north broadway – Tuscarawas County Stories

The Cistern Secret: The 1919 Clara Shroyer Case

AI generated image depicting the Bates gardener and a New Philadelphia, Ohio policeman discovering a crying infant at the bottom of a cistern, 2025. (Source: Google ImageFX)

A shocking discovery in a city cistern would unravel the dark, hidden chapter of young woman’s short life. Clara Madge Shroyer (1897–1930) was born in Mineral City, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, the daughter of Henry Shroyer (1872–1930), a local farm laborer, and his wife, Selena Emma Fisher Shroyer (1876–1937). She grew up in a rural farmingContinue reading “The Cistern Secret: The 1919 Clara Shroyer Case”

One House’s Story: Gustavus A. and Elizabeth Senhauser

The Gustav and Elizabeth Senhauser Hose located on the corner of North Broadway and North Street in New Philadelphia, Ohio, 2023. (Source: google.com)

Swiss immigrant Gustavus Senhauser began his American journey as a lighthouse tender in New Jersey, but would build a thriving family business in Ohio, that left a lasting architectural legacy in New Philadelphia. There is a house that sits prominently on North Broadway in New Philadelphia, Ohio that would, at first glance, give one theContinue reading “One House’s Story: Gustavus A. and Elizabeth Senhauser”

Emmet D. Sharp and the Sharp Building of New Philadelphia

The pediment above the Sharp Building on Fair Avenue NE in New Philadelphia, Ohio, 2024.

A building down the street from my home is lovingly being given a new life and purpose as a community gathering place. I thought I would take a look at the man responsible for its original construction over 100 years ago. John Sharp (?-1853) immigrated from England to the United States before the 1830s andContinue reading “Emmet D. Sharp and the Sharp Building of New Philadelphia”

The Mystery of a 1913 Wedding Photo

Image of the Alexander-Beyer wedding party taken in front of the Alexander residence on North Broadway, New Philadelphia, Ohio in 1913. (Source: ebay.com)

I am always searching various auctions for Tuscarawas County related material and recently I discovered this photo-postcard for sale on eBay. It piqued my interest and I thought I would share what I learned about the story behind this photograph. Frederick Alexander (1850-1911) immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1865 and made hisContinue reading “The Mystery of a 1913 Wedding Photo”

One House’s Story: The Gribble Family

Feature image of the Gribble House, 2023.

The stretch of North Broadway that spans from Ray Avenue to Tuscora Park is dotted with many fine homes. Among them is a home built by a man who was a Civil War veteran, a longtime public servant, a well-respected member of the New Philadelphia community, and son of one of Tuscarawas County’s early pioneers.Continue reading “One House’s Story: The Gribble Family”

One House’s Story: The Hoobler Family

The Hoobler House, North Broadway, New Philadelphia, Ohio, 2012. (Source: google.com)

I have wanted to explore the history of this house for a while because this house is so hard to miss when you are driving on North Broadway in New Philadelphia. I knew it had to have at least one good story worth telling and I was not incorrect. A note about addresses: House numbersContinue reading “One House’s Story: The Hoobler Family”

One House’s Story: The Hay Family

The Hay House location, North Broadway, New Philadelphia, 2018. (Source: google.com)

There are many houses that get swallowed up by future construction and changes in how a property is used. I only recently learned that this building on the corner of Fair Avenue and Broadway has, at its core, a home built by a 19th century New Philadelphia merchant. A note about addresses: House numbers andContinue reading “One House’s Story: The Hay Family”