USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 117
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123
.
575
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Crusader, also, soon after was merged in Daniel Boone Lodge. From hard times and other reasons, no new society of the Knights has been formed in the city since 1873, but the Order locally is regarded as on a solid foundation. The sessions of the Grand Lodge were regularly held in Louisville in January of each year until 1874, when two "annual sessions" were held, the second one in September, which has been the regular month of meeting since. The seventh and eighth sessions were also held in Louisville, but the ninth, tenth, and eleventh elsewhere, when the Grand Lodge returned here for the twelfth, meeting in Maysville for the thirteenth, September 20 and 21, 1881.
THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN CROSS.
Louisville Commandery, No. 117, United Order of the Golden Cross, was organized Janu- ary 8, 1881, with eight members. Since then there have been initiated forty-one members. The Supreme Commandery meets in Knoxville, Tennessee, first Tuesday in May, 1883. The first officers of Louisville Commandery were N. B. Connell, P. N. C .; Charles E. Swift, N. C .; Mrs. Bettie Chappell, V. N. C .; Lloyd B. Rees, K. of R .; Theodore B. Graham, F. K. of R .; Robert H. Overstreet, Prelate; George W. Rowell, Herald; Daniel Spalding, Treasurer. The present officers are George W. Rowell, N. C .; Charles E. Swift, F. K. of R .; Lloyd B. Rees, K. of R .; Conrad Braun, Treasurer; Mrs. Eliza- beth S. Johnson, V. N. C. Their hall is on the corner of First and Market streets, and they meet every Friday night. The Commandery was organized by L. G. Miller, of Knoxville, Tennessee. The order is about four years old and numbers about 8,500, composed of males and females from sixteen to seventy ; insures from $500 to $10,000 ; assessments according to age. Dr. John H. Morgan, of Knoxville, Ten- nessee, is the founder of the order.
THE LADIES' INDUSTRIAL GUILD.
A movement started four years ago to form a woman's society for sundry benevolent and eco- nomic purposes came to a head July 18, 1878, in the filing of articles of incorporation, under the general law of the State, of the American Ladies' Industrial Guild, with a capital of $500,- 000. Its objects, as set forth in the charter, ranged from temperance and Sabbath reform to
the manufacture and sale of goods, edible food, wares, and merchandise. It proposed to erect and furnish a "National Industrial Temple and Guild Hall," "to prevent strife and litigation by the introduction into the order of courts of con- ciliation and arbitration, and tribunals of com- promise;" "to educate and impart useful instruc- tion to the members, and to teach or learn the juvenile members some art, trade, calling, or profession, and procure employment for unem- ployed teachers, spinsters, artisans, mechanics, etc .; " and "to vouchsafe mutual benefits, intel- lectual and moral improvement and material aid to the members, and, if deemed expedient, to provide board, etc., for its employes and others." The incorporators of this comprehensive society were named as L. George, E. Frentz, L. Leaf, K. Doak, and Mollie E. Frentz, with their asso- ciates, future companions and successors. Its affairs were to be conducted by a president, three vice-presidents, a recording scribe, financial scribe, banker, chancellor, vice-chancellor, rector, bachelor of laws, doctor of divinity, master or mistress of arts, lecturer, a manager of entertain- ments, and chorister, and a board of seven regents. The society did not become a permanent insti- tution.
The Women's Christian Association is duly noticed in the chapter on Religion in Louisville. A Women's Christian Temperance Association was also formed in the winter of 1881-82.
THE LOUISVILLE FAIR ASSOCIATION
was organized in the summer of 1881, to con- tribute to the public interest by establishing semi-annual industrial fairs and stock exhibitions, and creating in the city a large live-stock market, which should attract many visitors and dealers hither; also to furnish its members with a driving road equal to any in the country. The first public meeting was held in September, 1881, when the display of horses and cattle was esti- mated to be worth near $2,000,000. Strangers from all parts of the United States, and from Canada, were present. The Association con- templates the purchase of grounds near the city, and the creation of suitable buildings, and the making of a track. Major John B. Castleman is President; Samuel J. Look, Vice-President ; J. M. Wright, Secretary; John H. Leathers, Treasurer.
.
576
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
THE HELVETIA SOCIETY
was organized in September, 1870, partly to cul- tivate the clanship of the sons of Switzerland, and partly to promote the immigration of their countrymen into Kentucky. Employment was secured for Swiss who came here, and charity was extended as needed. In 1876 the Immi- gration Committee was discharged for want of encouraging success; but was revived in 1880, after the Bureau of Immigration was formed at Frankfort, and labored very actively for a time, especially in repelling widely circulated slanders against the State. One of their reports was reprinted at Frankfort, at public expense. Good work was also done in assisting Swiss immi- grants into or through the city, finding their lost baggage, getting them employment, etc. At the annual meeting January 13, 1882, however, it was deemed advisable, chiefly for want of means to meet its expenses, again to suspend the com- mittee. The Society still maintains its existence. J. C. Bamberger is the present Secretary.
NOTES.
In 1870 the Teutonia, a German Musical So- ciety, was consolidated with another of the kind, the famous Liederkranz. Professor Paul Eitel, Director of the former, took a similar position in the Liederkranz, and remained its Director until his lamented death January 15, 1882.
A Red Ribbon Club was organized January 24, 1872, at a temperance meeting in the Tyler Block. J. Monte Hunter, President ; Joseph Allen, Vice-President; C. C. Noble, Secretary ; Mrs. Selina Craig, Treasurer.
The Architects' Association was organized March 19, 1874; the Kentucky Prison Reform Association May 6th, and the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Exchange August 29th, of the same year.
The Louisville Confederate Historical Associa- tion was formed February 8, 1879, and the Federal Historical Society in the winter of 1881- 82. Both are adding valuable materials to the history of the State and Nation.
The Louisville Boat Club was a creation of September 7, 1879.
There are of course in the large city of Louis- ville almost countless other associations, for a variety of purposes, from or about which we have been unable to procure any facts whatever.
The colored people seem to be particularly ac- tive in the line of associated effort. They have not only many lodges of Free Masons and Odd Fellows, but numerous secret or open societies, such as the United Brothers of Friendship, the Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria, the Knights of Bethlehem and Sisterhood K. of B., Independent Sons of Honor, Grand Princesses of Honor, Indepen- dent Order of Immaculate Sisters, Mysterious Ten, Knights of Wise Men, The Sons and Daughters of the Morning, Sons and Daugh- ter of Aaron and five other juvenile societies, the Christian Mutual Association, True Brothers and Sisters, and a remarkable number and variety of other organizations.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
Introductory-The City Hall-Full Description of the Build- ing-The Board of Health-Board of Commissioners of the Sinking Fund-The Police Force-The Water Works -The Fire Department-The Gas Service-The House of Refuge - The Work-house - The Market-houses -- Streets, Sewerage, Etc .- Board of Commissioners of Public Charities-City Bookkeeper-Biographical Sketches of Ex-Mayor Baxter, James Trabue, and President Long, of the Water Company-Notice of City Treasurer Wolford.
This chapter will not attempt an exhaustive definition or history of the City Government of Louisville. Such a task might well engage an industrious writer for years, and then easily fill a volume as large as that which contains this sketch. Certain of the institutions of the city, as the hospitals and the almshouse, have been dealt with in a previous chapter; the successive charters and other changes in the government of the city, with many historical notes related to it, have been comprised in the annals of Louisville: we shall in this chapter do little more than out- line more recent progress in the principal de- partments of the local public service. First of all, however, should come a section concerning
THE CITY HALL.
This splendid structure, at the northwest cor- ner of Jefferson and Sixth streets, was completed and occupied in 1873. The inception of the undertaking properly dates back seven years further, to 1866. In the fall of that year, says
ยท
577
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Colonel Oliver Lucas, in his valuable historical appendix to the volume of ordinances compiled and published by him in 1873, the General Council invited competition on the part of archi- tects for a design after which the structure was to be erected, and a $500 premium was offered for the plan which the Council should deem the best. "The premium was awarded to Mergell & Andrewartha; and finally the plans were ordered to be worked up in detail by Messrs. Stancliff & Co., which firm consisted of C. L. Stancliff, John Andrewartha, and C. S. Mergell, architects, whose working drawings for the orig- inal building were received and filed with the city September 2, 1868. From this time until the action of the charter convention, which was approved by the General Assembly in the year 1870, appropriating a sum of money for the erection of the building, nothing further was done toward its construction until after the inaug- uration of Hon. John G. Baxter as Mayor, in 1870. He at once commenced proceedings with a view to the erection of a building com- mensurate with the wealth, population, and great- ness of the city. A resolution was passed by the General Council instructing General I. M. St. John, then City Engineer, to supervise its con- struction, John Andrewartha being designated as the architect, his claims as the surviving mem- ber of the firm whose preliminary designs had been previously approved, entitling him to precedence. After due consideration it was deemed advisable that an entire revision and reconstruction of the drawings should be made, and that the building, which it was originally in- tended should be erected only partially as a fire-proof structure, should be made fire-proof throughout, and that it should be developed both as to its detail in the facade and its block ing-corners and cornices; that its height should be increased nine feet, the wing on Congress street raised another story, and the entire build- ing arranged and constructed with a view to permanence, a full susceptibility to development of architectural form, and its future extension-a design for which grand edifice is now in the architect's possession. On the 4th of July, 1870, all the preliminary arrangements having been made, a force under the supervision of the Engineers' department commenced removing the old city buildings from the site of the pres-
ent edifice. On the 14th of August, 1870, the excavators for the foundation broke ground, and on the morning of the 13th of September, 1870, masonry was commenced on the southwest cor- ner of the building on Jefferson street, without ceremony."
The Legislature had granted to the city au- thority for the issue of $250,000 in its bonds, with the proceeds of which to erect a City Hall, and also, for the payment of principal and inter- est on the bonds, to levy an annual tax not ex- ceeding ten cents on the $100 of property valua- tion.
The Mayor's message for 1870 said: "The City Hall has been greatly advanced, owing to the mildness and prolonged duration of the working season, is constructed in the most solid manner so far as raised, and will undoubtedly be a very creditable building when completed." By the time cold weather made necessary the sus- pension of operations, all the foundation work and nearly all the stone and brickwork of the first, or basement story, had been done, as also the pavement work on both Jefferson and Con- gress streets. The expenditures upon the build- ing this year were $27, 192.61, and $2,446.51 due had been retained as percentage to secure the faithful completion of contracts. These had been made for the brickwork of the entire struct- ure, and for all work, excavation, masonry, iron, and pavement upon the first or basement story; and proposals were soon to be advertised for most of the remaining work. By resolution of the General Council, the work of construction was in direct charge of the City Engineer and his assistants, and Mr. John Andrewartha, one of the architects before named, was engaged to render the proper architectural aid in completing the plans and supervising their execution.
March 18, 1871, the General Council directed the issue of the $250,000 allowed by the Legis- lature, in bonds of $1,000 each, to run twenty years, at seven per cent. annual interest, solely for the construction of the City Hall. By the close of that year the total sum of $186,307.94 had been expended upon the building, and it was rapidly nearing completion, the entire structure being under roof. Very advantageous contracts had been made, and it was believed that honest work was being done in its erection.
At the close of 1872 the total sum paid out for
73
578
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
the new building was $287,277.65, and the retain- ed percentage was $5,088.56. Considerable fear was felt for the safety of the city archives, which were stored in exposed and dangerous buildings, where they would pretty certainly be lost in case of fire. Mayor Jacob therefore ordered the work upon several of the new rooms to be pushed to completion as speedily as possible. Under this stimulus, the work went on rapidly, and in June, 1873, after about two years and ten months' time in the work of construction, the superb building was completed and the of- fices were occupied by the City Government. It had cost, in all its construction and appointments, the sum of $464,778.08. The following is a full description of the hall, barring some details and technicalities, written by Mr. Andrewartha, and embodied in the City Engineer's report for 1873 :
The present completed building is proposed to be extended over the site of the jail and engine-house as soon as the de- mands of an increased population call for a more spacious edifice. The building now affords accommodation for the present official staff of the City Government, together with the General Council Chambers and the City Court-room, all of which have been arranged to meet the requirements of the various departments.
The building has 200 feet frontage on Sixth street, and now extends 100 feet on the Jefferson street front, the princi- pal entrance being located on Sixth street. The facade on Sixth street consists of a central portico, two orders in height, the lower order being that designated as Roman Doric, and the upper that of the Corinthian. The third story recedes, and is decorated with a Composite order with full entablature, surmounted with angular pediment, the tympanum of which contains a boldly cut bas-relief of the city seal and motto freely treated, representing a modern en- gine in full action, bearing the motto "Progress, 1871," emerging from a tunnel, cleaving its way amidst the chaotic rock and Southern flora, indicating thereby the progress of the city and her influence on the surrounding country, and direction of her principal trade. On each side of the cen- tral block or portico extend curtains connecting the blocks or wings on Congress street and on Jefferson street. Both these blocks recede from the front building line, and with the angle formed by the curtain and Jefferson street wing, on the southeast corner of the building, the Tower is developed, for the use of the Illuminated Clock and Fire Department, and serves to mark the situation of the Jefferson street en- trance to that portion of the building set apart for the tran- saction of civil business, and is in close contiguity with the suite of rooms appropriated to the chief executive, the Mayor and his attorney. The Jefferson street facade pre- sents a marked difference of architectural treatment, has an extra story in height, but depends greatly upon the future ex- tension to make this portion the principal front, as it is de- signed to be.
Entering the building on Sixth street, we find a spacious vestibule, adorned with columns, which support the super- structure, and massive self-closing sash doors, which inclose the corridors for purposes of warmth and protection. Im-
mediately opposite this entrance is developed the staircase, a prominent piece of workmanship in iron, the steps being covered with rubber to prevent sound. The rubber can be removed at pleasure. The stairway, with frescoed and en- riched dome and skylight, serves to light the corridors and to guide the uninitiated to the various departments on each story. The stair turns to the right and left, and has broad and easy steps and landings, and gracefully designed curves, and an enriched paneled balustrade, with an arrangement of rail at once novel and convenient.
Arrangements have been made to facilitate the carrying on of business in a systematic and business manner. Lobbies and corridors are provided to ease the throng which presents itself constantly around the apartments of the officials, such as committees of General Council, city officials, and the gen- eral information-seeking public. The principal floor, the Jefferson street wing of which is thus occupied, contains a corridor running through its length of two hundred feet, on each side of which are located the offices of the Treasurer, Auditor, and Tax Receivers, en suite, until the staircase is reached. Across the stair hall, continuously extended, the corridor commences, and the offices of Sinking Fund Com- missioners, Back-Tax Receiver, and Assessor and assistants, are distributed on each side throughout its length.
The basement is entirely devoted to the Police and City Court officials' offices, lockup, and City Court, all of which present unusual adaptability to their purposes.
The City Court is a room 60 by 40 feet, with 28 feet ceil- ings, surrounded with gallery for spectators, and with ample accommodations for Judge, City Court Clerk, and attorneys.
Below this basement, and located on each side of the en- trance on Sixth street, are located the boilers for the purpose of generating steam for heating purposes during the winter, and furnishing warm water to the lavatories. The system of heating adopted in the building is the application of G. W. Blake's New York Patent Direct Radiator, with high pressure steam supply and independent return pipes. All pipes are concealed.
The second story, on which is located the two large halls or chambers, one for each Board of the General Council, is reached by means of the principal staircase already described. Lobbies and committee rooms flank the large halls, and clerks of the Boards are located in the vicinity.
On this floor, in the tower, the Chief of the Fire Depart- ment has his office, his department commencing to occupy the tower from this story up.
The City Engineer's Department occupies the entire north wing of the building, extending to Congress street. This department is furnished with special accommodations for the successful accomplishment of the duties and the protec- tion of the records, and the rooms are located in such a manner that an indirect supervision at all times may be had over the lavatories, water-closets, and dressing-rooms.
The Aldermen's chamber is a room forty by forty feet, and thirty-five feet high. A gallery for spectators surrounds this chamber, in a horse-shoe form, sustained by concealed iron cantilevers, and has arched ribs and vaultings. The ceiling of this room is denominated a coffered ceiling, with deep panels, enriched stucco work, and deeply-shadowed mould- ings. This paneling forms the center, and the entire ceiling springs gracefully, with a cove cut with grained arches and intersections over the tops of windows, from a rich Corinthian entablature extending around the entire room, sustained with rich Corinthian pilasters, whose caps are of the most finely- wrought artistic foliage. The entire room is frescoed in a rich style ; all its appointments are designed and especially
.
579
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
fitted to their respective positions. This chamber has its at- tendant committee rooms and lobbies.
The council chamber is a room sixty-six by forty feet, with thirty feet ceiling. The gallery for spectators is in a some- what similar style and construction, as also the finish, deco- ration, and appointments, although somewhat subdued, com- pared with those of the Aldermen's chamber.
The third story is devoted to offices for the Street Depart- ments and city officers connected with the City Engineer, and committee rooms.
The building is erected in a solid manner, with stone from the White river quarries, brick arched floors, and iron floor joists and beams, and nothing has been left undone to make it complete as to utility, and durable as to structure and fire- proof qualifications. Marble tiles are laid throughout the corridors, with selected woods and rich frescoes. The join- er's work is solid and well put together, and the work of plasterer, decorator, lock and hardware manufacturer, and the entire finished work throughout the building, is of a high standard of the best quality.
In connection with the execution of the work the following facts have been ascertained, and it is well to note them in connection with the structural qualification of the building, viz: The base or footing of all walls consists of large flag- ging or slabs running through the thickness of walls, and project on each slde, making the base double the thickness of the wall above. These flags or slabs are native limestone rock-average nine inches thick. They rest directly upon the foundation, which is sand. The greatest pressure from the highest column upon this foundation is calculated at 12,963 pounds per square foot. The greatest crushing strain resisted by the cut stone, which is obtained from Salem, Indiana, and is of the oolitic limestone formation, and to which brick is subjected, is found to be ninety pounds per square inch. Limestone of the formation used in this build- ing is ascertained to be capable of sustaining from two thou- sand five hundred to three thousand pounds per square inch by actual test. The arched brick floors, constructed upon and sustained by wrought-iron rolled beams, have spans varying from three feet six inches to five feet six inches, with a maximum rise of two feet to every foot width between beams, and are calculated to sustain two hundred and forty pounds per square foot. The floor of the Council Chamber is sustained upon wrought-iron riveted plate and angle iron box beams two feet eight inches deep, and ten and a half inches wide between webs-each weighing an average of twelve hundred pounds, and capable of sustaining 1,243 pounds per square foot of floor load. The galleries are sus- tained by iron cantilevers or brackets, built into the walls, and concealed in the construction of the grained ceilings be- neath. The weight of tower upon its foundation is calcu- lated at 3,674,418 pounds, which is equal to a pressure of 12,963 pounds upon each square foot of foundation surface. The factor is found to be one-twenty-seventh to one-tenth of what the material and construction are capable of sustaining with safety. The entire building has been found to cost the low rate of thirty-six and one-half cents per cubic foot of available space-a low average when we consider the amount of detail and small parts in its interior plan and finish. The entire basement is fitted up in similar character to that of upper stories, and the entire painting, frescoes, and decora- tions of all parts, which is of elaborate character, is also in- cluded. The cut-stone work is mosaic, and elaborately carved in many parts, and includes a two-story portico and tower within the limited space of a lot one hundred by two hundred feet frontage.
The height of the basement, in clear to the spring of the arches, is 10 feet, 8 inches; of the first story in the clear, 15 feet, 8 inches; of the second, 19 feet, 2 inches, and of the third, 15 feet. The tower is 140 feet from the sidewalk to the top of the cresting.
About 7 P. M. on the 16th of October, 1873, while the city was still rejoicing in the glories of the new building, it was seriously damaged in some of its appointments by an explosion, which occurred at the Sixth and Congress street corner. For fifty feet on the former and eighty feet on the latter street, the immense flagstones of the sidewalk were upheaved and broken ; the stone steps from the sidewalk to the basement were displaced ; a huge piece was broken from the projecting face of the basement wall ; the large iron pedestal of the public lamp at the corner was shattered ; glass was broken in the basement windows ; and the drip-stones covering the traps at the catch-basins of the Sixth street sewer were displaced for a long distance. The explosion was caused by escaping gas, which had been ignited on the premises of the St. Nicholas Hotel. It cost $1,014.18 to repair the damage.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.