Let’s Go on a Ride…

Now that the weather is nice we invite you to take a trip with us down the Little Miami Scenic Trail during the month of June. We would love to share some of the history of this trail prior to it becoming the recreation trail that we know today. Beginning in the north and traveling south, we will be highlighting locations and events in Warren County along the trail.

 

This Ohio Railroad Map of Ohio (located in the Records Center & Archives reading room, available for public use) dated 1912, provides an overview of where the Little Miami Scenic Trail utilized old railroad track lines.

 

Be sure to check back for posts and see if you recognize some of the history and sites along the trail!

Railroad Map of Ohio, 1912

Edited Railroad Map of Ohio, 1912

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The Precursor to Google Earth…

Lets be honest…we in the archives use Google Maps and Google earth all the time! It is such a quick and easy way to find areas of interest while conducting research or looking at old properties our patrons are looking up information on. Recently we visited Hunter Elementary School in the Franklin School District. We normally like to take our old township maps, like the ones we shared last month, the area where this school is had not changed much over the course of time (1856-1940).  While these maps are historically accurate and we could tell a lot of information about the land, it just was not enough visual information for these young minds.

Insert what the Records Center and Archives would consider the precursor to Google Earth, the aerial photograph! These images certainly are not as interactive, but they can still tell us a lot of information! The aerial photographs that we have in the Records Center and Archives are of the entirety of Warren County in the years 1954 and 1962. It just so happens that the area where the school is located changed most drastically between the times that these images were captured.

We love utilizing these images to help students and patrons help tell the history of their homes, properties, schools, and businesses. Some of the different ways you can utilize these records to tell Warren County history are changes in: transportation, population, natural landscape, recreation, etc.

For the Hunter Elementary maps we were able to see drastic changes in population growth because in the 1954 image the area around the school and the school was made up of farms, on the 1962 image the school was built and the area surrounding the school is now neighborhoods. Another big change in this area was the construction of Interstate 75! Can you look at these images and find any other major changes?

1956 Aerial Image

1962 Aerial Image

2017 Aerial Image

 

Wait, Landen Lake hasn’t always been there?

This is one of our favorite local histories to teach during our Education Outreach program at J.F. Burns Elementary School. In our blog post last week “Teaching With Township Maps” we pointed out how we can help kids to tell their local history through comparing these County Maps.

 

We like to take them back to 1903, 1944, and finally to a current map. I will point out where their school is located and then ask them to tell me what is currently across the street, Landen Lake. Then I ask them to tell me what is across the street on the earlier township maps. It is so much fun to see their eyes light up when they realize that Landen Lake has not always been there! It was once known as Simpson’s Creek, which we then proceed to ask them to tell us how they think it became a lake. Their answers are always interesting and full of imagination!

 

This is one amazing example of how the historic maps can be utilized within our community. These records are open and available to the public and our staff would love to help you research properties within the area!

Edited 1903 Deerfield Township Map

Edited 1944 Deerfield Township Map

Edited 2017 Deerfield Township Map

Teaching With Township Maps

Recently we pointed out a large map cabinet that is located in our reading room. (If you haven’t seen it, be sure to go over and check it out on our Facebook page using this link: Warren County Records Center and Archives FB ) The outside is unassuming and seemingly just another piece of office storage. Contained inside though is a vast collection of the history of Warren County. One of our greatest reference tools for helping patrons and genealogists are the maps contained within our Records Center and Archives reading room.

One of our favorite uses of these township maps is to teach young students how to trace their local history by utilizing the information contained within the maps. We have been able to help these students create a real connection between where their schools and neighborhoods are to what was once there. What they have found are vast changes in the types of jobs that Warren County residents may have had, whether they lived in neighborhoods like we do today, changes in transportation within the county, and how the landscape has changed drastically in just a few short decades.

Creating this connection for patrons and students is always a joy to watch because it provides an understanding of how Warren County became what it is today. These maps also provide a quick reference point for old land records. We have helped people who were looking for old family plots of land or performing house histories to determine where and who owned the land! The maps included in our map cabinet date back to the early 1900’s and include township maps, Ohio railroad maps, cemetery maps, and even some county blue prints.

Clearcreek Township Map, Created in 1942 and approved in 1944

Hamilton Township Map, Created in 1942 and approved in 1944

Moldy #TBT

Today’s #TBT goes back to last Friday. Archivists Jen Haney and Jenifer Baker took a peek at the moldy materials that were pulled out of Warren County’s 1916 Infirmary Time Capsule in September.

 

These materials have been sitting in the Records Center’s climate controlled storage room for the past 4 months in hopes that they would dry out enough to salvage. Unfortunately upon inspection our archivists found that the photographs had not improved at all and had in fact grown more mold.

 

Our archivists were able to digitize each item front and back so that we have a recorded copy of each item extracted from the historic time capsule. While we were able to digitize these photographs it was with heavy hearts and much deliberation, in order to avoid the cross contamination of the County records, and due to the fact that the mold had eaten away at the once valuable images the decision was made to dispose of the moldy materials. Fortunately we were able to preserve the letter that we received from Leah Jones, who lived at the Infirmary with her parents at the time of the fire. We have included some of the documented images below. Please feel free to contact the Records Center and Archives direct to see the complete selection of documented images. 

Progressive Prohibition

Warren County went through many phases when it came to the prohibition of alcohol. In today’s exhibit preview we highlight the progressive view that Warren County had on outlawing alcohol. During the election season of 1908, the “Drys” launched a fierce campaign against the “Wets” of numerous Ohio counties. Headlines such as “Warren County Must Go Dry,” adorned the local newspapers and claims “To campaign against Warren County Saloons is glorious”. 

In looking at the article that was published shortly after the victory of 1908, against the “Wets” the Western Star tallied the votes for and against Prohibition within the county by Township. It appears even though the language used to describe the outcome of the election, the results were very close with the “Drys” winning by only 130 votes out of a total of 6,386 cast.

One of the most interesting items included in this portion of the exhibit is a very early court case, The State of Ohio vs. Ben Wallace. Mr. Wallace was “Indicted For Drinking Whiskey on a Car Propelled by Electricity” on April 7, 1913. If you look closely it claims that he was drinking said whiskey in a car that was not in a dining, cafe, or other car with buffet or cafe attachment. In our next installment of Prohibition: Gambling, Bootlegging, and Propaganda in Warren County, we will find that the victory of the “Drys” vs. “Wets” was short lived.

Based on a True Story…Bandit Killed in Franklin Bank Robbery

Have you ever wondered where the ideas for those “based on a true story” movies come from? Our Archives Technician, Tori Roberts, has been processing Coroner’s Inquests that date back to 1873 and during this project she has come across some interesting cases ranging from bizarre accidents to infamous murders from all over Warren County.

Today’s “based on a true story” movie includes a bank robbery, police pursuit, kidnapping, a shoot out, and escape! Continuing on with our celebration of William C. Schenck’s 244th birthday and his accomplishment of founding Franklin, Ohio, we are highlighting a bank robbery that occurred in Franklin. The Coroner’s Inquest found included information on a victim listed as Tony Ziano, alias Thomas Lee. The summary of his death was “by violence, being shot four times, the bullet which caused his death being thru the head from the right temple to the left.”

This information of course peeked our interest and upon further investigation it was discovered that Tony was part of a trio who robbed the Franklin National Bank on December 5, 1935. It appears that following the robbery the three bandits exchanged fire with a Marshall, which led to the death of Tony and the non-fatal injury of the Marshall. The other two bandits managed to escape this exchange in a stolen vehicle where the owner and her sister were tied up in the car! According to articles in The Western Star the body of Tony Ziano had not been claimed following his death and the trail of the escaped bandit’s went cold after they escaped north past Columbus.

Coroner’s Inquest, December 5, 1935

Western Star Headline, December 5, 1935

Western Star Article, December 5, 1935

Western Star Article, December 16, 1935

Franklin Birthday, Plat Maps, and Transportation Expansion

“The town of Franklin was laid out in the year 1796 by W.C. Schenck and D.C. Cooper as they thought…” – Recorded 12th August 1802

Continuing our celebration of William C. Schenck’s 244th birthday we would like to highlight some plat maps that we have here in the archives. The first of the two plat maps is dated 1802, originally platted in 1796. The second plat map we have is dated 1877, and proposes new corporation limits that will expand on the town.

In the less than 100 years between these maps there are significant differences in the layout of the town. William C. Schenck was a huge proponent of the Miami Erie canal prior to his death in 1821. As you can see the canal in 1877, cuts directly through the center of town. This advancement in transportation through the city led to the growth of Franklin and very likely led to the expansion proposed in the 1877 Plat Map. Another big change is the suspension bridge that crosses the Great Miami River. One change is that is not as obvious are the modifications to the river itself, in the 1877 plat map there is an addition of a hydraulic basin and hydraulic race.

Transcription of Original Franklin Plat Map, Recorder’s Deed Book dated 1802

Franklin Plat Map, Proposed expansion of corporation limits dated 1877

Transcription of Original Franklin Plat Map, Recorder’s Deed Book dated 1802

Franklin Plat Map, Proposed expansion of corporation limits dated 1877

 

“I Consent.” Invaluable Historical Records

The Warren County Records Center and archives receives a number of research requests each year. One of our favorites to handle are the marriage consents. These consents accompany our marriage record and marriage license issued records and date back to 1803.

Generally the requests that we receive regarding these relatively unknown records come from genealogists or people conducting their own family history. Early in the 1800’s the information included in a typical marriage record was: Groom’s name, Bride’s name, Date of marriage, County Clerk who issued paperwork, and sometimes the officiant name. For those people who are trying to trace their lineage back through earlier generations it is extremely inconvenient when there are no birthdays or parent’s names included in the paperwork. The reason the consents are so valuable and cool is because if someone were underage at the time of their marriage, their parent or parents would have to sign over their consent for the marriage to take place. With this additional information, researchers have been able to find family information that might forever be lost otherwise.

Marriage Record, 1803

Marriage Record, 1823

Marriage Record, 1830

Marriage Consent, August 25, 1803

Marriage Consent, August 25, 1803

Marriage Consent, October 22, 1816

Marriage Consent, October 22, 1816

Vote Counting Controversy…

As we have seen in the past, the election results are not always as cut and dry as they seem. This Court of Common Pleas case “Conrod Snyder vs. John Hopkins,” following the election of Sheriff in 1823 is the perfect example!

The declared winner for Warren County Sheriff was John Hopkins, which would be the 4th year in a row in which he served as Sheriff. Prior to Mr. Hopkins, Conrod Snyder had held the position from 1817-1820. These two men, along with Allen Wright, were on the ballot of 1823.

Following the election, Mr. Snyder claimed that he was the rightful winner and accused the Clerk of Common Pleas Court along with two Associate Judges of counting the votes without waiting for the required amount of days to pass. The Clerk along with the Judges counted the votes four days after the election as opposed to the required six days. As a result they had failed to receive the poll books for Franklin Township.

As we can see from the images below, Mr. Snyder was the clear winner over Mr. Hopkins. Following the controversy, Mr. Hopkins submitted his resignation as Sheriff of Warren County. Conrod Snyder would serve just this one additional year, John Hopkins was elected to the post of Sheriff the following election season.

Conrod Snyder vs. John Hopkins

Conrod Snyder vs. John Hopkins