loss about. 1,000 No insurance.
Mrs. J. Whitmore, loss over insurance. 1,300
The people of Medina, although their town was, for the second time, laid in ashes, did not sit down in idleness, but went to work at once in good, hard earnest. For the purpose of re- building the town, an association was formed and duly incorporated by filing the necessary papers with the Secretary of State, with a capi- tal of $100,000, known as the " Medina Build- ing Association," and with the following incor- porators : H. G. Blake, John Rounds, S. H.
Bradley, A. W. MeClure, N. H. Bostwick, H. J. Walker, A. I. Root and W. C. Bradway. This association was formed in imitation of a similar one at Chardon, Ohio, a town that had been re- cently burnt, and re-built by means of a build- ing association. The Medina Building Associa- tion, however, did not amount to anything, and soon went by the board. Upon looking over the ground, and their financial balances, the people found themselves able to rebuild with- out the assistance of an association. As early as in May, several of the sufferers had commenced the work of rebuilding, or at least of clearing away the rubbish, preparatory to laying the foundation of their new structures. Among these were McClure & Rounds, A. I. Root, W. 0. Sanders, S. H. Bradley, H. G. Blake, Houck & Son, A. Griesinger, Renz & Brenner, and High & Bradway.
The Gazette, of July 15, 1870, contains this notice of the preparations for rebuilding the burnt district : " From the start, Mr. Blake an- nounced his determination to rebuild Phoenix Block. Messrs. Rounds & McClure, learning that Mr. Tiffany was not intending to rebuild. bought his lot for the purpose of putting up a block. A. I. Root, Sanders & Sturges, and S. H. Bradley also announced their intention to rebuild. This seeured buildings to cover ground which had been occupied by the Ainsworth Block. Matteson's lot was purchased by Mr. Boult, and then the ground-work for the new Union Block was complete. Shortly after. Dr. Smith purchased the Selkirk lots-south corner of the square-large enough to accom- modate two stores. One of these has been sold to E. J. Fenn, who will build next summer. Thus in a short time after the disaster, arrange- ments were made which would secure the re- building of that side of the square this year, as far up as the Humphreville lot. Shaw, Lewis and Pancoast have bought this lot, and, in con- neetion with J. F. Hobart, have made arrange- ments to build Commercial Block. Thus the
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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
- west side of the square has been disposed of and will be re-built this summer. Nearly as encouraging state of things exists in the burnt district south of the square. Mr. Chamberlin bought the Castle corner, and, with Mr. J. P. Miller. one-half of that block will be finished this season, the other half next year. The Messrs. Oatman are intending to put up a build- ing for their meat market. The Mechanics' Block. by Renz & Brenner, aud Griesinger, is being built upon the last lot of the burnt dis- trict. Across the street, the Eagle Hotel is nearly rebuilt.' So far as adding to the beauty of the town, the great fire, like that of Chicago, was beneficial, inasmuch as it was the means of ring to its history, the Gazette says: "The corner of the square, occupied by the imposing new three-story brick block of Hon. H. G. Blake, has an eventful history. In early years, it was the emporium for the trade of the neighborhood, aud, at the present day, holds its own as a business. ceuter. The fire of 1848 swept off the frame buildings which had accu- mulated there, and they were replaced by a handsome brick block, by Mr. Blake, who was theu, as now, the owner of the corner, and then, as now, public-spirited, energetic and liberal." This block was destroyed again by the fire of 1870, but efforts were made at once for rebuild- ing it. It occupies a space of 75x88 feet, is of building of it up with a much better class of brick, three stories high, with basement under buildings than generally fouud in a place the entire building. The first story is divided into stores, one room of which is occupied by the Phoenix Bank. The second story is mostly of- fices, while the third story is divided into two large halls ; one of them, and an elegant one it is, is used by the Odd Fellows ; the other, Phoenix Hall, 44x88 feet, is a very fine theater, well furnished with stage, scenery, etc., and will comfortably seat 500 persons. Many other blocks and substantial buildings were put up after the fire. The Barnard Block, Asire's fur- niture store, the Brenner House, and a number of others. These fine buildings, as we have said, give to Medina an elegant appearance seldom found in a towu of 1,500 inhabitants. size of Medina. All the blocks and buildings alluded to in the foregoing sketch have been put up, aud are of a character any town may well be proud of. Union Block, ou the west side of the square, preseuts a front of 131 feet and is from 60 to 100 feet deep, two stories high. It is divided into five stores, and was finished March 1, 1871. The brick was burned here for its coustruction, and the lumber and lime bought in Cleveland. It is a block credit- able alike to builders and owners, and cost, in round numbers, about $25,000. Mechauics' Block was commenced in June, 1870 ; the brick was furnished by E. Hale, of York. It is forty- four feet frout, sixty feet deep, with tiu roof, and cost about $7,000. It is a handsome business block, and is owned by Renz & Brenner, and A. Griesinger. Commercial Block was com- menced in August, 1870. T. D. Allen was the architect, and McMullen Brothers the contract- ors. It is seventy-four feet front by fifty feet deep, built of brick, two stories high, and cost some $12,000. It is one of the handsomest blocks in the city.
The Phoenix Block is another of the fine structures, that, like its memorable namesake, arose from the ashes of the great fire. Refer-
In February, 1877, another fire occurred, which, for a time, caused the greatest alarm and anxiety. The Empire Block and two or three other buildings adjacent were burned, re- sulting in a loss of several thousand dollars. The fire, however, was subdued and did not spread beyond the buildings mentioned. Great " wailing and lamentation " was heard in con- sequence of there being no organized fire depart- ment beyond a bucket brigade. It seems strange, that with all these fires, the people did not sooner wake up to the necessity of a well-systemized fire department. But, on the
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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
principle, apparently, that the lightning never ment is a three-story brick, 68x21 feet, con- strikes twice in the same place, this all-impor- tant move had up to this time been neglected. But the oft-repeated reminders of their negli- gence, finally aroused them to a sense of the emergency, and, in July, 1877, the Couneil authorized the issuance of bonds to the amount of $3,000 for the purpose of purchasing a fire engine, and made the following appointments in the newly created department, viz .: E. Bren- ner, Chief Engineer ; O. M. Jackson, First As- sistant, and Samuel Scott, Second Assistant. In August of the same year, a two-horse engiue was purchased, and arranged so that it could be drawn by men also. It is known as “ No. 4 Silsby Rotary Steam Fire Engine," and was built at Seneca Falls, N. Y. Three streams of water can be thrown, with a capacity of 425 gallons per minute. It was furnished com- pletely and performs effective service with very low steam. The hose eart, purchased at same time, carries 500 feet of rubber hose, all in good style and shape. Thus the Medina fire department is fully organized, and ready to meet the fire fiend with some show of advan- tage.
Medina, as a manufacturing town, does not make any great pretensions. There are, how- ever, a few establishments that do that kind of business, aud henee require some notice in these pages. Among the manufacturing es- tablishments, past and present, we may no- tice the stone and hollow ware factory, eheese factories, jewelry factories, Root's bee estab- lishment, carriage factory, foundry, planing- mill, grist-mill, etc., some of which have passed away among the things that were. The stone and hollow ware manufactory, is one of the most extensive industries in Medina. The buildings were erected in the fall and winter of 1874-75, and business operations commenced in the early spring of 1875. The original pro- prietors were Thomas Joues, D. M. Thomas and John Smart, of Troy, N. Y. The cstablish-
sisting of store, furnishing-room, engine-room, mill-room, etc. There is an average of some thirty-five hands employed, and a large amount of work is turned out annually. It is now owned, we believe, by W. H. Bradway. The cheese factories are also an extensive industry in Medina, as well as in the entire county. A factory was erected in 1866, by R. M. McDow- ell & Bro., which did a large business. The Gazette, of September 2, 1870, said : "Each year sinee it started, there has been au increase in its business. The milk of 700 cows is re- eeived daily aud made into cheese, the daily receipt being 14,000 pounds of milk, which is made up by seven hands." The Excelsior Cheese Factory was built in 1873-74, ou the site of the factory which had been burned. It is a frame building, with brick basement walls, and is owned by C. B. Chamberlin & Co. The main building is 28x82 feet, aud was erected at an aggregate cost of $5,000. It has a front of- fice and receiving-room 12x20 feet, and engine- room on west side which is fire-proof. The manufacturing room is 20x30 feet and contains three vats, a water reservoir and water pipes. The press-room is 12x28 feet ; the dry-room is 28x40 feet, with basement of same size. The capaeity of the establishment is sufficient to work up the milk of 1,000 cows, turning out a large number of cheeses daily.
The grist-mill of O. C. Shepard was built in 1872. The grist-mill is 30x40 feet, the saw- mill is 20x60 feet, and the engine-room is 27- x37 feet ; the engine is forty-five horse-power. The grist-mill contains two run of buhrs-one for wheat and one for eorn. There is every con- venieuce for handling and unloading grain, and the saw-mill has all the modern improved ma- chinery, together with the circular saws, one of which is fifty-four, the other thirty, inches in diameter. The planing-mill of W. H. Wood & Co., formerly owned by Warner & Smith, and built by them in 1874, is a large institution,
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and gives employment to several hands. The carriage factory of Stoaks & Bergey was quite an establishment, but has been burned sinee the work of preparing this history has been in progress.
The manufacture of silverware by D. A. Wells was at one time a large business in Me- dina. He used a considerable amount of sil- ver in the work turned out, which consisted of tea, table, dessert, mustard, sugar and eream spoons ; also pie, eake, butter knives, forks, oys- ter ladles, ete., with a variety of other artieles. From four to six hands were employed, and a large business was done for a number of years, but in the beginning of 1873, Mr. Wells failed, and the establishment was elosed. A. I. Root also earried on an extensive business in the manufacture of silverware, previous to his em- barkation in bee eulture, to which he now de- votes his attention, as notieed elsewhere. His business consisted in the manufacture of silver spoons, knives, ehains, rings, ete., etc., and as mueh as 4,500 pounds of gold and silver were used in a single year when his business was in the zenith of its glory.
A bubble that rose very suddenly to the bus- iness surface of Medina, and as suddenly burst, was the " Manchester Oil Company." It was regularly organized with John Sisler, Presi- dent ; A. C. Conger, Seeretary ; Levi Stump, Treasurer ; David Stump, General Superin- tendent, together with five other eitizens of Manchester, who constituted the company. The company leased 300 aeres of land from Truman Arthur, Rev. Clark, Freeman Stoddard, Lueien Clark, Martin A. Harding and Mr. Aply. This land was on Roeky River, three miles north of the village, and preparations were at onee made for sinking a well. The work of boring was commenced in due time, and at a depth of 248 feet below the surface, oil was ob- tained, in what was supposed paying quanti- ties. The requisite machinery was put in and about a barrel per hour was pumped out, while
it was verily believed that when fully in run- ning order, it would yield fifty barrels a day. This set the country, and the town on fire (fig- uratively), and the oil exeitement was raised to the highest piteh. People believed that Medina County was literally floating in a lake of petro- leum. The oil produced by this well was of a superior quality, and sold readily at $15 per barrel on the ground. Gas issued from the well in such a quantity as to admit of its being used profitably. The water that eame out with the oil was strongly impregnated with salt. Those owning land in the immediate vieinity considered their fortunes made, while the en- tire community saw the most unbounded pros- perity ahead, resulting from "strikin' ile." But alas for human caleulations. The enterprise failed as suddenly as its short career had been brilliant. The flow of oil eeased, a hole was bored to a considerable depth, which proved a bore (a joke), a large sum of money was left in the hole, together with the machinery used, and the company retired from the "Roeky River Oil Regions " in thorough disgust. Alas !
The most extensive establishment, perhaps, in Medina, is the apiary of A. I. Root. He eommeneed the eulture of bees in 1865, in a very small way, and somewhat as an experi- ment. The motive that led him into the busi- ness is thus told in his book upon the subjeet of bee eulture : "About the year 1865, during the month of August, a swarm of bees passed overhead where we were at work, and my fellow-workman, in answer to some of my in- quiries respeeting their habits, asked what I would give for them. I, not dreaming that he could by any means eall them down, offered him a dollar, and he started after them. To my astonishment, he, in a short time, returned with them hived in a rough box he had hastily pieked up and at that moment I commeneed learning my a b c in bee eulture. Before night I had questioned, not only the bees, but every one I knew, who could tell me anything
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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
about these strange new acquaintances of mine. Our books and papers were overhauled that evening, but the little that I found only puz- zled me the more, and kindled anew the desire to explore and follow out this new hobby of miue. Farmers, who had kept bees, assured me that they once paid, when the country was new, but of late years they were of no profit, and everybody was abandouing the business." Mr. Root, however, who possesses a mind of his own, and, as he says, "some head-stroug notions," went to Cleveland a few days after securing his swarm of bees, and, visiting the book stores, looked up all the works ou the subjeet. The one which to him seemed to con- tain the most valuable information ou the sub- ject was a work by Langstroth, the German bee culturist. With the facts coutained in this book, he set out in the business in earnest. He now has one of the most extensive establish- ments of the kind iu the country. As his busi- ness increased, and he learned more fully the habits and nature of bees, and the best modes of their culture, his ideas were given to the public through the columns of the Bee Journal, when, finally, to more fully meet this end, he printed a circular, giving in it all the facts and informatiou of which he had become possessed. This circular eventually grew into a quarterly publication, issued at 25 cents per annum. This was changed into a mouthly, called Glean- ings in Bee Culture, and published at 75 eents. In 1876, it was enlarged, and the price raised to $1.
From the small beginning mentioned, the business has wonderfully increased, and at the present time Mr. Root has seveuteen acres of ground tastefully laid out and arranged in the most excellent manner for the purpose for which it is designed. The following descrip- tion of it is given by himself: "The apiaries cover about two and a half acres; there are seven of them, which will accommodate 500 hives. We have at this writing (1879) 228
hives, mostly employed in queen-rearing. Three or four boys and girls are constantly employed in rearing and shipping quecns. Others are employed in making the hives and implements, while others still are employed on the Journal and making this book. In fact, there are now seventy or eighty of us altogether. Almost every trade and industry is represented in the building and on the grounds. We have all kiuds of wood work, a tin-shop, carpenter-shop. blacksmith-shop, machine-shop, printing office, book-bindery, sewing room, paint-shop, var- nishiug and japauniug room, a room where the comb-foundation is made, a room where leather is worked considerably in making smokers, and, indeed, we have almost everything except a grog-shop." But this establishment must be seen in order to thoroughly understand the working of it. The building is a modern brick, large and commodious, and is in keeping with everything else in this model establishment.
In connection with the manufacturing inter- ests and commercial growth and prosperity of Medina, a few words upon the banking institu- tions may not be out of place. The first insti- tution of this kiud established in the village was what was known as " The Land Company's This Bank," with David King as President. bank was established prior to 1840, and was a bank of deposit merely, and not of issue. At another time, a private bank was operated by Canfield & Ladd, but after several years' busi- uess, they failed in June, 1861. In the latter part of 1872, the First National Bank of Medi- na was organized, with a capital stock of $50,- 000. The officers were : L. B. Nettleton, Presi- ident; W. W. Pancoast, Cashier; and Olney Allen, Daniel Ford, L. C. Sturges, H. Jones, L. B. Nettleton aud W. W. Paucoast, Directors. This institution grew out of the old Commer- cial Bank, a private bank organized after the failure of Canfield & Ladd. In May, 1874, the First National Bank suspended operations. The Phoenix National Bank was organized
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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.
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in the beginning of 1873. It succeeded the old Phoenix Bank, a private institution. The capi- tal stock of the Phoenix National is $50,000, with the privilege of increasing it to $200,000. The President is J. H. Albro, R. M. McDowell, Cashier. At the organization, however, H. G. Blake was made Cashier, and R. M. McDowell, Assistant Cashier, but, upon the death of Mr. Blake, Mr. McDowell succeeded him as Cashier. The Directors of the organization were J. H. Albro, John Rounds, S. G. Barnard, B. H. Wood, H. G. Blake, N. T. Burnham, R. M. Mc-+ Dowell, A. H. Hawley, and C. J. Warner. This bank is still in operation, and is the only bank- ing institution in the town at the present time. It has good rooms and office in the Phoenix Block.
The educational history of Medina dates back almost to the laying-ont of the village, and was inangurated in the proverbial log-cabin schoolhouse, the first temple of learning erected in the town. This was so similar to that given in the preceding chapter of the early schools of the township, that it is unnecessary to re- peat it here. At an early day, and long before the establishment of the present common-school system, select schools were held in Medina, also female schools, high schools, common schools, and, indeed, all kinds of schools. As early as 1841, we find an advertisement in the county paper, of " Medina Female School," by Miss Charlotte A. Weld. It is announced that she will open her school at the residence of J. W. Weld, in the village of Medina, on the 19th day of April, 1841, for the instruction of Misses and young ladies, in the following branches, to wit: "Reading, writing, spelling, geography, English grammar, natural philoso- phy, chemistry, algebra, Latin, and the rudi- ments of French, mental philosophy and geom- etry." The terms for this vast array of studies, were from $1.50 to $3.50 per quarter, according to the studies pursued. A postscript is added to the advertisement, in which parents are noti-
fied that full pay will be required for all pupils who attend so much as one week, unless their absence shall be cansed by actnal sickness.
In 1845, we notice an advertisement in the Democratic- Whig, of Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, for a select school, " in the building two doors north of Hiram Bronson's store," where " all branches will be taught on moderate terms." In the same paper of October 6, 1847, is an advertisement of William P. Clark, of " Medina Select School," in which " all elementary branches will be taught, together with instruction in French, Ger- man and music by Miss Jane F. Bradford." In 1856, S. G. Barnard advertises " a select sehool for those desiring to qualify themselves to teach," for which the class will be charged $4 each for the term. Thus the cause of educa- tion advanced by degrees, and the common- school system was perfected. Facilities were improved and enlarged in Medina, until they reached their present state of perfection.
The imposing, and even elegant, school build- ing of Medina was completed and opened for the admission of pnpils in the fall of 1872. It was begun in 1871, and the board, which was at the time composed of John Rounds, A. R. Whiteside and L. B. Woodward, determined to build it themselves, believing they conld do it cheaper than outside contractors. The design of the new building was drawn by T. D. Allen, architect, and, when it was erected, according to his plans, made, as all must acknowledge, a very handsome school building. The board, how- ever, after proceeding with the work for a time, concluded they had eaptnred a big, white ele- phant, and finally let the contract to complete the building, to William Hickox, of Medina, who agreed to finish it, pay for the work already done by the board, and all for $19,000. The building is of brick, with cut-stone basement --- two stories above basement-which is of itself eight feet high. The first story is thirteen feet, and the second story fourteen feet, snrmonnted by a galvanized iron cornice fonr and one-half
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