Knox County, Ohio - Chapter 27: Public Buildings of the County, 1881

These Buildings

THESE BUILDINGS. HE court houses of Knox county have been four in number, and in expense of building, material, architectural beauty, etc., have kept pace with the prosperity and gradually increasing wealth of the people..

The first court house was built of logs about 1808 or 1809, and stood on the public square, near the intersection of Main and High streets, on the south side of High and west side of Main, and facing Main. It was but one story in height; fifteen by eighteen feet in size; covered with clapboards, held on by "lug" poles; was lighted by greased-paper windows; with the usual large fireplace and mud chimney at one end; no floor but mother earth, and in all other respects as primitive as it was possible for a court house to be. It was only in existence about three or four years when it was removed and a new one erected.

This second building was made of brick and stood on the north side of and facing High street, and on the public square, not far from and east of Main street. The ground upon which it stood was probably ten or more feet higher than at the present time, and while grading Main street about 1828, Mr. Norton, the supervisor, plowed so near the foundation as to weaken it; this being the primary cause of its downfall. It was a square building, two stories in height, with a roof sloping from four sides to the centre upon which stood the cupola, or little square box for the bell. It had double doors on the south and west sides, thus facing both Main and High streets.

Regarding this '"'new" court house the commissioner's journal of that time contains this entry: Solomon Geller and George Downs did receive by subscription seven hundred and forty-five dollars.

No sooner is the new court house ready for use than the commissioners become involved in trouble about its occupancy, by different sects, as will be explained by the following entries on the journal :

Whereas, a number of the inhabitants of this county have made application for the use of the court house in Mt. Vernon, for the purpose of occupying the same for preaching and holding public worship therein; it is therefore, ordered that the different denominations of Christians are allowed to occupy the same for the aforesaid purpose provided that each denomination shall have the use of the same for one meeting once in four weeks; provided, also, that the different denominations aforesaid shall meet and mutually agree upon the time or times they shall hold the same, which shall be in force for one year unless they do not agree on the times they shall hold their meetings aforesaid, and each denomination failing to clean up the house and leave the same in as good repair as they found it within three days, shall forfeit their privilege aforesaid, and shall at all times be liable to make good all damages done by such denomination at their meeting aforesaid ; and James Smith shall keep the key of the house aforesaid; it is further provided, that tach aencmination aforesaid shall furnish the said house with -at least fifty feet of good strong benches for the use of the house aforesaid, which shall be left there for the use of all pubick business which shall be necessary previous to such denomination occupying the said house for the purpose aforesaid.

This brought about a cessation of hostilities, and again 'petitions poured in for use of the court house, agreeing to agree as to the time of using it, etc. Thereupon Commissioners Herrod, Cooper, and

One difficulty was that the Methodists were unwilling to let the "New Lights," who formerly belonged to the Methodist church, occupy the court house for the purpose of holding meetings.

pears another item regarding this court house, to the effect that the building is found to need repairing, and Solomon Geller purchases the privilege of making the repairs for seven hundred and ninety-nine dollars and seventy cents.

The wall of this court house began to crumble about 1828, owing, as before stated, to the dirt being taken away from the foundation in grading; and October 18, 1828, James McGibeny made a contract with the commissioners to build a stone wall to support the building, but it was too late, the building fell. December 2d the commissioners issued an order for forty dollars payable to P.S. Brown for loss and damage to his office, caused by the falling of the wall; his office being in the basement of the building.

Preparations were immediately made for erecting the third court house; meanwhile the court held its sessions in what was known as the "Golden Swan Inn," then kept by Thomas Irvine, which stood on the southwest corner of Main and Gambier streets. This tavern was one of the institutions of the town, and a famous place for 1aany years.

This third court house was also of brick, and stood on the public square, on the northwest corner of Main and High streets. It was two stories and a basement in height, and fronted on Main street. The roof projected out over the front of the building and was supported by white, fluted columns. 'The entrance to the basement was from High street, and the entrance to the court room and first floor was from Main street, by a few steps. A high bank rose in the rear of the building, coming up to the second floor on that side, thus allowing daylight to enter the basement only on the east and south sides. The basement was rented out for shops and stores, the first floor was used for the court room and one or two offices, and the second floor was devoted to offices.

The court house was no sooner down than the commissioners ordered proposals to be published in the Standard and Advertiser, for the purpose of making donations for the building of a new court house, and for a plan of building, etc. Onthe twentieth of January, 1829, they agreed with Thomas Irvine for his brick house for a court house, at twenty-five dollars per term, in orders on the county treasury, In April, James Smith is notified by Marvin Tracy that the commissioners have obtained Thomas Irvine's bar room for an office. 'The levy for taxes in Knox county, June, 1829, was ong and a half mills on the dollar, on the whole valuation of property in said county, for State purposes, and one and a half for canal purposes, making three mills upon the dollar for State and canal purposes; and the commissioners, by and with the consent of the judges of the court of common pleas, levied a tax of three mills on the dollar for county purposes, one mill for road purposes, and three-fourths of a mill for school purposes; one of the three mills shall be assessed and collected and appropriated for the building of the court house, and for no other purpose whatever.

At the June session, the following entry is made: '' The account of James Smith, presented to the board of commissioners, for one year, from June 1, 1828, to June 1, 1829, including the rent unpaid at last settlement, books and stationery' for clerk's office, all of which was rejected by the board. The charges fo1 one year's fire-wood, which was twelve dollars. From which decision the said Smith prays an appeal to the court of common pleas as to the fire-wood."" That record is clear, is it not? The resolutions of the commissioners, published in the Standard and Avdertiser, in reference to the building of a court house, represent that ''they will meet on the fifteenth of July, tor the purpose of receiving donations, etc.; giving the public square one thousand dollars; preference for location, etc.; otherwise at any point in the town plat where one thousand dollars is subscribed," etc. On the fifteenth of July, the commissioners met,

On the eleventh of September public notice is given in the Western Aurora and in the Advertiser and Standard, of sale of contract to build a court house, to the lowest bidder, on the fifth of October next, &c. Peris Sprague is authorized to get FE. G. Carlin, or some other person, to make and draft a plat for the same, This plan, as agreed upon, appears on the journal, specifying that the building is to be erected on the west side of Main street and north side»f High street, and that one thousand dollars is to be paid to the contractor on the tenth of January, 1830, and one thousand dollars annually, thereafter, and all orders to be expressly understood to be paid when due and presented. Edward G. Carlin is paid county order for ten dollars, for making plat of new court house, and describing timbers, dimensions, &c. Richard House, for assisting Carlin in describing the plan, is paid one dollar and fifty cents. |

October sth. The building of the court house is sold to John Shaw for five thousand four hundred and eighty-five dollars, who enters into bond with Byram Leonard, Philo Norton, Charles Sager, Solomon Geller, Thomas Irvine and H. B. Carter, in the sum of ten thousand nine hundred and seventy dollars.. Such is the record of the third court house built in Mount Vernon, which stood on the public square until 1853. It was built of brick, two stories high, with a cupola, and a very imposing: building in its time. It answered well its part for many years - may we not say for that generation, as almost all then upon the stage of action have passed hence without day. The supremé court, district and associate judges, the commissioners, sheriff, auditor, assessor, treasurer, surveyor, and coroner, the contractor and his sureties - are all, all dead.

This court house seems also to have been poorly constructed and was partially destroyed by a storm of wind and rain that passed over Mount Vernon, Sunday night, April 9, 1854. The damage, in dollars and cents, was estimated at from one thousand five hundred dollars to two thousand dollars. The injury to the building was too severe to warrant repairs. The storm came from the southwest, and striking the west gable raised the roof and heavy timbers from their positions, and threw the rafters, shingles, etc., across Main street several hundred feet. The large brick chimneys of the west end were thrown down, and the bricks of the west gable wall blown into the main building itself, with such force that they were carried through both floors of the building, and landed, a mass of rubbish, in the clerk's office in the basement below. The two court rooms were completely demolished. The judges' bench, table, and files of the probate judge were carried below, and there piled together, and mixed in with those of the common pleas court. The clerk of the supreme court, Alexander C. Elliott, was sleeping in his room below at the time, and very narrowly escaped with his life. He was awakened by the falling of a large stove pipe across the head of his bed. He managed to. get under the bed where he remained until the violence of the storm had passed, when he made his way to the residence of his mother on East High street. Sheriff Wade and Daniel Clark were the first to reach the scene of disaster, and remained there during the night engaged in rescuing the papers of the court rooms.

After this catastrophe the court was again compelled to seek quarters by renting, and for a time occupied '"George's Hall," on Gambier street near Main.

Preparations were immediately made for the erection of the present court house, which occupies a pleasant site on the hill on the north side of High street, and appears solid and substantial as if it might withstand the storms of centuries.

The bell of the old court house now does service for the fire department, and hangs in the cupola of the third ward engine house and council chamber. That bell, and asmall table made from the lumber of the seats in the court room, is probably all that remains of the second court house. The table was made by Mr. John W. White for use in the telegraph office. The present court house cost about forty thousand dollars. Its completion was celebrated by the bar in a public dinner, at the Kenyon House, then located on the site of the present Kirk opera house.

On the sixth of June, 1808, the commissioners of this county, finding the great want of a jail in said town, and by virtue of the powers vested in them by law,

Ordered, a jail to be built, twenty-four feet long, sixteen feet wide, nine feet high, with square timber of one foot square, including the upper and lower floor, and a petition of like timber, with a good shingle roof, and stone or brick chimney, three windows, with iron grates, of six lights each, and two sufficient doors, one on the outside and one in the petition in the inside, and the walls, petition and lower floor lined with three inch plank, spiked on with spikes seven inches in length. The front door marked A and petition door B to be one and onehalf inch stuff; C chimney. The jail to be built on the public square of said town, on a corner.

'' Ordered that the commissioners do receive the jail from the hands of John Mills, Alexander Walker, and James Walker, sr., provided that the said Mills and others do saw down the corners of said jail, and then our clerk shall have authority to issue orders on the treasury for the sum of four hundred and thirtythree dollars and fifty cents, as shall appear by reference to the agreement, and that the clerk issue orders of such sizes as the claimants may desire, with their proper numbers to the above amount."

The jail being then declared completed the commissioners ordered fifty cents to be expended by Joseph Walker for two steeples and hasp for the jail.

The calaboose having been duly prepared, the officers of the law became exceedingly self-important, consequential and overbearing. Michael Click, an old Dutchman, who was fond of grog, was taken up, ''tight as a musket," and locked up in the quarters. The constable had gone down street and was boasting Of his exploit in taking up Mike, when the voice of the old fellow was heard just behind him, shouting at the top of his lungs: ''By tam, they can't keep me in their tammed shail - I am thrumps!"' He had crawled up the chimney till he got near the top and stuck fast, when, as he said,.he ''swelled and bursted" it open, and then jumped to the ground a free man.

Click, several weeks after, when confined, ''broke out," and meeting Judge Wilson on the street, narrated his several jail exploits in great glee, vowing that they never could keep old Mike in that jail any longer than it suited him to stay, for he had lent a hand when it was built and knew all its weak points. For several years, however, this little log concern served as a nominal! terror to evil doers. At length so many escapes were made from it, that its fate was sealed, and it was sold to William Y. [arquhar, who moved it to the outskirts of town and constructed out of it a sort of a tobacco house.

The commissioners, on the fourth of December, 1823, determined to erect another jail and jailor's house, on the square, of brick, which remained an eye-sore to the people of the town until about 1850, when John Armstrong, street commissioner, and A Banning Norton, councilman of the Third ward, in grading and excavating the northeast part of the public square, with ''malice aforethought'' undermined it, and caused the removal of that pile of rubbish.

The county seems to have had some trouble in keeping prisoners in their first jail from the following entry in the commissioners' record, from which it appears they were compelled to employ guards:

Calvin Hill three nights, $1.50; William Dehart ten nights and one day, $5.50; Henry Burge for nine nights and one day, $5; James Irvine nineteen nights and one day, $10; John Cramer thirteen nights and one day, $7; Thomas Sprague one night, ¢r; Samuel Kratzer for guarding, $7.50; Jacob Woodruff, $14.75; Samuel Breese, constable, .95; Michael Click for trailing after prisoner Beldon, $1; Eli Gregg $x for aiding in committing A. Beldon to jail, and William Dehart for trailing after Beldon, $3.

Samuel Kratzer is allowed $1.62% for iron for the jail, and Archibald Crofford $4.75 for iron and labor done on the jail. The rate of taxation on taverns in 1812 is $8 for all located on Market street, Mt. Vernon, all others on other streets of Mt. Vernon and on road from Mt. Vernon to Newark and in Fredericktown $7, and all others in the county $6.

The location of the first jail was on the square, east of Main and north of High. The second one, mentioned by Mr, Norton, was located about the same place. It seems to have required about two years in building, as in 1825 "the jail built by Solomon Geller is found according to contract, except that he is yet to putin a stove, and the door above, going into the debtor's apartment." The old jail wagesold at auction, William Bevans being allowed five dollars for crying the sale. The present jail, in the court house yard, was erected about the time the present court house was erected.

In June, 1842, Thomas Axtell, Christopher Wolfe, and Thomas Wade, county commissioners, purchased of William E. Davidson one hundred and thirty-two acres of land situated in the southeast corner of Liberty township known as the "Bricker farm," for which they paid three thousand three hundred dollars. William E. Davidson and J. R. Clark repaired and enlarged the buildings on the same at a cost to the county of seven hundred dollars. Thus fitted up it became the county poor house or original Knox county infirmary; William Borden, John Hobbs, and I. F. McClain, directors. This building with the grounds attached, after various alterations and improvements, sufficed for the accommodation of the imfirm of the county until 1874 when it became necessary to erect new buildings.

May 12, 1874, the directors of the infirmary petitioned the county commissioners (D. F. Halsey, John C. Levering, and John, Lyal) to proceed immediately to erect new buildings; and on the fifteenth of May the said commissioners employed Tinsley & Company, of Columbus, Ohio, to furnish plans and specifications for a building the cost of which was not to exceed fiftty thousand dollars. Pursuant to this plan they contracted with J. Henegan & Company, September 30, 1874, to complete the said buildings for the sum of thirty-eight thousand nine hundred and thirty-six dollars and seventy-four cents.

The work under the superintendence of Mr. Clifford Buxton, progressed slowly, but it soon became evident that the buildings contemplated by the plans of the architect, Mr. T. R. Tinsley, could not be completed for the stipulated price. After enclosing the building Henegan & Company failed and obliged the commissioners to take the contract off their hands, paying them twenty-eight thousand dollars for the material furnished and labor performed. The commissioners now assumed the responsibility of its completion themselves, and under the superintendence of Samuel Israel, esq., with Mr. William Bound as master mechanic, the work was rapidly pushed forward, being completed and ready for the reception of inmates in Septgmber, 1877, at acost of eighty-three thousand dollars.

The new infirmary is situated on a beautiful rise of ground on the south side of Dry creek near Bangs Station, on the Cleveland, Mount Vernon, & Columbus railroad. The main building is seventy-five by one hundred and twenty-seven feet, with an open court in the rear thirty-four by fifty-five feet. It is four stories high, with a tower rising sixty-five feet above the roof, and consumed in its construction over one million bricks. It contains three water tanks on the upper floor, containing forty barrels of water each, and is heated throughout by steam. The main entrance is on the second story, and is approached by two iron stairways. There are in the building one hundred rooms capable of conveniently accommodating one hundred and twenty-five inmates, the number of whom, March 1, 1880, was, as per report of directors, as follows: males, twenty-eight; females, thirty-three; total, sixty-one. According to the same report, it cost to support these from September, 1876, till March, 1880, the sum of four thousand five hundred and fifty-six dollars and fifty cents, and from March, 1880 to September, 1880, four thousand seven hundred and forty-six dollars and eighty cents. Total for one year, nine thousand three hundred and three dollars and thirty cents. During the same year the infirmary paid into the county treasury the sum of one thousand and seventy dollars and eight cents. The present directors are Andrew Caton, Michael Hess, and R. H. Bebout. John W. Williams is superintendent.

Knox county infirmary, although it has "come up through much tribulation," is an institution of which the citizens of the county may justly be proud, and stands to-day a monument to the public spirit of the commissioners under whose auspices it was erected, and to the cultivated, benevc lent spirit of the people.