Stories

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I’ll share with you the people I’ve discovered…

Mystery on Factory Street: The 1930 Death of Gilbert Lloyd

Eight bullet holes, a fatal 1930 “accident,” and the constable who walked away entirely free. Gilbert Sunkle Lloyd (1899-1930) was a Cleveland native who established a life in Dover, Ohio, as a family man and business owner. Lloyd was a well-known local figure, operating a gas station on the 300 block of Factory Street while…

by Noel Poirier

Fractured Skulls: The 1925 Killing of Alex Paleas

A well known Tuscarawas County resident avoided prison for a fatal street fight. Fred Hostetler (1873-1932) was a 52-year-old resident of the west side of Uhrichsville, Ohio, who worked at the Royal plant of The Robinson Clay Products Company in the summer of 1925. A former resident of Midvale, he was a well-connected member of…

by Noel Poirier

Fight of His Life: The 1915 Trial of Frank Rose

A young Italian laborer fought for his life twice; first in a Bolivar boarding house and then in a court of law. Frank Rose (1895-?), born Francesco Russo in Caronia, Italy, immigrated to the United States aboard the S.S. Italia, arriving at the Port of New York in April 1913. A laborer described as 5’4”…

by Noel Poirier

Death at the Packing Plant: The 1941 Killing of Ferdinand Sandry

Workplace ‘kidding’ at a Dennison meat packing plant in the spring of 1941 sparked a fatal explosion of violence. Frank McGuire (1895-1955), born in Tuscarawas County, was a long-time resident of the Dennison area with a diverse work history. He married Emma Robinson (1898-1970) in 1914 and supported his family through various roles including clay…

by Noel Poirier

A Dream Crushed: The Story of Antonio Lemoni

The story of an Italian immigrant who spent years laboring in Ohio to reunite his family in America, only for a tragic accident to strike just weeks before his dream could come true. Antonio Lemoni (c. 1875-1910), an Italian laborer born in Milan, began his journey to Tuscarawas County years before the tragedy that would…

by Noel Poirier

The 1914 Killing of Joseph Reed on Beaver Avenue

A New Philadelphia teen desperately defended his family from his abusive stepfather. Content warning: The following story contains references to domestic violence. If you are experiencing domestic abuse or violence and need help, please visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The story begins with Catherine Swan Nelson (1867-1957), a Swedish immigrant who, after being widowed from…

by Noel Poirier

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© Noel B. Poirier, 2023.