local history – Page 21 – Tuscarawas County Stories

One House’s Story: The Eberhardt Family

The Eberhardt House, 2019. (Source: google.com)

There was a family of builders who, during the last half of the 19th century, may have accounted for many of the houses and buildings constructed throughout the city of New Philadelphia. It is only fitting that we look at a house that they not only lived in but may have even constructed. A noteContinue reading “One House’s Story: The Eberhardt Family”

One House’s Story: The Stow Family

The Stow House on East High Street, July 2022.

There is a house that sits prominently at one of the busiest intersections in downtown New Philadelphia. The family that built the home left no children behind to tell their story of how they came to New Philadelphia and helped build a community and life. Hopefully this short profile helps fill that void. A noteContinue reading “One House’s Story: The Stow Family”

One House’s Story: The Schlup Family

The Samuel and Emma Schlup House on West High Street, New Philadelphia, Ohio, 2019. (Source: google.com)

There is a house that now stands as the only remaining residential building on the north side of the 500 block of West High Street in New Philadelphia. Its story is tied to that of a successful New Philadelphia merchant who lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A note about addresses: HouseContinue reading “One House’s Story: The Schlup Family”

Fallen Heroes: Private Francis Blickensderfer

Maj. Gen. Sherman and staff This view was taken in the trenches before Atlanta, Ga. Stereograph shows Sherman standing with officers next to cannon before siege of Atlanta in 1864. (Source: loc.gov)

This fallen hero was the descendant of an American Revolutionary War patriot and early settler of Tuscarawas County. He would make his sacrifice in a war to preserve the nation his ancestor helped create. The Blickensderfer family arrived in Tuscarawas County, Ohio with the arrival of Christian Blickenderfer, Jr. (1753-1820) and his family who purchasedContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private Francis Blickensderfer”

One House’s Story: John Giovanni Crescio

The John Crescio House on Front Street, 2022.

This is actually the story of two houses that were once occupied by the family of an Italian immigrant who was a respected and successful New Philadelphia fruit merchant. A note about addresses: House numbers and street names can change over time. The expansion of railroads into Ohio, and the industries that took advantage ofContinue reading “One House’s Story: John Giovanni Crescio”

One House’s Story: How I Do It

One of the questions I often see after I post a house story asks how I go about researching these individual houses and their occupants. I thought I would write this post to provide that information. Firstly, these posts are not intended as full house-histories. If I were conducting house history research for a payingContinue reading “One House’s Story: How I Do It”

Fallen Heroes: Private Walter A. Smith

German guns captured by the 4th Infantry Division, September 1918. (Source: archive.org)

The Smith family had travelled thousands of miles to raise a family far from the wars and poverty of eastern Europe, only to have one of their sons give the ultimate sacrifice on a far-off battlefield in France. After John Smith (1869-1953) and his fiancé Mary (1869-1925) married in 1886 in Poland, they wasted noContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private Walter A. Smith”

One House’s Story: Joseph J. Williams

The Williams House on Grant Street, Dennison, Ohio, 2012.

This week I decided to write about a house that no longer exists. While taking a Google StreetView “stroll” through Dennison, I came across this unique house on Grant Street and wanted to learn more about its history. A note about addresses: House numbers and street names often change over time. The extended Williams familyContinue reading “One House’s Story: Joseph J. Williams”

Fallen Heroes: Specialist 4 Donald Eugene Allan, Jr.

Sheridan Tanks from H Troop, 17th Cavalry, 198th Infantry Brigade of the Americal Division, cross the Song Diem River during Operation Nantucket Beach, about 10 miles northeast of Quang Ngai, Vietnam.

Typically when I look at the short life of a fallen hero, I trace his roots in the community along his paternal line. In the case of this Vietnam War fallen hero from Midvale, I chose to follow his mother’s family instead. The Chaney family arrived in Ohio in the early 1800s with the migrationContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Specialist 4 Donald Eugene Allan, Jr.”

One House’s Story: Captain Oliver C. Powleson

The Powleson House, New Philadelphia, June 2022.

I frequently pass this well-maintained home on my walks around New Philadelphia and wondered about its history. I had no idea that it had been the home of one of New Philadelphia’s heroes of the American Civil War and a later Mayor of the City of New Philadelphia. A note about addresses: House numbers andContinue reading “One House’s Story: Captain Oliver C. Powleson”