tuscarawas – Page 18 – Tuscarawas County Stories

Valentine: A Tuscarawas County Conductor on the Underground Railroad

Underground Railway advertisement from an 1840s newspaper. (Source: ohiomemory.org)

If you read enough historical documents you inevitably come across some small item that gets your attention. This is one of those lose threads that I could not resist pulling. Recently, while reading late 19th century accounts of people who assisted with the Underground Railroad in Ohio, I came across a brief mention in theContinue reading “Valentine: A Tuscarawas County Conductor on the Underground Railroad”

The New Philadelphia Agricultural Works of English & Dixon

While the buildings that once housed the New Philadelphia Agricultural Works of English & Dixon no longer stand, the ongoing development of the site that once hosted it gives the opportunity to examine one of the city’s earliest industrial efforts. The location on South Broadway that once housed the Howden-Buffalo manufacturing plant has, for overContinue reading “The New Philadelphia Agricultural Works of English & Dixon”

One House’s Story: The Miller Family

The Miller House on Ray Avenue, New Philadelphia, August 2022.

I’ve wanted to write about this home on Ray Avenue for a while as it looked like an effort was being made to fix it up and make it a home again. It is nice to explore the origins of a house that will soon have a new life. A note about addresses: House numbersContinue reading “One House’s Story: The Miller Family”

One House’s Story: The McCullough Family

The McCullough House on Tuscarawas Avenue, New Philadelphia, 2019. (Source: google.com)

When this house was built by a prominent New Philadelphia attorney, it was considered by one newspaper writer to be one of the “prettiest cottage homes in the city.” A note about addresses: House numbers and street names often change over time. Relatively speaking, the McCullough family were recent arrivals to Tuscarawas County. Pennsylvania-born CharlesContinue reading “One House’s Story: The McCullough Family”

One House’s Story: The Hall Family

The Hall House on East High Street, New Philadelphia, August 2022.

I always find it interesting when a family arrives in a community, plays a prominent role in that community and then, because children end up not marrying or having few children, simply disappear. This is the story of one such family line. A note about addresses: House numbers and street names often change over time.Continue reading “One House’s Story: The Hall Family”

One House’s Story: The Wise Family

The Wise House on Beaver Avenue, New Philadelphia, 2019. (Source: google.com)

Some houses still exist only on dated images found on Google Street View. I noticed this New Philadelphia house there, hidden behind hedges along Beaver Avenue, and wondered what stories it had to tell. I had no idea it had been the home of one of the community’s most respected Civil War veterans and hisContinue reading “One House’s Story: The Wise Family”

One House’s Story: The Gilgen Family

The Gilgen House on West High Street, New Philadelphia, 2022.

Historical records are great for telling us the who’s and when’s of a person’s life but, unfortunately, they often lack the why’s. This house’s story is about the successful family that built an impressive home on a prominent New Philadelphia street but chose to not live there after it was built. A note about addresses:Continue reading “One House’s Story: The Gilgen Family”

One House’s Story: Dr. Israel J. Williams & Family

The Dr. Israel Williams House on Front Street SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio, (Source: google.com)

I thought I would, once again, take a look at a house that now serves as a place of business as opposed to a residence. You may be one of the many people who have visited this house in its modern role as a community pizza parlor, but it started out life as the homeContinue reading “One House’s Story: Dr. Israel J. Williams & Family”

One House’s Story: The Hammond Family of Dover

The Hammond House on Fourth Street in Dover, Ohio, 2012. (Source: google.com)

I recently travelled through Dover, taking a route I don’t usually take, and came upon this home sitting on the corner of what was once a busy Dover neighborhood. I hoped that the house had a story to tell me, and I was not disappointed. A note about addresses: House numbers and street names oftenContinue reading “One House’s Story: The Hammond Family of Dover”

One House’s Story: The Espich Family

The Espich House, South Broadway, New Philadelphia, Ohio, 2022.

When Driving down South Broadway Street in New Philadelphia today you don’t see too many remaining residences; however, one that does survive is connected to a family with historic roots in Tuscarawas County. A note about addresses: House numbers and street names often change over time. Christian Espich (1766-1842) was born in Germany in 1766Continue reading “One House’s Story: The Espich Family”