A Tuscarawas County Find: The Journal of George H. Zimmerman

The other day my wife came home from visiting local thrift stores with an interesting item. She purchased what appeared to be the journal of a person named George H. Zimmerman (1889-1946) and I, being me, needed to learn more. How George H. Zimmerman’s journal for the year 1912 ended up in a Tuscarawas CountyContinue reading “A Tuscarawas County Find: The Journal of George H. Zimmerman”

One House’s Story: The Kreiter Family

There are many large and decorative homes lining North Wooster Avenue in Dover, Ohio. Nestled among them is a somewhat more modest house that was once home to a Dover grocer and his family. A note about addresses: House numbers and street names often change over time. While it has been difficult to establish detailsContinue reading “One House’s Story: The Kreiter Family”

One House’s Story: The Denison Family

Every house in a community, regardless of size or expense, can tell us a story about its past inhabitants and their lives. This modest brick home in New Philadelphia includes stories of a beloved community member and family tragedies. Content warning: This post contains references to suicide. If you or someone you know has aContinue reading “One House’s Story: The Denison Family”

A Fort Laurens Soldier’s Life and Death

Many of us are familiar with the many struggles faced by the short-lived garrison at Fort Laurens. Rather than focus on that, I thought I would look at the life, and death, of one soldier in particular. He was a Virginian and his name was Private George Osborne. This branch of the Osborne family hasContinue reading “A Fort Laurens Soldier’s Life and Death”

One House’s Story: The Hendershott Family

This house sits prominently on the corner of a busy New Philadelphia intersection and has, over time, transitioned into a multi-family dwelling. Its roots though lie with the family of a Civil War Veteran and successful New Philadelphia businessperson. A note about addresses: House numbers and street names often change over time. There is someContinue reading “One House’s Story: The Hendershott Family”

Decapitated and Burned: Explosion at the Stone House Mine

Recently I posted an image of a Bureau of Mines Mine Rescue Car that visited the mining town of Roswell in 1923. That image, and a comment from someone who saw it, led me to examine a tragic incident from 1927 that occurred at a local Tuscarawas County coal mine outside of Mineral City. TwoContinue reading “Decapitated and Burned: Explosion at the Stone House Mine”

Mine Rescue Car Visits Roswell

My neighbor gave me a panoramic image taken in December 1923 titled “Department of Interior, Bureau of Mines, Car #5, at Roswell, Ohio, December 1923” that shows the miners of that community and even lists some of their names. Recognize anyone? During the first few decades of the 20th century nearly a million people workedContinue reading “Mine Rescue Car Visits Roswell”

One House’s Story: The Hoobler Family

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

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”

One House’s Story: The Schauffler Family

Two immigrant brothers arrived in New Philadelphia in the late 1870s and, before too long, operated one of the largest tanneries in Tuscarawas County. One of those brothers built a home on the fringe of downtown New Philadelphia, a home his family would live in for over forty years. A note: House numbers and streetContinue reading “One House’s Story: The Schauffler Family”