Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 16

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Zanesville > Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio > Part 16

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February 14, 1840, the General Assembly passed an act incorporating the Union Fire Com- pany of Zanesville, with succession for thirty years, the incorporators being James Raguet.

Daniel Brush, Anthony Wilkins, D. J. Culbertson, William Schultz, Isaac Campbell and their associ- ates and successors, and the membership was very large and contained the names of the most prom- inent and influential citizens. The council cham- ber was their club room, in which they had an extensive library and the current periodicals, and where games were played and a strong social feel- ing was cultivated; a feature of the amusements was a mock court before which a member was liable to be presented for imaginary or ridiculous offences: The last meeting of this popular organi- zation was held June 12, 1874.

November 19, 1836, the Merchants' Fire com- pany was organized with one hundred members, among whom were Col. John T. Fracker, Bernard Van Horne, Elias Ebert, Isaac Campbell, Daniel Brush, James Raguet, Anthony Wilkins, Samuel Clark, Daniel Applegate, Horatio J. Cox, George Rishtine, Josiah S. Copeland, William Blocksom, E. T. Cox, John D. Dare. Each wore a red badge with M. F. C. in gold letters upon it, and they occupied the public building, but they did not con- tinue many years and appear to have been more an auxiliary to the Union than an independent company.

January 10, 1839, a meeting was held in the Senate Chamber and the Relief Fire Company was organized with such men as Robert Hazlett, G. L. Shinnick, N. G. Abbott, James Sheward, Robert Lashley, John Printz, Horace Granger, Zeph. Clements, John Galigher, Thomas F. Nev- itt, John Launder and many others whose names were prominent in their generation. The equip- ment consisted of a larger engine than the "Union," which was styled "Little Old Hy- draulic" and a suction, and occupied the south half of the public building.

These two companies comprised the fire depart- ment for many years, the building and equipment being owned by the city, the members being vol- unteers and serving from patriotic motives; it was a frequent practice for the companies to have competitive drills to determine which could pre- pare for service in the shortest time and throw the stream the greatest distance, and as the power was human musele, with one row of inen on the deck of the engine and another on the ground, their movements were controlled by the foreman, who encouraged or denounced them, and shouted instructions through the large brass speaking trumpet, the contest being witnessed oy the assem- bled crowds with as much interest and "rooting" as the more modern ball gantes. When the water works were erected the engine and suc- tion carriage became obsolete, those of the Union being sold and a two wheeled hose cart being sub- stituted : later the "Union boys" procured a four wheeled carriage by private subscriptions. The Relief engine and suction remained in the house.

PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

and the former was later the nucleus of a fire com- pany in West Zanesville, but a hose cart was never supplied the Relief company, and the organiza- tion became dormant. As there was practically only one fire company in the city the Hope Hose Company was organized May 5, 1851, with a very large membership, and one of the members, Matthias Hanniss, was presented with a silver medal for saving the court house from destruction by fire. The company's first shelter was in a small frame on the south side of Market street, be- tween Court alley and Fourth street, but the frame blacksmith shop at Sewer alley and Market street became its first home ; the equipment was a two wheeled hose cart purchased at Cincinnati, and the city erected the two story, brick hose house still standing at the corner of Market and Sewer alley, when they were furnished a four wheeled cart. When the paid fire department was inaugu- rated the Hope hose house became headquarters until the erection of the Central building on Sixth street, and company No. I of the paid depart- ment occupied this structure.

At the organization of the Star Hose Company, May 1, 1852, sixty members were enrolled and their first home was on the east side of Seventh street, near Elm, and the two-story brick hose house was built nearly opposite; a two wheeled cart was the first equipment but later a four- wheeled one was supplied, built on the model of the Union ; upon the creation of the paid depart- ment the building was the station of the second company.

Fifty members were enrolled at the formation of the Eagle Hose Company, May 10, 1852, and they were stationed on the north side of Marietta street, near Eighth, and later were housed in the two story, brick house built by the city on the south side of the street and which was razed in 1904 to permit the erection of a modern station for the paid department company, which had oc- cupied the original structure. The first equipment of the Eagle was an old two-wheeled cart, but later a four-wheel carriage, on the model of the Union, was supplied, and upon the organization of the paid department the building was the sta- tion of Company No. 4.

In 1852 there were four companies, the Union and Hone near the center of the city, the Star in north Seventh street, and the Eagle in Marietta street. and as the ladders owned by the first named were too heavy for efficient service in emergencies, a number of old hose company mem- bers withdrew and formed an independent com- pany, with forty members, as the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company. No. 5, composed of mer- chants, bankers, professional men and clerks; their social standing secured for them the sobri- quet of "silk stockings," but they were not afraid of fire or water, and were efficient fire fighters

notwithstanding their occupation. The company was organized about 1858, and purchased truck and ladders at Baltimore, Maryland, which were paid for by private funds, and when it arrived was housed in one of the store rooms in the new Ma- sonic Temple, at Market and Fourth streets. The County Commissioners gave a free use of ground on the public square, on the east side of Fourth street, about midway the block between Fountain alley and Main street, and upon it an ornamental two story, brick building was erected, with but- tressed pilasters on the front and corners, and gothic doors and windows; the building cost $2,875.00, of which sum the city contributed $1,000.00, the remainder being donations from the members and their friends, which was augmented by dances and other entertainments; the second story was fitted as a reading room and place of assembly and amusement, and the organization proved more social than the Union. Each mem- ber provided, at his own expense, a leather hat, belt and water proof cape, and when the war came the company was in debt the small sum of $250.00 on the building; thirty-four of the forty members volunteered and before the war closed nearly ever man was in the army ; the company was practically dormant, and the city council re- fused to protect the property for the absent sold- iers, who offered it to the city on condition that the debt be paid; judgment was taken, the truck was sold and the city took possession of the building under its contribution and rented it to the county for use of the Auditor and Treasurer. August 12, 1867, D. Foerster, C. W. Fletcher, H. C. Lillibridge, Hugh Dunne, W. H. Nevitt, Wil- lis Bailey and Jacob Swarts represented to coun- cil, in a communication, that they were members of the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company and had a $600.00 interest in the building, which the city had ceased to use for fire purposes, and of- fered to release their claim upon it to the city if the latter would pay the amount to the Children's Home, which was accepted by a vote of seven to one.

Upon the annexation of Natchez, West Zanes- ville and Putnam five new hose companies were created, and the city erected houses for the organi- zations. The Muskingum Fire Company was or- ganized June 1, 1853, with fifty enrolled members and the engine of the Relief Fire Engine Com- pany, of Zanesville; it declined, and when an- nexation occurred was reorganized with a mem- bership of forty, in 1871, as the Reliance Hose Company, which name was later changed to the Relief and occupied the two-story brick hose house, in Keene street; the volunteer company disbanded April 1, 1878, and the station became Company 3, of the paid department. June 30, 1870, Relief Hose Company No. 7 was organized in Natchez, with forty members, and occupied

PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

the two-story brick hose house at Pine street and Muskingum avenue; December 29, 1874, a re- organization was made as Rescue No. 7, and be- came the home of paid Company No. 6 upon the dissolution of the volunteer department. The 76 hose company was organized April 15, 1872, equipped with a reel purchased at Philadelphia, and located in the new hose house built for the purpose in Monroe street, but the company dis- banded June 1, 1874. The Neptune Hose Com- pany was formed May 17, 1872, with thirty mem- bers, as an independent reserve, to attend all fires in the Fourth ward, and large fires beyond those limits; the city accepted the organization May 25, 1872, and located them in the house at Main and Ninth streets. The Niagara Hose Company was organized July 5, 1872, with fifty- eight members and occupied the new building at Putnam avenue and Madison street; it dis- banded March 27, 1876, with twenty-two active members, and paid Company No. 5 was assigned to the building.

During 1874 the necessity for a better or- ganization of the firemen became apparent; the volunteers were allowed $150.00 per annum by the city for furniture, etc., for the halls on the second floors of the hose houses, and all other expenses for social purposes were paid by the members; the service was excellent for a village but the demands of a city rested too heavily upon volunteers, and the industrial conditions made a change essential. June 1, 1874, the Fire Com- mittee of Council reported that during May a new company of twenty-four men had been enrolled and accepted, and July 13 they again reported that they had attended called meetings of all the companies except the Reliance, in West Zanes- ville, and that a general conference of the entire department had been held June 8, at which the Union, Neptune, 76, Relief, Reliance and Niagara had agreed, conditionally, to serve under a fire chief, and the Hope, Eagle and Star had positively refused, and only two companies were willing to do so unconditionally. The committee recom- mended that the Union, Hope, Eagle, Star, 76 and Reliance companies be disbanded, and new ones formed to serve under a chief, and the opinion was expressed that a paid department should be inaugurated. July 20 an ordinance creating the office of fire engineer and assistant fire engineer was adopted by a vote of 17 to I, and all the regulations creating and governing volunteer companies were repealed.

The formation of fire companies was vigor- ously conducted and August 24 report was made that a company with twenty-one members in West Zanesville, one with twenty-three members at the Marietta street station and one with twenty- nine members at the 76 station had been formed and accepted, and September 7, 1874, John W.

McCormick was confirmed as Chief of the Fire Department. December 28, 1874, the Fire Com- mittee reported that it had "lost all hope of or- ganizing volunteer companies in the Second and Fifth wards," and had under consideration the unprotected condition of the First, Second and Fifth wards with three men at Hope and two at Star houses, with insufficient force to get a hose carriage to a fire, and recommended that the fire engineer be instructed, without delay, to have two of the hose carriages fitted to attach a horse, purchase horses and harness and consoli- date the force at the Hope house; January II, 1875, the report was agreed to except that the companies were maintained at the two houses.

August 21, 1876, the ordinance of July 20, 1874, was repealed and the office of Fire Engineer was created and September 23 an appropriation of $1,000.00 was made to inaugurate a telegraphic fire alarm system; May 26, 1879, an ordinance was passed to regulate the formation and gov- ernment of fire companies, which prescribed that each should have two fully paid firemen and one runner, with a horse to be attached to each reel. or hook and ladder truck, and its adoption sounded the death of the volunteer fire depart- ment. The system has grown until the city pos- sessess a department of which it has great reason to be satisfied. In 1890 the present handsome "Central" fire station was erected in Sixth street near Main, and made the headquarters of the de- partment. The Chief, Assistant Chief and six men are assigned to man the chemical engine, hook and ladder truck and chief's wagon, at this station, for whose use five horses are maintained. The appointments at each of the other stations consist of three men, two horses and one reel, located as follows : No. 2, at Monroe street ; No. 3. Keene street; No. 4, Marietta street ; No. 5. Putnam avenue; No. 6, Pine street. The fire alarm telegraph has been developed until all parts of the city are covered and sixty-three boxes are in circuit.

WATER WORKS.

In May, 1816, the town council granted the privilege to Wyllys Silliman and David J. Mar- ple, of constructing a reservoir and laying water pipes in the streets and alleys; work was begun in 1817 by the construction of a cut stone reser- voir, puddled with clay and arched with brick : it was only a large cistern, 25 by 75 feet, 9 feet high, erected upon the surface of the ground near the corner of Underwood street and Fountain alley. The springs in the surrounding hills were very strong, on account of the dense forests and their flow was conducted to the cistern in pipes ; iron was impossible of procurement and elm, poplar and oak logs, in short sections, were used with holes ranging from two and one-half to

PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

three and one-half inches in diameter bored through them; joints were formed by driving tapered ends into each other, and the prepar- ation of the pipe was conducted on the lot at south-east corner of Market and Sixth streets.

The main was laid in Fountain alley to Third street, with branches on the cross streets, but the pipes froze quickly in cold weather, and the flavor of the wood was so freely imparted to the water that it was unsuited for drinking or culin- ary purposes. Hydrants were constructed of smaller wooden pipe, about seven feet in length, driven into the main, the upper end plugged and a wooden or brass faucet inserted in the side. As the reservoir was only slightly above the elevation of the hydrants, pressure was lacking and when one hydrant was open on the line water could not be drawn from those beyond it. The mini- mum price for a family was $5.00 per annum, but the projectors never collected a cent from the users and the entire enterprise was a failure and a loss to the owners. In 1831 the reservoir was sold and the stone used for building purposes.

A quarter century elapsed before an effort was made to supply the town with water and on June 14, 1841, the City Council appointed a Water Works Committee of three members, with James Crosby as secretary. Two of the com- mittee were instructed to visit Wheeling, Steuben- ville and Pittsburg and report a system of public water supply adapted to Zanesville; June 29 their report was submitted and the expense of the trip was given as $54.00 ; when it is recalled that rail- roads were not then in existence and the trip was made by stage, the promptness with which they discharged their duty was not only commendable, but the economy exercised is worthy of record and emulation at this later day ; the expense is in contrast with bills for similar services rendered in these days of rapid transit, parlor cars and palatial hostelries.

The Council was not dilatory in acting and July 24 approved a plan to construct a power house on the canal embankment, "fifty feet from north to south and forty feet from east to west ;" the lower story walls were ordered to be con- structed of Lock masonry, twenty-two feet in height, the first ten feet to be five feet thick; the upper story to be of brick, eight feet high; the pump chamber to be ten feet in the clear and the force pump to be twelve inches in diameter and have a stroke of four and one-half feet.

A contract was made July 6 and amended August 2 for the excavation of a reservoir on the town lot, on Harvey's hill, the center of the lot "to be the center of the west line of said reservoir, extending thence north sixty-five feet and south an equal distance; the east line of said reservoir to be of the same length, and the north and south sides to be sixty feet each, making an ob-

long square of 130 by 60 feet; the reservoir to . be sunk ten feet below a level 180 feet above low water mark at the lock at the canal." The reser- voir was lined and paved with brick and Novem- ber 9 a contract was made for an enlargement, the whole to be completed by April 1, 1842. The stonework for the power house was contracted September 7, 1841, and October 18, 1841, F. J. L. Blandy contracted to make iron pipe at the fol- lowing prices : three-inch, forty-two cents; four- inch, fifty-five and one-half cents; six-inch, eighty-one and one-third cents ; seven-inch, ninety-four and one-half cents ; eight inch, $1.08; ten-inch, $1.50 per foot.

Work was not commenced during the autumn of 1841 and the record of April 16, 1842, reads : "The board met agreeably to appointment on the embankment of the canal, above the lower (Third street ) bridge ; present, Trustees Davidson, Adams and Galigher, and agreed unanimously to locate the power house on said embankment, hav- ing the south wall sixty feet above the lower bridge." The structure thus authorized is now occupied by Abel's box factory ; the power was water moving a wheel supplied by a race and corebay from the canal, the intake pipe being in the river. The contract for the brick work of the power house was let March 29, 1842.

The main supply pipe was laid in Fountain alley, with branches at each street intersection, and July 22, 1842, fire plugs were ordered placed at each street intersection from Seventh to Sec- ond streets, and blanks at the alley crossings. The date of the opening of the works is not recorded and is indefinite; the first collections for water rent were made May 18, 1843, for the preceding six months ; a memorandum of the period during which water was used for pumping, made when the station was abandoned, fixed the commence- ment at July 9, 1842, and it is very probable that the service began in October or November, 1842, as the first rates were determined October 6, 1842, for three families :

Eliza Ross, seven in family, family use only, $7.00 per annum.

Jeremiah Ford, six in family, family use only, $7.00 per annum.

George Reeve, eight in family, family use and bath, $10.00 per annum.

The next day barber shops were rated at $6.00; private baths, $1.00; shops, stores and ware- houses, $2.00; smith shops, each fire, $2.00; horses, 50 cents ; manufacturers, on a moderate scale, $10.00 per annum. The provision for private baths in families, sixty years ago, indi- cates that the comforts of life were not unknown in Zanesville at that day, but it appears that the water was heated and poured into the tub, the attachments now so familiar and essential in such apparatus being unknown.

PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

Although he had been dead a quarter cen- tury, McIntire enabled the city to erect the works upon easy terms ; $30,497.05 was borrowed from the Zanesville Canal and Manufacturing Com- pany, the executors of his estate, at six per cent. interest for a period of twenty-four years from January 1, 1842. The improvement was called Belleview Water Works, and the aggregate cost to April 1, 1844, was $39,066.40, of which sum the reservoir cost $5,672.01. The public system was not generally used, however, and the report for the year ended March 31, 1846, showed an aggregate possible revenue of $1,483.51, of which $1,406.80 was collected, $16.96 was rebated as corrections and $59.75 was lost as delinquencies and removals.

In 1852 a new reservoir was constructed on Harvey's hill at a cost of $9,952.10, but the neces- sity for additional storage was soon apparent and July 30, 1863, it was decided to ascertain the price at which land could be secured on water works hill for reservoir purposes; the values which property acquires when needed for public purposes was known at that day, as it was re- ported August 7th that one lot of .85 acre would cost $2,850.00, and a tract of three acres, north and east of the reservoir, would be discounted to the city for $5,896.00 cash. The prices were con- sidered unreasonable and the solicitor was in- structed to condemn, but no action was taken and October 10th the price of vacant lots south was ordered to be ascertained but no report was made.

The lessees of the public works permitted the canal to be obstructed with washings and the sup- ply of water was inadequate for pumping pur- poses ; January 10, 1867, the trustees had a con- ference with the lessees to effect a cleaning of the head of the canal, "in order that the super- intendent may be able to run the water wheel," but slight satisfaction was given and the presi- dent was directed to visit Pittsburg and procure the services of the superintendent of the water works of that city to make plans and specifica- tions for erecting steam power, the city council having agreed to borrow money to erect a steam plant; later Mr. Francis Wedge submitted a plan and he and Mr. Ruth.were instructed, Febru- ary 18, 1867, to submit it to the Pittsburg su- perintendent.

March 9, 1867, authority was given to pur- chase a lot at the foot of Fourth street upon which to construct a steam power station, and a portable engine was ordered to be attached to the water power plant to supply water during the summer months; March 18th, plans for a steam power plant were ordered to be secured, but fric- tion occurred between the trustees and the council, by reason of a resolution of the latter body, April 15th, to the effect that all moneys in payment for the improvements must be drawn

on the order of the finance committee of the council; the next day the trustees protested that the council's action took from them the control of the work and it was incompatible with their duty to enter into any further contracts until the council should signify its intention to place the funds under the control of the trustees. An ad- justment of the differences was effected, but the troubles of the trustees multiplied and August 7th they were obliged to cancel the contract for the erection of the power house, as the contractors were unable to complete it. January 11, 1868, the cost of the improvements aggregated $54,- 294.02, and council was asked to increase the issue of bonds to $75,000.00. Service by the steam plant began early in 1868 but the date is not recorded.

The annexation of Natchez and West Zanes- ville having been accomplished, on July 12, 1871, propositions were considered for 720 feet of flex- ible pipe to be laid across the river, and August 22d a contract was executed for a submerged pipe from the foot of Market to the foot of Lee street, which cost $66,008.66, Natchez being sup- plied by a pipe across the Licking; the annex- ation of Putnam required the introduction of the city water and April 29, 1872, the trustees con- sidered propositions for a supply of pipe for the extension to that portion of the city. This river connection cost $59,976.56 and was laid during an extremely low stage of water, plows being used to turn furrows in which to lay the pipe, and a large saving in both labor and material was thereby effected; in 1873 a main was laid to Natchez from Putnam by way of the Dug Road, at an expense of $5,053.22.

The increased demand for water compelled the trustees, May 18, 1872, to order an engine, boiler and pump for the old power house, and to take action for increasing both pumping and storage facilities. The location of the pumping station below the outlets of the sewers suggested that additions to the existing plant were not desir- able, and May 30, 1872, an order was given for brick for additional reservoirs on Blandy and Water Works' hills; June 17th the immediate construction of the reservoirs was ordered and estimates were directed to be obtained for the cost of new power houses ; on the succeeding day the board viewed the Blandy hill site and visited the Mill Run bridge site of the proposed power house, both of which were approved and orders were given for the acquisition of the needed land ; a month later the power houses and equipment were ordered and August 3d a stand pipe was located. March 23. 1873. the Mill Run power house was contracted for at $7.250.00, and the power house on the hill for $4,227.00. The new plant was put in operation November 7. 1873. and in 1875 the power plants on the canal were

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Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 16

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846- Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 898

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898