USA > Ohio > Lorain County > Elyria > Reminiscences of Elyria, Ohio > Part 3
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The first sewing societies were held in ladies' homes and simple teas served, which all could easily provide. As sew- ing machines had not come into use, sewing by hand, quilt- ing and knitting were the afternoon's employment. Later these gatherings were held in church parlors, which were equipped with sewing machines, kitchen and dining room conveniences. One gentleman in the Presbyterian church being asked if the ladies had better enlarge their chapel by
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adding a kitchen, said: "If you are going to run your church society by a restaurant, you will need to." But this innovation did not interrupt the afternoons' usual benevolent work, for many faithful ones were ready to be interested in the different objects which were taken up from time to time. Aside from this was the cultivating of Christian interest in each other. It required no studied effort or organized ar- rangement to accomplish what should be work in this direc- tion, but as a band of Christian women, recognized the obligation of each other and strove to promote the best interest of the whole with a Christan spirit and true benevo- lence. Looking after the poor of the town was felt to be one of the great duties of Christian women.
Maternal associations were one of the early religious so- cial gatherings of women. The special object was the train- ing of children in the families, of mothers especially, in counseling young mothers and interesting them in their duties and responsibilities.
Thursday evening was the mid-week prayer-meeting, and continues to be in all Protestant churches. One early and long continued custom was a preparatory meeting Friday afternoon before the communion service on the following Sun- day once in two months. The chapel of the Congregational church would be crowded. Later, Thursday evening was given up to the preparatory service with the same result.
In 1824 a class composed of the following persons was organized to form a Methodist church: Hiram Emmons and wife, Heber Seekins and wife, Clark Eldred and wife, and George Gilbert and wife. At first they met in private houses. Later on, being invited by the Presbyterians, they used their session room afternoons for a time and then rented the yellow school house. They erected a frame building on Second street for a church until 1850, when they built a brick church near the frame one, which was sold and made into a dwelling house, now owned and occupied by
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S. B. Day. In 1881 the fine brick church was built on the park, with handsome windows, a fine toned bell and all mod- ern conveniences inside, now deemed essential to all modern churches.
In 1831 the Methodists built the first parsonage in town, but later sold it and built a fine modern house next the original on East avenue adjoining the Congregational par- sonage. They both drank from the same well. All churches deemed it a duty to provide the pastor's home free.
The first Baptist church was built of brick in 1839, on the corner of Second street and the park with a cupola for a triangle to call to worship. There were two doors to the vestibule, and over them was painted "Seats free." The congregation went to the river for baptisms where the Fourth street bridge is. The old church was torn down in in 1883, and a large modern church was erected, with a large Sunday school room to be opened into the main room if needed; kitchen and dining room in the basement, with all conveniences. Two sets of stone steps lead to the entrances of this fine modern church, which is largely indebted to Mrs. Parks Foster and other women who were indefatigable in se- curing the means to build it. Rev. Knapp is the pastor.
St. Andrew's Church was organized in 1837 by Rev. An- son Clark with the following members: Orrin Cowles and wife, Erastus Hall and wife, E. H. Leonard and wife, Chaun- cey Prindle and wife of Carlisle. The first meetings were held at Orrin Cowles' in 1839. The first church, a frame building, was erected on the park near where Eady's drug- store is and cost fifteen hundred dollars. While solicit- ing subscriptions to build the church, one of our citizens, who claimed not to believe in them, was asked to contribute, said, "Yes, for that church takes less running-gear than the others." It did not prove so, for it was a struggle for years to sustain it, and it was for a time suspended. As the town grew it shared with others in the prosperity. The frame
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building was removed to Third street and occupied until 1872, when, having completed the fine stone church on the park (largely due to Rev. Noakes, the rector) the congrega- tion removed to it, having sold the church on Third street to the German Evangelical Church for two thousand and fifty dollars. The inside of the Episcopal church has been beautifully frescoed within a short time, gifts as memorials of deceased members have been made and the church, with the parsonage adjoining, is a great addition to the appear- ance of the street. The bell is historic, as it was the court house bell. It used to ring for justice, now for love and mercy. Rev. Craft is the present rector.
The Evangelical (St. Paul's) Church having purchased the frame building of the Episcopalians, enlarged it, put in bet- ter windows, fitted it inside and out and made it a pleasant place of worship for the large congregation which fills it.
St. John's Evangelical Church was organized before the church was built. Services were held in the Presbyterian church and other available places. A frame building was erected on the corner of Main street and West avenue, cost- ing $1,500, and was dedicated March, 1868. It was subsequently removed back for a parochial school. The new fine brick church was erected on the place where the first one was built, and is an ornament to the town and a credit to the congregation which is large and prosperous.
The Disciple Church was formed in 1832, but struggled for some time to sustain itself, but within a few years have occupied the Methodist church, which they rebuilt in 1898, making it among the others in town, very attractive and one of the leading churches, with a zealous membership untiring in sustaining the growth and spirituality of its membership.
The Roman Catholic Church was established in 1852 by Father Healy, who purchased a lot on the corner of Fourth street and Middle avenue, built a large frame building and a parsonage adjoining. The yellow school house from west side
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of park was removed to the east side of Middle avenue and used for school purposes until removed to be replaced by the fine brick edifice. It has a fine chime of bells in its tower. The bell is rung morning, noon and night, giving sun time (Father Schaffield says). Fathers Healy and Molon were in- terred under the first church. The old church is used for parochial school. Two prominent families in the formation of the Catholic Church were Mr. Cavitt and Mr. Flood. It has been very difficult to get dates for this and other churches.
In 1819, which was as soon as needed, a school was organ- ized in a log school house on the hill, east side. Irene Allen, Pamelia Manter, and others taught these schools, all of whom took a school of one in a short time. Later on a school was taught in a small frame building, which stands on Mrs. Monroe's land near the railroad and is used as a dwelling at this time, having been enlarged and fitted up. At the time this school was there, which was 1825, a stream or creek came down through the lots on East avenue, mak- ing in front quite a place for playing at recess. One of the little girls who went to school for the first time one morning, at recess decided to go home, which was an unfortunate step, as a big girl was sent to bring her back and she was spanked, which is still an unforgiven thing. A school for girls was taught in the session room by Mary Green, later the wife of Thompson Miles, one of the pioneer merchants, who lived where Mrs. Monroe now lives on Broad street. He built the store on the corner east. None of the family are left; three of the girls are in California.
In 1827 a two-story frame building called Yellow School House, probably named for its color, was built and stood where the opera house now stands. Judge Ely donated the land, one hundred and thirty-five dollars and controlled the second story. The rest of the expense was raised by tax and called District School. Male teachers were employed, as severe discipline was considered necessary in a mixed
WINTER SCENE-EAST FALLS
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school of girls and boys. A ruler, long switches from near- by bushes, and other means to punish the unruly, were fur- nished. Dr. Griswold, Edward Hamlin, and Albert Harris (long identified with the Cleveland Herald), men who were prominent in professional life, were teachers at different times in the old yellow school house.
The building for the Elyria high school was built by Mr. Ely in 1831 and leased to trustees for a term of years. It stood on large grounds where Mr. Ensign's barn is and was a large building with two stories, assembly and recitation rooms on both floors, with a cupola for bell to ring for attendance. It was well fitted with seats and desks, very pleasant and comfortable. It was a very popular school as the higher branches were taught. Rev. John Monteith, with his wife, were the first teachers to take charge of the school. Among the pupils was President James H. Fairchild of Ober- lin, and his brother, president of Berea College, Kentucky, were partly prepared for college in Elyria high schools. The annual examinations of the Elyria high school were occa- sions which attracted much attention, and continued two days. There were some eighty pupils-girls and boys of different ages. The occasions drew crowds of parents and friends from town and neighboring townships. Examinations were in Latin, mathematics and chemistry. The first day after a session of examination in studies, the girls read compositions and the boys declaimed, Cicero like. The court house where these evening entertainments were given would be crowded. The exercises were enlivened by the band. It was not ex- pected that all the girls wore expensive white dresses on this occasion, but French calico, costing fifty cents a yard, or a black silk, possibly an heirloom, was admittable. Calicoes were expensive, costing twenty-five cents for goods which can be bought now for six and eight cents, but the quality was much better and appearance the same-good enough for ordinary dress. Pupils from Cleveland, Warren and
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other towns were attendants at this flourishing school. It was a custom among the girls to have autograph albums for the signature of schoolmates. One very complimentary one is still in mind and page:
"Joseph Perkins is my name, Columbia is my nation; Warren my native place, Albums my detestation."
In 1837, or the next year, Mr. Monteith built a large frame house on East avenue for a young ladies' boarding school, which was well patronized by residents and foreign pupils; very many from Cleveland, as well as country towns about Elyria. Mr. Monteith was an Abolitionist, which was unpopular in those days, but it did not deter him from using his influence for anti-slavery. On the mantle shelf in the library was a metal safety bank with a slave on it running for life and liberty and all could contribute to help him on to freedom. Mr. Monteith was a Presbyterian minister and occasionally preached in towns near by. One Sunday even- ing he was mobbed in Ridgeville and was with difficulty re- moved from the meeting house by his friends, who helped him escape through a window, where a horse was furnished him. The Monteith home was purchased by Nathan B. Gates, who was the model mayor of Elyria, and held the office for years. His wife was the eldest daughter of Mr. Monteith. William, one of the sons of Mr. Gates, owns this home and keeps it up in an attractive manner; pleasant to see by those who enjoyed the friendship and hospitality of the fathers while there was bitter feeling and strife in com- munities on the anti-slavery question in this county, to the division of some of the neighboring churches. With us it had many sympathizers and underground railroads in many directions. An incident of personal knowledge will be given: A family of slaves, man and wife and two children, having escaped from the South, reached Black River on their
THE GORGE AT THE JUNCTION
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way to Canada, were arrested by a citizen, brought to Elyria, taken before Judge Long and defended by Edward Hamlin, who became a prominent lawyer and member of Congress in later years. He, knowing a young man, an Abolitionist, who had just come to town, asked him if he could dispose of these slaves. This young man knowing S. W. Baldwin and his sentiments, asked him if he had a team of horses. Yes! in my stable; but don't you touch them (with a peculiar expression). But he went to the sta- ble, harnessed them into a lumber wagon with straw in the bottom. Mr. Hamlin brought the fugitives to the street, pointed to the wagon and they jumped in and covered them- selves with the straw and were driven to an underground railroad by a young student. No questions were asked, no directions were given, for one helping slaves to escape was liable to be fined and imprisoned, as was demonstrated in our own county in later years, and the prejudice was so great that colored people were not welcomed to pews in a church.
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In 1832, the Fourth of July was celebrated in Elyria. The country people came with flags and music (the girls with wreaths on their heads) making long processions, who gath- ered at the square. Exercises were opened with prayer, the Declaration of Independence was read, then a discussion be- tween Abolitionists and colonists, as this was about the time the latter was urged as the remedy for African slavery in the United States. Feeling ran high, as was evidenced by claps and hisses of the different speakers.
In 1838, one school worthy of mention with other private schools which from time to time were established, was one by Joel Tiffany, in a house called Franklin Hotel, moved from Main street (where the Central shoe-store is) to the ground occupied at present by the freight depot. Mr. Tif- fany used the first floor as a dwelling, the second as a school-room. He advertised a new method of instruction,
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not necessitating the learning of rules in arithmetic and grammar. As pupils progressed, the rules would suggest themselves. In the morning he gave a lecture on the studies of the day. Over sixty young people from fifteen to twen- ty-two years of age attended, many from towns about- some working for their board in families to be able to attend this school. The writer is not able to give the result of this method of education.
The first newspaper published in Elyria was the Lorain Gazette, in 1829, by A. S. Park, who came from Ashtabula, Ohio. The office was a one-story frame building. It stood on Main street, where Mr. Buckhold's residence is. Fred- erick Whittelsey was the first editor. He was a prominent lawyer and moved to Cleveland in 1854. Mr. Park pub- lished various papers until 1834, when he retired to his home on East River street, where he busied himself raising small fruits. He lived to a good old age.
Henry Park, for years a prominent druggist, at present city clerk, is the only son living in Elyria. In 1830 Abra- ham Burrell came to Elyria and worked in the Gazette office as printer ; subsequently in various newspaper offices in town. Was the veteran printer of Lorain county. He died November, 1868. None of his descendants known are here.
The first type set in Elyria was by Calvin Hall, a lad six- teen years of age, who came with Mr. Park.
We have had many newspapers, of both parties, but George G. Washburn was for forty-two years engaged in publishing the leading Republican paper of Lorain county. He was born in Orange, N. H., in 1821 ; came to Ohio, when eleven years of age, with his father's family. In 1835 he settled in Camden, O., where he acquired a common ed- ucation, enough to teach, which he did for a time, then took a four-years' course in Oberlin College, when he removed to Elyria to read law, but soon abandoned it and assumed the publication of the Elyria Republican, which, as sole propri-
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etor, editor, and manager, he ably conducted, advocating the anti-slavery cause. He was fearless in expressing his sentiments, and in the war of the Rebellion he served as secretary of the military organization of Lorain county, and visited battle-fields to aid in caring for the wounded. He was elected and served as Representative in the Ohio Gen- eral Assembly four years. For thirty-four years he was one of the directors of the National Bank, and was one of the Board of Managers of the Ohio State Reformatory, which office he held until his death, June 8, 1898-a work in which he was zealously interested. He filled many other places of trust, always striving to act honestly and for the good of all. As a friend he was true, genial, and sympa- thetic ; as a citizen, doing and giving his influence for the prosperity of Elyria morally. ' A text he often quoted as his religious creed was, "Pure religion and undefiled before God, the Father, is to visit the fatherless and widow in their af- fliction, and keep himself unspotted from the world." He was an active member of the Lorain County Historical So- ciety. As a member of the Board from its organization he was devoted to its growth and prosperity, always present at its meetings when able. He is missed, but his memory is cherished by the members of this society.
F. S. Reefy was born near Bienne, Switzerland, but came to the United States with his parents when a child. He was fond of books and study in English and German. He be- came a successful teacher and the head of a seminary in In- diana. He came to Elyria in 1872, and became editor and proprietor of the Elyria Constitution, and has continued to publish the Democratic paper (now the Elyria Democrat). He is fearless and decided in his political preferences, just and honest in criticisms of town affairs. A strong advocate of temperance, and such measures as will promote the cause. Was postmaster two terms under the administration of Pres- ident Cleveland.
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The first drug store was opened in 1832 by John Matson, in the front room of his dwelling, which stood where Mr. Andress' harness store is. He sold out to John Wooster in 1840, who moved across the street to a story and a half frame building. W. F. Wooster was partner with his bro- ther John; three years later he purchased his interest and carried on the business. The little frame building was well filled. One side was the drug store; the other front room, boots and shoes, by A. Conger, and the post-office in a cor- ner of the room. George Chapman was postmaster. The front room up stairs was occupied by Joel Tiffany, a lawyer widely known. The second room back was the Democrat office-Tenney, publisher.
Mr. William Wooster removed the frame building and oc- cupied it until he had erected the fine stone building he still occupies as a drug store, on the spot he began the drug busi- ness, and to which he has devoted his time and strength for more than fifty-six years. None who began in 1840 are in business by his side.
The old frame building was used for years as a meat mar- ket. In 1897 it was torn down, to be replaced by a three- story brick block by John Lersch for a dry-goods house. .
The Town Hall was erected in 1857, and cost $29,000. It has been added to, increasing the auditorium and dress- ing-rooms. The lower floor has been used for fire depart- ment, Mayor's office, and city prison. The present Mayor is Dr. P. D. Reefy, elected by Republicans in 1899. Orrin Cowles was the first Mayor of Elyria.
The square has grown to be a fine park, with fountains and walks, beds of flowers in summer, and seats for tired people which are usually well filled. In the evening crowds listen to the band.
The first fire company was a volunteer company of citi- zens in 1839. S. W. Baldwin was the foreman. Samuel Goodwin was secretary and treasurer, who with his brother
EAST FALLS -BLACK RIVER
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Caleb had the first cabinet shop and built the brick house on Broad street still known as the Goodwin house. A small fire-engine was purchased. It had to be taken to the river often, to soak the wooden box and be ready for fires. In 1850 another one was purchased and thought to be suffi- cient, until after the fearful fire of 1873-a steam fire-engine and hose carts, and fire companies in different districts, with all equipments necessary, were organized. The first engine is kept in the engine-room-a great contrast with the relia- ble steam fire-engine standing near it. Cisterns were ยท dug in different parts of town, and utilized until the present wa- ter system was instituted, when the cisterns were filled up with dirt and abandoned. But it has seemed at times, when the river "gave out," that it would be convenient to find them ready filled with water. Those of us who wit- nessed the great fire of March 17, 1873, can never forget it, and coming so soon after the Chicago fire, filled us with fearful apprehension, for the terrible gale carried fire far and near. Burned books from the Ely library were carried on to the east side. Families along Broad street packed their valuables, ready to move. Ely Block, with stores in first floor, and the many business places, were all destroyed. Much of public interest was also lost. On the second floor the Natural History Society had furnished rooms in 1844, filled with glass cases for curios ; seats arranged for 300; desk for speaker. Lectures were given for a number of years by residents, and occasionally some noted speaker from abroad. The lectures were well attended by all classes, and maintained the good reputation Elyrians always had as intelligent, cultured people. These early literary influ- ences did much to educate and cultivate the young people of Elyria, who have filled honorable places at home; and we have contributed no small number to Cleveland of our young men, and take great pleasure as we recount them. Among these lecturers was Dr. Townshend, a young man
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who studied with Dr. Howard, a physician, and who fitted himself in various medical schools, and by foreign travel, to take a high place in his profession. He was particularly pleasing as a speaker. During his life, which has only re- cently closed (in 1895), he was devoted largely to the educa- tion of young men in Columbus, O. In his frequent visits to his early home he was warmly welcomed, and mourned by many when the sad news came that he had gone. Mary, wife of Patrick Henry Boynton, is the only representative with us of Dr. Townshend.
In 1825, twenty-five houses had been erected on Main street from east to west. The question is often asked, Why were the first houses built on the street? It was one of the requirements when a lot was sold, probably in anticipation of the coming city. Among those who built at this date was Deacon Lane, who came with Mr. Ely in 1817,-going back and forth to his early home. He married Ann Cooley, a teacher in West Springfield, Mass., in 1826, and occupied his home on the corner of Cedar and Main streets. They had no children, but adopted a number. He owned the Eagle Mills for a time, and a farm on Cleveland street. He was one of the organizers of the Presbyterian church, and deacon, which office he held during his life. His wife died previous to his death in 1868. These people were Chris- tian in life's practice, honored by all who knew them, their memories cherished by the few left who enjoyed and rea- lized their worth.
Reuben Nichols, one of the early pioneers of Elyria, came from Derby, New Hampshire, in 1828. He purchased a frame building known as the Eagle Hotel, built by George Douglas. At the end of two years, having prospered, in his business, he removed the old building and erected a large fine two story brick building with broad verandas across the front of both stories with large columns and high stone steps to the entrance. It was the finest building in
BEEBE HOUSE AND COURT STREET
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Reminiscences of Elyria.
town and called the Mansion House. In 1839 he sold the hotel and moved to Oberlin to educate his children. In 1842 he returned and located on a pleasant farm west of Elyria and died in 1871, aged 84 years. He was a just, honest and upright man. He left an only son, George, who was nine years of age when the family came to Elyria. He was active and interested in the growth and prosperity of the town, was postmaster under Franklin Pierce and en- gaged in mercantile business, largely in real estate, died July 5th, 1898, nearly seventy years of age, mourned by a large circle of friends.
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