USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, Ohio, from the founding of Franklinton in 1797, through the World War period to the year 1920 > Part 25
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
In 1851, carly, work was started with a large force of free labor and 100 prisoners. The walls were forty feet high at the end of the year. In March, 1852, a new commission, consisting of Edwin Smith, S. H. Webb and E. T. Stickney was appointed, to expedite the work, and Mr. West was continued as architect. More than 100 stone cutters worked in the State House yard and as many more at the Penitentiary this year. The iron frame- work of the roof was completed and the white marble columns for the legislative halls were placed in position.
In May, 1851, Mr. West resigned as architect, and in his place N. B. Kelly was ap- pointed, and under his supervision the copper roof, the marble tile of the interior, and the stone work up to and including the cornices, were completed. In 1855, Columbus firms placed the heating apparatus and finished the ceilings. Mr. Kelly reported that he had found in the building no means of ventilation, and that adequate heating for the entire building was lacking. In order to get the proper system of heating and ventilation. Mr. Kelly found it necessary to line practically the entire building with briek, inside the stone walls, and erect two ventilating stacks in the open courts. The desks for the Speaker and Clerk of the House were completed the same year, of white Italian marble.
In April, 1856, a new act was passed, a new commission appointed,-Wm. A. Platt as acting commissioner, with James T. Worthington and L. G. Harkness, advisory mem- bers,-and the old plans were submitted to Thomas U. Walker of Washington, D. C., and Richard Upjohn, of New York City, eminent architects of the time, but they made no material changes in the general design. January 1, 1857, the legislative halls being ready for use, the citizens gave a great banquet on the 6th to members, and state officials, and visitors from other states. The Cleveland Greys and Columbus Fencibles were conspicuous in the parade. The City Council committee on the "house-warming" consisted of Messrs. Noble, Comstock, Decker and Reinhard; and prominent citizens, Wm. G. Deshler, Lucian Buttles, Henry Wilson, Robert E. Neil, and Francis Collins, were appointed a committee to assist. At 9 p. m. the ceremonies began with prayer by Rev. James Hoge, State Senator Alfred Kelly delivered the address of welcome, and until after midnight dancing in the rotunda, and merriment throughout the building held sway. D. W. Deshler, treasurer of the committee, reported $1,703 from all sources, and a balance of $300 after defraying expenses.
It was estimated that more than 10,000 persons attended the ceremony of the opening of the Capitol, and the crush was so great that many women fainted. There was imminent danger of people being killed, when David Taylor and Lucian Buttles, powerful men, forced themselves into the door and compelled the opening of all other doors, and no more tickets were taken.
During 1858-59 all unfinished work on the building was completed. The mosaic floor of the rotunda was laid, consisting of 4,957 pieces; the white marble therein is Italian, the red, Portuguese, and the black and green in the borders of the figures, are native, from Vermont.
It required twenty years to erect this building. The cost was approximately $1,350,000. The building is 304 feet long, bv 184 feet wide; it has eight massive columns on the east and west fronts, and four on the north and south. The chief entrance is at the west. From the rotunda floor to the top of the dome the distance is 136 feet. The climb to the dome, over 100 steps, through a narrow corridor. up winding stairs surrounding the dome, was for years a common test of endurance and poisc.
On the second floor are the State Library, the chambers of the House of Representa- tives and of the Senate, and until recently the historic "flag-room," discontinued because the flags are now established around the rotunda, in hermetically-sealed cases, and the relics have been deposited elsewhere, chiefly in the Archeological Museum.
The State House addition, or as it is now known, the Judiciary Annex, authorized by
147
STATE BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS
the Legislature in 1897, was built at a cost of $360,000 and the commission,-appointed by Governor Asa S. Bushnell, comprising A. D. Rodgers of Columbus, Lewis P. Schaus of Newark, and Charles A. Bauer of Springfield,-kept within the appropriation. Opha Moore, of Columbus, served as secretary of the commission until the completion of the building in 1900. The blue limestone of the capitol was used in the annex, and the interior finished in domestic and foreign marbles. The architects were Samuel Hanniford & Sons, of Cincinnati.
There has been considerable agitation in recent years, for another addition to the capitol entourage, since much of the State's business is now transacted in rented quarters, outside of the square, and some at remote points in the city; and a so-called Civic Center, covering an adjoining square or squares, has been warmly advocated and somewhat tardily advanced to a cogent standpoint, in which the State and eity would co-operate, but no definite agreement has been reached. Meanwhile many of the State offices have been housed in the eleven-story Wyandotte building on West Broad street, which was bought by the State in 1917, and a number are in other buildings.
The Penitentiary.
In the last hundred years Ohio has spent between $20,000,000 and $30,000,000 in ex- perimental discipline and correction of criminals, and without ascertaining beyond perad- venture, that the proper solution has been reached. In the last decade, however, the "honor system" has prevailed almost without break, and a high morale established among the
THETERRY ENG OF COLUMBUS;O
First Hospital for the Insane, East Broad Street between Eleventh Street and Hamilton Avenue, Burned in 1868.
convicts, second only to the army and some educational centers. At this writing about 1,000 prisoners are "on parole" and working outside of the prison walls, which is a high tribute to that system of government. By a series of checks and balances, almost entire "honor" is obtained among those who work outside and return at night. Not only are they given em- ployment and a wage at various State institutions in the city, but their record in building roads in this State, far distant from the Penitentiary, which were needed for transportation of munitions and for war-trucking, would argue a large degree of patriotism; and their im- provement in health and happiness is due in large measure to the state-farms for prisoners near this city.
The first prisoner received at the first Penitentiary, (elsewhere deseribed) on the Seioto and Mound street site, where it was maintained till 1834, was John Evans, accompanied by his brother David, from Piekaway county, October 15, 1815, for "assault and battery to kill." The reason for their matriculation was a backwoods melee with bullies over the belle of the hall; the bully and his cousin were handled severely by the brothers, were "on their backs for several months," and the victors were pardoned by Governor Worthington, Janu- ary 26, 1817. John Welsh, of Franklin count", was sentenced for stealing hogs, October 13, and pardoned two years later. Henry Sharp, of Scioto county, was sentenced for six years for horse-stealing but manumitted May 1, 1816. The fifth man, Thomas Hammon, from
148
HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO
Belmont, however, stayed his entire term. It will be noted that pardons were numerous. Of the 150 received during the first five years, 82 were pardoned, and of the remaining 68 eleven died, as the sanitary conditions were unsuited. The officials showed little pity, and prisoners were often flogged. One out of ten finally suecumbed to this exacting treatment. In the old books of the prison, which are not complete, 663 were pardoned, or at the rate of more than two-thirds.
During the nineteen years of this old record, many prisoners worked on the construc- tion of the Ohio canal. The entry, "Pardoned on the canal" appears 89 times, during the years 1827-28. This work was exceptionally arduous and exposed. In the old days, when a convict died, his number was given to a new man; but now, each prisoner's serial number belongs to him until the Judgment Day. "No. 1," of the old record, for instance, was held by seven men; "No. 2" by four. The youngest prisoner, Richard Liver- pool, from Hamilton, for arson, was only twelve years old, and sentenced for three years, but Governor Lucas, touched by his extreme youth, sent him home soon after he was incarcerated. David- Fry, aged 13, was pardoned in 1829, after a year.
These picturesque incidents of the carly career of the institution might be added to, ad infinitum if space permitted. From 1815 to 1834, only ten women were sent to the prison, and all of them were pardoned. Bertillon's system had not been invented, and some of the descriptions are indeed laughable. One is set down as "complexion bald-headed," another had "a swarthy complexion and a mother in Indiana," the "general appearance" of a third consisted of "a scar on right cheek and a wife in Licking county." These landmarks of levity relieve the grewsome terrors, somewhat. It was not always so informal. To escape the rigors of confinement many took desperate chances, and in nineteen years 104 escaped into the surrounding forests.
The present Penitentiary eovers 24.7 acres on Spring street, with a southern frontage of 800 feet; it has a simple and pleasing design, flanked by double towers, and indented with glyphs or mouldings at intervals. It stands back 150 feet from the street, with terraced lawns and flowers to break the awe-inspiring approach to its portals. Handsome two-story verandas on the front of the administration building offer comfort and convenience. The West Hall was completed in 1834, the East Hall in 1861, and the New Hall in 1877, im- proving in architecture each time. The Woman's Department, now abandoned for that pur- pose, was at the castern terminus of the main building. The prison's depth is 1,500 feet, or from Spring to Maple street; the eastern wall is in a diagonal course to Maple, nar- rowing the frontage there to 510 feet. The western wall, along Dennison avenue, is 1,440 fect in length. The Warden's residence is on the upper floors. The Guard room is between the East and West Halls, or cell-houses.
On entering his cell, each prisoner, after the day's work, stands at the door, with his fingers protruding through the bars, so that guards locking the cells for the night can easily make a complete census. This method quickly reveals an escape. The Annex, as its name but dimly implies, is the place of execution of the condemned. Hundreds of thousands have gazed on its grim instruments of death, from the old scaffold to the later electric chairs, and have passed out with pity and sympathy engraved on their faces.
The Bertillon system of identification for criminals and derelicts, was adopted in Ohio in 1887. The first measurement took place in the Ohio Penitentiary in October of that year.
The farm lands first acquired for the institution consist of 442 acres located about fifteen miles southwest of this city, and 30.08 acres of quarry land adjoining the Colum- bus State Hospital. The value of the lands, $345,548.67, and the buildings, $789,908.05, made a grand total of valuation for all property of $1,542,185.93 in 1916.
The daily average population, June 30, 1916, was 1,884, an increase of 103 over the preceding year. In that year, (the last report available), 523 inmates were enrolled under the "honor" system, as an outside squad. This has almost doubled to date. The parole plan beeame operative in 1895. Under the prisoner's compensation system, inmates are paid at the rate of one to two eents an hour, for an eight-hour work-day. Under this provision about $10,000 to $50,000 is paid out annually. Prisoners serving a term for the abandon- ment of legitimate children, are credited with 10 cents a dav, for cach working dav, all of which is remitted to the trustees of the children abandoned. Seventy or more per diem are in prison for this offense.
A new prison farm of about 1,150 acres near London, Madison county, was bought for
149
STATE BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS
$250,000 in 1914, with a view to the ultimate removal of the Penitentiary from Columbus. An increasing number of prisoners have been employed there at farm labor and constructing a few necessary buildings. The farm products in 1916 were valued at $25,513.21. The buildings put up have cost approximately $60,000.
United States prisoners were not sent to the Penitentiary until 1888. Afterwards until recently a large number of federal prisoners were detained here. It was at one time the largest Penitentiary in the country, and in 1898 there were 2,300 inmates. The opening of the new Intermediate Penitentiary at Mansfield took a goodly number of those convicted for first-offenses, and this, and the parole law, have operated to keep down the number. It costs about $300,000 annually to operate the Penitentiary.
Other parts of the state prison system which should be mentioned are the Lima State Hospital for the criminal insane and the Woman's Reformatory at Marysville. The former insures the special care and study of criminals who cannot be held accountable for their offenses, while the latter secures the separation of the sexes and offers the greatest oppor- tunity to women convicted of crime to return to lives of usefulness. The old plan of housing men and women criminals under the same roof and discriminating against the latter in the efforts at correction, some years ago, brought from the women of the State a great protest, and the General Assembly responded generously, almost prodigally, providing a build- ing which there have not yet been found in Ohio enough women criminals to fill.
The State School for the Deaf.
Second, in chronological sequence, to the Ohio Penitentiary, is the one above named- oldest of all the State benevolent institutions, and operating at less expense than any of them. Ohio was the fifth state to make provision for mute pupils- in the year 1827.
To Dr. James Hoge, pioneer Presbyterian divine of the city, who stood high in the councils of chief executives, is due the inception of this institution, as well as the later School for the Blind. He was one of seven commissioners, appointed by the Governor to draft a general system of free schools for the state, and this opened his cyes to the need for the care and education of the deaf and blind. Pennsylvania preceded Ohio by a few years in this respect, and invited this state to send mute pupils to its institution, in the time of Governor Allen Trimble; this elicited the attention of Dr. Hoge. In 1826 the State was polled for mutes, and data secured as to their condition. The report showed 72 "in good circumstances," 66 "middling," 279 "poor," and 11 whose financial rating was not given. Early in 1827 a bill was passed by the General Assembly authorizing the incorporation of such an institution. Dr. Hoge and Gustavns Swan, both of this city, were named among the first trustees.
In evolving methods for raising revenues, without asking too much of the State, many expedients were adopted-pay by pupils for their education; a grant of land from Congress, and finally, transfer of funds from other departments. The congressional bill, however, never got past the Senate. Some of the pupils were required to pay, and after some juggling of funds, a few years of trial work effected a revived interest on the part of the state, by demonstrating the usefulness of the school.
The school was kept, first, in rented quarters, at the northwest corner of High and Broad, where the Deshler Hotel now stands; on Front, north of Broad; and later at the south- east corner of High and State, until its present site on Town street was ready. Samuel W. Flennikin was the first pupil, and was as such greeted by the Governor before he had been there half an hour. Nine others came the first year.
The present site for the building was purchased in 1829 for $500, and was considered cheap, even then. It contains ten acres, and its present estimated value is in excess of a quarter of a million. In 1832 a building was started, and completed in 1834. Elaborate plans were drawn for the school, and then but a small portion of them executed. The first building, as built, was three stories high, and cost $15,000. A new wing was added in 1845, bringing the capacity up to 150 pupils, but this was soon outgrown. In 1864 the first portion of the present structure was completed, at the rear of the old one, and when the new school was opened in it, the old one was razed, in 1868.
New buildings have been added, as needed, but always with something to return to the State Treasury after the outlays. The buildings are now valued at $671,500, and the total valuation is $1.014,150. The average daily population in 1916 was 497, an increase of 10
150
HISTORY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO
over the preceding year; 113 employes were then in the institution, the ratio of inmates to officers and employes being then 4.3.
No pupil may be received under seven years, nor remain longer than thirteen. The school is open to receive all pupils who are too deaf to be educated in hearing schools, who are sound of mind, and free from offensive or contagious disease. A regular hearing-school course is pursued, as well as vocational training, so that graduates may support themselves by a definite trade. Less than a hundred years ago, the sign language was the only avenue of approach to the mute pupil. Lip-reading and automatic speech are now taught in all deaf- mute schools with great success. Many graduates are proficient in book-binding, type- setting, cobbling, painting, basket-weaving, and the girls are expert in sewing, cooking, and household work.
In late years the school has distinguished itself by earing for several pupils who were both deaf and blind. The first of these, Leslie Oren, like Helen Keller, has wonderfully repaid the untiring devotion of his teacher by his interest and attention. His ease has excited world-wide interest among educators.
Columbus has always been a pioneer in mute education. In 1852 the third annual con- vention of American Instructors of the Deaf met in this eity. A number of its instructors and superintendents have been called to higher and more responsible positions. Horatio N. Hubbell was the first superintendent, 1827-1851 ; John A. Cory, 1851-1852; Collins Stone, 1852-1863; George L. Weed, jr., 1863-1866; Gilbert O. Fay, 1866-1880; Charles S. Perry, 1880-1882; Benj. Talbot, acting, 1882-1883; Amasa Pratt, 1883-1890; James W. Knott, 1890-1892; Stephen R. Clark, 1892-1891; William S. Eagleson, 1894-1895; John W. Jones, 1895 --.
The schools for the deaf and the blind do not own farms, but they co-operate as a unit, in every possible way. The School for the Deaf does the baking and shoe-repairing of the School for the Blind, which reciprocates with the laundry work of the latter, due credit being given to cach institution. Many hundred pupils have been educated at the School for the Deaf, and enabled to make good living outside by their trades, to enjoy life to the utmost, and to become excellent citizens in any community.
School for the Blind.
The inception of the School for the Blind dates from 1836. Its records date from that point, and as it has never been ravaged by flames, are therefore complete. In that year the General Assembly named a committee of three --- Rev. James Hoge, Dr. Wm. M. Awl, and Noah H. Swayne, representatives of the three leading professions-to make a canvass of the state for statisties of the blind. There were found to be 72 in easy circumstances, 74 who were poor, 167 supported by friends, and 20 who were public charges. State action was at once invoked in their behalf-Ohio being the fourth state to take up this benevolent work.
In April, 1837, a bill was enacted for the education of the blind. A school was opened in Dr. Hoge's church that year, State and Third streets. A teacher and five pupils were enlisted and cleven secured as the first year's total. In December the commissioners reported that they had secured a lot of "nine acres, a little removed from the plat of Columbus, on the north side of the National Road, at a very reduced price"-which was imme- diately contributed by a number of benevolent citizens of the capital city. Official docu- ments are silent as to the donors. Today, the school plat contains eleven acres. At one time it was much larger, extending east to 18th street, north to Bryden Road and south to Main street.
The first building was four stories high, facing south, with an Italian portico over the main entrance. Its cost was $34,000. All that remains of it is a Greck pillar, near the central walk, and now crowned with ivy. The work on this predecessor of the present building began at once, and was completed by 1839. N. B. Kelly was superintendent of construction. It was occupied first in October of that year, and the school continued until May. 1840, under its first teacher. A. W. Penniman, but in 1840, William Chapin, after- wards a famous worker among the blind, became the first superintendent. In 1846 A. W. Penniman was pro tempore superintendent ; later superintendents have been: 1847, George HI. McMillan; 1851, Rufus E. Hart; 1855, Asa D. Lord, who had been principal of the Central High School; 1867, George L. Smead: 1885. Dr. H. P. Fricker: 1892, Dr. S. S.
151
STATE BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS
Burrows; 1896 Rev. R. W. Wallaee; 1900, George 1. Smead; 1905, Dr. Edwin N. Brown; 1907, Edward M. Van Cleve; 1915, C. F. F. Campbell; 1919, Frank Lumb, a blind man who had long been a teacher in the institution.
In the late sixties the building became very crowded, having 100 pupils, and the legisla- ture, May, 1869, authorized the present structure, which was completed, at a cost of $358,477.92. It is of stone entirely, and as fireproof as that day and age allowed. It stands today, with some minor improvements, as it stood in 1871, when finished. With the excep- tion of the school for deaf mutes, the building for the blind is the only one that has not been visited by a destruetive fire.
A large number of self-supporting blind people leave its halls every year, out of several hundred pupils. The school has done inereasingly good work, throughout its eighty years, and in addition has sought the betterment of the conditions of the blind outside of the school ; also the prevention of blindness in children. It is estimated that fifty percent of blindness could be prevented in babyhood, if mothers and nurses were properly intelligent. Owing to the difficulty and delicacy required in teaching the blind, one teacher is employed for three pupils, and this rule obtains in all institutions.
The eleven aeres are now valued at over $125,000.00; but, to aeeomplish best results there is need of a farm near the city upon which pupils having partial vision can receive agricul- tural instruction. The buildings were valued, for the year ending June 30, 1916, at $541,425.95, and the total valuation of all the property was $734,688.26. The average daily attendance of pupils for that year was 221; this was a decrease over the previous year, occasioned by the removal of those who were found to be mentally deficient. There were then 36 men and 48 women upon the faculty list.
Pupils are admitted at as early an age as possible-as soon as they are able to dress and care for themselves. When the school is provided with cottages, which are urgently needed, it will be possible to admit a few children at even an earlier age. Blind adults are no longer admitted to the institution, as these are now cared for by the State Commission for the Blind, which has charge also of blind newsboys and newsmen.
The Columbus State Hospital.
This is the oldest hospital in the State excepting the Longview, at Cincinnati, established in 1821, and probably one of the largest in the world at the present time. It was opened in 1838, a year after the School for the Blind, but at that time, and for many years after, they were indifferently called Asylums.
The Hospital was originally located on East Broad street near Lexington, but the build- ing was burned in 1868, and the institution was then removed to its present location on the hilltop west of the city.
The present hospital building, which is over a mile in circuit, represented then the largest single public investment in Ohio, with the exception of the State Capitol. The institution has 304 aeres of land, 100 of which are tillable, and on this farm-garden were raised in 1916, over $17,000 worth of produce. The land was worth then, $456,225.00, the buildings, $1,817,861.58. The total value was $2,506,437.76. A large pavilion for tubercular patients has since been built. There were then 1,826 patients, a decrease of 50 over the previous year. There were 209 employes, 102 men, and 107 women. The entire acreage was purchased in 1870 for $100,000.
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.