USA > Ohio > Summit County > Twinsburg > Twinsburg, Ohio, 1817-1917, Part I History, Part II Genealogies > Part 15
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2. Water shall be furnished to the dwelling houses now on said 70 acre tract and on the 10 acre tract now owned by me on the West side of the highway opposite said 70 acre tract and the water- ing trough in front thereof, in sufficient quantities for all domestic purposes, but not less than is now flowing at said places.
3. The water taken from said spring shall be delivered and kept continually available for use at the Public Square and School House lot at said Twinsburg Center.
4. As a condition precedent to the making of said grant and conveyance, the Board of Trustees and the Board of Education of said Township shall, respectively, by resolution, agree to provide and furnish, within one year from the date of said grant and con- veyance, suitable drinking founts at said locations.
5. So much of the water as is not required for the purposes aforesaid, may be used by the people living in and about said Center upon such terms and conditions and subject to such rules, regulations and restrictions as may be fixed and imposed by said Water Company.
6. Said grant and conveyance shall carry with it the right to said Water Company at any time to enter upon so much of said 70 acre tract as may be necessary to properly improve, safeguard and protect said spring, and to build and construct suitable reservoirs and housings, to lay and maintain water pipe lines from said spring to the said highway and to do all things incident thereto-provided that, in the laying of such pipe lines, the same shall be placed at such depth as will not interfere with cultivation of the land.
7. Said grant and conveyance shall also contain a provision that, upon the incorporation of the territory in and about said Center into a village, such village shall at any time have the right to acquire, take over and enjoy all the rights in said spring passing under said grant and all property of said Water Company, upon paying to such Water Company a sum equal to the value of all the property and improvements then owned by said Water Company, exclusive of the rights in said spring, and an agreement on the part of said village to furnish water to all persons then receiving water from said Water Company at the same rentals as will be charged by such village generally for like service.
(SIGNED) Celestia E. Wilcox."
Immediately this offer was signed, a survey was made and an estimate formed of the requirements for develop-
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DEVELOPMENTS OF RECENT YEARS
ment, both from a financial as well as physical standpoint. In this matter the engineering ability and services of Mr. P. P. Evans were of great value.
Considerable time and effort were required to secure the funds necessary, but this was ultimately accomplished, and on April 29, 1912, the above Company was incorporated, and the work of construction undertaken.
By the terms of the Articles of Incorporation, among other things it is provided:
"The purpose for which said corporation is formed is to meet the conditions of a gift of Celestia E. Wilcox of Twinsburg Town- ship, Summit County, Ohio, under date of October 4, 1911;" (set forth above); "and for the purpose of doing only such things as are necessary or incidental to meet and carry out the purpose of said gift, with power to make regulations for the government of said corporation, and to make and enforce terms, rules and conditions for the use of said water-said terms, rules and conditions to be such as to enable said corporation to be self-sustaining, to make repayment to its stockholders of its paid up capital and the pay- ment of any indebtedness incurred by it-but the utilities of said corporation shall not be operated for profit, nor shall any officer, director or stockholder at any time receive any compensation or profit from said corporation or from the operation of said utilities."
The Company has a capitalization of $5000.00, and issued bonds for a like aggregate sum. A share of stock was issued to the purchaser of each bond of $100.00, and an effort was made to limit the individual holdings of stock by giving the bonds the widest possible distribution throughout the township and among the friends of the town. It is to be hoped that these shares will remain so far as possible with the original investors until the system can be taken over by the community when it shall be organized into a village. No good can result from the concentration of this stock in the hands of a few, and the people who are enjoying the benefits of this convenience should jealously guard and keep their shares of stock in order that they may have part in the management and direction of the business, and assist in safeguarding, the interests of the water users who, after all, are the real parties in interest.
More recently the Company has acquired the tract on which the spring and reservoir are situated, with a view of protecting the environs thereof, and will retain sufficient
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TWINSBURG HISTORY
land to make the source of the town's water secure against possible invasion or contamination.
The Board of Directors of the Company at present comprises the following: C. B. Lane, C. E. Riley, A. W. Elliott, E. B. Crouse, C. F. Crouse, P. P. Evans, S. H. Crankshaw, R. B. Chamberlin and W. S. Lister.
Its officers are:
President, W. S. Lister; Vice President, C. F. Crouse; Treasurer, P. P. Evans; Secretary, A. W. Elliott; Superin- tendent, S. H. Crankshaw.
THE TWINSBURG BANKING COMPANY
To all appearances a more quixotic performance would be difficult to imagine than the actual methods adopted and pursued by Mr. E. O. Christy in the promotion and organiza- tion of the above bank. He came to Twinsburg in the fall of 1911, without introduction of any sort, and was a stranger to practically everyone in the town. He immediately an- nounced in the stores, and to persons he met casually, that he had come to organize a bank, and then proceeded to set forth the advantage of such an institution and the methods he had used in other places and proposed to follow in Twinsburg. The people at first smiled as they listened, thinking that the explanation lay in a weak or overwrought mentality. Among themselves they joked about the matter, but very few took any serious interest in the man or the subject.
After a sojourn in the town of several weeks, and with- out having asked or received any assurances, Mr. Christy left Twinsburg and went to Chicago to spend the winter. He returned, however, in the fore part of April following and immediately took up the agitation for a bank, and con- tinued without cessation until the full capital was sub- scribed, the organization effected, and the building nearly constructed and equipped.
He was not robust in health during any of his stay in Twinsburg, and much of his work was done under conditions that suggested hospital care, but by sheer will power he held himself to the task he had set himself and could not see the work neglected. In mid-summer of 1912, however, he suc-
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DEVELOPMENTS OF RECENT YEARS
cumbed to his illness and was taken to St. Luke's Hospital, Cleveland, where in September, 1912, he died.
The bank was formally opened on November 11, 1912, and has proven itself a great convenience to the community. It has a capital of $25,000.00 and its deposits at present aggregate $129,402.04. Its surplus and undivided profits total $3,728.55. Its present Board of Directors comprises the following: O. H. Bennett, G. L. Bishop, H. A. Cochran, C. H. Craemer, W. H. Chamberlin, P. P. Evans, V. R. Hempstead, A. R. Mountjoy, C. E. Riley.
Its officers are as follows: President, C. E. Riley, Vice President, G. L. Bishop, Secretary, A. J. Brown, Treasurer, O. H. Bennett, Cashier, A. R. Mountjoy.
ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER SERVICE
Unsuccessful efforts were made by Twinsburg people in 1912 and 1913 to obtain light and power service from The Northern Ohio Traction and Light Company. But in the winter of 1914-1915 the late Mr. Will Christy, vice president of the company, became interested in the efforts then being made to secure better lighting conditions, and through his intercessions and kindly interest, a proposition was made by the company to extend its service lines so as to furnish stree? and residence lighting, and power, on a basis involving the purchase of preferred stock of the above company sufficient to cover the cost ($7500.00) of the entire installation. The work of meeting the above requirements was left to the following committees: W. S. Lister, Chas. F. Crouse, P. P. Evans, A. W. Elliott, Edward Wilson, H. C. Gillie, A. N. Roach and E. J. McCreery. A lighting district was estab- lished by petition to the township trustees, and provision made for the location of twenty-four street lights at an expense of $18.00 per light per annum, to be covered by a levy upon the taxable property within the district. The purchase of the aforementioned stock was accomplished and all expenses of the proceedings had by the committee were covered through the co-operation of a number of public- spirited citizens, whose names are entitled to mention. They are as follows:
C. F. Crouse A. W. Elliott
W. Krafton A. C. Baldwin
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TWINSBURG HISTORY
H. C. Gillie
E. J. McCreery
J. H. Culhan Fred Twerell
Roach and Bissell
C. B. Lane
A. J. Brown
C. J. Wagner
M. F. Alford
S. H. Crankshaw
E. E. Cowles
A. Stingel
A. E. and G. L. Bishop
C. E. Cochran
P. P. Evans
F. D. Barber
W. S. Dunscomb
T. A. Bell
R. O. Bissell
E. S. Maxam
E. B. Crouse
M. E. Culhan
B. G. Tucker
L. H. Nichols
Dr. L. G. Griste
V. R. Hempsted
W. W. Fee
C. F. Richner
H. M. Fowler
W. S. Lister
AKRON-CLEVELAND PAVEMENT
This improvement, now just completed, was com- menced in the spring of 1911. It had the active support of the then acting county commissioners and of the trustees of the townships through which it runs. It today constitutes one of the main arteries for public travel in northern Ohio, and brings Twinsburg into daily touch with many people from all parts of the country.
The establishment in recent months of passenger bus services between Hudson and Cleveland is a substantial aid to the community. This service will doubtless be improved and elaborated as the traffic increases.
Nothing has contributed more to the transformation of the town than the brick pavement, although it has brought with it problems that are new and serious. These problems grow out of the speed, reckless driving and vast number of automobiles upon the highway. Life and limb are put in great jeopardy, and unless there is soon provided by the State or County an adequate force of highway constabulary to check and control this immense traffic, the toll of killed and injured now so frightful will not be lessened.
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THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION W. S. LISTER
The observance of anniversary periods in connection with any happening or event is an evidence of interest in and admiration for the thing done and the chief actors involved. Fifty years ago, and in the semi-centennial year of 1867, the citizens were moved to make fitting commemoration of the township's settlement, and at the same time to honor the brave Union soldiers, who in response to their country's call had gone out from the township-some never to return, through the erection of the substantial monument now standing in the park.
As the centennial year of 1917 approached, there was generally manifest among the people of the township the feeling that there should be fitting celebration of the event. On New Year's Day of 1916 more than one hundred and fifty people sat down to a community dinner in the Congre- gational Church and listened to discussions as to possible methods of celebration, means for making the celebration of greatest possible good to the community, and the scheme of organization best adapted to the purpose. At this dinner Mr W. S. Lister was toastmaster and the following re- sponded to toasts, all bearing on the centennial: Dr. L. G. Griste, Mr. Daniel R. Taylor, Mr. Reuben Hitchcock. Professor E. S. Kerr, Mr. C. B. Lane and Miss Lena M. Carter. Mr. Taylor, who had left the township as a boy of twelve years, was somewhat reminiscent. He said in part:
"I have always felt a deep affection for this good old town, for here my grandfather, Daniel Richardson (for whom I was named) and his family came in 1824, located on the Cleveland Road, one- half mile west of here, and with his stalwart sons developed a farm. Two of his sons, Edwin and William, were for a time merchants in the village. Daniel W. Richardson, another son, remained upon the old farm (part of which is now owned by your worthy and enter- prising citizen, Mr. W. S. Lister) until about 1866. Some of the older ones of you will remember him as an active, independent and progressive farmer, and a thoroughly good citizen, who, if he were here today, would enter into the spirit of this meeting with great zest. Here many of the family are buried in your beautiful ceme- tery. Here my father, Royal Taylor, lived for a number of years and married my mother, Sarah Ann Richardson. Here I was born, in the Huldah Wilcox home at the northeast corner of the square
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TWINSBURG HISTORY
and Solon Road. Here I attended for a time Rev. Samuel Bissell's academy. In Tinker's Creek I learned to swim and fish. My first lessons in horsemanship were with my grandfather's old gray mare ‘Tib.'
"The settlers of the Western Reserve were the sturdy sons and daughters of New England. No better ever settled a new country. Their industry, prudence, intelligence and moral worth should be historically preserved. Why not commence by holding a meritori- ous centennial celebration?"
All the speakers heartily favored giving the celebration real character and making it fittingly commemorative, and those present unanimously gave this sentiment their en- dorsement and authorized the appointment of a committee of twenty-five with full power to act. This committee comprises the following:
Mr. O. H. Bennett Twinsburg, Ohio
Miss Ellen Bissell Twinsburg, Ohio
Mr. W. H. Boose. Twinsburg, Ohio
Miss Lena Carter. Macedonia, Ohio
Dr. R. B. Chamberlin
Twinsburg, Ohio
Mrs. L. K. Chamberlin
Twinsburg, Ohio
Mrs. Ella Cochran.
Twinsburg, Ohio
Mrs. S. H. Crankshaw
Twinsburg, Ohio
Mrs. E. B. Crouse
Twinsburg, Ohio
Mr. M. E. Culham
Twinsburg, Ohio
Mr. P. P. Evans
Twinsburg, Ohio
Mr. W. H. Gillie
Cleveland, Ohio
Mr. John Gould
Aurora, Ohio
Dr. L. G. Griste.
Twinsburg, Ohio
Mrs. Kate Hanchett.
Cleveland, Ohio
Dr. H. J. Herrick. . Hudson, Ohio
Mr. Lawrence Hitchcock.
. Cleveland, Ohio
Mr. W. S. Lister . Twinsburg, Ohio
Mr. C. E. Riley .
Twinsburg, Ohio
Mrs. Anna Straight. South Euclid, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Mrs. Allah Rudgers Twinsburg, Ohio
Mrs. Ethel Twerell
Twinsburg, Ohio
Mr. Ranson Tyson.
Mrs. C. J. Wagner . Twinsburg, Ohio
The committee immediately organized by electing the following officers: President, Mr. W. S. Lister, Vice-
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Twinsburg, Ohio Mr. A. W. Elliott
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THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
President, Mr. C. E. Riley, Secretary, Miss Ellen Bissell, Treasurer, Mr. P. P. Evans. Mr. C. B. Lane, though not a member of the committee, was elected Honorary President. An Executive Committee was named comprising the above officers and in addition Dr. H. J. Herrick, Dr. R. B. Cham- berlin and Mrs. C. J. Wagner.
It was decided by the full committee, after thorough deliberation, to hold the centennial celebration August fifth to eleventh inclusive. The fifth, being Sunday, will be known as "Devotional Day" and will have appropriate exercises. The next three days will be taken up with recep- tions, family reunions and gatherings which will be of interest to the different groups. During the last three days there will be celebrations of a public nature. The committee has been assured of the co-operation of the Twinsburg Band which will greatly help to enliven the events of the entire week. An Athletic Association has been formed to develop and conduct all manner of sports and field events.
The production of a pageant has been decided upon and Miss S. Gertrude Hadlow of Cleveland has been made Pageant Master and will have entire direction of the affair.
THE PAGEANT OF TWINSBURG BY MISS S. GERTRUDE HADLOW
No method of celebrating the anniversary of a town seems more fitting or gives more permanent satisfaction than the presentation of a pageant.
There is every reason why this should be true. For, a pageant is the history of the town presented dramatically in the open fields and sunshine, by the co-operative effort of the townspeople.
Local pride and patriotism are quickened by seeing enacted the heroic past, out of which the present has come.
Pageants not only give communities a wide advertise- ment but they teach the valuable lesson of co-operation and common endeavor. For, when such an undertaking is once carried through, there remains a spirit of unity, which is the greatest strength of any institution or community.
Mr. Louis N. Parker, "the father of modern pageantry," speaks of the pageant as being "the representation of the history of a town, in dramatic form, from the earliest period
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TWINSBURG HISTORY
to some later point. This is set forth in verse and prose of the most direct sort, and is embellished with choruses, songs, dances, marches, and every legitimate spectacular adjunct. It is acted in some beautiful and historical spot. It is acted by the citizens of the town themselves, their wives, their children, and their friends. It is acted in a spirit of sim- plicity and reverence, and the audience must bring the same spirit in watching its progress. It is not a stage-play. It is a lofty and dignified panorama of the town's history. And it is an act of local patriotism. And out of local patriotism grows that wider patriotism which binds the people of one country together. But it is more still. I confess I cannot conceive a pageant except as an incident in a great act of praise and thanksgiving."
The "episodes" in the Pageant of Twinsburg will be scenes of importance in the past of the town. The "epi- sodes" will be linked together by "interludes"-music, dancing or singing-which will suggest the nature of the scene which is to follow.
In a general way the Pageant of Twinsburg will follow the outline suggested below:
EPISODE I
Struggles of our ancestors with the savages.
EPISODE 2
I. An incident of settlement.
2. The naming of the township.
EPISODE 3
I. An incident showing the influence and character of Samuel Bissell.
2. An exhibition or activity of the Bissell Institute.
EPISODE 4
I. The Underground Railroad.
2. The departure of troops for the Civil War.
EPISODE 5
I. Fair day at Twinsburg, of the Union Fair Asso- ciation.
EPISODE 6
I. Dedication by the "Spirit of Twinsburg" of all past history (all performers in all episodes) to "the Spirit of America."
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THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
It is customary to close a pageant with the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner by the whole cast and the audience- the latter, of course, on their feet. A patriotic air, sung with respectful fervor, brings home to the people the underlying patriotism of the whole performance, and sends them away in an exalted state of mind.
CONCLUSION
A hundred years is a long, long time. While it has not been always easy to go back a century and untangle the threads of fact and fancy it has been less difficult than it would have been for our ancestors to foresee the Twinsburg of 1917. To most of them the town would be a source of satisfaction. It is possible that in some particulars it might be a disappointment to a few. It might be a puzzle to others, but to all it would be an astonishment. A hundred years ago no one could anticipate the nation-wide develop- ments that would determine along what lines community life should progress.
Doubtless the pioneers cherished their dreams as to the future of the town they were building and we know they were alert to seize opportunities to promote its growth and development. To their credit, and our benefit, they wisely left future details to be attended to in seasonable time by those who would be conversant with conditions then existing. But for the future they laid a broad and sure foundation in their industry, thrift, self-sacrifice, reasonable independence and reverence for education and religion. And these funda- mental virtues have survived till this day in the character of the townspeople.
It is a long, long way from the old log cabin to the present commodious homes; from the candle to the electric light; from homespun to present day fabrics; from ox- cart to automobile; from the old well-sweep to the turning of a faucet; from the old blue teacup to the present bank; from the old log schoolhouse to the building accom- modating two hundred and twenty-five pupils; from an upper room in a gristmill to the present comfortable church edifices; from the mud turnpike to the brick pave- ment; from the infrequent weekly newspaper to the public reading-room, library and R. F. D .; from isolation to the telephone; from real estate, with improved land selling at $7.50 per acre, to the present 15398 acres valued at $782,- 220.00; from personal belongings carried in a pack to the present $727,460 worth of personal property; from the little settlement at Millsville to the present population of 829.
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CONCLUSION
To this progress the early settlers and succeeding genera- tions have all generously contributed.
In the preceding pages an effort has been made to give due honor to the founders of the town; to portray the hard- ships they encountered and the spirit that enabled them to wrest success from difficulties; to bestow proper gratitude upon those citizens who, through the century, have striven to better their community; to bring to the present genera- tion a keener realization of the noble past to which they are heirs; to give to future generations, as their right, some knowledge of the past that they may be inspired toward further achievement.
Nothing has so heavily contributed to the realization that the historian's task has been inadequately performed as the fact that such incomplete mention has been made of the large number of townspeople to whom so much of credit and praise is justly due. Throughout her existence Twins- burg has always had a large majority of citizens who went about performing every task with fidelity, demanding little for themselves, giving freely of themselves and their sub- stance whenever need was known, quietly bearing their full share of life's burdens. The heart grows warm and tender toward these unobtrusive, faithful folk.
That the future will bring changes all know; what the changes will be none know. The past is gone: its fruits remain. The present is with us, and with it is promise of rich fruitage. That the future century may be replete with those things that make for ideal community life is the burden of the heart of Twinsburg in the year 1917.
TWINSBURG The Story of a Hundred Years A CENTENNIAL POEM BY JOHN OSMAN BALDWIN 1917
The Pilgrims found a landing place upon New England's shore- And planted there a hardy race where pines and wild waves roar; Then, as the fleeting years swept by, there drifted o'er the land Descendants of that company, and-here today we stand.
As children of that sturdy race whose lineage we claim, We aim to make this rural place ideal in fact and name- To foster here where maples thrive in every verdant grove,
Each home and school, each church and shrine, for which our Fathers strove.
From the log cabin in the wild beside the wooded stream, To modern telephone and bank, seems like a wondrous dream; The avenue and paved street were once the wildwood trail; Sidewalks for the hurrying feet-and route of rural mail.
Where once the stage-coach rolled along o'er ways of corduroy, Adown the woodlands dark and long, the auto' whizzes by; Where once the hour-glass ran its course in grains of yellow sands, A town clock now with measured force ticks on-with gilded hands.
Where once the rustic farmer swung keen cradle thro' the grain, The busy reaper's arm is flung athwart the teeming main; Where once the busy spinning-wheel drew out the slender thread, The vacuum cleaner stands today, or sewing-machine instead.
By steam we thresh the golden grain which forms our daily bread; The clumsy flail is rent in twain, its blistering glory fled; The roller mill has thrust away the mortar's odious name; The tallow candle burns today in the electric flame.
'Twas here the wily Blackbird chief led dusky warriors 'round From yonder steep and tangled ledge to primal hunting ground. "Twas here, one century ago our fathers set their seal,
Where flowers bloom and waters flow all for the common-weal.
Upon our east, in majesty arose Fort Lauren's walls; And west, in sweet serenity, the proud Cuyahoga falls; O, transformation marvellous! Where death and danger roam, A wild unbroken wilderness-a land of pleasant homes!
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