This summer has been a busy one for us in the MFAHS, but it has also been a productive and enjoyable one. As a part of the Ohio Bicentennial celebration, Martins Ferry was the host for the wagon train that is presently crossing Ohio following the Old National Road. The Sedgwick Museum was open and received many visitors. We also were able to have volunteers at the Walnut Grove Cemetery to greet those visiting the cemetery. Many people were able to experience the great heritage of this area. My most memorable moment came at the dinner on Thursday evening....I was able to meet with descendants of the Zane and Martin families.

We are also working to complete our new furnace/air conditioner project. All of the fireplaces have been insulated and closed-off, thanks to Bruce Shrodes and Larry Roy. We are currently planning to have the windows on the west and south sides of the building covered with storm windows. They are specially designed to not diminish the artistic look of the current windows, which are the originals. We hope to finish the others next year.

Later this year, Martins Ferry is receiving another historical marker as a part of the Bicentennial celebration. This marker will honor two Ferry natives who are important in the literary history of the state: William Dean Howells and James Wright. The marker will be placed in the small park at the corner of Fifth and Hanover Streets. In conjunction with this, the Ohio Public Television Network is producing a video of literary history and will be filming part of the video here in our city.

We hope you enjoy these newsletters and will share them with others who are not members of the MFAHS. Thank you for your continued support of our organization.

     Martins Ferry, Ohio has come to be known far and wide for her iron and steel industries as well as for the coal output of adjacent territory. In spite of the fact that the city is but two miles from Wheeling, she possesses a number of up-to-date stores and considerable civic pride. The city boasts in North Fourth street the most beautiful residence street in Belmont County.
     Martins Ferry is essentially a manufacturing town and the majority of her 12,000 residents gain their livelihood directly or indirectly from her numerous sheet mills and general iron and steel working plants of which there are no fewer than fifteen. Many also depend on the mines for livelihood, twenty-five extensive coal mines being located within a radius of six miles from the city’s center.
     Of the iron and steel working plants, the Laughlin tin plant of the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company is the largest, containing 23 hot mills and 47 tin pots, with a biweekly payroll of about $67,000 which is distributed among 2,200 employees. In connection with the mill an extensive coal mine is operated to supply the fuel for the plant. The Aetna-Standard plant of the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company has 13 hot mills and employs about 1,400 men with an average bi-weekly pay roll of about $35,000. The Whitaker-Glessner and Wheeling Corrugating plants are practically one, the corrugating plant containing six hot mills and the Whitaker-Glessner making tin and galvanized sheet specialties of all kinds with the exception of toys. The combined bi-weekly pay roll amounts to in the neighborhood of $94,000, including the mine, which is operated in connection with the plants.
     Beside these concerns the largest plant in the city is the furnace of the Wheeling Steel & Iron Company, where about 600 men are employed turning out pig iron, which is utilized as raw material in the various plants in the Wheeling district operated by that concern.
     In addition to the large plants mentioned above, among the other concerns in the city which contribute largely to its monthly pay roll and general prosperity are the Acme Sheet Metal company, metal ceilings, gas heaters and patented measures; Haskins Glass Co., illuminating ware; Riverside Bridge Works, bridges and structural iron; Martins Ferry Box and Barrel Works, Kegs, boxes and barrels; Spence-Baggs Stove works, stoves; Beans Bros.” Foundry, heavy castings; Stanton Heater company, heaters; Novelty Mould works and Suburban Brick company.

The Sedgwick House Museum is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12 Noon until 4:00 p.m. Stop in and see our exhibit of home entertainment items which includes a stereoscope and a magic lantern that date to the nineteenth century.

AUGUST 1

     A few nights ago a business house in this city was broken into and several articles of value were carried out. Chief Terrell has been working on this case and he has secured a clue which will lead to the arrest of several persons. One of them is reported to be anxious to make a confession.

     Today the Aetna-Standard clerks will cross bats with the clerks of the Wheeling Corrugating Company on the Wheeling Creek grounds. It promises to be a fast game as both teams have been practicing hard for the contest.
     The Aetna-Standard line-up is as follows:
Hays, c.; Smith, p.; Hadsell, 1st; Fox, 2nd; Devrees, 3rd; Kennedy, c; Farrar, s.s.; Williams, l.f.; Withers, r.f.

AUGUST 2

Rev. S. F. Bogle has been granted a month’s vacation by the congregation of the Presbyterian church and he will leave with Mrs. Bogle this morning for Guernsey county to visit relatives. There will be no services in the Presbyterian church during his absence.

AUGUST 7

Frank LaRue received a hard fall yesterday at the Laughlin plant by being thrown from a turntable on which he accidentally stepped while passing through the plant. William Springfield in assisting LaRue to his feet was also injured. Both men required the services of physicians.

AUGUST 10

Robert Hodge is expected home last evening from a two-month visit to his old home in Wales.

A committee of local Masons have been at work making arrangements for the cornerstone laying in connection with the new High School building and there hardly may be any doubt that it will be a big day in the city. Every society in the city will be invited to participate, and if all responds, as it is hoped they will, there will be a big crowd present. The date for laying is Sept. 7, or Labor Day. Grand Master Dr. W. A. Bell of Kenton will probably be there.

A new post office safe has been installed. The office has been without a safe since burglars blew it open more than a year ago.

The stock in the store of J. F. McKee will be offered for sale to-day by Constable Moore to satisfy judgements obtained in Squire Stricklin’s court.

Jack-the-Peeper has made his appearance on South Third street Wednesday evening. A prominent young woman, who had just returned from a social event, was very much surprised, as well as frightened, when she raised the blind at a window of her room, to find a man crouching on the roof of her porch. The woman was so frightened that she was unable to make an outcry, but managed to rush to the other side of the house which was occupied by another family. As soon as the sneak saw that he was discovered he lost no time in climbing down from his position and disappeared in the darkness. . .

The Martins Ferry Area Historical Society meets the fourth Thursday of every month except November (the third Thursday) and December at the Sedgwick House Museum, 627 Hanover Street, at 7:00 p.m. Members and prospective members are welcome to attend.