The following article was published in the November 11, 1975 edition of the Wooster Daily Record. Photos have been added for general interest, but do not represent items owned by the McKee family.

McKee's Memories Bring Back the Old Horse n' Buggy Days

BY JOHN D. McKEE 

My early days in Smithville can best be characterized as "horse - and buggy days." The day of the automobile was still in the future; at the time it was only a dream of a man named Henry Ford.

Surrey Similar to that of the McKee Family

Our four horses were an essential part of the family establishment. Their daily care and use required time, patience and skill. Grooming was the first chore of the day after the morning feeding. Our barn accommodated the animals in good stalls with the haymow overhead. There was also room for the wagons, buggy and surrey which, as I recall, did have a fringe on the top.

Worked Hard

During the six-day work week the horses were in the harness most of the time. Trips to Wooster and Orrville were regularly scheduled each week to buy the produce from the local grocers. Butter, eggs, poultry and potatoes were then transported to Barberton and Akron for resale in stores there. I especially remember the Acme chain of grocieries, one of the earliest of its kind in those cities. My father came to know the Acme manager well and made many deliveries to his store.

Looking back, it seems a long trip, about 30 miles, to make with a two-horse team and wagon loaded with produce, which it probably was. In winter, shipment was made by rail via Creston. As a boy I was allowed to go along on many trips, thus enabling me to see the sights while assisting at the various stops.

The covered wagon was in-dispensable for all phases of the business. During the summer months it became the "grocery wagon," four to five days of the week. Its cargo was litterally a "store on wheels" for the farm ladies of the surrounding countryside. We acquired their butter and eggs which were traded for food staples.

Our horses were called carriage horses, since they were used often in that role. The buggy was a two-seated rig with a top which was often used for a quick trip to a nearby town. It also functioned, of course, on social occasions for "dates" to public events.

The surrey required a two-horse team and served as the family carriage for visits to the homes of relatives in the summer. Most memorable for our family of six was the annual trip to Hayesville to visit Aunt Mary Jarvis and her family. This was a journey of 27 miles and required a day of steady driving.

Big Events

The first lap was always to Wooster, seven miles, there we stopped at the fair grounds to have our noon dinner and also feed and water the team. Then began the twenty-mile journey in the afternoon, five miles each to Jefferson, Reedsburg, Jeromesville and finally to Hayesvillee. We generally spent a week in the Jarvis home, as was the custom in those days. This was reciprocated in a return visit by the relatives to our home.

Fishing was always one of my dad's pleasures on this visit, there being fine streams nearby with many game fish available. We boys loved the excitement of being allowed to go along with the grown-ups on a fine day.

Family Ties

One of my memorable relations in early years was with my grandparents, Peter & Sarah Burkholder Amstutz. Their home was near ours in Smithville, so that made for easy access. Grandpa retained a small acreage in Georgetown which was known to the family as "Tennessee." I never knew why it was so called, but it lent some special interest to the place for us when we could go along in the one-horse buck-board or spring wagon with grandpa. A long row of ancient cherry trees at picking time was always a great attraction.

 A visit to grandma's early home was associated with nutting time. Her Burkholder relatives still lived on the old place southeast of our town. The old brick house still stands. today now well into its second century. One room, with an outside door, we were told, was always reserved for a tramp who might stop and seek shelter for the night. The hickory trees in the woods were ours for the nut harvest, clubbed down with a burr on the end of a heavy stick.

1905 Rio Two-Seat Roadster

The first automobile seen in our town was owned by George Glide who lived in Georgetown, a few miles east on the Portage Road. As one of a kind it became a sensation. The make was Reo, a small two-seat roadster. I well recall George's stops at our store to buy gasoline. There was no pump in those days, only a small storage tank from which we drew the gas in a small container and carefully poured it into the car tank which was under the seat, as I recall.

Endurance Test

Our first car was a Studebaker touring car which dad acquired about 1916. It had side curtains which were only used in winter or in rainy weather. Constant care of the new vehicle was the order of the day with dad the only driver. Eventually I was permitted to learn to drive, with many restrictions on my use of "Studey," as it was called.

1916 Studebaker Sedan

The test of a car performance in those days was its climb up Curie hill. George Curie lived at the top of this hill which may explain why he was an early car "buff." If a new car could climb the Curie hill without difficulty it was regarded as a success and worth buying, otherwise nix.

The horse and buggy days did not cease when our first car arrived. Far from it. The business must still go with the horses still in use when my brother Clark and I entered the service in World War I. Some time later the era came to an end.

Dusty and muddy roads became only a memory. But the early memories remain: of enjoying the pacer or trotter as we ambled along; of the crack of the whip; and the long journey which now is looked back on as the halcyon time of yesterday.

The Quinby Brothers and their Impact on Wooster

Ephraim Quinby, Sr. was born May 11, 1766 in Hunterton County, New Jersey. He married Amma Blackmore in 1795. They relocated to Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1795. In 1799 they found their permanent home in the Connecticut Western Reserve, purchasing 400 acres at the future location of Trumbull County, Ohio. Trumbull County was established in 1800 when Wayne County was sectioned off, but didn't attain it's current geography until 1848. Quinby's land was situated
on both the east and west side of the Mahoning River. Quinby successfully farmed his land, and became a prominent citizen. He is recognized as the founder of Warren, Ohio, county seat of Trumbull County.

Ephraim and Amma Quinby had eleven children, four girls and 7 boys. Two of the boys would go on to be very influential in the development of Wayne County and Wooster, Ohio, Samuel and Ephraim Quinby, Jr.

In The History of Wayne County, written by Benjamin Douglass in 1878, Mr. Douglass writes:

"Samuel Quinby was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1794, and died February 4, 1874, at Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio. His father, Judge Ephraim Quinby, removed with his family to the site of Warren as early as 1795, two years before the county of Trumbull was organized, and five years before the State was admitted into the Union."

In 1819, Samuel Quinby was appointed by President James Monroe Receiver of Public Monies of the United States Land Office, a seat vacated by John Sloane who had been elected to Congress from the 6th District, State of Ohio. Since the location for the U.S. Land Office was in Wooster, Samuel moved to Wooster that same year. He held the office until 1835. And although he had supported John Quincy Adams for President of the United States, he

survived losing that position when Adams lost his presidency after just one term to Andrew Jackson, following a scandal laden term. This is a measure of his personal integrity and high esteem others, even political advisories, held him.

During his tenure with the U.S. Land Office, he was also Wayne County's treasurer, holding that position form 1822 to 1838.

Samuel Quinby was a successful citizen, and wanted everyone to be successful. To those ends he provided financial assistance to those struggling to get started in Wooster. From Benjamin Douglass' History of Wayne County:

"The surviving pioneers of the county bring united testimony to his noble impulses and generous disposition. He appeared at a crisis in their midst when they sorely needed a counselor and when substantial assistance became one of the unforgotten boons. As Treasurer of the county for many years he had opportunity of knowing the financial distresses of the toiling, moneyless settlers. They had entered, or purchased their lands, had brought on their families and were bravely fighting the battle of life amid untold hardship and suffering. They could produce corn and wheat, oats, etc., it is true, but they brought little or no money. The home market was a fable ; its moral was disappointment. The inevitable tax-day came around, and many a struggling, industrious, frugal

land-owner was found penniless. Some could sell the one or two hogs they had fattened for the winter's meat ; some, more fortunate, could meet the collector's demand ; others could send to friends in the East and procure the scant remittance, and others again beheld the grim tax-gatherer coming with sick and aching hearts.

With this latter class is where Mr. Quinby rose to the dignity of the pioneer's true friend. We have it from the lips of old men yet living in Wayne county that upon a candid and truthful representation of their financial condition, he voluntarily paid their taxes for years, never exacting a cent of interest, and only asking back what he paid, and affording any reasonable time to pay it in. To those who spoke regretfully of leaving comfortable homes in other States, and talked of selling out and returning, he addressed words of encouragement, saying, "This is a great country, let us make it ours and our children's." A decided affirmative answer to the question, " Will you stay with us and help fight our battles ?" relieved the heavy heart of many a penniless tax-payer.

His name is to-day laden with a fragrance in the memory of the pioneers, and they revert to his manifold kindnesses with sighs and sadness.

Such a man, in such times of trial rises to the majesty of a benefactor, and such a life leaves more than a transient impression upon the age and period where its activities are displayed."

In 1840, Samuel Quinby returned to his home town, Warren, Ohio, where he lived out the rest of his life. While there, he served two terms in the Ohio State House (1844 and 1861) and was Director of the Western Reserve Bank.

Here is what Benjamin Douglass concluded:

"It is emphatically evident that the Quinby family was an enviably prominent one. In their successful operations for the development of the resources of the country, they have demonstrated a high order of business ability and commercial integrity. Their personal example and laudable endeavors to elevate the moral and religious tone of the communities in which they moved, celebrate their virtues and the excellencies of their lives. The unstained and unimpeachable characters they maintained in the various positions of responsibility and honor entrusted to them by the people constitute an enduring monument."

Samuel's brother, Ephraim, was 16 years his junior. Ephraim was born April 14, 1880 in Trumbull County. By the time he was about 13 years old, he came to Wooster to live with his older brother, Samuel. He would occasionally help out at the US Land Office. All that time he was receiving an education at Wooster city schools.

In July of 1828, Ephraim went to work for John Larwill as a clerk in one of his stores. He earned $100 per year, plus board. It is said he was able to save 1/3 of his wages. One year later Joseph Larwill was appointed Receiver of Public Monies of the United States Land Office for the Tiffin (now, Bucyrus) area. He asked young Ephraim to join him as a clerk there. He accepted the offer and worked there for one year. Following his assignment in Tiffin, he returned home to work at his brother's office. Among his duties was to make the deposits of money collected for the sale of public lands. This required periodic trips to the Branch Bank of the United States in Pittsburgh, a seven day journey.

Much of the money was in the form of silver coin. The weight of these coins were great, requiring a stout wagon and two strong horses. Occasionally, it was so heavy an extra team of horses were required. When he would stop to lodge for the night he had to take special care not to disclose the nature of his journey. This is how Douglass describes the perils,

"In cases like these, Mr. Quinby-then but twenty years old would drive his team pretty close to the tavern door and request that it might remain there until morning. Having, generally, a friend along with him-often his old companion, a boy, then, as well as himself, the Rev. M. E. Strieby-they would arrange to have a bed spread on the floor of the tavern sitting-room, vigilantly keeping an eye on the wagon containing the coin-the banknotes being kept about his person. After supper, and when other travelers and the family had retired, Mr. Quinby and his friend would quickly remove the boxes, each containing from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars, from the wagon to the sitting-room, and closing the doors securely, they would sleep, turn about, until quite early in the morning and before there was any stir upon the premises, when they would stealthily replace the boxes containing the coin in the wagon. After breakfast they would renew their journey, not even the landlord or any one else about the premises knowing the value of their cargo or the amount of money they controlled, such a state of profound ignorance, no doubt, being a source of comfort to Mr. Quinby. These special precautions, it is true, were only practiced in suspicious localities and strange places, yet precaution, prudence and watchfulness was the rule at all times and under all circumstances. And, strange as it may appear, he never, in all these perilous adventures, carried weapons of defense, though often, indeed, apprehensive of molestation and robbery."

In the fall of 1834, Ephraim Quinby embarked on a mercantile career, renting a store room from General Cyrus Spink, across from the American Hotel. Through 1936 he moved his business around, looking for the right location. For a short time, he had the store located in Millersburg. In 1836 he signed a five year lease from Reasin Beall for a building on the southwest corner of public square, and partnered with James Grant.

On October 12, 1837 Quinby married Catharine E. McConahay, the daughter of Judge D. McConahay.

From 1836 to 1842, Quinby focused on investing in Wooster real estate, where most of his fortunes originated. He purchased 14 acres south of Liberty and east of Bever, which he formed city lots which sold rapidly. These lots were 60 feet wide by 180 feet deep and sold for about $250 (about $5000 today). By 1841, similar lots were selling for upwards of $6000 (about $132,000 today), such was the real estate boom in Wooster.

In 1848 the Wayne County branch of the State Bank of Ohio was formed, of which Quinby was a shareholder. He was elected Cashier, a position he held until the end of the charter in 1865. That same year the Wayne County National Bank was chartered and once again, Quinby was elected Cashier.

The Mercantile and Wayne County Branch of the State Bank of Ohio and how it would look if it stood today

In the period from 1848 to 1876, Quinby dabbled in real estate, buying, selling and improving property all over the city of Wooster. He also increased his fortunes by buying, improving and selling property in the Cleveland area.

Secure in his fortunes, he built a mansion in Wooster for his family. It was located on the west side of South Market Street, between West South Street and Henry Street. The property was a half block wide and the house had 32 rooms. Ephraim Quinby's descendents lived in it until it was razed in 1931.

Ephraim Quinby's mansion which stood on the northwest corner of Market and Henry. It was razed in 1931

Ephraim Quinby desired to bring the culture of larger cities to Wooster, so in the mid 1870s he chaired a committee of like-minded gentlement to commission a design for an opera house. Architects C.M. Amsden and D. Graham submitted the design that was approved. On February 1, 1877, the opera house opened. In spite of his protests, it was called the Quinby Opera House. It was located on the southeast corner of North Buckeye Street and East Larwill Street. It had a seating capacity of 1000. Plays were put on by both local troupes of amateur thespians as well as traveling troupes of professionals. Typical ticket prices were 25₵ for children and 50₵ for adults. It stood for 33 years until being supplanted by an improved venue at City Hall.

The Quinby Opera House stood on the southeast corner of Buckeye and Larwill. It was razed in 1900

Quinby was instrumental in bringing College of Wooster to this town. In 1866, the Presbyterian Synods of Ohio were searching for a town suitable for a college. They required a subscription of $100,000, which included the value of land for the college building. Knowing the value of having a university located in town, an effort was immediately started to raise the required funds. At the outset, Ephraim Quinby donated $10,000. But as the last pledges came in, the effort fell $32,000 short of their goal. The Presbyterian Synods gathered to meet in Wooster to review the site and the fund raising effort. They agreed to accept the 20 acre site as a donation of $25,000 from Ephraim Quinby and a $75,000 subscription from the city. They further agreed to accept the shortfall of funds as a guaranty from Quinby and other citizens in Wooster, and the university was born. From the day that it opened, and throughout the rest of his life, Ephraim Quinby supported the college both financially, and with his matured sphere of influence. Wooster would not be same had it not been for him.

Ephraim Quinby was also a pivotal person in bringing the first railroad to Wooster. On October 16, 1845 the first meeting was held to discuss the need to bring rail traffic to Wooster. The meeting was presided over by Cyrus Spink, with Quinby acting as secretary. This meeting resulted in another public meeting to gain support from all citizens of the county. The team of advocates, including John Larwill, Dr. S.F. Day, John Mc Sweeney, J.P. Jeffries, Jesse Straugham and Ephraim Quinby went to work making speeches throughout the county to drive public support.

J.P. Jeffries issued an open letter to the public:

"That the stock will be profitable, there is not the possibility of a doubt that it will net to the stockholders over ten per cent, per annum, is in our opinion just as certain. Nearly every man in the county is able to take one share, and this he should do, particularly the owner of real estate, because he will be benefited just in proportion to his business, be it great or small. Should every man in the county who subscribes a share of $50 lose it entirely, he will still be the gainer, from the fact that the value of his land, his labor, and the price of his produce will be greatly enhanced; and the business of the merchant and mechanic will increase in proportion to that of the farmer, and thus the benefit of

the road will be reaped."

Their campaign was successful in raising the funds necessary and on August 10, 1852, the first passenger train rolled into Wooster. It was a great achievement for Quinby and the rest of the committee who had fought so hard to make it happen. The celebration of that first train was epic. Here is what Douglass wrote:

"The arrival of the first passenger train in Wooster, Tuesday afternoon, August 10, 1852, was an event not soon to be forgotten, and in the future will be reverted to as such, not merely for the satisfaction a knowledge of the date will afford, but as a circumstance and occasion by which other occurrences and incidents may be identified. On that day Wooster was in a paroxysm of bustle and excitement. A national salute was fired at sunrise. Four P. M. was the hour announced for the arrival of the train. At 2 P. M. the surging multitude began to gather at the depot, and by 3 o'clock it was estimated that from 15,000 to 20,000 persons were on the grounds. At 3 P. M. a dispatch was received from Massillon assuring us that two trains were coming with 600 passengers, 500 of whom were invited guests from Pittsburg and Allegheny. At ten minutes past 4 P. M. the train arrived. The scene was magnificent; the people shouted, cannons boomed thunderingly, whirlwinds of gladness swept over acres of clapping hands, and on faces young and aged, a " grand Homeric jubilation was radiant." It was the Pentecost of gayety. The fire companies never looked or behaved better; the martial music was inspiring and heroic, and the guests were happy and hilarious, both by choice and compulsion. It seemed, indeed, to many, like '' Curiosity's Benefit Day."

Such was the absolute importance of this event for Wooster. It meant the town could now grow and prosper, secure in the knowledge that it was connected to the outside world and corporations could safely do business here.

And without the efforts of two brothers from Warren, Ohio, one of which made his permanent home in Wooster, these things may not have come to pass. But they did, and Wooster owes them both a debt of gratitude.

The Apple Creek Brewing Company

Joseph Ramseyer built a brewery in 1860, locating in Wooster Township, just outside of Wooster city, at the intersection of Dalton Road (now Old Lincoln Way), Apple Creek Road (Sylvan Road) and Pittsburgh Avenue. This area was known as Soaptown. He named his company Apple Creek Brewing Company because of its proximity to the creek of the same name. The water from the creek was used for the production of both ale and lager.

At first the brewery produced only small quantities beer. By the mid 1870s production was over 2000 barrels per year. The building was three stories in height and had an attached ice house, which was used to store ice taken in the winter a large pond that adjoined the brewery. The dam which created the pond was called Sprucies Dam, which was a popular swimming location through the 1950s.

Over the years the brewery was owned and operated by several men. In 1870 it was purchased by Martin Rich and Jacob Roth. Roth sold his interest to Jacob Mougey in 1874. Rich sold his interest to John Graber in 1879. Graber and Mougey were brothers-in law. Mougey sold his interest to George Renner, Sr. and his son George Renner, Jr. in 1882. By 1884 Graber had bought both Renner shares and operated the plant alone until 1888, selling it to Frederick Weis. Weis bought the plant on land contract, where he agreed to make payments to Graber. In 1890 Weis defaulted on the loan and Graber assumed ownership. At this point Graber renamed to company Wooster Brewing Company. In 1895 Graber once again sold the brewery, this time to Robert Weisman, of Chicago, and F. Runge, who was a former superintendent of a brewery in Monterey, Mexico. One year later Graber bought the brewery for a third time.

By this time a well had been drilled, which provided a more adequate supply of water for the growing company. Also, the pond ice had been replaced by mechanical ice production. In 1903 a stock company was formed the company became know as the Wooster Artificial Ice and Brewing Company. The investors were all local restaurant and saloon owners. All served Wooster Lager at their establishments, which at the time came in quart bottles which sold for a nickel. Graber's son, Samuel, remained with the company and eventually became it's president.

In 1908, the Rose Law was passed, which allowed rural Wayne County townships to vote to be dry. This had a negative affect on the company's brewing profits. Luckily, the ice business was strong and allowed the company to stay afloat.

The Mougey Ice Company was formed in 1913 by Jacob Mougey. It was located at 545 Pittsburgh Avenue. Its source of ice was the brewery.

When prohibition was enacted in 1918, brewing operations ceased and Graber sold the company to Mougey Ice. The Mougey Beverage Company was formed in the mid  1920s, bottling cola in the old plant.  In 1927 the Mougey companies closed. The company's assets were sold to Andrew Smith, who continued to use the facilities to produce ice. Upon his death in 1937, the property became part of his estate and was eventually sold to the State of Ohio.

The old brewery building stood until the early 1960s. The were razed to make way for the US30 bypass.

 Today, Wayne County once again is producing fine beer. JAFB Wooster Brewery is in operation and making fresh, handcrafted and award winning brews.

The Ohio Companies of E.J. Young

E.J. Young was born in Loyal Oak, Ohio in 1857. Growing up he had several jobs including school teacher, clerk in an Akron clothing store, laborer at a Wadsworth flour mill and a laborer at a local lumber yard. His big break came when he was hired by the Garfield Injector Company as an engineer.

E.J. Young with his wife and family dog

While working at Garfield, he turned the struggling company around by perfecting the injector valves the company sold. These valves were used by the steam locomotives of the time. In short time Young and other investors bought controlling interest in the company.

The Ohio Injector Company

A new company was formed in 1883 that focused on a larger selection of industrial valves. He named this company The Ohio Injector Company, located in Wadsworth.

Not satisfied with one company, Young invented a machine to mass produce wooden safety matches and incorporated The Ohio Match Company in 1895. This company was also located in Wadsworth.

The Ohio Match Company

You may be wondering at this point what all of this has to do with Wayne County. Well as it turns out E.J. Young wasn't finished forming companies. He had two more to start, and both of those involved Wayne County.

In 1897 Young incorporated the Wayne Salt Company. He wanted to locate the company in Sterling, Ohio. However, the idea was rebuffed by the town citizenry. Eventually, he bought mineral rights to a location in Rittman, Ohio that had close access to both the Erie Railroad and Chippewa Creek. In short time his first well was drilled and struck the huge halite deposit that underlies most of northeastern Ohio. He decided to rename his business the Ohio Salt Company.

The salt extraction process involves injecting clean water into the well and extracting the saline solution out. Then they heat the solution until all of the water is evaporated, leaving salt.

Sliding box for matches

Until that time, Young had been packaging his matches and salt in bulk, and leaving it to the purchaser to parcel them out. He thought it would beneficial to package both of these products in consumer sized containers. So he formed his fourth and final "Ohio" company, Ohio Boxboard Company, in 1903.  Ohio Boxboard Company produced the packaging for both his match company and his salt company. Young is credited with development of the familiar sliding safety match box, as well as the equally familiar cylinder salt box.

All four of Young's companies flourished for many years, but time took it's toll on all but one. Ohio Injector Company was bought out and the Wadsworth plant closed in 1982. Soon after

Ohio Match Company folded in 1987. Ohio Boxboard Company became Packaging Corporation of America, then Caraustar, which closed in 2006. Ohio Salt Company was purchased by Morton Salt in 1948, and remains one of Rittman's major employers.

The buildings that Young built all still stand except one. The old Ohio Boxboard plant began to be demolished in October of 2013, opening the way for some new visionary to step forward with a futuristic and bright idea.

Minglewood - A Rapidly Fading Memory of Wooster's Past

Minglewood - A Rapidly Fading Memory of Wooster's Past

I recently made a trip to East South Street to visit a dilapidated old structure that seems well beyond repair and probably become just another of Wooster's vanished landmarks. Minglewood was built in 1921 and served Wooster for over 40 years, first as a source of ice and coal, then in later years as sort of a convenience store. I remember buying beer from here back when I was a teen (3.2, mind you). That would have been in 1971, so it closed some time after that.

I've included excerpts from an article about Minglewood, written by Elinor Taylor, for the Wooster Daily Record, January 6, 1988.

What Memories The Minglewood Had!

by Elinor Taylor

All you "natives" who lived south of Liberty Street in Wooster back in the 1920s surely had a lot of memories flash before your eyes when you read the recent auction sale ad in The Daily Record.

The old Minglewood Coal and Ice Co. building on East South Street is being sold this week because present owners "have no need for the building." Oh, what interesting recollections come to mind — things I haven't thought about in years. But you have to have been a "south-ender" to remember how important Minglewood, built in 1921, was to our lives.

A Minglewood ad from the 1936 Wooster telephone book

Minglewood now is in ruins beside the tracks at the East South Street crossing

 

Elinor goes on to describe the large chunks of ice Minglewood sold in those days and how they were used in icebox refrigerators. The refrigerators had a compartment for the ice and a compartment for the food. As the ice would melt the resulting water would be captured by a pan that needed to be empties. Evidently, this was her father's job and more than once he 'forgot' to empty it, resulting in a flood that needed to be cleaned up. After receiving some motivation from his wife, he solved the problem by drilling a hole in the floor and running a drain hose to the outside. Elinor said, "We had the greenest grass on West Henry Street."

Ice boxes were common in the 19th and early 20th century and required lots of ice and maintenance

In the winter, Minglewood trucks pulled into our driveway a couple of times each fall and winter, loaded to the top with chunks of coal. I remember how specific my parents were in ordering this coal. It had to be a certain kind of coal and a definite size lump.

Elinor describes the home she lived in as a child as have a coal room. The coal room was near the driveway of the home and had a window. The coal truck would pull up close and insert a metal chute in the open window. The operator would then shovel the purchased coal into the coal room through the window. As it turns out, it was Elinor's job to pick up all of the pieces of dropped coal. Perhaps foretelling the future genius that she became, she had a solution to make the job easier, "It was my job to pick up the small chunks of coal which he had dropped and toss them through the window after he left. I pulled a Tom Sawyer on that one. I called all the neighborhood kids in to help and told them it was a game!"

Here is how Elinor describes a trip to Minglewood:

We never went to Minglewood to get our coal, but we often went there to get ice when the original cake had melted and it was still several days until the ice truck hit our neighborhood again. It was a real treat to hop in the old Model A Ford and go to the ice plant over there by the railroad tracks. The man in charge would open a big door to the refrigerated storage rooms and then, ice pick in hand, he would chop off an estimated 50 pounds from a huge "glacier." With his iron tongs he'd set it on the back bumper of the car and we'd race back home before it all melted (Racing in those days probably meant 25 miles an hour, three blocks west and one block south.)

Fringe benefits of those trips were picking up slivers of ice off the dock and chewing them. It's a wonder we didn't all die of the bubonic plague or some equally terminal disease. We snitched ice from the bed of the truck, sometimes even from the street, while the ice-man was going around to the back of the house (It wasn't stealing because the little pieces of ice would have melted in moments anyhow!)

I spoke with my uncle, Joe Beck, and asked if he remembered Minglewood. He got a big smile on his face as he began to reel off some stories. He remembers as a child going to Minglewood and getting shards of ice to suck on as treats on hot summer days. He also validated Elinor Taylor's story about the water bucket over flowing onto the floor. It appears that it was his brother Vin's job to empty it daily, but often failed to do so, making a mess on the floor.

I asked Joe if he remembers heating with coal. He told me that it was a full time job to keep the furnace going and that you needed to know how to 'bank' the coal in the furnace so that it would burn all night, but not burn out. The banking technique was how you stacked the coal in the furnace, and how you set the dampers.

He told me that the house would get very sooty, and every month or so the walls had to be cleaned. To do this they used a product that felt like clay, or Play-Doh, to wipe the walls down.

Coal heat produced soot that got into and onto everything. One way of cleaning the papered walls of the time was to use a cleaner like this which had the consistency of clay or Play-Doh

The wintertime air around Wooster must have been heavy with smoke from thousands of homes, all heating with coal. In 1939, according to Wooster City Directory of that time, there were six other coal dealers, in addition to Minglewood. Gray & Son, Julius Grosjean, George Klinger, Mike Silver & Company, Warren Snyder and Charles Stelzer.

Elinor Taylor continues her article by describing other food items that were delivered to homes in those days, such as fish, meat and bread. I too remember from my very early childhood bread and milk deliveries. We even had a periodic visit from the Jewell Tea man, who had all sorts of wonderful surprises in his little panel truck.

In closing, Elinor writes:

The old Minglewood on summer evenings was a little like Moore's Coffee Shop is today. Everybody was there. Some people drove, some pulled little wagons to get their ice.

I hate to see these parts of Wooster's past go the way of the horse and buggy, but no thanks — I don't want to eat ice from the street; I don't want to have to empty the drain pan and I don't want to shovel coal.

But I do like to remember, don't you?

The Courthouses of Wayne County, Ohio

Wayne County was formed August 15, 1796, before Ohio became a state and was part of the Northwest Territory. The area originally covered all of Michigan's lower peninsula, northwestern Ohio, northern Indiana and included some of Lake Michigan's shoreline. Detroit was the county seat and included, what is now, Chicago.

Before Ohio became a state, Wayne County was huge. It's county seat was Detroit.

Wayne County, in its current form, began March 1, 1812. Wooster, which was laid out during the fall of 1808 had already been declared the seat of justice on May 30, 1811. The Court of Common Pleas was held for the first time on August 6, 1812, being conducted in a log cabin built by John Bever.

This log cabin was built around 1820 in Wayne County and rebuilt on the public square in Wooster for the centennial celebration in 1896. The first location of Common Pleas Court may have looked something like it.

Through 1819 court was held at the newly built Baptist church, the county renting the space from the church for the sum of $50 per year.

In 1819, on the site of the current courthouse, the first purpose-built courthouse was constructed by Wooster founding fathers, John Bever, William Henry and John Larwill. It was a three story brick structure, built in the federal style, popular at that time. It had a central bell tower which housed a bell donated by John Bever in 1823.  It housed county offices as well as the local Free Masons. Inside was a gallery, probably for the public to observe court proceedings.

It had a short life as it was destroyed by fire in 1828, before any organized fire fighting organization existed. This happened during a session of court so many records of the time were destroyed with it.

The first Wayne County courthouse, built in 1819,  burned after only nine years of service.

The second courthouse was designed by an architect by the name of 'Mr. McCurdy'. This was most certainly John McCurdy, builder of courthouses in Hancock and Harrison Counties in Ohio, and other counties in Pennsylvania, as well.  The 2nd Wayne County courthouse was completed the spring of 1832 at a cost of $7,200. Atop the bell tower was a spire and two hand-crafted balls, both gilded and bronzed. The largest of the balls was approximately 22 inches in diameter. The smaller of the two was approximately 7 inches in diameter. Both were made by John Babb and gilded by David Barr. Mr. McCurdy paid sixteen dollars (about $240 in 2013 money).

The second Wayne County courthouse can be seen as the dark square building in the center of the photograph, shortly after it was built.

 It became evident that more room was needed for the rapidly expanding government of Wayne County. In 1868, the North Courthouse Annex was completed, giving breathing room to county employees.

The second Wayne County courthouse after the North Courthouse Annex was built in 1868.

This courthouse served the people of Wayne county until 1877, when the deterioration of its timbers and walls forced the county commissioners to condemn it. Court proceedings were moved to the France building on Liberty Street and the process of building a new courthouse was started.

What structure in Wooster better defines the city more than the current courthouse. This building eludes both grace and strength in it's presentation. The design type is known as 'Second Empire'. This type of architecture was popular in the mid to late 1800s because it lent itself well to large masonry projects, typical of a growing government. The architect was the esteemed Thomas Boyd, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr. Boyd served as architect for other similar structures in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, as well as the courthouse in our neighbor to the south, New Philadelphia.

Planning began in February 1878. The sum of $75,000 was allocated for the project, and in October of that year the cornerstone was laid. Since much of the construction was of sandstone, expert itinerant Italian stone craftsmen were summoned to Wooster to aid in the construction. 

Boyd's original design was much larger than the building that was constructed. He had planned a symmetrical building with the clock tower in the center. But local planners bulked at that idea because the Annex was only 10 years old and was still in outstanding condition. So Boyd's design was truncated at the Annex, giving the offset appearance of today structure.

Thomas Boyd's original plan was for a symmetrical structure. That didn't happen because the Annex was still functional, and replacement of it was not financially feasible.

A victim of the budget axe, the Wayne County Courthouse is only half as large as Thomas Boyd intended. But that asymmetry is what makes it uniquely Wayne County, uniquely Wooster. The Annex, as it turns out, is a connection to the past.

Perhaps the most striking feature of the Wayne County Courthouse are the four statues of Atlas (or, telamones, an interesting side note is that Wikipedia uses Wooster's telamones as a photo in their article), which appear to bear the weight of the building on their shoulders. If you search for Wooster on the internet, you will undoubtedly see images of them in your initial search results. Traditional knowledge is that the Italian stone carvers made these magnificent statues. But more recent research has challenged this assumption. It is now argued that the telemones were actually carved by two sculptors, one from Germany and one from Prussia.

The four Atlas statues, known as telamones in architecture, were carved by itinerant artists, and are arguably one of the most symbolic landmarks in Wayne County and Wooster.

 The next time you are downtown, take a moment to appreciate the enduring wonder of the courthouse. Someday, it will meet the fate of it's three predecessors, but let's hope it is not in our time. The Wayne County Courthouse, along with its older sibling, the Annex, is a powerful symbol of Wooster's not-so-distant past. It anchors all of us in the values and ideas of the people that have brought us to this point.

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The Adventures of "Old Henry Franks"

From The History of Wayne County, Ben Douglass

"Old Henry" Franks was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He relocated to Chippewa Township in Wayne County, Ohio about 1816 or 1817. He settled a farm just south of Doylestown, the land of which he obtained from the U.S. government. He married Christina Mason, of his native land in Pennsylvania. Together, they had eleven children; six daughters and five sons.

Henry became an quantifiable part of Wayne County history with an event in his early life. According to Douglass, Henry Franks was taken prisoner by Indians along the Ohio River. Being a large, straight and strong specimen, his captors immediately took a fancy to him. He was introduced to the Native American ways, and was eventually "adopted" as an Indian citizen. In the process, he was force to "run the gauntlet", where he was struck repeatedly by his captors, and at the end of which he had to defend his life against the best warrior of the tribe. After dealing a nearly deadly blow to his assailant, Henry became a full-fledged Indian.

As a member of the tribe, Henry witnessed one of the storied incidents of American history. Colonel William Crawford was captured after his assault on Sandusky failed. Although many of his men successfully fled, he stood his ground and was captured. He was singled out as the leader and was tortured for several hours before being burned at the stake, never giving up hope that he would be rescued.

Henry used the distraction of this event to make his attempt to escape his capture. He made his way to the lake (Erie). He found a British vessel and was allowed to board her. He traveled to Montreal, where he disembarked and crossed the border to the U.S. side. Eventually, he made it back to the safe embrace of his family in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

Some links you may want to look at.

http://www.online-literature.com/william-dean-howells/stories-ohio/9/    (carefully consider any of the links here!)

http://www.crawfordcocpcourt.org/Visit%20the%20Courtroom.htm   (Crawford County, Ohio official report. Use it with all of the other sources to find your truth.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Crawford_%28soldier%29    (I like Wikipedia. I believe there is truth in numbers. Eventually, given enough time, the truth does come out. Of course, the truth about Henry Franks is not a large enough issue to stand the test of time. So it is --- what it is. Being a descendent, I'd like to believe it is true. You decide for yourself.)