Lorain City (part 54 of 77)

Ill ]!)0.3 AVilliam C. Daw.son, D. I)., was appointed by Bishop Mc- Cabe. Althougii his health was failing and tlnr illness which led to his death was upon liim his four years of pastorate were marked by real pro.spei'ity to the charge. His last Sunday was made memorable by llu' l{i'V. Thomas Wallis Orusc was a))poinlc(i. to iOlyi'la at the confcri'iiL-u of 11)07 from Wcllinj^ton whore he hail completed a live year pastorate. At once the improvement of the church was begun. The auditorium was given new windows which greatly increased the light of the cliurch in daytime and new electric fixtures were installed. The auditoriiuu was re-freseoed, carpeted and painted. A new Sunchiy school departnuMit was erected, one of the largest and most convenient in tiie Conference. A fine basement was provided for dining room, kitchen and j)arlors. The cost of tliis impi'ovement was about ^2;'), ()()(). The service of dedication was conducted ])y Hishop .Mooi'c, April 4, 1 !)(>!). in September of lf)Oi) tlie North Ohio ('onference met in the iOlyria Church, BLsliop William F. Ajulerson presiding. Tiie special features were tlie scholarly and interesting addresses by Prof, ("amden ]\1. Coburn of Alleghenj' College. In September, li)]l, Doctor Grose was transferred to First Church, JMansfield.

The Rev. Samuel L. Stewart, having eomi)leted a six years' pastorate at First (yhurch, .Mansfield, was appointed to Elyria at the Conference held in Fir.st Church, .Mansfield, by Hishop Bristol, September IS, lilll. He preached his first sermon Septeml)er 24, 1912.

Before his family arrived the board had decided to rel)uild tiie ])arsonage. A 'temporary houu- was found for the family and the work was given into the hands of a conunittee consisting of George II. Cliamberlain, R. P. Vaughn, Jenkins Edwards, ('. II. Snow, Henry Tiieman, Charles II. Jackson and ^Villiam Biggs. Jenkins F^dwards was given geiiei-al oversiglit of the work. The entire cost of improvement wa.s .$4,7.'i4.00 and tiie pastor and his family occupied their new home on February 2, 1912.

Tile iiiembersiiip of the Metiiotlist Episcopal Church of Elyria in 1015 was aliout SOO members, and the Sunday school enrolment 710, with an additional 140 credited to tlie home department and cradle roll.

The First Coiigregal ioiial Church of I'Myria was orgaiii/ed under the famous "plan of union" between the Congregationalists and the Presb^ierians, under which the internal alTairs of the church were regulattHl by CougiTgational usages hut the churcli was under tlie care of tile Prcshyteiy, and the ministers heh)nged to tlie Preshytery. Soon after 1850 tlie Congregational ehurclies organized on this plan throughout the West began to sever their eonneetion with the Presliyteries, the chureh in Elyria doing so some time after 18GU.

The Coiigregationalists of Klyria organized in 1824, and have maintained ii society ever siiK.'C. Vov many years it has been one of tin; strongest religions bodies in lOlyria and has one of the most beautiful liomes for worshij) and for eommunion in numerous works of charity and benevoleiiee. Through the years during which the chureh has gi'owii from a small membership to one of nearly 600, the following pastors have served: Daniel W. Lathrop, 1825-30; Rev. John J. Siiipherd (founder of Oberlin College), 1831-32; Rev. James II. Eells, 1S34-3G; Rev. Lewis II. Loss, 1837-41; Rev. David A. Grosvenor, 1843-52; Rev. Timothy ]M. Hopkins, 1852-54; Rev. Francis A. Wilber, 1855-66; Rev. Fergus L. Kenyon, 1867-70; Rev. Edwin E. Williams, 1873-96; Rev. William E. Cadmus, 1807-1908, and Rev. John II. Grant, 1908, to the present time (1916).

The massive building now oeeui)ied by the First Congregational Chureh was edieated in 1900; it has had two predecessors, erected in 1834 and 1848, respectively.

TIk' executive body of the society comprises the following: William II. .Searle.s, elmreh clerk; Ralph B. Fay, parish treasurer; George M. Day, church (benevolence) treasurer; i\Irs. j\I. D. Chapman, assistant treasurer and church visitor; Cora M. Walton, church seeretar3^ Its present memliership is 572 and the chureh property is valued at .$85,000.

From the Dedication Souvenir of the First Congregational Church, issued in 1900, it is evident that the Elyria organization was a pioneer of its kind in the Western Reserve. At the time of the first settlement in Elyria in 1817, no Congregational or Presbyterian churches, with one or two exceptions, had been founded in that part of the reserve lying west of the Cuyahoga River. For more than seven years missionaries of the Conneetieut ]\Iissionary Society ministered to the little company at l^lyria. On the 30th of October, 1822, a church was organized in the adjoining Town.ship of Carlisle, consisting of seven members, six of whom, and one who had been admitted, subsequently united with the church. A consolidation of these two religious bodies was effected Novemlier 25, 1824, iintler the name of the Presbyterian Church in Elyria. The union of the two churches continued until August 3, 1833, when the Carlisle members withdrew and resumed their original organization.

1824, ai)d of tlie church at Carlisle, coininciieiiig October 29, 1822, cease wilh tlic meeting of Sei)teinber 4, 1880. It is a inoiniiiieiit to the painstiikiiig devotion of lie inan VAy, and only ceased when his healtli wouhl no longer sustain him in such labors.

A Second Congregational Church was organized in 1897, and erected its house of worship on the west side. This now has a membership of 204 and numbers 300 families among its constituency. Its pastor is Rev. Alfred J. Barnard, its clerk John E. Ilecock, treasurer, U. D. Miller, superintendent of Sunday school, E. J. Taylor, and the value of its church propei-ty, $12,000.

Toward the la.st of June, 1836, Rev. Daniel C. AVait, who had but recently graduated at Hamilton, New York, came AYest in search of a field for gospel labor. Arriving at Cleveland, he consulted Avith Rev. Levi Tucker and was directed to Elyria. In July following he visited the village and was allowed the use of the court room for a meeting of his co-religionists. After several rather encouraging gatlierings had been held in the courthouse, Mr. Wait's enterprise shifted to tlie old yellow schoolhouse, then standing on the west side of the public sciuare.

On the 26th of November, 1836, the following united to form the First Baptist Church of Elyria: Luther Ilartson, Sr., Luther Ilartson, Jr., :\Irs. Mercy Brooks, Miss ^Margaret Wright, and Lucius and Sally Andress. Mr. Wait continued as i)astor until June, 1837, and during the succeeding three months the pulpit was unoccupied. Rev. j\Ir. Ilillis assumed the pastorate in September of that year and during the following winter steps were taken wbicli led to tlie building of the first church edifice in 1839. ^Mr. Hillis had, however, resigned in the spring of 1838, and in June of that year been succeeded by Rev. Silas Tucker.

The edifice now occupied by the First Baptist Church was completed in 1884. The membership is 400. L. E. Sutliff is clerk and F. I. Hubbard, treasurer of the church.

St. Andrew's Church was organized in the year 1837 and the Rev. Ansoji Clark was the first rector of tlio parisli. The services were then held in the courthouse, a modest l)rick structure then staiuling where the present beautiful stone ])uilding stands. In 1840 the parish ei-ected a church building, a small frame structure, on Cheapside. During the early years of St. Andrew's the trials were many and for several years after the departure of Mr. Clark the church was practically closed. It was not until the coming of Rev. B. T. Noakes, D. 1)., in 1857 that a real revival in interest took place. IMany were added to the churcli hy baptism and confirmation. A new rectory was purchased and old and standing prejudices were allayed. The Civil war, of course, brought reverses and discouragements in the church's life. Often the church was without a resident rector because of the absence of the rector as chaplain in the army and because of sickness. In 1870 Doctor Noakes again assumed the rectorate of the parisli and from that time on there has been steady advance. It was during these years and under the direction of Doctor Noakes that the present beautiful church and rectory were built. There have been seventeen rectors during these eighty years of hi.story. The present rector, Edwin B. Redhead, accepted the rectorship of the parish September 1, 1913. W. J. Tasman is lay reader of St. Andrew's and H. J. Eady and S. S. Rockwood, wardens. Over 350 communicants are on the parish register and the Sunday scliool has a membersliip of 100.

Catholic immigrants from Ireland and Gennany began to settle in Elyria and the iiiunediatc c(Mintry around it about tin; year 1815. Pivvious lo lluit lime any Catholii; living in Elyria liad to go to Avon, or French Creek, or LaPorte for religious Kcrviccs. In 1845 IJishop Piirccll, of {^iTicinnati, made an episcopal visitation of churches and missions in Noi'thcrn Ohio, for at that time there' wa.s only one bishop I'or nil

Tliis lour ol; the sainlly and eioiinent |)relate is especially remarkable and worthy of memory for the Catholies of Klyriu and Lorain County, for it was on this occasion that L. C. Boynton, deputy sherilf of Lorain County, invited the bishop to deliver a lecture iu the courthouse on any subject he might think most fitting. So pleased were the non-Catholics with this discourse that he was asked to give them the pleasui'e of hearing him in the Baptist Church of Elyria. This discourse was also received with interest. There were at that time not twenty Catholic households in Elyria and the adjacent country, and Bishop Purcell, having comparatively few priests for his large territory, nuide arrangements to have mass said in Elyria onee a month on week-days. He accordingly directed the Rev. Peter McLaughlin of Cleveland, to perform the good office for the people and to minister as best he could to their spiritual wants. Father IMcLaughlin thus acted as pastor of Elyria for about one year, when the bishop appointed the Rev. ]\Iaurice Howard, who continued to visit Elyria till 184!).

From 1849 to 1851 Father DeOoesbriand, vicar general of the Diocese of Cleveland, ami afterward bishop of Burlington, Vermont, attended to the Catholics of Elyria, coining regularly from Cleveland. Then for two years the Rev. William O'Connor and the Rev. Jacob Kingeli, a iii'iest of the t'ongregation of the Precious Blood, !uade their customary visits to Elyria in the i)erformanee of tlieir prie.stly duties.

Uj) to this time, I'^lyria was, in church language only a "station." It had not even the tlignity of a "mission," for a "mission" is a congregation with a church, but having no resident pastor, whereas a "station" is a conuuunity of Catholics without a resident priest and without a church, who .are visited by a i)riest at stated intervals and hold services in private houses. We can readily understand why Elyria should thus remain so long a "station," if we consider the relatively small number of Catholics living in it and the scarcity of priests. When Bishop Rappe came to Cleveland as its fir.st bishop, in October, 1847, Father IMauriee Howard was the only priest stationed in Cleveland, and Elyria was only one of many places in Northern Ohio to which he had to give priestly attention.

The first resident pastor of Elyria was the Rev. ]Michael Ilealy, appointed by Bishop Rappe in IMay, 1853. One year after his appointment he purchased a site on the .southwest corner of Middle Avenue and

Jii February, 185!), Father Ilealy wa.s transferred to the pastorate of St. IMary's Church, Tiffin, Ohio, in which charge he remained for more than forty years, until iiis death. He was suc(?eeded in Elyria liy the Kev. Roliert A. Sidley. During his incumbency Father Sidley enlarged the ciuirch, because of the growth of the congregation, and built a pastoral residence on the lot ne.xt to the church on JMiddle Avenue. This house built in 1859, at different times enlarged and remodeled, remains today in tiie old place, rrevioiis to flie erection of tlie i)arislihouse, the pa.stor of Elyria liveil in a reiiteil iiouse on the east side of West Avenue, two doors south of Fourth Street. This house which served as the home of the first pastors of Elj^ria, was afterward moved to West River Street, where it stands today hearing the street number 117. It was Father Sidley who founded St. IMary's School, which had its humble beginning in a room in the rear of the enlarged church. This room he eciuipped as a classroom and confided to the care of a lay teacher. The pastorate of Father Sidley in Elyria had lasted a little more than four years, when in April of 18G3 he was promoted by Bishop Rappe to the pastoi-al charge of the English speaking congregation at Santlusky. The removal of Father Sidley was much regretted by tlu; people of Elyria who had come to look upon him not only as a good hard working priest, but also as a very worthy and helpful citizen whose presence was a valuable asset to tlie community.

In July, 1SG3, the Rev. Franci.s A. Sullivan siuuH-eded Father Sidley as pastor of St. IMary's with charge of Vermillion as a mission, but his l)astorate la.sted little more tliaii half a year. He gave tiie little strenglli he had to his work, being a victim of lulicrculosis, and to tlie ravages of this disease he siieeiiinlied on l'\'briiary :!, 1H()4. lie was Imni in ii'eland, Aiigii.st 2, 1S;!7; so at the time of his death, lie was only twentyseven years of age. lie brgnii his sliidii'S for the jirieslhood in the Cleveland Seminary, but al the re(|uest of Bishop [{a|)pe he spent the last three years in the Siilpiliaii Seminary at i'aris. Jle was ordained in Cleveland on tiie 'id of December, 1800, being on his ordination day twenty-three years and four months old. The bishop tiien placed him as professor of philosopliy in the seminary. Tliinking that it might benefit liis health, he later appointed him to Elyria. But nothing eonld stay the progress of the disease. At the elose of the obsequies liis body was buried in a vault I'cneatli the ehureli.

After the death of Fatlier Sullivan, liishop Rappe could not see his way to fill the pastorate of Elyria, innnediately. lie tlierefore arranged witli the clergy of his epiiicopal city and later with tlie Rev. T. F. llalley of Norwalk to say mass in St. Mary's Church and to visit the people as occasion demanded.

Tliis interregnum continued until Fel)ruary, 18G5, when the Rev. Charles Criss was transferred from I'errysbiirg, Oiiio, to Klyria. From boyhood days Fatlier Gri.ss wa.s passionately fond of music, and as a priest he became noted for his love of the sacred chant and liis attention to the choir. This joined to the desire to some parishoners who had, before coming to Elyria, been used to the sonorous tones of a pipeorgan in more pretentious churches, was responsiljle for an elaborate social in the sununer of 1865. The proceeds of the social were to go towards the purchase of a new organ. There are some living in this parisli today who remember tliis festival of fifty years ago ; who took active part in its preparation ; wiio, to save expenses, got all thing.s ready themselves, and who will insist to tliis day that they were not morally accountable for the mixing of salt witli tlie ice cream. The financial result of the social would be notable enougli in our day of greater numbers and fatter purses, Init was simply marvelous in tho.se pioneer days. Tile proceeds netted a sum a little sliort of $400.

After receiving the proceeds of the social, Fatlier Griss thought the money might be more fittingly spent for tiie jjurehase of new property for cliurcli purposes, and tlie accjuisition of a new organ po.stponed to some future date. In September of 18t!o, after a short but busy pastorate of seven months, Fatlier Griss left Elyria for his former charge at Perrysburg, wliich liad remained witliout a regularly appointed pastor since his removal from tliere the preceding February. lie was immediately succeeded in Elyria by the Rev. Louis ^lolon, who was destined to remain longer as pastor of St. ]\Iary's tiian any of his predecessors. He was an active and edifying ])Msfor, and during the filtcen years of his incumbency saw a remai'kabh! growth in llie numl)er of Catholics in Elyria. Tliis growth (if tlie parisli neces.sitated again the enlarging of Ihe church building and provision for more school room. So under Father !\l()lon's direction the church was made three times its original size, measuring after tlie latest addition, 110 I'eet in length. I'nrsnanl to tlu! designs oi' his j)re(leees.sor, he i)nrehased in i8()7, I'l-oni ,Ja(-oh VValdeck, the two largi; lots situated on llu! northeast corner of ]\Iiddlo AveJiue and Fourth Street, diagonally opposite the ehureii, and on this profjerty he moved the old town liall and eonverted it into a school. Father Molon bought also a bell, which lie caused to be placed in the little tower of the enlarged church, and a pipe-organ wliicii was afterward moved to the new church and, with some alterations and additions, does .service today. After having given his best to his parish, Father .Molon was incapacitated for further work by a .stroke of pai-alysis in tlie month of ^larch, 1880. He lingered on for several months, able often to move about slowly, but incapable of performing priestly functions. lie lived with his successor, assisted at uui.ss freciuently, and piously prepared for tlie end which he knew must be near. On the KJth of November, 1880, he breathed his last. Every available sjiace in the church was lilled at his funeral, and during the olisequie.s the overcrowded gallery gave way, the columns supporting it sinking through tlie floor. But, after sagging slightly, the gallery seemed to remain as firm in its new position as before. iUshop Gilmour, who presidetl at the funeral service, ordered the people to leave the organ loft. Thus this incident, which could so easily have been attended by serious consequences, passed without, injury or commotion. The bishop, taking his place liy the coffin, j)reached tiie funeral .sermon, dwelling on tlie scripture words, "I .shall .search Jerusalem with lamps." The remains of the dead priest were placed next those of Father Sullivan beneath the Hoor of the church he had served .so well. Their bodies were laid to rest, not under the altar, but under the liody of the church on the epistle side, and tabUit.s inscribed to their memory were placed on the wall.

Father Sehafifeld had been ten years pastor of ITubbard, Ohio, when on May 13, 1880, he was appointed by Bishop Oilmour to fill the place left va(;ant by the sickness of Father iMolon. With the energy that characteri/ed him throughout life, he at once began his prei)arations for the building of a permanent church on the .site bought by his predecessors in 18G7. On Sunday afternoon, July 22, 188;?, the cornerstone of the edilice was laid by Bi.shoj) (lilmoiir. A larg(! concoui'se of ])eoj)le witnessed the ceremony. The Tjak(! Sliore Railroad brought a train of nineteen cars filled with peoph; from Cleveland. Father Tlior])e of Cleveland, aftei'wards Consignor, jjivatflied the sej'iiion in Fnglish and Father

~ The day of the blessing of the cornerstone happened to coincide with the birthday of the seventh pastor of Klyria, and his present that day was tile privilege of accoiiipanying his father from Cleveland to the ceremony. In tlie midst of tlie crowd he stood (that day) a thirteen-year-old boy with his fatlier before the church, right in the middle of ]Midilie Avenue. Father Thorpe's sermon, thougli eloquent and worthy of th-- occasion, could hardly be called short, and when Father Westerhold arose and began to i)reach in German, many began to lireak away from the audience. Tlie future pastor of Elyria manifested su(;h a want of si)irituality tliat he began to follow suit. Hut he had made no more than two or three steps when his father pulled him back and maile him stand i)iously in the hot sun all through the German sermon, telling jiim that pcojile ought to have better manners than to run away when a priest begins to speak, whether they understand him or not. So the boy that was to he pastor of Elyria learned a lesson in manners, but from that clay on he could never bring himself to like Germai) sermons.

The church was dedicated on Sunday, June !;{, 188(j, by the same l)relate who had olliciated at the laying of the cornerstone. Thus it was fully three years from the time work was begun on the new church till the day of its dedicatimi.

St. .Mary's Church, as it stands today faeing .Middle Avenue, is a beautiful lu'ick sti'ucture Tib feet long, f)!) feet wide, with a transel)t of G2 feet. The records of the i)ai-isli show tiiat the church cost about +:')."). 000 iiud that of tiiis sum only $r),()0() remained as a delit on the day of the dedication.

A short time after the opening of the new church the old church was turned into a school and the old town hall, whieli had served as a school for many years and which stood on the site of the present jiarsonage, was torn down. The school was in charge of lay teaeliers from its fouiiilation iiy Nathan Sidley in IS;')!) to tlie fall of ISSO, wiieii Father Sehaf- I'l'ld secured the sei'vices of the Sistei's of St. .Joseph of Clevelaiiii. The teachers of thi.s order were succeeded in the conduct of the school by the Sisters of Noti'e Dame of Cleveland, in September, 1S!)7.

The present priest's house was l)uilt under the supervision of Father Schaffeld by Jolni Kaiser, al.so a member of the parish, at the same time tiiat the school was in'process of construction. It is a large thirteen room house built for the accommodation of two priests - pastor and assistant.

The last edifice to be erected in the group of i)arish buildings was the Sister.s' House or Convent, built by C^ontractor John Ilalpin, in 11)07. It is situated on Fourth Street, staiuls on tiie lot adjoining the school property, and is of an excellent (piality of presseil l)rick. In 1!)15 there were ten teachers attached to the school with an enrolment of 410 p\il)ils. The 13th of June of tliat year was the date of the first graduation from St. .Mary's High Sehool, a department whicii had been adiled to the school curriculum in Septendx-r, 1012, consisting of a cour.se of three years after the eighth grade. The exerci.ses took place in the church at 7.30 P. ]\1., the Knights of St. John in uniform acting as escorts to the twelve graduates.

A life full of lal)ors and nu-rils ended at half after six on the morning of June 7, 1911, when Father Schafl'ehl, after forty-one years in the priesthood and thirty-one yeai-s ui the pastorate of Elyria, breathed fortii his soul into the hands of his ]\laker. lie had been in failing lu'altli for a long time Ix't'ore the end came, lint continued to attend to his ))astoi'al duties almost to the very hist. The announcement liook shows thai he had wi'itlcn out the pidiliriil ions for Snnda.y, .May '2Hth, tlie second last Sunday bei'oie his death. lie died on Wednesday, in the j)aroehial residence, and on the following Sunday afternoon his I'emains were l)i'OUght to the church and there lay in state until after the fnneral. The oltsequies of the; dead i)astor on Monday moi'ning, June

After the death of Father Sehatl'eld, the Rev. Edward F. Burke was at once appointed liy Jiishop Fari-elly to aet as administrator of the parish until sueli time as a pastor eould be formally ehosen. He remained for three months, and though he knew that his stay in Elyria would be short, he labored with all the zeal and earnestnes.s tliat might be expected of one wlio had a formal pastoral appointment. On September 20, 1911, he was appointed assistant at St. John's Cathedral, Clevelaiul, and the Kev. Jas. B. Mooney was transferred from St. i\Iary's Church, Conneaut, Ohio, to the pastorate of St. IMary's of Elyria. Father ]\Iooney still holds this office, being St. Mary's seventh pastor.

J'^or .sonu! time the ciiurch had been too siiuill for the aeconnnodation of the growing i)arisli, and that fact, with tlie consideration of the extensive territory witliin its limits, moved Bishop Farrelly to erect another i)arish on the west side in Elyria. Tliis lie did on the 17tii of June, 1914, placing the new parish under the name and patronage of St. Agnes, and appointing the Kev. Jas. A. i\l(;Fadden, assistant at St. Agnes' Church, Cleveland, to l)e its fir.st pastor. St. Agnes Parish, Elyria, takes from the original St. jMary's all that territory at the same time north of the Lake Shore tracks and west of the west branch of Black River. It had at its formation ai)proxiniately 200 families, leaving between 400 and 500 families still within the limits of the old parish.

History Of Loratn Cocinty 391

A tragedy in the City of Elyria, occurring on IMemorial Day of 1907, in the shape of a street railway disaster, in which lives wei-e lost and many injured, gave and formulated the definite impulse to the founding of the Elyria I\lemorial Hospital, which takes its name from that occasion, and which is dedicated to the high ideal of caring for and atfortling medical or sui'gical treatment to tiie sick, injured or disai)led j)ersons residing in Elyria or Lorain County. As an institution, it represents the liberal contributions and supi)ort of the people of the city and county, rich and poor, and of every station in life, and as such a pi'oject is to relieve suffering and save lives without distinction as to race, nationality, color, sex or religious convictions, neither directly nor indirectly is its management under the control of any religious or sectarian I)odies, nor of any particular school of medicine or treatment. Certainly one of the best of the many distinctions connected with this institution is the broad and liberal l)asis on whicli it was founded and has been maintained.

For .several years pi-ior to 1907 a private hosi)ital had been maintained in Elyria, assisted hy limited contributions from individuals. In >May, 1907, a short time before the tragic accident above mentioned, a movement had been started to organize a liospital a.ssociation with the co-opei-ation of the Elyria Chamber of Conuiierc(\ The plans were hasl('ne(| in their frnilion by the emergency created by llie si reel railway disaster, and the entii'c community was aroused to the need for adequate hos|)ital facilities. The I'lyria Chand)er of Commerce took the genei-al supervision of the campaign which in three nmntiis netted over $.S0,()00 in popnlai- suliseripl ion, lo which was adde<l thi' sum of $2r»,000 donaled

Ill June, 1907, the Elyria .Memorial Hospital Company was organized and ineori)orated under the laws of Ohio. This comi)any owns and controls all fumls iind property and is directly responsiljJe for the eonduct and management of the institution. The company comprises fifty persons, of whom forty must be residents of Lorain County. Twentyiive of these were originally chosen by the memljers of the hospital as.soeiation, and these in turn selected fifteen others. The remaining ten comprised the five members of the advisory lioard of physicians elected by the physicians' committee of the as.sociation, and five who are membei's of the company by virtue of their official jjositions, including the mayoi- of Elyria, the chairman of the commissioners of Lorain County, the senior judge of the Court of Common JMeas, the president of the hcspital association and the president of the hospital auxiliary. The active management of the company is vested in a board of trustees, nine in number, three being elected each year hy members of the corporation.

During 1!)(I7 tiie company had secui'cd a ti'act of about llii'ce aci'cs of ground on I'hist L'ivci- Sli-eel, and the lirst real work on llic buihiing was begun Octoljer ITtli of that year, the cornerstone being laid in the following iNoveiid)er. The doors of the institution were opened for the ]'ecei)tion of patients on October ;{(), 1908. Tlu; main iios|)ilaI building comj)le1ed in that year is of modern design and ecpiii)ment, of the colonial .style of architecture, built of red pressed brick and sauilstone, witli the floors of re-enforced concrete and the entire structure fireproof. Its westerly frontage is 175 feet and its depth is 55 feet. During the first year 408 people were treated as patients of the hospital, and since then the growth and service of the in.stitution have been steady and luiiform. During the first year the average daily number of patients cared for was eighteen; an average nuud)er of twenty-two in the .second year; twenty-.seven in the third year; thirty-two in the fourth year; thirtyseven in the fifth year; forty-one in the si.xth year, and forty-si.\ in the seventh year, which clo.sed in November, 1915.

The first important addition to the hospital buildings was the erection of a Nur.s(;s' Houu', which was begun in the fall of 1910 and was dcdii'ated in tlu! fall of 1!)11. The quarters formei'ly occupied by the juu'ses in the main hospital were then taken to eidarge the facilities of Ihat institution.

aeiTs adjoining the old tract in the spriii",' of 1!)14, while about a year later the company secured another strip of land, making a total of pi'actically eight acres in the heart of tlie eily, with an ideal location.

The most recent addition to the buildings and service of this magnificent institution was the opening of tlie W. X. Gates Hospital for sick, crippled and deformed children, in the spring of 1915. After the death of her husl)and, William N. Gates, who had been one of the original trustees of the iiospital company, ;\lrs. Gates donated as a memorial to her husband the entire amount of money necessary for the erection of the l)uilding. The site and necessary improvements were furnished by the hospital company, and the cost of equipment was contributed by relatives and friends of Mr. Gates and by the school children of Elyria. This institution is under the management of the Elyria JMemorial Ilo.spital Company and is nuiintained especially for the care of the children of Lorain County. It has been found necessary to empluisize the fact that the Gates Hospital is not an orphan asylum, and only those children are received who need such care and medical or surgical attention as the institution is designed to give.

The future plans of the hospital company contemplate the erection of two more buildings, one of them a combined power house aiul laundry, and the other a nuiternity home.

As the Memorial Hospital is in the best sense of tlie woi'd a great jiliilanthroi)y, it reiiuires suppi)i't from otiier soui'crs than the i'eceii)ts from pay ])ati(Mits and otlier income. One of the organizations which have been formed to aiil and assist the coiiinanN' in maintaining the lio.si)ital and extending its charitable work lias been tlie Elyria IMeniorial llosi)ital Association, this being a men's organization, while the Elyria Aleinorial Hospital Auxiliary is an organization of women formed for tile same purijose. There is also an organization of young people known as tlie Elyria iMemorial lIosi)ital Junior Auxiliary.

The Elyria :\lcmorial Hospital is one of the few institutions of its kind in the United States run on strictly business principles so far as its management i.s concerned, without contlicting with the true spirit of philanthropy whieh governs its service to individual i)atients. One featni'e that illustrates the business system that pervades the entire nuuiagement is tlie card catalogue, containing a record of the ailments and treatment of the patient, when he was received and discharged, and, in every detail, furnisiiing a history of hi.s case. For the businesslike erflcieiicy in tiie numagement of the tiscal affairs of the institution much credit is given to the treasurer, E. F. Allen, who since the organization of the hospital company has given liberally of his time to its general welfare and ])ai'licularly to the accui'ate and systematie conduct of its business alfairs.

As the usefulness of any institution of this kind must, in the last analysis, depend upon the erficiency of ils limuicial numagement, it will not be inai)j»ro|)riat(; to (|Uole a portion of the I'eport of tiie audiling coiinnitlee covering (Ik- books of the company up to Xovend)er 7, 1!)M. This report in part says: "At the request of the officers of the hospital com[)any we are making further examination of the books and records of the company regarding their system of accounting for patients and the general plan in the office adopted by the hospital in reference to its records of patients received and discharged, and we wish to say for the benefit of tlie gejieral public of Elyria and Lorain County that the system in handling accounts and records is complete and comprehensive, and when the compajiy nmkes statenu-nts that during the past year lliey have handled nearly fifteen thousand iiosi)ital days of service, of which two-thirds, or over ten thousand days, are all or part charity work, that the.se statements are correct, and we are also glad to state tliat the figures given for cost of patient, .somewhat under two dollars per day, are (considered lower than i-eports given by other institutions of similar character. We feel that the i)ubiic .sliould know, as we know, tiiat tlie accounting system in connection with the Elyria IMemorial Hospital is moi'e elaboi'ate and complete tlian we iiad any idea of, and we i-eeommend to the general i)ublie and other institutions of similar nature an examination of sanu-." And the financial report covering the li.scid year ending November 1, I'Jlo, is even more flattering than the foi'egoin}'.

An interesting and illuniinating addition to the fore{,roing ])ieture of tile Elyria Memorial Hospital is ahstraeted from tlie ainmal report of the Chamber of Commerce for liJOD, as follows:

"Repeated efforts failed to provide Elyria with a hospital ecpial to 'the demands matle ii])on tlie old hospital in use and the rapidly growing City of Elyria. A eommittee from the management of the old hosjjital met a special committee of the Cliamber of Commerce on the 24th day of ^lay, 1907, with tlie view of formulating i)lans to provide Elyria with a hospital adequate for the needs of the city ami county.

"The old Iiospital association had found it impo.ssible to raise sufficient funds to carry on the work in a proper manner and it was thought that a new organization might insure better su])port than had been given previously.

"The terrible accident on IMemorial Day, 1907, awakened our citizens to the fact that Elyria was not supplied with ])ropci' hospital facilities, for a community of this size and character; and it was tiioiight best to broaden the scope of the movement.

"it was thereupon decided to organize an incorpoi'ated couipany to be known a.s The lOlyi-ia .Memoi'ial Ilosjiital Coiii|)any, 'not foi' ])ro(it, but possessing such powers as will ciialilc pffipci- charges I'oi- serviees rendered 1o |)ers()ns aide to pay the same; such proceeds to be used only for the maintenance and benelit of llu' hospital, and further so organized as to jx-i'iiiit financial aid in the erection and nuiinteiuuHte of the hospital from tli(! munici|)al, county, state or other iiublic soui'ces, as well as the receipt of gifts or be(iuesls from i)rivate sources.'

"A canvass for funds was immediately started and a most generous response from the i)eoi)le resulted in a fund of over $1(H),()0() to be iiseti in the erection and maintenance of a hospital, which has been a source of great benelit to the residents of Elyria and vicinity.

"Beginning the week of October 2(), 19(J8, each day of that week was tlevoted to the recej)tion of the jniblic and on Saturday, October ;nst, the hospital was thrown open for the reception and care of patients.

"So much has been written and said of the unsellish devotion of the men and women towards the erection, completion and e(iuipment of this memorial institution, that all is but faint pi-aisc compared to what the merits of the. work demand.

" l*]|yria is now e(|uippcd with a Iiospital unsurjiassed in its eom- I)leteness of organization, construction and e(|uipment by any otlw^r hospital ill this country, and the fact of this Iiospital liaving b(|en completed during the year l!l()S makes that year stand out as yii .vpocli in

Not yet live years of age, the Young .Men's Christian Assoeiation of Elyria is one of its most stalwart institutions working for the protection and advaneenient of the younger generations of the community. Its massive and elegant four story and basement Ijuilding, corner of Tiiird and Court streets, is a just pride to those who so fully believe in the organization of the higher forces of society, as well as those which have a business or an industrial bearing.

Shortly after this handsome and convenient home for yomig men was tlirown open to the public, the i'llyria Telegram pulilished a complete account' of the initial movements and tlie l)uilding culmination. It is herewith repi-oduced, since Arthur L. Halm, general secretary of the local association and its chief executive oflicer, considei's that it covers tiie subject faii'ly and coi'ivctly.

"Many will rcM-iiU tlic days of the caiiipaij^ii, witli llic rccordiiif^ (;lo(;k on IJi'oaii .Street, whose hands f^radiially and steudily nuuki the eirch? and marked oil' one hundred thousand dollars, and then stoi)[)e(l not, hnt went on until twenty-six tliousand extra dollai.s had been ticked off and marked up to the credit of Elyria's splendid generosity and line public spirit. ]Many will recall the erection of the building and the times when the elements and other delaying causes seemed to be plotting diabolically against the achievement of the goal.

"Today the building is complete. It has been operating with a full schedule of activities for over seven months. It .stands a monument of pul)lic good will and will long emulate the spirit of Elyria's citizenship that plans for large undertakings and does not hesitate until fulfillment has been attained. Built of rougli red brick with terra cotta trimmings, it makes a fine api)earance wiiich would do ei'edil to any landscape. The building itself was erected at a cost of $1)5, (100, tiie lot wa.s purchased for .^^l 5,000 and the equi|)ment was installed for ai)i)roximately another $13,000.

"In the basement is the men's game j-oom with three ])Oeket 'and one earrom-billiard tables, three splendid 'continuous' bowling alleys, boys' locker room, men's locker room, business men's club room.s, shower baths and attendant's ofifiee. Also in the basement is the beautiful whitetiled swinuaing pool, twenty feet wide by sixty feet long, and ranging in dei)th fi'om four to eight and one-half feet. This i)Ool is filled with filtered water and is kept at a comfortable temperature thruout the year.

"On the main floor are the executive offices for the senior, the boys' and the physical department respectively. The main lol)l)y of the senior department opens invitingly from tlie Court street entrance. On either .side of the lobby are the Gates' INIemorial room and the music alcove. Just inside the Third street entrance is the Boys' Division with cue, roque and pocket l)illiard tables, game and reading rooms, etc. In the rear of the building is the gymnasiinn which has found a permanent jjlace in the development of Elyria. The gymnasium is forty by seventy feet and is surrounded by a thirty-one lap to the mile running track. The e(piii)ment is most modern and thorougli and was donated by foi'mer ]\ray()r Ti-oxel. In connection with tlu; gym ])roi)er there is also an auxiliary 'gym' for hand ball and special physical work.

"On the second floor is the restaurant, which is operated on the 'serve-self ])lan and can aecommodale \i|)wai"ds of Ihi'ce hundred ])eople. On this ftoor, also are class rooms, a director's room, a ladies' rest room and tile oCfiwe of the Secretary of flic Lorain county Young Men's (.'hri.stian Association. The third and fourth floors are devoted to dorniilories. Accommodaf ions consisting of sleeping rooms, shower baths, etc., are here for sixty-eight men. The rooms are furnished with modern equipment and oft'er exeeptionally comfortable and desirable quarters for men wlio have no home here. On the roof is a eommodious room orij,nnally designed for a laundry, but whieli is now used as an educational ela.ss-room.

"Every man, woman, or child who contributed in the days of the campaign and the recording clock, out of his or her means, and thus helped in the erection of this great and serviceable building can justly feel proud in having had a share in adding this crowning piece to Elyria's long list of masterly undertakings."

The present officers of the Y. M. C. A. at Elyria are : A. L. Garford, president; T. T. Robinson, treasurer; A. L. Ilalin, general secretary; D. ]\1. Lowery, phy.sical director; F. W. Ilenson, boys' work director, and A. J. S. ^lartin, assistant secretary. Botli ^Ir. Ilahn and Mr. Lowery had enjoyed a long experience in their work before assuming their duties at Elyria - the former in the East and thb latter in Toledo. The same may be said of the other oiHcials on the active executive force.

As to the nature of the work accomi)lished and under way, it is that which is approved by the most advanced metliods applied by the Y. M. C. A. associatioiLS everywhere in the United States. It includes physical culture both for boys and business men ; classes in business science, sign painting, mechanical drawing, etc. ; the care of the dormitory quarters and arrangements for board ; tlie provision of games, aside from athletic sports; in fact, tiie harmonious combination of amusement, physical training, instruction in practical matters, and, in general, care of body, mind and morals.

As stated, the work is not conducted solely to meet the needs of an adult membership. There is a boys' division, adeciuately and modernly etpiipped, has its own director, and occupies a prominent and convenient poi'tiou of the institution. The boys have their own games and reading rooms, and are housed and numned as carefully and with as mucji attention as tlie senior department. Clubs and groups are emphasized in the work with the boys, the younger ones being organized into three clubs, known as tlie Prats, Rats and Brats, who vie with one another for monthly honors in physical, spiritual and mental prowess. A club known as the Ily Wy Club is coiulucted for the high school hoys and liolds weekly meetings on Friday niglits. Prominent and interesting speakei's address tliese nu'ctings following an iiifoi'inal sujiix'i'. Clul)s I'oi" the study of the wireless, tlie aer()|)hine, t'tc, are also formed. In the suiiiincr a camp is conducted for the boys in order to give tiiem an ()l)l)oi't unity for a vacation outing under careful supervision and with a good e(iuipiiient~.

In the physical department reguhir cla&ses are conducted in which tlie MUMiihers are yroni)ed accordint,' to their i)hysical (leveh)pinent. A lhoroiit,'li pliysical exaiiiinalion is given an ai)l)lieant i'or nienihership before lie is admitted to llie gym work and personal supervision is given him after he takes up the physical training. There are three classes for the boys, one for the business men and one for the seniors. In addition to tlie work on the tioor there is also opportunity for splendid exercise in the swimnnng pool.

In December, 191!), King Solomon Lodge No. 56, Free and Accepted ]\Iasons, of Elyria, will celebrate the centennial of its organization under dispensation, although there is a break of two decades in its continuous activity, from 1S2!) to 1849. It was granted a dispensation on ^Monday, December ^'M\\, of 1819, with Ileman Ely as worthy master^ Jabez liurrell, senior warden, and John Heading, junior warden. The charter was granted Decendier 11, 18'21, and the growth of the lodge was very satisfactory from that time until the outl)reak of the .Morgan excitement, when it ceased its work and contiinied inactive for twenty years. On the 26th of September, 1848, a new charter was issued bearing on its face the names of Eber W. lI\U)l)ard, worthy master; Ozias Long, senior warilen, and Ansel Keitli, junior warden.

The extensive conthigration of 1852 destroyed the lodge room, hut tile records, which were at the house of the secretary, were saved. The lodge was not so fortunate in the sweeping tire of 1873, which left it only a name ami a will to eontinue. For many years the headciuarters of the :\Ia.sonic fraternity of Klyria were in the Commercial Ulock.

Elyria Council No. 86, Royal and Select IMasters, was organized under dispensation February 26, 1902, and chartered September 2:id of that year. It has a i)resent membei-ship of over 180, with the following officers: Thos. J. Bates, T. 1. .M. ; A. J. Plocher, 1). I. M.; W. II. IMurbach, P. C. W. ; D. D. Deeds, C. of G. ; D. A. Williams, C. of C. :

Elyria Coinmandery No. 60, Knigiits Templar, was chartered October 12, 1905, has a memliership of more than 190 and is officered as follows: David A. AVilliams, eminent commander; James A. Hewitt, generalissimo; Perry G. Worcester, captain general; John IMurbach, senior warden; Chas. II. Savage, junior warden; Walter II. Watts, prelate; Alvin J. Plocher, treasurer; S. Jesse George, recoi'der; Dean D. Deeds, standard bearer; Walter II. Murbach, sword bearer; Clarence W. Phillips, warder; and William C. Bridgett, .sentinel.

Elyria Chapter No. 165, Order of the Eastern Star, which was instituted in February, 1903, and was chartered in October of tliat year, has a membership of over 200. Its officers for 1915 were: Editii Wood, W. I\I.; Geo. Snuirt, aV. !'.; Effle Ilecock, A. M.; Mabel George, secre-, tary; Ilattie Cone, treasurer; Pearl Nichols, conductor; Nellie Dill, A. (;.; Mary Emmert, chaplain; Edith Anspacher, mar.slial ; Bertha Whitney, organist; Bessie .VlacDonakl, Ada; ]Mayme Tite, Ruth; Ella Robertson, E.sther; Georgia Paldauf, MaiHui; Jessie Tite, Electa; Nettie Rust, warder; I'Morian Johnson, sentinel.

an application for the incorporation of the I\Iasoiiic Temple Company inider the laws of the State of Ohio. The ai)i>lication, amoiif^ other tliin}j;,s, stated that said eorj)oratioii was formed for tlie purpose of owning, erecting, equipping and maintaining a home, or Alasonic Temple for the Free and Accepted Masons of Elyria and vicinity ; providing them with suitable lodge, club and receiDtion rooms therein ; leasing such portion of said property as they might desire, and doing other necessary acts to carry out the purjioses of the incorporation.

The first officers of the company were as follows: 11. W. Ingersoll, president; J. C. Smith, vice pre.sident; J. C. Crisp, secretary, and John Murbach, treasurer.

The first meeting of the directors of the I\Ia.sonic Temple Company Avas lield on December 28, 1904, at which time they proceeded to purcha.se a site and erect a Masonic Temple thereon; the result being the erection of a six-story building on IMiddU; Avenue, between Second and Thii'd streets, at a totnl co.st for land and buildings of over .'t?i)(),000, size 82x1 OG feet.

The first floor is divided into four store rooms, one of which is occupied by tlie po.stof'fice ; each of the second, third and fourth floor.s is divided into eighteen office rooms, and the (ifth and sixth floors are given

The IMasonie bodies meeting in the temple are as follows: King Solomon's Lodge, No. 56, Free and Accepted lAIasons; jMarsiial Chapter, No. 47, ]\oyal Areli ]\Iasons; Elyria Council, No. 86, lioyal and Select -Masters; Elyria Comnuindery, No. 60, Knights Temidar; and Elyria Ciiapter, No. 165, Order of the Eastern Star.

The lnde])endcnt Order of Odd Fellows has maintained a lodge (No. 108) in Elyria since March 1, 1848. The late N. U. Gates was its iirst noble grand. Lorain Encanijjment No. 81 was instituted in .May, IS.K). .Mr. Gates was also one of its charter nuMubcis.

Star Lodge No. 81, Knights of Pythias, was in.stituted in January, 1875, with twenty-two ciuirter membei's. William II. Tucker was its first dictator.

Tile .Moose, Elks, ivnights of Columbus, Grand Army of the Republic, Sons of Veterans and Royal Arcanum are also represented, Elyria Council No. 57, of the last named fraternity, having been organized in 1878. Th(! railroad men and workmen connected witli tlie various industries of Elyria have muiu'rous unions, bi'otherhoods and lodges, which constitute essential elements in the higher life of the connaunity.

Newspapers, Industries And Banks

Newsi'.u'er and Railuuad Pahaij,el - The Louain Gazette - Ohio Atlah and Elyria Advertiser - The Elvria Courier - The Independent Democrat - George (I. Washburn - The Elyria Republican - The Dah.y Telegram - The Elyria Democrat - The Lorain Constitutionalist^ - Frederick S. Reefy - The Elyria Chronicle - Elyria 's Manufactories - The Southwestern Traction Shops - Primitive Industries - The Toplikp & Ely Plant - Western Automatic IMachine Screv^' Company - Elyria Canning Company - The Garford Manufacturing Company - The Willys- Overland - Columbia Steel Company - Elyria Iron & Steel Company - Troxel iManufacturing Company - The American Lace jManufacturing CoMi'ANY - Elyria Foundry Company - The Pf.rry-Fay Company - Worthington Company and ]\Iacihne Parts CoJU'ANY - Otiikr Industries - Elyria Gas & Electric Light Company - The National Bank of Elyria - The Savings Deposit Bank - The Elyria Savings & Banking Company - The Lorain County I^anking Company.

There is no inodoni iiislilutioii wliicli so deftly combines business and I)rofessional activities a.s tlie newspaper. It is tai<en for j^ranted, in these days, that no eoninninity can be truly progressive which lias not both a newspaper and a railroad. The i-ailroad test is considerably older than that of an establislied newspai)er, and, as the steel rails now thickly vein the country, it is a poor town indeed which has not .some kind of railway transportalion ; but a certain bulk of i)opidatinn and a standard of progress are still reciuircd for s(U)stantial newspaper support.

Tlie j-ailroad and tlic newspapers Imve lieeii largely credited with the solid foumling and dcveloi)mciit of I'llyria, The newspaper is by far the elder bi-other, both at Elyria and in the world at large. AVe hope the

Tlu; Ix'giiuiiiif^- of journalism in Loi'ain Oouiity dates from 182!) when Judge Ileiuaii Kly coneeived the notion tiiat a journal of some sort would l)e a good thing for Elyria. This thought was ehielly promoted hy interesting Archibald S. Park, a young printer and newspaper man from Ashtabula. As a result- of a eoiiferenee between them, Judge Ely footeil a bill foi- press, type and sundries, and tlie Lorain Gazette appearetl on July 24, 1821), with the name of Archibald S. Park at its head as printer, publisher and proprietor. A copy of the invoice of the first Klyria newspaper plant is still preserved and shows that over .+200 was expended in type and composing room sundries and no less than +70 was squandered in the "two pull fSuper Royal Ramage px'e.ss" from whose ])laten were drawn the first i)rinted sheets produced in Elyria.

The Gazette was a five column folio sent by mail for $2.00 a year and delivered by carrier for $2.50. It was set in small pica type, a face considerably larger than those used in latter day prints. A complete file of the Gazette is still in the possession of the heir.s of W. II. Park, late city clerk. The latter is a son of Elyria 's first printer and bore the distinction of being the oldest resident, wlio was born in Elyria.

Another figure in the Gazette office is worthy of notice and that is Abraham Burrell, who came from the .State of Xew York in 18150 to be a comi)ositor in the Gazette office. He was identified with eight different pai)ers and died in harness on Novemlier 2:5, 1868, while employed by Geo. G. Washlmi'ii, of the Independent DcMiiocrat. It is said of him that he worked more hours in the day and more days in tiie week than any person who ever made Elyria his home for as long a period.

In that early day journalism was not strictly a business enterpri.se, l)\it was a local institution; a bulwark of cuUuih' and i)ublic si)irit, but above all of party ])olitics. ,\ news])ai)er was not supjxised to make money, but local ])oliticians w'cre e.\]tccted to keep it alive, conti'ibuting money outright as to any common cause, and having much to say aliout the |)()licy and ediloi'ial matter.

For these reasons it is natural that changes of ])roprietorship eamo often and with them changes of name. Thi'ee years after it was started, the Gazette was sold to a man who fancied Tlie Elyria Times as a name i'or liis paper. The Times lasted three montlis and was transferred l)aek to A. .S. Park and Josiah A. Harris. Tliey named it Tlie Ohio Atlas and Elyria Advertiser.

The latter sheet was perhaps as thorough a credit to its time as any paper ever published in Elyria. Prominent among its supporters and contributors were A. A. Bliss, Alfi-ed II. Betts, Thomas Tyrrell, D. W. Lathrop, Ileman Ely, S. W. Baldwin, William Andrews, Ozias Long, Franklin Wells and Edward S. Hamlin. A few stray copies show it to be a ricli repository of the thought and incident of the '30s. Unfortunately for local history, there seems to be no complete file of this pap(;r in existence.

When Ezra L. .Stevens purchased the Atlas on June 12, 1844, he changed its name to the Buckeye Sentinel, and plunged into the political field as a supporter of Clay. His venture was far from a paying one, and in 184G the plant and subscription list were .sold to Albert A. Bliss. He suspended publication for a few montlis and resumed under tlie name of the Elyria Courier. This i)aper was owned successively by A. A. Bliss, John II. Faxon, Edmund A. West, Jerome Cotton, by an association of >\Iyron R. Keith, Landon Rood and Benjamin C. Perkins, laler by George G. AVashburn and Geoi-ge T. Smith.

Under jMr. West's ownershif) the paper forsook its Whig traditions and became a supporter of the free soil i)arty. During the later part of its .separate existence, it had a free soil rival in the Independent Democrat, which was started by anti-slavery men on August 5, 18132. Eighteen months later the two free soil papers were united under tiie name of the lii(le])en(lent Dciiiocral and the ownership of Philemon Bliss and George T. Smith. The foi'iner, who is I'emembcred as one; of Lorain County's largest men, had furnished much of the money and enthusiasm necessary to launch the rndepeiident Democi'at. Another liberal supporter was Dr. Norton S. Townsheiid. These men held successive terms in Congress and never had the time to devote themselves to the details of iiewsi)ai)er management. Senator Salmon P. Ciiase, a p(!r.sonal friend, of Doctor TDWiishend, also gave funds to sui)port the enterj)rise. Among its early managers were John M, Vincent, Joseph IT. Dickson and John 11. Bovnlon.

In llic year followinj^ the Courier-Democrat aiiialf^aiiiatioii (1H;')4), Geoi'^t! T. Siiiitli sokl his interests to (Jeorgc G. Waslihiini, and iu December, 1850, the latter became sole proprietor of the paper which ho niaiuiged and edited with markeil success for more than thirty-five years. His entrance into local journalism marks an era, for, besides his editorial ability, ^Ir. \Vashl)urii liad a keen grasj) \ipon the business side of newspaper work. He was the tirst man in Lorain County to make a newspaper pay and from the position of a pauper, the press rose to self supporting dignity under his guidance. He was also perhaps the first to be wortliy of tile title of newspaper man. Those previously mentioned in newspaper annals liad mostly I)een .men with otiier interests. They had been lawyers, doctors, clergymen or business men of various sorts. Incidentally they took their turn at keeping the party paper alive, usually at severe financial expense. Mr. Washburn's whole jjride and energy was wrapjjcd up in journalistic work. He was an ornament to his chosen profession and tiie jjrofession in turn helped him to various positions of i)ublic trust Ijcsides the united esteem of the town and county.

There is another story, concerning the paper's last consolidation and 'clumge of name. At the time of tiie temperance crusade of the middle '70s, II. A. Fisher was printing a folio within tlie zone of Lake Erie's bi-eczes, which he called the Black River Conunercial. He was induced on October 24, 1874, to bring his plant to Elyria and publish in the interests of the radical temperance element. James AV. Chapman became Mr. Fisher's partner and E. G. Johnson did the editorial work. A. H. Smith shortly bought out ^Ir. Chapman and the business was continued by Fislier and S)nith until the time of its sale to Geo. G. Wa.shburn, on February 1,1877. The name Independent Democrat had grown obsolete and Air. AVashburn saw the advantage of adopting the name Republican for the combined enterprises.

In August, 18f)l, the Republican was sold to a stock company, William A. P>raiiuui replacing Air. AVashburn in the editorial chair and A. H. Sniitli taking the business management. Tlie paper at this time was continued as a republican organ l)ut these were days when political feeling ran high ami the rei)ublican party having been long dominant within the county, vigorous factional differences were constantly arising within the organization. Out of these another paper, .started just before this time by H. K. Clock under the name of the Lorain County Reporter, was now taken over by a gi'oup of eitizens prominent in business and polilieiil life of the eounty lieatled by ilon. E. 0. Jolmson of Klyria, wlio liatl long been the leading lawyer and repidjliean politieian of the county and as mentioned above had been editor of the Republiean in the early '70s. For a number of years following tlie Republican had vigorous competition from this quarter, but succeeded in holding its position and prestige tlirough several sucees.sive administrations. In November, 1898, Edward L. Clough took charge of tlie business, being replaced in February of 1900 by Walter Wardrop. During part of this period the Reporter was edited by L. B. Fauver, a well known young attorney but later E. 6. Johnson again reassunied the editorial mantle.

In July, 1901, Perry S. AVilliams assumed the management of the Rei)ublican having as.sociated with him in the editorial work, Henry P. l3oynton, a grandson of John II. Poynton above referi'cd to. In the meantime the rival paper, the Reporter, in 1898 commenced the publication of a daily additioji which was successfully published until 1907, when it was absorbed by the Republican Printing Company publishers of the Republican wliicli pap<'r was slill under the management of Perry Williams.

.Mr. Williams at tliis time, bought for his company the daily and weekly Reporter and its plant at receiver's .sale, the pulilishers having become involved in financial difficulties. The weekly Reporter was immediately merged with the Elyria Republican and the Daily Reporter , was continued under the new name of The Evening Telegram. Under :Mr. Williams' management the circle of daily readers was largely expanded and the Telegram established upon a substantial basis.

Up to the time of publication of this history the Republican has continued to. appear weekly but the ustal)lislimcnt of Rural Free Delivery, the development of the county and the growth of tiie company's daily paper, the Telegram, logically lead to the mergiug of the Republican witli the Telegram and concentration of tlie enci'gies of the company exclusively upon the daily i)ublication.

pendent republican paper', but in li)]2 the pul)lieations of this eoui|)aiiy allied tlieiiiselvcs with tlie element suiijxjrtin},' (,'(tl()iiel Ivuosevelt i'or I'resident.

The Elyria Democrat was edited and controlled by some member or members of the Reefy family, during forty-four years of its existence. At the time of its suspension in I'JKi it was conducted by the estate of F. S. IJeefy, represented especially by his son, KoUin T. Reefy and the oldest of his four daughters, ^liss p]va L. Reefy. In 1875 the name of the Lorain Constitutionalist was changed to tiie Elyria Constitution, and in 1887 the latter became the Elyria Democrat. In January, 1916, it suspended publication and was absorbed by the Republican Printing Company.

On the third of October, 186G, L. S. Everett issued the first number of the Lorain Constitutionalist. lie was an experienced journalist, who had also launched the Independent Democrat at Elyria in 1852. In July, 18(i7, a joint stock company was formed consisting of A. A. Crosse, II. II. Toppleton, N. L. Johnson and P. \V. Sampsel, which assumed the responsibilities of publication, Mr. Everett retaining the editorsliip. It wa.s i)ul)Iished for a time by that organization, known as the Lorain Printing Company, and N. L. Johnson, its president, contributed most of the editorial matter when Mr. Everett .severed his eonnection with the en1eri)rise. In June, ]8(J!), Jiuncs K. Newcomer assumed the editorial and business control of the paper, the proprietary interest renudning in the printing company. Tlie word Lorain was dropped from the title of the paper, which therefore became simply The Constitutionalist. Then came the tire of January, 1870, and the resumption of the old title, Lorain Constitutionalist. In that year Mr. Newcomer withdrew as editor ajid was succeeded by N. L. Johnson, with F. S. ^loore as publisher, ^li-. Moore continued to publish it until November, 1871, when J. V. Faith took charge of the editorial and business departuients, under an agi'ccment 1o i)ublisli the paper for one year without charge to the proprietoi's, in consideration of which he was to become its owner.

The year 1872 bi'ought a moi'c pei'iuaneiit state of all'aii'.s to the news- ])aper. In .Mai'cli of that year it a(lo])ted i)atent outsides, with an inci'iMsc ill size to an eight-c^olunui folio; in Sept(Mid)cr, it retui-ncd to tinl:oiiie-print plan, and on tlu^ lOtii of Octolicr, F. S. Reefy purchased tlie entire cstalilishmeiit and entered his long career of loeal jouniaiisiu. His

The first steam-power press used in Elyria was introduced by Mr. Reefy in tlie olifiee of the Constitutionalist, during January, 1873. It was called the Fairhaven cylinder press.

The Elyria Volksfreund, an eight-column folio published in German, was issued for about three years by Mr. Reefy from the office of the Constitutionalist. Its first number was dated February 1, 1873. i\lr. Reefy sold the paper to Henry JMinuig, who published it for about a year, when it was discontinued for want of support.

Tile first issue of The Elyria Chronicle, the oldest daily paper in the city, appeared Saturday, the (Jth of July, 1901. It has been continuously published by the same corporation, doing business at first under the style of the Lakeside Printing and Publishing Company, but later changing its name to the Chronicle Printing Company.

It wa.s called into being at a time of acute crisis in the affairs of the connnunity. The Chronicle was entered as tlie champion of a nuinicii)al water plant and a Lake Erie suijjdy, in opi^osition to the sy.stem proposed by the old private water company. Tin; Chronicle position was endoi'sed by tlie i)eO|)le at the polls and vindieated in the courts and Elyria has since enjoyed the advantages ait'orded by its unrivalled water supply. ^loreover, the Chroniele has ever since maintained a consistent record in supporting the idea of public utilities conducted primarily in the interest of the people.

Ill its very first issue it unfurled the bainier of republicanism in the state campaign then i)eniling and whieli resulted in the election of Governor Nash. It has always been republican in politics.

The paper has had its vicissitudes but is now housed in a building of its own at Nos. 307 and 309 East Broad Street in close proximity to the new Federal Building wliich is now in such near prospect of erection. Since the spring of 1914 the control of the paper has been vested in the C'hronicle Printing Company.

It is unusual for a city of Elyria 's size to have as many manufactories of importance, and of so great a variety, as those which have lieeii founiied witliiii its limits, cliieliy within the last twenty years. Among its leading imliistiies may be noted those operated by the W(>stei'n

Aulomatie Alacliine Screw Company, tlie Elyria Canning Company, the Oarford Manui'acturinf^ (Joiripany, tin; Troxcl I\lanufa(;tiiiiii<^ (Jompany, tlio Klyria Iroji & Sle(,4 Company, the (Jolumhia Steel Company, tile Perry-Fay ^Manufacturing Company, the American Lace Manufacturing Company, tiie Worthington Company and Machine Parts Company, the Willys-Overland Company, the Elyria Foundry Company and the Fox Furnace Company. Altogether there are about forty industrial plants which produce such varied pi'oducts as steel tubing, ticplate and angle iron, furnaces and stoves, hosiery, chemicals, cold-rolled steel, automobiles, lace, enameled tanks, golf goods, tricycles and invalid chairs, gas engines, telephone apparatus, brick and building stone, motorcycle saddles, brass letters and ornaments, metallic packing, canned goods, screw machine products, lumber, paint and bolting.

The Cleveland, Southwestern & Columbus Traction Company has also its shops and power house in the southern part of the city, and em- ])loys nearly .sixty men. While the general oiTices are located in Cleveland, the superintendent's orfi<"e is in Klyria, and pi'acticaily all the rolling stock of the system is lurned out of the large siiops at that place. The cars are made at Elyria, wheels put on the axles by hydraulic pressure, motors placed, trolley wheels turned and the stock painted.

The primitive industries of Elyria are ri'iiresented by such as Judge Ely's saw and grist mills on I\lain Street, the Lorain Iron Works, and N. B. Gates' ashery and soap manufactory on the west brancli of the river. Of a later period, but still among the pioneer plants, were the planing mills of Dickinson, Williams & Faxon and of John W. Hart. The former was originally (from 1852 to 1856) a manufactory of agricultural implements, and was burned in September, 1856, after which the rebuilt plant was devoted to the making of sash; doors and blinds and general mill work. The foundiy and machine shop of James Ilnllis are also of that period, the products comprising small engines, horse-power machines and the smaller articles usually turned out of an establishment of the kind.

The iici'iod covering the industries of today corresponds to the local era of the railroads. Elyria had one line, and the year before the second one was about to be opened Topliff & Ely erected a small wooden building, near tlic; d(!pot of tlie Lake Shore & .Mieiiigaii Southern, ami eoiiiiiieneed the iiiaiuii'aeture of iiuhs and spokes, in 1H74 that braneh of tlie business was abandoned, tlie firm having, two years pi'eviously, erected a two-.slory brick building. 1. N. Toplitt', a brother of the senior proprietor, had invented a steel tubular bow socket, which, for many years after 1874, was the chief product of the expanding plant.

In October, 1874, the Cleveland Screw & Tap Company, which had been incori)orated in tlie city named during the ])receding year, transferred its outfit to the large four-story brick building which had been erected for the puri)Ose near the crossing of the l^ake Siiore & Michigan Southern, and the Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling railroads. New articles of corporation were issued in November, 1874, and the following officers elected : S. II. ^Mattliews, president; F. B. Iline, vice. l)resident ; tJ. II. Morgan, superintendent; W. F. Ilulburt, secretary and treasurer.

In 1.S82 the business was reincorporated under tlie name by which it has since been known, the Western Automatic IMachine Screw Company. The industry, which employs 300 or 400 men and has a pay-roll of a third of a million dollars, manufactures almost everything that can be turned from bar ii'on, steel or brass, and carries a full line of set screws, cap screws; such auto parts as cones, cups and studs, and specialties for telegraph, electrical and ojitical work.

The Elyria Canning Company was established in 1883, and is the creation of Charles C. ^McDonald. He owns and leases a large acreage in Lorain and adjoining counties for the raising of the raw material, which is transformed into canned goods at the rate of some 12,000,000 cans annually. These include maple syrup, rhubarb, asparagu.s, all kinds of berries and currants, apples, peaches, string beans, tomatoes - in fact, all the products of the orcliard and farm. In the busy season, 200 or more people are employed.

buildiiig for tlie inamifacture of bicycle saddles. By 18f)5 the output of tlic Oarford Saddle had f^rovvii to such proportions that Ihe plant was doubled in cai)a(;ity. Other jjarts of the; bicycle were f^radually add(;d to th(! scope of the industry. Lat(;r (about 1!)<)4), the interests of the Dean Electric Company were ab.sorbed and the eondjined business incorporateil as the Garford Alanufaeturing Company, with the founder of the original biLsiness as president. Jts large i)lant, at Olive and Taylor streets, turns out everything i)ertainiijg to telepiione systems; electric light systems for farm and country homes, operated by gasoline, gas or keroseue engines; and all tlie latest auto accessories.

In 1905 was organized the Garford Company, manufacturer.s of automobiles and trucks. About eight years afterward the industry was tak(!n ovei- l)y J. N. Willys, and the Overland car has since been manufactured in Elyria, independent of the Toledo plant, under the corporate title of the AVilly.s-Overlaiid Company.

Througli the efforts of Arthur L. Garford, who was at the time general managci' of the Fedei-al .Manufacturing (.'omi)aiiy, what is now the ('olund)ia Steel Company was removed from Chicago and re-e-stalili.shed in Elyria xuider that cori)orate name. At the time of this change the plant was laid out on a generous .scale with a view to tiie I'cquii'emenls of a growing business.

In 1905 the Federal ^lanufacturing Company was li(iuidated and the Colund)ia Steel Company plant came into the possession of the Pope i\Ianufacturing Company, of Hartford, Connecticut, I\Ir. Garford retiring to engage in business on his own ac(;ount. In jMay of this year the present maiuiger, Mr. Charles E. Lozier, was installed by the J'ope interests as manager of the plant, which position he .still retains.

At this time the automobile industry began to grow very rapidly and llic demand for the Columbia Steel Company's jjroduct inctreascd [)i'oportionatcly and l)ecame profitable. During Ihe money |)anic of 1()07-S the l'o|.e Manuracturirig Company failed and within a year aflerwanl (Hintrol of tile Cohunbia Steel Company passed into tlie hands of a (Miicago syndicate. Willi the e.\ce|)tion of the few months of business distress peculiai- to the financial conditions of IDOT-H tin- business of Ihe Columbia Steel Company has made a veiy satisfactory growth. TIk;

The product of the (Joluml)ia Steel ('ompany eoiisist.s of h[i-.v\ Kti'i|)H, L'old-rolled to accurate gauge and bright tiuisli. These strips are used by inanufacturcrs of light hardware, automobile and telephone parts, who stamp and draw the steel in dies. While a very large proportion of the company's ])r()duct is of basic open hearth (juality suited to deep drawing operations, the Columbia people sell a cousiderable tonnage of high carbon nnd alloy strips used in certain lines of manufacture. The plant of tile Columbia Steel Company is in reality a "specialty" mill.

The Elyria Iron & Steel Company began operations in that city August 20, 1902, and was incori)orated under the laws of (Jhio the following year. The principal products of the company consist of structural tubing rolled from high carbon steel. These are used in the manufacture of iron beds, agricultural implements, sanitary dairy equij)- ment, wheelbarrow handles, etc. Railroad tie i)lates and standard railroad track spikes are also matle at the plant.

The Elyria Iron & Steel Compaiiy rejjresents the original manufacturers to commercially roll a tie i)late witli a shoulder anil toj) and with a flange or short legs on the bottom, running at right angles to tlie shoulder. That type revolutionized the tie plate industry. Tlie company employs between 40U and 500 men and maintains a pay-roll of a quarter of a million doUar.s.

The company above named was incorporated in 1899 by Ex-]\Iayor D. S. Troxel, who is still at the head of the industry. Its chief output is the well known Tro.vel bicycle and motorcycle saddle, and among its specialties are tool bags and a long line of leather goods.

In 1907, soon after the rupture at Zion City and the discontinuance of the lace worlds at that place, the American Lace IManufacturing Company was organized at Elyria and a small i)lant i)ut in oi)eration under the management of Dowie's former supci-intendent. The industry lias so nourished that its i)lant has been doubled in capacity, and it employs

The above named corporation dates from June, 1905, and its plant, in w'liich are employed over 100 men, is located on the Baltimore & Ohio and the Lake Shore & I\Iichigan Southern railways. Its products are machinery castings, and it does all kinds of iron, machine and tool work.

In 190G the Perry-Fay (Company was incorjjorated and organized as follows: R. D. Perry, president; AV. W. Fay, secretary-treasurer, and E. F. Allen, vice president. ^Ir. Fay had previously been the founder and president of the Fay Manufacturing Company, manufacturer of bicycles and tricycles. The Perry-Fay Company, which has a force of nearly 300 men, makes screw macliinc products of all kinds, special cap and set screws, studs and nuts.

The industry operated by the company named is of comparatively recejit origin. Its products include a large line of children's vehicles, bicycles, velocipedes, tricycles, aiito coasters, hand cars, biplane flyei's and invalid and reed chairs. They are generally known as the Fairy line. There are about 180 employes.

The Elyria Milling & Power Company, organized in 18i)5, operates the Red :\lill at the East Falls in the Black River, and the White Mill, at the west end of the East Bridge.

Tlie l'\iy Stocking Company was incorponiled in 1898; the Wallhead lirick Kilns on West Ifiver Street Avere fonnded in 1807; the IIygieiii(; Ice (!ompany, manufaclurers of artificial ice, from liltered iind distilled .spring water, has been established since 1904; the Enameled Pip(! & Engiiieei-ing (!ompany dales from 1907, and the Piireell Paint

Before the recent unification of the electric properties of Elyria aiid Lorain, the lighting of tlie former city was controlled by tlie Elyria Gas & Electric Light Company, and still earlier, l)y non-residents of the state. In 1897 that company Avas formed by home people, the stockholders electing the following officers: President, William G. Sharp; vice president, A. L. Garford ; secretary, R. T. Reefy; treasurer, J. C. Hill. It wa.s under tliat management that the householders and business men of Elyria were so long supplied with electric lighting and gas, both for illuminating, cooking and other purposes. Its business is now contined to the gas supply.

The National Bank of Elyria is nearly seventy years old, and was the pioneer institution of its kind in liorain County. Down through the years, into its body has l)een transfused tlie corporate blood of three other financial organizations, as follows: The Lorain Bank (a branch of the old State Bank of Ohio), which endured from 1847 to 1864; the First National Bank, 1864 to 1883; and the National Bank of Elyria, 1S8;5 to 1903. The Fir.st National Baidc of Elyria was chartered for twenty years, and at tiie expiration of tliat period in 1903 was rechartered and reorganized, with an increase of $100,000 in capital, and $50,000 in surplus.

As announced at that time (January 15, 1903), l)y its management: "The National Bank of Elyria is proud of its ancestry and its record. Tliougli its name has l)een changed three times, it will l)e noticed tliat the first board of directors of The National Bank of Elyria was the last board of Tlie First National Bank witli one additional director, and tliat tlie first board of The First National Bank was the last lioard of The Jjorain Bank witii one additional director. This identifies it as the .same liank under its tiiree ditl'erent names.

"It has passed tlirough three national panics, 1857, 1873 and 1893 and paiil all obligations on (h'luand and wiliiout notice; and lliough. on aceounl of tlie feeling of ])eriVct se('urity on tlie part of its depositors, there has never been a run on tlu' bank, il has many times paid out in a single day more than its entire capital."

Bank of Ohio and other banking companies," that the Lorain Bank of Eiyriu was estuhlished on tiie 25th of May, 1847, witli a capital of $100,- 000 and a sni'phis of $20,000.' Tiio capital stock was divided into 1,000 shares of $1(J0 eacli. On June 2"Jd, at tlie first meeting of the stockholders, llciiian Ely was ajjpointed chairman and Elijah DeWitt, secretary. The officers elected were: llemau Ely, president; Artemas Beebe, vice president; Elijah DeWitt, secretary; W. A. Adair, cashier, and Levi Burnell, teller and bookkeeper.

Having thus effected an organization, a banking house was opened in Room No. '-l of the Beebe House Block, and tiiere the business of the bank was ti'ausacted until 1875, when it was moved to more fitting quarters in tlic Ely Block, first floor of the Library Building. Judge Ely resigned his position as president April 24, 1849, and Artemas Beebe was elected his successor ; but he declined the office, and Elijah DeWitt was elected to the position, remaining at the head of its affairs and of its successor, the First National Bank, until 1883. In other words, he served as president of the two banks during all but three years of their e-orporate life.

]\lr. Adair resigned his position as casliier in Decend)er, 1849, and in the following month John R. Finn was elected to succeed him. In 1855 Mr. Finn was elected vice president of the State Bank of Ohio, resigning the cashiershii^ of the Lorain Bank to accept it. Heman Ely was appointed cashier pro tern., and served until January, 1856, when John W. IIull)ert was elected, and held the position in 1864, at the time of the organization of the Fii-st National Bank.

On the 2d of April, of that year, a meeting of citizens was held, under the Congressional act of the previous year passed to provide for a national currency, to take the preliminary steps toward organizing the First National Bank of Elyria. The subscribers to the $100,000 stock of tlie new organization at that time were as follows, each share having a face value of $100: Artemas Beebe, 154 shares; Seymour W. Baldwin, 163 shares; Heman Ely, 142 shares; George R. Starr, 143 shares; Henry E. ]Mussey, 145 shares; George G. Wa.shburn, 144 shares, and Elijah DeW^itt, 109 shares.

riie ccrtiHcate of authorization was issued May 25, 1864; the directors were elected (eompri-sing all tlie stockholders but Judge Ely) ; Mr. DeWilt was eiiosen president and John W. Ilulbert, cashier. In 1878 file ollice of vice president was ci'ealed and lleman Ely was elected to (ill Uie po.silion, serving thus until 188:5, or diu'ing the renuiiiKhir of the life oF the h'irst .Xatioual. Tlu' surplus of th(! P'irst National I^ank remained at $20,000.

capital of $150,000 and a surplus of $50,000, and Human Ely, who had been president of the First National Bank became its president. He served in tliat capacity until 1894; was succeeded by Henry E. ^Mussey, ]804-iJ6; Geor{?e II. Ely, 1896-1913, and W. S. .Miller, after the year last named. As stated, when the bank was re-chartered, in 1903, its capital was increased to $250,000 and its surplus to $100,000.

In the summer of 1915 its financial condition was indicated by the following items: Capital stock, $250,000; surplus and undivided profits, $32,500; national bank circulation, $150,000; deposits, $1,334,000. The largest items covering tliese liabilities were: Loans, $98(),000; bonds, securities, etc., $330,000; due from banks, $225,500; United States bonds, $150,000.

The bank continued as a copartnership until November 20, 1890, when it took out a ciiarter as the Savings Depo-sit Bank Company, with capital .stock of $200,000. T. L. Nelson served as president, and J. C. Hill, as cashier, from Novend)er 1, 1872, to January 1, 18!)1. J. C. Hill was elected president January 1, 1891, and lias remained as such ever since.

The name was clianged from the Savings Deposit Bank Company to tlu! Savings Deposit Bank & Trust Company, July 10, 1903. Tiie aulliorized capital slock was increased to $250,000 January 1, 1914. Tile bank has i)ai(l I'l'gular dividends fi'om its foundation to date, and has j)aid interest to its depositors amounting to ai)proximately $1 ,000,000.

The financial institution named above has transacted a savings and general banking business in Elyria for fifteen years. It was organized and commenced business April 8, 1901, with William Braman as pr^'sident. Mr. Braman died in 1905, and was succeeded in oflicu hy William Ileklmyer. ]\Ir. Ileldmyer held the ol/ice of pi'esideiit until his death in 1912, the present'head of the bank, Theodore T. Robinson, succeeiling Mr. Ileldmyer. The bank owns its own building, wliicli was comi)leted in 1910.

In June, 1915, the ]ia])i!ities of the Elyria Savings and Banking Comi)any amounted to $2,;527,000, in round ligiires, tlie main items being: Capital stock, $100,000; surplus, $200,000; deposits, $2,017,000. Its leading resources were: Loans and discounts, $2,004,000; due fi'om reserve l)anks, $148,000; cash on hand, $99,000, and baiddng house, lot and vaults, $40,000. In July, of the year nametl, the suritlus of the bank was increased to $210,000.

The Lorain County Banking Company was organized in August, 1895, by the late lion. Parks Foster. The baidc prospered and grew from its l)eginning and at his death, in 1905, S. B. Day who was then vice ])resident was elected to succeed J.lr. Foster. Mr. Day remained as president until his health failed in 1914, at wiiieh time Artiuir B. Taylor, wiio had been cashier of tiie bank for nuiny years, was elected as president. The bank five or six years ago paid a 50 ])er cent .stock dividi'ud out of its undivided [jrofits, and last yeai- changed its name to llic Lorain (Jounly Savings & Trust (Jompany.

Chapter Xxii Oberlix As An Inspiration

The College a jNIodern University - College and Town Founded Together - Rev. John J. Siiipherd and Philo P. Stewart - The Historic Elm - Peter P. Pease, First of the Colonists - Erection

Founded - The Big Tent and Cincinnati Hall - Rev. Asa IMahan, First President - The College in 1845 - President Finney and the ^Iemorluj Chai'ei. - Consolidation of Library Associations - Ouerlin Students' ^Ionthly - Presidents Fairchild, Ballantine AND JiARROws - The Memorial Arch - President Henry C. King - The Great Exdowjient Funds - Other Buildings of the College Plant - Carnegie Library - The Olney Art Collection -

Adjiinistration Building - The Men's Building - The Academy Buildings - Warner and Women's (jymnasiums - Outdoor Sports AND Exercise - Laboratories and Museums - Dormitories for Wo.MEX - The Faculty - College Administration - Musical and Literary Advantages - The Student ]5ody - Gradu.vte Fellowships - The College Enrolmknt - Chuuciies of Oberlin - The First Congregational Church - Christ Protestant Episcopal Church - First Baptist Church - First M. E. Church - The Rust I\L E. Church - C!iiurch of the Sacred Heart - Mount Zion Baptist Church - The Oberlin IMissionary Home Association - The Oberlin Hospital - AVestwood Cemetery - Social, Literary and Benevolent Organizations - Village Improvejient and Social ality, good fellowship, earnestness of purpose and depth and breadth of soul. The foundation of the college and the eoniinunity was laid so deep in the steadfast zeal of (Jodly men and women that it has never been shaken by either the storms of war, the ragings of misguided Orientals, or the assaults of skeptics at home. Oberlin - both the college and the community - stands for the high and broad American life, of the past as well as the future.

The expansion of Oberlin College into a modern university, buttressed by the be.st traditions and Cbri.stian aggressiveness of the new Western Reserve, has taken place sinee the commencement of the twentieth century. Warner Ilall, Severance Chemical Laboratory, Rice ^Icmorial Hall, Warner Gymnasium for men and the Women's Gymnasium, the IMeiiiorial Arch and the Finney Memorial Chapel, the Men's Building and tile new Administration and Academy buildings, have all been completed within the jiast sixteen years. An art building costing $168,000 is in process of construction on the corner of ]\Iain and Lorain streets, llie lot costing $50,000. The funds were mostly given by Dv. and Mrs. Dudley Allen and John Severance.

Tiiere are now in use for college ])urposes thirty buildings. Among the older buildings are Council Hall, containing a chapel and lecture rooiiLs, and private apartments for sixty students; French and Society halls, used for recitation purposes; Sturges Hall, which contains the rooms of the literary .societies of the young women, and a general assembly room for the women's department; the former Lincoln residence, which was moved north of the Severance Chemical Lal)oratory in the summer of 1914 and fitted up for the use of the botanical department; and the former Squire residence, which was fitted up in the summer of 1906 for the use of the geological department.

Probably there is no municipality in the United States which is more distinctively and completely a college town than Oberlin. Two sides of the large and splendid public square of the place are occupied l)y .stately and beautiful college buildings. This is also the campus of Oberlin College. The other two sides of the s(|uare or campus are given up iriostly to business houses. As the colh'ge has an attendance of some 1,700 students, and the entire po])ulation of the city does not exceed 5,000, it is plain to be seen that the trade and prosperity of the

In view of the fact that tiie progress of 0])erlin City and Oberlin College is so intimately asosciated, a narrative describing the origin of this splendid school of higher learning will also describe the founding of the city itself. The plan of both originated with Rev. John J. Shipherd, who -was serving in 1832 as pa.stor of the Presbyterian Church at Elyria. Tlis associate in the edneatioiuil enterprise was Philo P. Stewart, a former missionary among tlie Cherokee Indians of IMississippi, but at that lime I'csiding with I\lr. Shipherd 's family. Although i\Ir. Stewart became the strong business force which eventually resulted in founding Olicrlin College, the majority of ])ioneer residents of the Western Reserve still persist in chiefly remembering him as the inventor of the old fasliioned Stewart stove. Messrs. Shipherd and Stewart so laid their enterprise before IMessrs. Street and Hughes, of New Haven, Connecticut, tliat the eastern cajiitalists made a pledge of 500 acres of forest laiul in Russia Township, Lorain County, to establish a foundation fund for the proposed college. In .\ovembcr, 1832, the two enthusiastic young men from Elyria - such close friends, yet so different in habits and teiiipcraiiient - .set forth from that place to select a site for the university campus. In addition to fixing upon the 500 acres now covered by tlie beaut iful campus and magniliceiit buildings of Oberlin (College, they l)urcliased a section of land in Russia Township at $1.50 an acre, which was resold at $2.50, thus providing the first fund for the foundation of their school. The origin of its name is thus described: "There had I'eceiitly been iniblished in this country an account of the self-sacrificing life of John Frederick Oberlin, a German pastor, among the French and (lei'iiian ])Opulation of a valley on the borders of Alsace and Lorraine. His spii'it and achievements seemed so like those which were desij'ed for the new colony that his name was given to it by the founders."

Tile spii'it of altruism which was with Shi|)herd and Stewart in the beginning has eontimied to this day. People wiio joined the early colony were asked to sign a covenant which jirovided first for the J'eiiioval to Olierlin for the express purjio.st; of glorifying (Jod and doing good to men; secondly, to hold their property jiersonally, but to pledge its use to community interest; thirdly, to hold no more property than tlicy l)c'IifV('d they could profitably manage, as Ood's faithful stewards; foiii'tiily, lliat they would ^aiii as much as |)ossil)l(! and all ulwvo that used for iiccivssitics should hi; a|)i)r()i)riatcd for IIk; H|)n:ad of tli(! t,'os|)i!l ; liflhly, tiiat tia-y would oat oidy plaiu food, rezioumte had hahits, in which were included the drinkiug of liquor, tea or coffee and using tobacco; sixthly, pledge to dress plainly, to refrain from wearing tight clothes and all ornaments; seventhly, that they would build simple homes and have simple furniture and carriages; eighthly, that from Christian principle would provide for widows, orphans, sick and needy ; tenthly, do all possible for Oberlin Institute; eleventhly, that they would sustain the gospel at home and among neighbors; twelfthly, "We will strive to nmintain deei)-loved and elevated personal piety, to provoke each other to love and good works, to live together in all things as brethren, and to glorify God in our bodies and spirits, which are his." Women, as well as men, signed these articles, and r^lrs. Shipherd and Mrs. Stewart were equally anxious for and interested in the success of Oberlin, as were their husbands.

The founders of Obei'lin did not leave their matters in the hands of land agents, but mounted their own good horses, at Elyria, and were soon picking their way carefully through the thick forests which then covered the site of the future college and town. Finally they reached an especially quiet and peaceful portion of the thick woods, tied their horses to a beautiful elm tree, and, with unaffected piety, fell upon their knees and prayed for the Divine blessing upon their pro.ieet. Arising. Ilicy were about to stake out the 500 acres comprising their pun-base, when a hunter pushed his way through the forest and informed them that he had just seen a black bear and her two cubs approach the tree to which they had tied their horses, but that after curiously sniffing around them for a few moments the mother had left their steeds unmolested. ]\Iessrs. Shipherd and Stewart considered this a good omen for the success of their educational enterprise, and the elm tree beneath which tliey prayed is generally supi)osed to still stand on the soutlieast corner of the college campus. It is carefully fenced, and guarded as almost a sacri!d object, and is. known to everyone far and wide as the Historic i'llm. Tile tablet marking the elm bears the words: "Near this tree liic logs were laid for llie iir.st dwelling in Oberlin, April 10, 1S33." This is all that is certainly known.

The radical difference in mental makeup of these two noble Christian men never interfered with their lasting friendship, or the unity of their work in the establishment of Oberlin College. The reason for this liarmony in all their labors and relations was that eaeh tiioroughly understood the other. The following extract of a letter from Mr. Stewart to Mr. Shipherd, written when Oberlin College was in its infantile stage, is illustrative of this statement: "You acknowledge that you are constantly inclined to go too fast, and I acknowledge that I am disposed, from the same cau.se, to go too slow. If this be true, a word of admonition now and then from each other may be salutary. But after all, I would not have you like me in your temperament, if I could. I think we may balance each other and become mutual helps."

In the spring of 1833, the first Oberlin colonist arrived upon the site of the future college and village. The locality at the time was covered witli heavy Ixh'cIi {UkI maple and such olher trees of Nortliern Oliio as th(; oak, elm, asli and hiekory. The peoi)lo who took possession of this wild tract, under Ihe leadership of Messrs. Shipherd and Stewart, were a number of Christian families gathered ehiefiy from the New England states, with a few from New York and Northern Oliio. They eame with the double purpose of establishing a colony devoted to the promotion of Christian education and to make desiral)le liomes for themselves and children. The first colonist to arrive upon the ground, who was already a resident of Lorain County, was Peter P. Pease. On April 10, 1833, he pitched his tent on what is now the southeast corner of Oberlin campus, and a few days afterward erected a log cabin a short distance away.

TIall, a short time afterward, the students were distributed in the homes of the colonists. Its first college structure was a plain two-story frame building, ;ir).x40 feet, nearly opposite; th(( TTistorie Film. This pioneer building passed from college ownership about 18G0, was afterward used as a carpenter shop and liurned in 1880. The first school term covered the winter of 1833-4, ending witli an attendance of twenty-nine men and (irtccn women. The lirst Ijadies' Hall was completed in 183r), and used for thirty years, or until the erection of the second hall in IHOf). Tli(f old l)nil(liMj,' was tlicii divided into live dweliiiijj; liouscs, souk; of which an; si ill octnipiiMJ.

The First Congregational Church was founded April 2, 1834, by Oherliii colonists and Oherlin College, the first regidar class from the collegiate department wiiich joined the society being organized in the following October. The church building, which .still stands, was completed in August, 1844.

Another widely known and popular .structure connected with Oberlin College was the so-called Big Tent, 100 feet in diameter, which was erected on the campus principally for the holding of religious meetings, and for the gathering of larger college a.ssemblies than could be accommodated by Oberlin Hall. The tent had a seating capacity of 3,000 and among the many gatherings which filled it to overflowing was Ihat of 1841, when three young women received tin; degree of A. B. - the first time that such an honor liad been eonfei-red upon women in the Iniited States. The Big Tent afterward i)as.sed iido the ownership of the Anti-Slavery Society, and was tlie scene of many tumultuous gatherings when Oberlin was such a noted abolitionist center.

At an early period, attendance at the colle;!:e had reached such proportions that it became necessary to pi'ovide students with other boarding acconnnodations than tho.se they could secure from the already crowded homes of Oberlin citizens. For this purpose the college management erected Cincinnati Ilall, a rough one-story building 144.\24 feet, and because of the material from which it was mostly constructed it was popularly known as Slab Hall. This was occupied i)y as many male students as could be crowded into it until about 1840, when more suitable boarding acconuiiodations had been supplied.

The home for the pi'esidcnt, known a.s Finney House, was completed in 18:5:"). From 18f)l to 11)04 it was used for lalioratory jinrposes and lofn down in liiOf) to make way I'oi- tliat maguilicent structure, the Finney iMemorial Chapel. What was known as IMaluin-Morgan IIou.si; was also (-oiiii)li't('d in IS.'!:'), jind stood on tlie site of Warner Hall. Walton Hall, also a men's doi-mitory, was finished during that year, and was dc.slr(»\'ed liv Hit in ISdI. Thus mcnlinn has Ihmmi maih' of the