USA > Ohio > Portage County > Portage heritage; a history of Portage County, Ohio; its towns and townships and the men and women who have developed them; its life, institutions and biographies, facts and lore > Part 37
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In 1851 the Kents formed a $150,000 stock company to build a cotton mill on the site of the old silk factory, the present Loeblein site. This building was well constructed and Julia Ferry, an early school teacher, recorded in her diary that a million bricks were furnished by the Ferry brickyard on Franklin Ave. extension. Eastern peo- ple were to operate the mill but some- thing went wrong and the building stood idle for 20 years.
In 1878 it was leased to the Turner Bros. The sum of $15,000 was raised by public subscription and a like sum by Marvin Kent. Alterations were made. An excavation cut from solid rock, 42 x 28 x 22 was made to make room for an enormous water wheel. Later, two turbines were installed,
creating 120 horse power. The Alpaca Mill, as it was then called, provided employment for 100 persons and a market for local wool as at that time many sheep were raised nearby and every township had its "wool house."
WOOLEN MILL QUITS
The Alpaca Mill operated until 1889 when there was a disagreement between the Turners and Mr. Kent and the mill moved to Cleveland, later becoming the Cleveland Worsted Mills. In 1885 the mill had 254 looms and 1800 spindles, with 120 em- ployees.
About 1850, the Kent interests also established a glass factory on the east side of the river to Franklin at Sum- mit. There was plenty of sand stone rock available, suitable for glass mak- ing from a Mogadore road quarry near by. Later this was the location of a city dump. The glass works oper- ated in a limited way until 1864, when it was taken over by the Day & Wil- liams Co., employing about 200 men. The main product was window glass. Day & Williams ran until the early nineties.
The company imported Belgian workmen who were housed in com- pany homes on "Belgian Hill." This is the present site of City Hall parking lot. When the A. & G. W. line came in 1863 it ran between the factory and an overhead bridge over the railroad connected both sides.
The Kent Universalist church was organized in 1866 and the present building on Gougler Ave. was dedi- cated in 1868. The first regular min- ister was Rev. Andrew Willson, who served for ten years. Rev. A. I. Span- ton, later president of Buchtel College, was a pastor here.
Rockton Lodge No. 316, F. & A. M. was formally installed Oct. 21, 1859.
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The lodge built its own hall in 1870, and this was used until 1923 when the old Kent mansion, West Main St. was bought. This lodge has always had a large membership.
Olive Chapter, No. 53, Eastern Star, was instituted in 1895. Meetings have been held in the Masonic Temple.
Achilles Lodge No. 378, Knights of Pythias, was chartered in 1890, and Thetis Temple, Pythian Sisters was organized in 1899.
Standing Rock Aerie No. 1204, Fra- ternal Order of Eagles, was chartered in 1905. This lodge has been quite active.
Kent Council No. 1411, Knights of Columbus, was instituted April 18, 1909. In 1918, the club bought the Shively property, E. Main and De- Peyster, for its use and later on bought its present home, 128 N. DePeyster.
Marvin Kent was disappointed when the C. & P. railroad failed to reach Kent. The nearest station was Earlville. Kent secured a grant from the Ohio legislature for a railroad from Warren, Ohio. This road was finished after prolonged difficulties and the first train came in March 1, 1863. The road was then called the Atlantic & Great Western. Mr. Kent was first president and through his efforts the road repair shops were located here, long the main stay of employment. The buildings were built of stone obtained from a quarry be- tween Water and Franklin Sts., south of College Ave. It was at this time that the name of the town was chang- ed from Franklin Mills to Kent. While the shops were going, the coming of the Erie pay car each month was an important event not only in labor but business circles. The pay car was dis- continued in 1900 and payment made by check. Kent was incorporated as a
village in 1867. John Thompson was the first mayor.
A building boom came in 1867. New buildings included the Kent Na- tional Bank, where formerly a black- smith shop had stood; the Union school (Central); the Catholic Church on Portage St., and the Universalist church on River St. Marvin Kent gen- erously donated ground for the churches.
DEPRESSION HITS
When the water was let out of the canal in 1869 the Center Mill was forced to quit and the lower mill was out of repair. For about two years Kent was without a flour mill. The Stow St. mill resumed in 1871, oper- ating until 1915.
In 1868 a Kent co-operative store started, the sum of $15,000 being raised at $10.00 per share. This store lasted about 20 years.
The depression of 1873 had a seri- ous effect on Kent business and in- dustry. Money was raised for those in want, and in 1875 a big Calico Ball for charity was held and netted the then large sum of $150.00 to help the un- fortunate.
In 1874 sentiment developed for a new A. & G. W. passenger station. The company demanded that $4,000 be publicly subscribed for this and $4,400 was pledged. In June, 1875, the new station was opened, constructed mainly in winter months, an opera- tion then unheard of. Bricks for the new station were also furnished from the Ferry brickyard.
The Railway Speed Recorder Co. was organized in 1876. The company made a device to record the speed of trains, perfected by J. B. Miller, who later brought out the Miller Keyless lock. The Speed Recorder Co. had a plant on North Water St. many years
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but sold out and moved to Franklin, Pa., in 1904.
COVERED BRIDGE GOES
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In 1877, the Main St. bridge re- placed the old covered bridge, built in 1826. The bridge was 60 feet wide and 275 feet long and has been in use since then. About 1930 it was widened by relocating sidewalks. In 1877 also, the Crain Ave. bridge was completed as was a small "swinging bridge" near the Brady Leap spot, and still another of this type on Stow St. These swing- ing bridges were for foot passengers only.
A hook and ladder fire company was formed in 1870, the equipment being purchased for $1,000. In 1873 a Selby steam fire pump was purchased. Landings were built along the river at Main St. and Crain Ave. for pumping water from the river. Two large stor- age cisterns were also built-one at West Main and Mantua; and one at Elm and Franklin Ave. The "cow bridge" connected present Fred Fuller Park with the Island. It was built by a citizen to permit his cow to pasture on the Island.
In May, 1880, the Cleveland, Can- ton & Southern railroad (now Nickel Plate) arrived in Kent, and in 1881 its tracks reached Cleveland. It was a nar- row gauge line which was changed to standard gauge in a single day, Nov. 25, 1888. To do this 1400 workmen were spread over the 161 miles of track.
The Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Chicago railroad changed its name to the Pittsburgh & Western in 1881, then became property of the Balti- more & Ohio, with a later change of name. Building this road through Kent was difficult because so much rock was encountered along the river. At one time 600 men were employed.
Cars did not run regularly until 1884. In 1903 and 1904 the road was straightened and double tracked. Dur- ing this time the famous "box car de- pot" near the Main St. bridge, with stairway, was used until the new de- pot at Stow St. could be finished.
In June, 1880, the broad gauge of the Erie was changed to standard gauge in a single day. Details of rail- road building are found in another chapter.
MORE SCHOOLS COME
One of Kent's early schools was on Mill St., now College Ave., near De- Peyster. The building still stands, though remodeled. There was also a wooden one room school on Franklin Ave., which was later moved to E. School St. and now a church. Central school was built in 1868 and in 1880 a new brick school, called South school, replaced the old one. The DePeyster school was built in 1887 at a cost of about $10,000 and much needed re- pairs were made at Central. The third floor required repairs and it was made over into class rooms. The Catholic school on Portage St. also opened in Sept., 1881.
Franklin township had five school districts as follows: 1-Twin Lakes near gravel pit; 2-Breackneck, just off Horning Rd .; 3-Brady Lake, site of present school; 4-Maple Grove, Hudson Rd .; 5-Northeast of Pippin Lake.
In 1880, Williams Bros. Mill was built by C. A. and S. T. Williams, be- ginning operations in 1881. The ca- pacity was 125 barrels of flour per day, by a new process as it was then known. Later, S. T. Williams with- drew, and the mill has been in contin- uous operation up to the present time. It long provided a ready market for wheat grown locally. In late years,
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after discovery of new methods of making cake flour, most of the sales have been to large baking firms. For years, much of the flour was packed in barrels and a barrel factory, located on Lake St., provided the barrels.
LOCK CO. STARTS
A. C. and Fred Smith established the Kent Carriage Works in 1882. This operated until about 1910, em- ploying 12 persons.
The Miller Lock Co., organized in 1888, perfected and improved prod- ucts of the Douds Lock Co., of Canton The lock was widely sold and the Millers had an exhibit at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. The lock busi- ness later was bought by the Gougler Machine Co., the locks still being made today.
An umbrella factory operated for a time after 1889 and this was succeeded by the A. L. Shattuck Chair factory which later moved to Bedford.
East Twin Lakes ice rights were leased to the Forest City Ice Co. of Cleveland in 1882 and a 15,000 ton ice house erected on the south shore with a spur to the C. & P. railroad. Great quantities of ice went out. On West Twin Yahrling & Arighi had an ice house which supplied local trade.
The Parsons Lumber Co., which originated in 1866, built a new plan- ing mill in 1881. This company is still in business today, being the oldest in Kent.
The Kent Independent Band was formed by A. L. Post in 1883. This splendid organization was long a fa- vorite in the community. Its summer open air concerts were famous, and it was in demand in other places. In 1921 Mr. Post was succeeded by G. F. Elgin. The band was discontinued in 1927. Other bands since then have been the Twin Coach band, and the
Kent State University band. The Kent American Legion Drum Corps attract- ed wide attention and won nation- wide honors in competition with others.
The first telephone reached Kent in 1882 and 50 subscribers were secured. First exchange was located on the sec- ond floor of the Kline building, South Water St. However, service was soon discontinued.
GAS LIGHTS STREETS
An innovation in street lighting ap- peared in 1882, when the Belden gas lamps were installed down town at a cost of $10.50 each. This system lasted until 1889, when a contract was made with the Kent Water & Light for electric lighting. Here, 39 arc lights cost $60.00 each per year on the so- called Philadelphia moonlight sched- ule. Cost of this to the village was $2340.00 per year.
In 1887, Kent had a gas "boom." A fund of $3,000.00 was raised by bond issue after a vote to drill for gas for municipal use. A well was sunk on West Day St. to the depth of 2255 feet. Gas was found but not enough for use.
The big problem in the '80s was that of water supply. The village had been securing its supplies from springs and wells, one being near the present University. This water was piped through wooden pipe following the drainage route near College Ave. A town pump was located on Water St. near the present Donaghy store, with the usual tin cup service.
More water was needed. One fac- tion favored getting supplies from Stratton Pond, north of Kent. Anoth- er faction favored Plum Creek, which had its origin in Brimfield. But an eastern concern submitted a proposi- tion to construct a water works system
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with water piped to all parts of the village, at a consumer cost of 59 cents per 100 gallons and $50.00 a year for 60 fire hydrants, plus three watering troughs for horses thrown in. The Kent Bulletin was for Plum Creek and the Kents started the Courier to com- bat the plan. But the people voted 378 to 81 to accept the offer made by the easterners. The water was turned on in 1887, after considerable more con- tention. The water troughs were at the Square; North Mantua and Crain; and Franklin and Oak. In the follow- ing year a stand pipe was erected on South Lincoln, with a pressure of 70 pounds. It was torn down in 1941
The Kent Opera House and I.O.O.F. Hall building was built in 1889 by R. W. Thomas and I. D. Tuttle for the Odd Fellows Building Co.
A. H. Day Post, G. A. R. was organ- ized in 1882 and was important and influential for many years. It took the lead in organizing Memorial Day ob- servance each year.
The Pioneer Society for Franklin township and vicinity had its first meeting at a picnic at Christian Cack- ler's home in 1874. In the following year provided a place where annual meetings could be held-east of Pros- pect, near Park. Pioneer Ave. got its name in this way. By 1888 new and larger grounds were found off East Main St., opposite Kent State Univers- ity. These were used until the ground was bought by Fred Fuller in 1902 and allotted.
HERE AND THERE
Miscellaneous items of interest of the '80s include:
Kent City Bank organized in 1881.
John Davey came from Warren to be cemetery sexton.
John Brown home demolished in March, 1882.
In 1887, ordinance passed to close barber shops on Sundays.
Coldest March day on record, March 21, 1885-13 below zero.
Edison talking machine on display at the Rink, 1887.
In 1880, three men killed when powder mill blew up on Powder Mill Rd. This mill was operated by water power.
Name of Canal St. changed to Franklin Ave. in 1881.
In 1890 wells were drilled near city reservoir, providing better water sup- ply.
With a population of 3501 in 1890, complaint was heard about condition of roads and streets. It resulted in grading and gravelling of the main thoroughfares. It helped but did not solve the problem. Kent also wanted more industries and an unusual series of events followed.
HELP FOR INDUSTRY
An election was held in 1890 to is- sue bonds in $100,000 for the purpose of securing new industries. The issue carried, 436 to 71. A contract was made with Webster, Camp & Lane and land on Mogadore Rd. bought from Marvin Kent for a shop. But the deal fell through. A building was then erected for a glass plant at a cost of $45,000 to be run by the E. D. Dith- ridge Co. of New Brighton, Pa., and also $15,000 was given to the Shellhart Peters Co. for a furniture factory on Lake St. Both factories started and neither lasted long. The sheriff took over the Dithridge plant and it was finally sold to Marvin Kent. Bounties, taxes, court costs and fees finally used up all the money.
Council then tried to repudiate the bonds but the courts ruled against it. The total cost to the village in this experiment to bring in new industries
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The Day & Williams Glass factory, important for many years.
was about $223,000. In 1897, Marvin Kent sold the property to Kearney & Foote, manufacturers of files and rasps. Working about 200 hands, this firm operated until 1901, when the plant was sold to the Nicholson File Co., which closed it. The Lamson & Sessions Co. plant is now located on this site.
In the '90s, electric cars came. Bids for franchises were made in 1894 by two companies-one headed by J. F. Seiberling and the other by Thomas Walsh, both out of Akron. The Walsh interests had a franchise to lay tracks from Silver Lake to the Portage Coun- ty line. A court fight followed. In- junctions were granted but finally the Walsh line reached the Kent town limits Nov. 25, 1895. By June 18, 1896, the tracks reached River St., while the fighting went on. For two years Kent passengers boarded the cars at the west end of the Main St. bridge. In 1901 the troubles were ironed out and traffic passed through Kent to Raven- na-Nov. 15, 1901. Fare to Akron was 20 cents and to Ravenna, 10 cents. To Brady Lake was five cents. Much freight was hauled by the N. O. T. & L. Co., the final owners, both by its
Electric Package Co., and by full cars.
Telephone service was resumed in Kent, in April, 1895, when a 25-year franchise was granted the American Electric Telephone Co. The exchange was in the rear of Mark Davis' cloth- ing store (now Green's). By 1898, 200 phones were in use. Later, the ex- change moved to the Allen Block, re- maining there 40 years. It went to the present N. DePeyster St. location in 1938.
In December, 1890, the Crain Ave. bridge was condemned and remained closed five years when a controversy with the P. & W. Railroad Co. devel- oped but a new bridge was completed in March, 1896.
OLIN WRECK OCCURS
The so-called "Olin wreck" occur- red in September, 1891 in the east end of the Erie yards. Three persons were killed outright and two died later. The train was carrying a large num- ber of the Olin family to a reunion in Vermont.
Work started on a new steel bell tower and flag staff in July, 1895. Bell and flag were in position in De-
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cember. The bell was later referred to as the "bummers bell" and rung by the town marshall every evening at 10 as a curfew signal. In April, 1924, the tower was dismantled as it was con- sidered dangerous. The old bell is now in the Kent City Hall.
March, 1896, brought a murder that had Kent excited and mystified like few other events have, though it oc- curred outside the county. This was the triple slaying of Mr. and Mrs. Stone and a Mr. Stillson in Tallmadge township. It was big news for a long time but a weak-minded hired man named Romulus Cottell was accused of the crime and convicted, although the justice of this was disputed for a long time. Cottell was sent to the pen- itentiary,
Extensive changes were made at Brady Lake in 1890 when the park property was bought by A. G. Kent of Geauga Lake. He made many changes and improvements. Among these were a dance pavilion, bath house, a minia- ture railroad, a 75-passenger steamer, 40 row boats and a toboggan slide were installed, bringing heavy patron- age which lasted long. The traction company put in a switch and a sum- mer theater building erected. Chester Bishop was the star actor and Ray Pritzinger the artist that painted the scenery. Shows were mostly of the melodrama type.
In 1892, the Spritualists purchased the property from A. G. Kent and operated it several years. Across the road they opened a Spiritualist camp, said to have been the largest in Ohio. It is still operating at present.
Numerous cottages were built along the lake and rented by the week to vacationists. In recent years these were converted into comfortable permanent homes. Brady Lake was incorporated
. as a village in 1927. Joseph Cox was mayor there for 20 years. Richard Lewis is mayor at present.
Bingo games were operated on the grounds for several years during World War II and after, but closed when they met with opposition.
BRICE LINE FADES
There was a summer time postoffice at the park, but a permanent office was opened there in 1929. Rachael Beal is now postmistress. A village fire company was established in 1946, mainly paid for by bingo game prof- its.
In August, 1899 grading was started through Kent for the Cleveland & New Castle R. R., more commonly called the Brice Line. This work stop- ped suddenly in December of that year and was never resumed. Senator Brice, the promoter, died soon after but it is said his company was "bought out" by competing B. & O. interests.
In the Mckinley-Bryan campaign of 1896, many excursion trains carried partisans to Canton where Mckinley waged his famous "front porch" cam- paign. Many of these excursion trains came through on the Erie and were transferred to the W. & L. E.
HIGH LIGHTS OF THE NINETIES
M. E. Church cornerstone laid April 29, 1891. Old church was on N. Man- tua, near Park.
Swinging footbridge, Grant St., April, 1894.
Riverside Cycle club organized, 1895. Promoted bicycle races.
In June, 1894, Coxey's "Army," 200 strong passed through Kent.
Eastern Star chapter organized Sept. 30, 1895.
Erie R. R. began work on east end yard and built new round house, 1905.
William· Jennings Bryan's cam-
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paign train stopped in Kent, October, 1896.
Summit St. bridge built in 1897, re- placing old bridge which fell in about 1880.
June, 1898, fourteen Kent men en- listed for Spanish-American War.
In 1892, efforts to secure a library were started by G. E. Hinds. Under a new law, municipalities could levy taxes for library purposes, and a one mill levy was imposed here. The li- brary was first located in the Welling- ton Block, N. Water St., and later was moved to the Williams Bros. building. In 1900 Mr. Hinds and the library committee interested Andrew Car- negie, the philanthropist, in provid- ing a building for Kent. Carnegie was then giving away money for local li- braries. He gave Kent $10,000 for a new library building, plus an extra $1,000.00 per year for maintenance. The site for the library was donated by Marvin Kent and a necessary levy was voted by the people. Carnegie later gave $1,500.00 more for furnish- ings and the Barrett family gave $1,000.00 to purchase books. The li- brary opened Sept. 25, 1903.
Kent's population in 1900 was 4541 as compared to 3,501 in 1890.
CHAIN PLANT PROSPERS
In June, 1900, the Kent Chain Co. was organized by W. A. Patton with a small factory on Franklin Ave. In 1901 this factory merged with the Seneca Chain Co. and moved to the old Royal Machine Co. site. now loca- tion of Twin Coach. This company did a big business, particularly with the U.S. Navy. But in December, 1909, fire destryed this factory. Future of the plant was in doubt but Kent citi- zens subscribed $100,000 in stock and the plant was rebuilt. But within two years the factory closed for good. Lack
of operating capital was given as the reason.
Another enterprise was the Western Reserve Condensed Milk Co., with W. A. Bartshe as manager. It was one of the first plants of its kind in Ohio. Its "Flag Brand" was widely known, but in later years the product was whole- saled in barrels. The factory provided a market for milk produced locally.
A pickle processing plant was locat- ed on Lock St. in 1900 and ran briefly using 85 acres of pickles and 15 acres of cabbage. It was succeeded by the Phillips Canning Co. in 1902. Canned products were put out as the "Stand- ing Rock" brand. Work discontinued when Mr. Phillips died in 1904.
In 1904 the Railway Speed Recorder Co. was moved to Franklin, Pa. Build- ings were sold to Fred Merrell and the Kent Mfg. Co. organized to do a gen- eral machine business. In 1907 it be- came the Kent Machine Co. The firm made concrete mixing machines but about 1924 the operations were moved to Cuyahoga Falls.
In 1906 the Falls Rivet & Machine Co. made its appearance here, taking over the old Nicholson File Co. plant. This is notable because it was the fore- runner of the present Lamson & Ses- sions Co. Falls Rivet operated until 1913, when it got into difficulties and the plant was sold at sheriff's sale, for $55,000 to E. T. King of Boston who re-organized it as the Falls Rivet Co. He purchased the Ohio Wire Goods Co. of Akron, brought opera- tions here and on June 8, 1921, was merged with the Lamson & Sessions Co. of Cleveland, Making nuts, bolts and cotter pins, this plant has expand- ed several times and enjoys a com- manding position in its field.
Rural free delivery of mail came to Kent, started May 5, 1902, with three
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routes from the village. Salary of car- riers was $600.00 per year with the carrier furnishing his horse and cart. Free delivery of mail within the vil- lage did not come until June 1, 1908. There were three carriers and one substitute.
TREE CULTURE STARTS
The Davey Tree Expert Co. was in- corporated in 1908 after several years of preliminary work which demon- strated the need for efficient trimming and tree surgery. John Davey, founder of the system, was the author of sever- al books on tree culture. From a small beginning, it is now the largest insti- tution of its kind in the world, with branch offices throughout the coun- try.
In 1908 a move to secure a hospital for Kent was started by G. E. Hinds. Meetings were held and a goal of $15,000 was set. W. S. Kent pledged $1,000.00 if the full amount could be raised. But money was scarce and the project had to be dropped.
Natural gas reached Kent in the summer of 1908 when the East Ohio Co. was granted a ten-year franchise. Rates were 30 cents per thousand cub- ic feet and a large number of resi- dences were connected for lighting and cooking. For a time, many people used gas for lighting. The first rates were such that the heating of homes was discouraged as the more one used, the higher was the rate.
The first street paving on Kent streets was on N. Water St. from Lake to Erie Sts. in 1903. Brick was laid on a sand base. West Main St. from the bridge to the curve came next. This was in 1905. In 1907, Franklin Ave. and West Erie were paved. A dispute developed over the width and the mat- ter was finally settled at 36 feet. S.
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