Wooster's Original Tea Party

In 1833, a market trading facility, Wooster's first, was built on the southwest side of the square, under the direction of of Town Council. The building was approximately 75' X 40', one story high, faced with brick, and had ceilings that were arched and plastered. Roof supports were about two feet square and numbered fourteen.

Soon, the citizens began to refer to the market house as a nuisance, publicly naming the "Temple of Mutton and Soup Bones". Many Wooster residents demanded that it be torn down. City Council refused. As a result, at least one attempt was made to burn it down. That attempt failed, but time was waning for the Wooster Market House.

On August 9, 1847, a group of disguised men, said to be among Wooster's "first citizens", gathered at the Wooster Market House, armed with axes, hooks, rope and tackle, and a prize-winning draft horse. The morning light revealed the absolute destruction of the Wooster's dreaded counting house.The market house was gone.

In the aftermath, there was much discourse about mobs, and the effects of mob-rule, and, although the Mayor of the time offered a reward, the vandals remained unpunished. The "Temple of Mutton and Soup Bones" was gone, and Wooster was proud of it.