Lancaster

Connie L. Rutter, Sondra Brockway Gartner

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9780738583792
• eBook ISBN: 9781439625743
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

Lancaster, Ohio, with a population of around 35,000, sits snuggled among the rolling hills at the base of a sandstone bluff that the Wyandot Indians called "Standing Stone." Just east of the Hock-Hocking River in Fairfield County and a few miles southeast of Columbus, Lancaster was founded on November 10, 1800, by Col. Ebenezer Zane (1747-1811). The city's rich history is celebrated today in one of the most significant historic districts in the Midwest, known as Square 13. The city offers a walking tour of the area, originally designed in 1800. In a 24-block area, 89 buildings have been designated on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Sherman House Museum is listed as a National Historical Landmark.

Two

BUSINESSES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT

DAVIDSON DRUG STORE. Located on East Main Street, this store was the place to go to deliver hawks to be cashed in for a $1 bounty. Dr. Andrew Davidson (from Ireland) and his dog are shown in this c. 1900 photograph. At Davidson Drug Store, horse lovers and politicians held their discussions around an old-fashioned pot-bellied stove. (Courtesy of Ohio Glass Museum.)

THE HILLSIDE HOTEL. This residential hotel, razed in 1959, was owned by William and Caroline Bauman Goetz from Germany. It was located on the south side of Main Hill. The hotel became a popular place to hold wedding receptions, and Billy and Callie were always a hit with their music. While Callie sang, Billy played the midget piano—a small keyboard. (Courtesy of Fairfield Heritage Association.)

HOTEL MARTENS. The Martin Hotel was built on the northwest corner of Broad and Chestnut Streets in 1883. In 1905, brothers McCelland and Charles Martens became the owners and changed its name to Hotel Martens (and thus confused many townspeople). The beautiful Victorian hotel with its striking ornate Mansard roof and tower, shown here in the 1960s, was demolished about 1973. (Courtesy of Fairfield Heritage Association.)

EPSTEIN’S SHOE STORE. All ladies love shoes. In the 1930s, these giggling girls could not wait to find the “perfect pair.” Epstein’s was just one of the successful businesses owned and operated by local Jewish families. The original store was located in the Smith Building and was founded by brothers Clarence and Charles Epstein in 1916. (Courtesy of Fairfield Heritage Association.)

MITHOFF HOUSE, 1862. This hotel was the enlarged and remodeled Swan Hotel built in 1861 by Theodore Mithoff, a German immigrant. Mithoff, the president and principal stockholder of the Hocking Valley Manufacturing Company and the Hocking Valley Bank, became even wealthier when a gas well on his property hit it big in 1888. (Courtesy of Fairfield Heritage Association.)

PETER STURGEON ICEHOUSE. Ice taken from the adjoining reservoir is shown going up the incline into the icehouse. The building was erected in the 1870s on what is now known as Markwood Avenue and remained there for 25 years. The two ladies on the right are Rose and Lucy Smith, sisters of Edson B. Smith, a prominent Lancaster gentleman. (Courtesy of Ohio Glass Museum.)

CRYSTAL ICE AND COAL COMPANY. The business was founded in 1910 by John Kilburger and George Brown and was located on Locust Street. Until 1915, all deliveries were made by horse and wagon until they bought the first commercial delivery truck in Lancaster—a chain-driven Republic. Seen here are brothers Russell (left) and Tom Lindsay in July 1916. (Courtesy of Ohio Glass Museum.)

DANISON MONUMENTAL WORKS. The company began carving cemetery head stones and statuary in 1881. Today the business is still in operation and much respected in the industry. In addition to the manual carving, the artists now use lasers to enhance the monuments. In 1948, the business was located at 122 North Columbus Street but now sits across the street from Forest Rose Cemetery.

BROAD STREET LOOKING NORTH. This early 1908 postcard gives a view of the businesses linin...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• One - GOVERNMENT AND STREET SCENES
• Two - BUSINESSES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT
• Three - OTHER LANCASTER LANDMARKS
• Four - CENTURY HOMES AND MUSEUMS
• Five - INDUSTRY AND TRANSPORTATION
• Six - PARKS AND SCHOOLS
• Seven - FAIRGROUNDS, CAMPGROUNDS, AND ONE STANDING STONE
• Eight - FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND PEOPLE OF DISTINCTION
• Nine - EVENTS TO REMEMBER
• Ten - BUILDINGS OF FAITH AND PLACES OF REST