USA > Ohio > Huron County > Norwalk > History of Norwalk township, Huron county, Ohio taken from Williams' History of Huron and Erie counties > Part 8
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At the election held the first Monday in May, of that year, Platt Bonediet was elected mayor : J. Sid- ney Skinner, reeorder : F. Wiekham, assessor : Tim- othy Baker, John Kennan, John Beebe. Robert Mor- ton and John Cline, Trustees.
The elections in those days were hell at the "Council House," which stood where "Whittlesey Bloek" now stands ; it was a one story frame building of about twenty-four by forty feet, with about twelve feet of the north part partitioned off for a council- room, the front part being used for the storage of the old rotary pamp fire engine, a two-wheeled hose-cart and some massive hooks and ladders that required great strength to handle. The old, black, home- made hearse, for many years owned and driven by Eri Keeler, used to be kept there too. For a number of years previous to 1850, Benjamin Shipley used the council-room as a barber shop. The old building was moved away in 1854 to give place to Whittlesey Block.
At the corporation election held in April, 18:9, there were one thousand and forty-eight votes polled.
The present (18:9) corporation offieers are : S. P. Hildreth, mayor : W. V. Watrons, clerk : E. A. Pray. solicitor ; Win. Suhr, treasurer ; Jefferson Barber, marshal : H. P. Smith, street commissioner ; C. J. Baldwin, Ira T. Conelin, Col. J. A. Jones, J. B. Millen, J. A. Nichols, S. S. Wing, councilmen.
FUGITIVE SLAVES.
In October, 18.12, five men, three women and four children, all but one members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and residents of Campbell county, Kentucky. concluded to emigrate to Canada. They crossed the Ohio river and took passage on the "Under Ground Railroad," the earliest, most economical and efficiently managed railroad in the State of Ohio, and had progressed on their journey so far as Fitelivill .. in this county,-a station on that road, R. Palmer.
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agent, - when they were arrested by virtue of a war- rant. issued by Samuel Pennewell, Esq., a justice of the peace, of Norwalk township, under what was then called the " Black Law," and brought to Norwalk, on November 2nd. charged with being fugitive slaves. Mr. Pennewell was not in sympathy with the "Black Law," and had publiely stated that he should require the most conclusive evidence of not only ownership, but birth in slavery: and that, before he would issue an order for their rendition, the testimony would have to be so conclusive that it would suffice to estab- lish the legitimacy of a royal heir to his throne.
In consequence of Mr. Penneweil's expressed views, no doubt. a writ of habeas corpus was taken out, and the examination removed from before Esquire Penie- well and brought before A. G. Sutton, then an Asso- ciate Judge of the Conimon Pleas Court. and resulted in five of the fugitives being remanded back to slavery; but. for technical insufficiency in the testi- mony, no order was given against the others, but they were held to await the procuring of further testimony froin Kentucky.
Discouraged by the order against five of their party. the other seven then gave up the contest and con- sented to be taken back.
Two of them were claimed by one party, three by another and seven by a third.
The owners were represented here by an agent, or "slave hunter," who, it appears, was assisted by pa :- ties living in Ohio, of whom the citizens of Fitchville say, in one of many resolutions adopted by them November 9, 1842, and signed "Stephen Pomeroy. mederator, and E. A. Pray, secretary:"
"Be it therefore resolved *
that a largo majority of our worthy citizens feel grieved that a Kentucky slaveholder, with a number of bought up (what is called here) Ohio blood hounds. or slave- eatchers, should be secretly quartered among us, for the purpose of carrying their nefarious purposes into operation."
At that time Edward E. Husted was sherift of Huron county, and he refused to have the fugitives confined in the jail. They were consequently kept at the oll "Goff House." (which stood where the Congregational Church now is,) under an armed guard. for about one week. and until the close of the examination. .
On Sunday morning, after the order of rendition had been given. they were irofied, loaded on to a four- horse stage and taken through Main street on their way back to-no one here knows what.
Halle+ Gallup then lived next west of the old .Goff House," which had an upper and lower veranda across its whole front; the negroes were permitted frequently to exercise mpon the upper one, and a sou of Mr. Gallup, a little lad, took advantage of those occasions to throw apples up to them, and for such favor- received as hearty thanks as have ever been rendered to him smee, and by those acts probably won the confidence of the slaves: at all events, on the Sandy
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before they were taken away, he was engaged in throwing them apples again, when one of them, a large and powerful man, stepped near the railing and threw something which sparkled and flashed. in the snulight as it came through the air and fell into the tall grass at the lad's feet. The guards were near, and a crowd of boisterous men were gathered on the lower porch. Fearing detection, the boy took no no- tice of what had been thrown him, but soon went and informed his father of what had occurred. That night Mr. Gallup went. and, searching through the grass, found a large silver - handled double-edged " bowie knife," with a silver-trimmed leather sheath. Abont one year afterwards, a constable of Norwalk called on Mr. Gallup and demanded the knife, saying he had a search warrant for it. Mr. Gallup stepped to the large old-fashioned " fire-place," and picking up an iron poker, turned and asked the constable if that wa'nt the knife he was looking for; but the valiant offieer at once became anxious to-go back to the justice that issued the warrant so as to return it "not found." Suit was then commenced before a justice against Mr. Gallup for the value of the knife: but upon his demanding a jury trial, it was with- drawn, and nothing further was done about it. That cruel, blood-stained knife is now in possession of a son of Hallet Gallup.
In the volume on "Population and Social Statis- ties," United States Census of 1870, on page fifty-six. it is stated that the free colored population of Huron county, Ohio, was in 1820, seven; in 1830. fifty-six; in 1840. one hundred and six: in 1850, thirty-nine; in 1860, seventy-nine; and in 1870, two hundred. From this it will be seen. that in the decade from 1840 to 1850. the colored population of Huron county decreased from one hundred and six to thirty-nine, or nearly two-thirds-probably in consequence of the fear of being elaimed and sont south as slaves-a fear engendered by this inhuman violation of personal liberty, which was sanctioned by law and submitted to by the freemen of the north in 1842. It will fur- ther be noticed, that after slavery had been abolished. and terror of the "black law " no longer hung as a sable pall over the land. in the decade from 1860 to 1870, the colored population increased from seventy- nine to two hundred, or more than two and a half times, and probably a greater part of this increase occurred after the close of the war in 1865. The people of Norwalk and of the whole North were never in sympathy with slavery nor the fugitive slave law. but they were law abiding, and submitted to the decrees of the courts. The question is pertinent: have the people of the old slave States ever, even to this day, shown a like submission to law?
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
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Norwalk having been incorporated in 1828, one of the first acts of its first council was to provide the newly organized. village with some efficient method for : extinguishing tires. Muscle then was paramount,
and the only machine accessible was the bucket; con- sequently the first organization was known as the "bueket brigade." The first ordinance required that each property owner on Main street should keep a certain number of leathern buckets, suitably num- bered, and lettered with the owner's name, and hung in the building as assessed, convenient for use, usu- ally in the front hall. Some of these old buckets are still in existence, and might have been seen hanging up to a recent date in the hall entrance of Judge Stickney's office. The judge was an efficient and "leading engine" in that organization. One is now in possession of C. II. Gallup, Esq., marked " P. Benediet," who was one of the members of the brigade. This organization was well disciplined, and at the first "blowing of the horn." which was then the alarm, every man was on hand with his buckets, and two lines were formed from the burning building to the nearest water. and the "stream" passed from hand to hand, in these hnekets, the second line returning'the empty ones. Every man was then a fireman, and worked with a will and efficiency that might well be imitated with more modern appliances and by more elaborate organizations. But it formed the germ fron: which has sprung a company that stands at the head of its class and department in the United States, the " Resene" hook and ladder company, now bolding the championship belt and gold prizes won at Chicago in 1878. of which we will speak hereafter.
Following closely upon this first step was the con- struction of town wells, designed only for fire pur- poses, and mainly planked or timbered up, one of which may still be seen at the corner of Railroad ave- nue and Monroe street, bat the first were located on Main street. As time passed and the village increased in population, it was thought best to purchase a ma- chine, but, as it could not be reached by taxation. a subscription was smrted for that purpose, and the project was successful. After doing years of service this old engine was passed over to the "boys. " many of whom are now middle-aged business men, and remedi- ber with much pride their first "playing firemen" with the old machine. Then the " Champion" was purchased, and the department more ediciently or- ganized; but as ver there was but one company, con- trolled by a chief engineer, one foreman with tho assistants, etc. In 1854, the Whittlesor block was erected, and the corporation built in connection with the other owners of rooms the north room on the ground-floor of said building and dedicated it to the use of the department; and it was so used by them as their headquarters, in connection with a rented hall above, until June, ISE7, when the new hall on Sem- inary street was taken possession of and dedicated, and the rented room given up.
Many years previous to this, however. the needs of the village had outgrown the " Champion." and the " Phonix " engine was purchased. As yet but one company existel. nearly all the members of which transferred their affections to the new engine. At į
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the head of the department with this new engine, stood E. O. Hill (afterwerds master mechanic at the railroad shops), as chief engineer, and many were the tilts he had with other departments and engines of the State, in most cases successfully. Under his management the department attained a great degree of efficiency, which it maintained up to its disband- ment in 1843. It had furnished its hall creditably -- had quite a large library, many good pictures, and much other property incident to that department, and its company numbered about sixty.
The increase of risks to property in the corporation, consequent upon its extending its limits, and the natural decrease of the water, had forced upon the citizens the necessity of procuring some more abun- dant, supply and efficient protection, and they very wisely combined the two in the adoption of their present system of water works. This system em- braced the supply and protection principles. and very largely superseded the hand engines then in use, and necessitated the reorganization of the whole depart- ment, or rather the creation of a new one to harmon- ize, in its workings, with the changed order of things. The project of a change met with the most violent opposition from the old company, and eventuated in their ignoring the whole thing, and refusing, almost to a man, to have anything to do with it; but an ordi- nance was passed dividing the village into five fire districts, each district to organize a company consisting of fifteen men, and they to elect of their own number a foreman and one assistant, and also to designate one man as policeman, who is to be called into active service in emergencies by the mayor. In addition to these five companies there was created a hook and ladder company of twenty members, with like officers, making the whole department for actual service con- sist of six companies, with a total of about one hundred men. The force is under the direct man- agement of a chief engineer appointed by the council. who is paid fifty dollars a year for his services-the only man of the whole force that is paid-the depart- ment being otherwise volunteers. This arrangement has proved entirely satisfactory. and the organization is one of the most efficient and snecessful in the State. or, in fact, in the United States. of its class, as the record of the " Rescucs." the book and ladder com- pany, has demonstrated.
In September of 1878. the first national tourna- ment of volunteer firemen was held at Chicago, and among its prizes offered was a championship belt of the United States with a cash prize of five hundred dol- lars in gold. and several individnal prizes of less value. The " Rescues" of Norwalk had made an enviable record in the State contests during the season and desired to take part in the national contest, but re- ceived no encouragement or assistance from the city council. They therefore appealed direct to the citi- zens, who generously contributed the funds necessary to make the trial. and they entered the contest. This tournament lasted the whole of one week, and was
participated in by all the various departments of the volunteer service of the United States. The contest. of hook and ladder companies was to make a run of three hundred yards -- a trifle more than fifty-five rods -running their trucks loaded with the full service of ladders, and all other apparatus necessary for efficient work at a fire, to raise a thirty foot ladder. a man of the company making the full run with them and climbing from the ground to the top.
In this contest there were twelve competing com- panies, among whom were the champions of Illinois and Indiana, who had been under training for months for the struggle. There were to be two runs made by cach company, and the average time taken to decide it. The first run was made by the "' Momnouths,' the champions of Illinois, who made it in forty-nine and one-half seconds, the fastest time then ever made. The ". Rescues " next went over the course and made the ran in forty-eight seconds, beating their strongest competitors a second and a half, and making the fastest time now on record. The other companies in the contest made runs varying in time from fifty to sixty-eight and three-fourths seconds, a difference in time of more that twenty seconds. After an interval of two hours the second runs were made, when the "Rescues" met with an accident to their climber, who, when near the top of the ladder, made a misstep. and partial fall that lost him a second and a half, making their time forty-nine seconds, while their competitors had reduced theirs to forty-eight and a half seconds, leaving the " Rescues" a clear second ahead and the winners of the prize, the two raus of the '.Resenes" being ninety-seven seconds, while those of the ". Momonths, " their closest contestants, made ninety-eight.
The company met with a perfect ovation on their return home. Toledo felt that they had an interest in them, advancing as they had the credit of the State of Ohio. They were met by that department. taken in carriages and driven over the city. At home they were received by almost the entire population- drawn by their comrades through the city, and given a public dinner. The employes of the railroad gave them their heavy mounted cannon and their large national flag, and in all this whirl and excitement they realized the responsibility of their position as champions of the United States, and conducted themselves in ac- cordance with that responsibilty.
Each of these tive fire distriets is provided with a neat hose house. besides the large building and hall for the headquarters of the department for general meet- ings. The first floor of this building is used by the hook and ladder company in storing their trucks and apparatus, and also a band engine, of which they have control, for emergencies outside of the water works limits. Each of the other five companies is provided with fine hose trucks, uniforms. etc. All the appli- ances necessary for efficiency and for service depend entirely upon the water works, located two miles away-but connected with the department by tele-
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graph and telephone -- and which during their eight years of existence have never failed them.
Norwalk may well fell proud of her fire department, and need not hesitate to compare it with any in the larger cities of the State.
WATER WORKS.
The citizens of Norwalk, as the town increased to a goodly size, felt the need of a more adequate sup- ply of water for all purposes, than could be obtained from wells and cisterns, and in 1869, or before that time, the question of erecting a system of water works began to be agitated. Meetings were held, and the council engaged the services of an engineer to make surveys with such an object in view in the future. . It was found impracticable to adopt the re- servoir system, which was at first proposed. Surveys were made at Maxville, but would require seven miles of pipe. For similar reasons other places, where water could be procured, were discarded. A. com- mittee was appointed by the village council to visit Kalamazoo, Michigan, and examine into the Holly system of water work's, which had been adopted, and were in use in that city. They were well satisfied with the results of their examination, and on their return the council passed au ordinance which was published December 20, 1860, submitting the question of es- tablishing the Holly system: of water works, to a popular vote, the cost of the same not to exceed seventy-five thousand dollars. A meeting of the citizens was called at the court house, January 28, 1870, which was enthusiastic in favor of the proposi- tion. The election to decide the question was held February 7th, and resulted in a vote of five hundred and eighty in favor to twenty-one against. The pro- position was to issue bonds for the whole amount, the sainc to run not to exceed fifteen years at seven per cent. interest. It being feared after the vote was taken that the bonds could not be negotiated with but seven per cent. interest, it was thought best to again submit it to the people, with a change in the rate of interest the bonds were to bear, to eight cent. The requisite notice was given, and the second election was held April 30, 18:0, resulting in three hundred and ninety in favor of the works, to thirty- eight against.
spring of 1871. It had been decided to procure the water from the east branch of the Huron river, some two miles west from the court house. The machinery wa, duly placed in position, and on March 30, 1871, a test of the working of the machinery was made. A committee of citizens was invited by the council to visit the works. Visitors were also present from Sandusky, Milan, Fremont, Adrian, Michigan, Mans- field and other places. The test proved entirely satis- factory, and was duly reported in the leading papers of this portion of the State. The citizens, one and all, took great pride in the fact of the establishment of a water works system in the beautiful village, their home.
The building for the machinery is fifty-four by fifty-eight feet. The machinery comprised three engines, one being a rotary for reserve purposes, the others double-cylinder piston engines. Two boilers furnished steam. and six gang pumps forced the water, which runs through a tilter of stone, charcoal and coarse sand, into a well twenty-five feet deep and twenty-two feet wide, capable of holding fifty-six thousand gallons of water. A telegraph line runs from the works to town; there is also a telephone attached to the wire.
It was found, after a while, that the Holly engines were not satisfactory, and, in the spring of 18;8, two new Worthington low-pressure engines and pumps were placed in position, and were tested, in presence of the trustees, April 22, 1818, proving entirely satisfactory.
The cost of the Holly works was a little more than ninety-six thousand dollars, and the new Worthington engines and pipes have cost fourteen thousand dollars more, making a total cost of about one hundred and ten thousand dollars. In the near future it will be necessary to replace the main pipe with a larger size, as the one now in use causes a great loss in pressure from its being too small. At the present time, it requires a pressure of one hundred and sixty five to one hundred and eighty-five pounds at the works to produce ninety to ninety-seven and one-half at the court house, which is elevated about fifty feet above the works and two miles distant. The system, as a whole. has proved a good investment to Norwalk. and such defects as it may have will, in time, be remedied.
The ercetion of water works being determined on, three trustees were elected at the regular time of hold- The number of water takers, the 15th of May, 18;9, was about three hundred and seventy-five. There are now in place, for use. some ninety hydrants. about fourteen miles of street mains, and two tanks for the use of the traveling public in watering their teams. iug elections, April 4, 18:0; the members elected be- ing O. A. White, S. J. Patrick and John Gardiner. On June Ist, a contract was entered into by the village of Norwalk and the Holly Manufacturing Company. of Lockport, New York, for suitable machinery for the The power at the water works is utilized instead of fire engines, in case of fire on any of the streets in the village. As soon as an alarm is sounded, the signal for fire pressure to be applied is sent over the wire to the engineer at his post, at the water works building. The fire companies respond to the alarmı. and as soon as the hose are attached to the hydrant-, purpose desired, the water capacity to be not less than two million gallons every twenty-four hours, and the machinery to be shipped on or before August 15, 1870. Work was at once begun on a well, filters, and a brick house for the machinery. which were erected at a cost of four thousand dollars. The work of laying pipe was also commenced, but was not completed until the ; powerful streams of water can be thrown: this the
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water works power answers the same purpose as half a dozen fire engines, and at no additional cost.
Many of the citizens have small rubber hose, which can be attached to the pipes in their yards and used to water the flowers, the lawn and garden, and some- times to settle the dust on the street. Different forms of lawn sprinklers are used, some of them producing a beautiful spray, and serving the purpose of a foun- tain. In addition to these fixtures, there are a nun- ber of fine private fountains, in different parts of the village, the power for which is furnished by the aid of the heavy engines, located two miles distant.
The present (1879) officers of the works are as follows: W. A. - Mack, president; W. A. Mack, J. M. Crosby, David Stoutenburgh, trustees; M. V. Watrous, secretary; U. Pritchard, superintendent.
CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.
The subject of a new cemetery began to agitate the minds of the citizens during the winter of 1854, and a notice was posted calling a meeting for the pur- pose of organizing a cemetery association. This meeting was called at seven o'clock. P. M .. February 1st, in the Court House, the notice being signed by C. L. Boalt, Samuel T. Worcester and O. L. Latimer as committee, they having been appointed at a pre- liminary meeting held previously. At this meeting articles of association were presented. Another meeting was held at the same place February 22d, at which time an organization was effected under the statutes of Ohio, the same to be known as the Nor- walk Cemetery Association. The following trustees were elected: C. L. Latimer, S. T. Worcester, Heury Brown, John Tifft and Giles Boalt. At a meeting of the trustees, held Mareh 1, 1854, at the office of S. T. Worcester, John Tifft was elected president, and H. Brown, clerk and treasurer. Mr. Tifft has eon- tinued as president of the association to the present time, and for a number of years has also held the offices of secretary. treasurer and superintendent. The present officers of the association are John Gar- diner. Theo. Williams, Heury Brown, D. D. Benedict, and John Tifft, trustees, the latter holding all the offices of the board.
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