Girard Township Borough of Girard History Submitted by Chris McClelland

GIRARD MONUMENT

From Nelson's Biographical Dictionary and Historical Reference Book on
Erie County,  Vol I, pp306-309

 

BOROUGH OF GIRARD

At the close of the last war with Great Britain, the site of Girard borough was partly included in the farm of John Taylor, whose log house was the only building there. At a later date the land was owned by Daniel Sayre, sr., who purchased from Mr. Taylor. Mr. Sayre sold to Joseph Wells, who erected the first frame building within the borough limits. The original town was on the other side of the creek, now known as West Girard. When the canal was located on the east side of the stream, several parties commenced building on the present site, and it was not long until a town was laid out. The first buildings in the village were near the canal, and the first tavern occupied a site a little west of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1846, the village was incorporated as a borough. Its first officers were: Burgess, Mason Kellogg; Council. John McClure, jr., Leffert Hart, H. McConnell, George H. Cutler; Clerk, L. S. Jones. The census gave Girard a population of 400 in 1850, 616 in 1860, 704 in 1870, 703 in 1880, and 626 in 1890.

Girard occupies a pleasant site along the Ridge road, which constitutes its main street, in high ground overlooking the lake shore plain and the valley of Elk creek, sixteen miles west by public road from Erie, ten east from the Ohio line, two and a half south of the lake and one and three quarters from the railroad station at Miles Grove, with which it is connected by the old Depot road and Rice avenue. The latter thoroughfare, which was projected by Dan Rice while in the height of his prosperity, was opened in the winter of 1867-68. The old Erie canal passed through the borough by a deep cut. Its route is now mainly occupied by the "Peasley" R.R., of which Girard is an important station.

 

CHURCHES

The Methodist Church, which has few superiors in this county, was erected in 1868 at a cost of $30,000. The congregation was organized in 1815, and built its first edifice in 1828.

A Presbyterian Church, to which a graveyard was attached, was erected in 1835, the congregation having been organized May 16 of that year. This building was remodeled in 1893, at a cost of $8,500.

St. John's Catholic congregation was organized about the year 1853, and soon after put up a church building. The congregation was attended by visiting priests for a number of years. A regular pastor was supplied in 1870, who also has charge of the congregation at North East. Rev. Father Briody is the present pastor in charge.

The Universalist society was organized some years previous to 1852, in which year they erected their church building.

St. Johannis congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1868, and they purchased the ground and building occupied by the Methodist Episcopal society prior to that date, in 1869.

CEMETERY AND SCHOOLS

The Girard cemetery is a tract of ten acres, containing many costly monuments. The organization was chartered in March 1861, and the property was laid out the same year.

The Girard Academy was built by subscription in 1850, and opened in 1851. It had a students' boarding house attached, and for awhile was very successful. The property was transferred to the school board about twenty-five years ago, and had since been occupied by the common schools of the borough. The latter were first graded in the winter of 1872-73.

The first school that was held in Girard township was taught in what is now Girard borough in the year 1809. In 1827, the village school was held on the lower floor of a log building that stood a little to the rear of the site of the drug store of Smith & Lowe.

 

HOTELS AND FACTORIES

The hotels of Girard borough are the Avenue House, finished in 1879, and the Rhodes House, which has been in operation forty years. Girard has been unfortunate in the matter of hotel buildings, the old Girard House, which occupied the site of the present Avenue House, and the Central House of Joshua Evans, which stood on the east side of the public square, having both been burned. In the days of stage coaching on the Ridge road, the locality was a famous one for taverns, there having been no less than eight, within two miles, in 1835.

The wrench factory was built in 1874 by a corporation under the State laws, with a capital of $8,000, the people of Girard subscribing half the stock. It failed in 1875, and was purchased at a sheriff's sale by C. F. Rockwell, W. C. Culbertson, C. F. Webster and R. S. Battles, forming a limited partnership.

PUBLIC SQUARE, MONUMENTS, ETC.

The public square was a gift from Joseph Wells, when the town was laid out. Its chief object of interest is the soldiers’ monument, a handsome shaft of marble designed by the Chicago sculptor, Leonard Volk, inclosed by an iron railing, and dedicated November 1, 1865. It cost $6,000, the whole of which was paid by Dan Rice. The principal speakers at its dedication were Gov. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, Gov. Todd, of Ohio, and Gen. Alfred B. McCalmont, of Franklin. It is claimed that this was the first monument erected to the memory of the Union soldiers.

The Dan Rice property, on the north side of the square, embraced two and a half acres, inclosed on three sides by a heavy brick wall, and ornamented with statuary, walks, arbors, trees, shrubbery and flowers. The mansion was a large frame building. Within the inclosure was a fine conservatory and a brick barn which cost $26,000. The cost of the wall around the grounds was $3,000. Dan Rice’s first purchase in Girard was in 1853, when he bought the original premises from Col. John McClure for $18,000. In 1856 he moved there, and from that date continued to add to his purchase until he had possession of the entire square, at a cost of about $60,000. He lost the property through financial embarrassment and it is now owned by Carl Jones, who tore down the old house and built another.

PUBLIC MEN

Girard borough and township have furnished a goodly proportion of the public men of the county. Among the number have been George H. Cutler, State Senator from 1873 to 1875, Speaker of the Senate, then the second highest office in the Commonwealth, from the close of he session in 1874, and the President pro tem. during the session of 1875; W. C. Culbertson, elected to Congress in 1888; Theo. Ryman, member of Assembly in 1848; Leffert Hart in 1849; Henry Teller in 1860 and 1861; George P. Rea in 1868 and 1869; H. A. Traut, from 1883 to 1885; Myron Hutchinson, Associate Judge, from 1841 to 1850; James Miles, from 1851 to 1856; S. E. Woodruff, District Attorney from 1853 to 1856, and United States Register in Bankruptcy for this Congressional District from 1867 to 1879; U. P. Rossiter, elected District Attorney in 1893; George W. Evans, elected Sheriff in 1894; Calvin L. Randall, elected Register and Recorder in 1884 and ’87; James C. Marshall, Prothonotary from January 14, 1839, to November 16, 1839, and Samuel Perley from 1851 to 1854; Jeremiah Davis, County Treasurer from December 1, 1856, to December 28, 1858; L. T. Fisk, County Superintendent of Public Schools from 1866 to 1869; Myron Hutchinson, County Commissioner from 1828 to 1831, and James Miles from 1835 to 1838; D.W. Hutchinson, Mercantile Appraiser in 1877, and J. M. Ball in 1894; Wm. Biggers, Jury Commissioner from January 1,1880, to January 1, 1883; George Platt, County Surveyor many years and present City Engineer of Erie; John Hay, Director of the Poor from 1853 to ’57, and Wm. Hopkins from 1890 to 1893; James Miles, County Auditor from 1840 to 1843, and Philip Osborn from 1864 to 1867. Senator and Secretary of the Interior Teller, of Colorado, was a resident of Girard township while a boy. D. W. Hutchinson was Register of the United States Land Office at Bismarck, Dak., during the first Cleveland administration, and Marcus N. Cutler held a clerkship at Harrisburg during a long period. T. C. Wheeler was United States Assistant Assessor for nine years, being appointed under President Lincoln. Mr. Osborn, above named, was Keeper of the Marine Hospital at Erie for several years, ending in 1883. Mr. Marshall moved to Erie in 1844 and Mr. Woodruff about 1872.

NEWSPAPERS AND BANKS

The first newspaper was the Girard Free Press, started about 1845 by S. D. Carpenter, who took Horace Greeley’s advice, went West and became a prominent politician. The Express, its successor, was purchased by T. C. Wheeler and William S. Finch, November 7, 1854, and the name was changed to the Republican. It bore the novel motto, "Independent on all subjects, rabid on none." In 1855 Samuel Perley moved to Girard from Erie, merged the material of his city office with that of the Republican, and conducted a paper for several years. From that date several futile efforts were made to establish a paper until 1867, when the Cosmopolite entered the arena as the successor of the Crisis, which had been founded at Conneautville by T. G. Fields, under the auspices of Dan Rice, to advocate his election to the Presidency. Charles Stow became editor of the Cosmopolite, and gave it a reputation the country over. After a brief suspension, it was bought by Jacob Bender & Bro., in the spring of 1872. In the spring of 1873 Charles Bender went out of the concern, but returned in 1876, and in 1880 purchased the interest of his brother. The office passed into the hands of Murphy & Nichols November 28, 1889, who have conducted the paper since.

The first bank was organized in 1859 by R. S. Battles and C. F. Webster. The firm dissolved in 1876 and Mr. Battles has continued the business. The First National Bank was organized in 1863, and kept up until its charter expired. Mr. Battles was cashier during the whole period of its existence, managing both the National and private banks.

MISCELLANEOUS

The secret societies are: Lake Erie Lodge, No. 347, F. & A. M., a Harugari lodge, a Mystic Circle and a lodge of the United Workmen.

The old State line passes through the borough, running within six feet of the north east corner of the Avenue House.

The adoption of Girard as the residence of Dan Rice had the effect of drawing other caterers to the public amusement there, and in course of time it became known far and wide as a "show town." Among the famous showmen who made it their residence were Dr. James L. Thayer, who started as an employe of Rice’s; Charles W. Noyes, one of his pupils; Abe Henderson, Agrippa Martin and Seymour Pease, all at one time owners or part owners of circuses. No less than five shows have been organized in the borough, viz.: Dan Rice’s, Thayer and Noyes’, Rice & Forepaugh’s, Anderson & Co.’s and G. R. Spalding & Co.’s. Dan Rice wintered his shows there from 1856 till the spring of 1875

Henry Ball, Esq., who died on the 12th of March, 1895, was known as one of the oldest Justices of the Peace in Pennsylvania. He was first elected in 1852, and held the office from that date until his death, a period of forty-three years.

The Robert Wilcox Library, one of the most creditable features of the borough, owes its origin to the liberality of Robert Wilcox, a native of Girard, who bequeathed $5,000 for the purpose. The building was dedicated on the 3d of May, 1895.

Denman Thompson, the celebrated comedian, was born near the borough of Girard on the 15th of October 1833, of New Hampshire stock. His most famous part was in the play of the "Old Homestead," which he partially wrote, and which had a degree of popular favor second only to "Uncle Tom’s Cabin." He closed his theatrical career in New York in 1895, at the age of 62, after being on the stage nearly forty-five years.

 

 

 

Source: Nelson’s Biographical Dictionary and Historical Reference Book of Erie County

pp. 306-309

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