Bowerston
1883 - 1983


This booklet was compiled by Ila Masters (Mrs. Frank H.) from material given to the Bowerston Public Library by many persons and from many sources. It is written from bits and pieces as they were written by those who gave them to the library. The writer of this brief history has no proof that all the dates are completely accurate.

INDEX
General History 1
Churches 8
Schools 17
Newspapers 19
Post Office 20
Bowerston Public Library 23
Businesses 25
Present Improvements and Changes 27

1

The village of Bowerston located on Conotton Creek, was first called Bowers Mill, then Bowersville, then Bowerstown, and finally Bowerston. The name was changed from Bowerstown to Bowerston because there was another town in Ohio by the name of Bowerstown. Bowerston was platted by David Bower, Henry Hoover, and Nathaniel Bower on August 21, 1851 and was filed in court August 2, 1852.

The Bower family came from England and some of them from Scotland. Barnhart Bower was the son of Caleb Bower, and David Bower was the son of Barnhart Bower. Caleb Bower died in 1810 and was the first internment in the Longview Cemetery in Bowerston. Barnhart Bower died in 1844. Barnhart Bower came from Hagerstown, Maryland in 1807. Henry Hoover was a brother-in-law to David Bower, and Nathaniel Bower was David's brother.

Barnhart Bower bought 600 acres from the Steubenville Land Company where Herb Bower lived, previously owned by Charles Crawford, and is now owned and occupied by the Edward Alderman family. Barnhart Bower built (in the woods) an upright sawmill and also started a grist mill in 1812. The power was furnished by the rapidly flowing Conotton Creek. The work of the mill was carried on by David Bower, assisted by his brother Jacob.

The surveying and the platting of the incorporation of the village was executed by Henry William Adair. The village was incorporated April 2, 1883. The first officers elected were:

Mayor, J. A. PriceMarshall, James Timmerman
Clerk, D. R. Phillips
Treasurer, John Addleman

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Councilmen were:
James Plowman
A. P. Dunlavy all 2 yr.. term
M. W. Cousins
J. W. Gordon
Z. D. Price all 1 yr.. term
W. B. Penn

The above officers were sworn in on the 4th day of April, 1883.

The first ordinances were passed April 13, 1883 and were published in the Bowerston newspaper called "The Bowerston Banner" on April 18, 1883.

The population of Bowerston in 1874 was not more than 100. There was a common road through the town. By the year 1910 the population had grown to 524. In 1920 the population was 500 (taken from the "Farmer's Institute Bulletin). In 1950 the population was 522. In 1910 the population was 600 or more (due to an oil boom). The area increased but the population has not. The village was started by the railroad going through the village. By July 1, 1874, there were the following business establishments in the village:

2 dry good stores 3 shoe shops
2 drug stores2 physicians
1 mill 1 gunsmith and locksmith
1 steam saw mill 2 churches
1 tannery 1 harness shop
1 printing office

The W. B. Penn Company was established in 1874. There was a tavern in the old Overholt house which stood on the corner of East Main Street now owned by the General Telephone Company.

3

It was on the corner beside where the telephone office now stands. The Overholt house was the first house built in Bowerston. The last occupants were the Able family.

The village had a hospital where a small house now stands on the corner of Gordon on the alley beside the Methodist Church parsonage. It was built by Dr. Gordon and had only three beds. There were no nurses. It was short lived.

There was an opera house and township hall where the library is now located. There was a pool room where Masters' Market stands. The George Davis home located on Jarvis Street was where the first school house stood. It was torn down by Frank Masters in 1945, and the brick house was built on the lot. The house is now occupied by the Glenn Hunt family. The school was a two-room school built in 1846. Children formerly went to Heller's School.

The Wheeler house at the corner of East Main and Liberty Streets was a boarding house. It was owned by the Moreland heirs some of whom were Alice and Annabelle Wheeler. They lived there for many years, and the house was known as the Wheeler House. It was purchased by Frank and Ila Masters in 1971, and it has been completely remodeled. It is supposedly the oldest house still standing.

There once was a fail behind the Trinity Methodist Church (formerly the E. U. B. Church) on Main Street.

There was a covered bridge over Conotton Creek on Route 151 toward Scio.

4-A

W. B. Penn had the first hotel in town known as the Erie Hotel. It was across from the railroad station. Another hotel was the Commercial Hotel where Mrs. Bake now lives on Main Street.

The Steubenville and Indiana Railway, the P. C. C. & the St. Z were being built in the years 1851-54. During this time the villages of Fairview (now Jewett), Masters-vilConationConotton), New Market (now Scio), and Bowerston were platted. The boring of the Cadiz Junction and the Bowerston tunnels required large laboring gangs, causing a boom. Bowerston was the trading center for all surrounding areas.

There was a drugstore (Mehaffey's) beside Masters' Market. Joe Mehaffey lives in the house (3rd generation) beside the building which housed the drugstore--also a barbershop.

W. H. Host and a Mr. Gordon were attorneys.
There was a bakery and a pool room where Masters' Market now stands--also a barber shop.

J. N. Dunlap had a general store where Sam Rippeth now lives. Sam Rippeth bought the store from Dunlap's and called it the R & P Market. The original Dunlap store was destroyed by fire.

On the second floor above Masters' Market there was a telephone office operated by one telephone operator who also lived there.

The Bank was started in Bowerston in 1904. W. B. Penn was president, J. A. McKean vice-president, and Burt Mann was cashier. The original bank building is still standing and is owned by Pete Rothermond.

4-B

It was sold to the 4th National Bank of Cadiz in January, 1930. No one lost any money except the shareholders.

Donald Bower owns what used to be Porter's Boarding House. He has an electrical shop in it. There is also a beauty shop in the rear.

There was a restaurant and ice cream parlor, also a skating rink where Galigher's Trucking now stands, (now the firehouse). It was owned by Scotts.

Stewart Price was the first merchant, the first post-and the first railroad agent. Mr. Price kept a hotel in New Hagerstown, Ohio. He began a mercantile business in Feed Springs, a small hamlet in Harrison County, and from there moved to Bowerston in 1851 when it was an unbroken wilderness and was used as a sugar and water camp. Price erected a log building which served not only as a dwelling for the family, but as the first store in the place, and it remained standing until 1889. Mr. Price sold out after about ten years and went to Tappen, Ohio. Under the firm name of Price and Rowley he carried on a business for eight years. In 1882 he returned to Bowerston and founded the firm of S. Price and Sons. He was the father of the late Oscar Price who resided here in Bowerston until his death.

The S. Price and Sons Store was located on the site beside the present Shell Service Station (now Ed Galigher's Trucking) on Main Street. The Bowerston Fire Department purchased the building from the Galigher Trucking in 1982.

5

Mr. John Addleman moved to Bowerston in 1853. Bowerston, at that time, was comprised of a few dwelling houses, one store, anal a blacksmith shop. Here Mr. Addleman, who had learned the trade of cabinet-making and carpentry, opened up in this line of business and successfully conducted same until 1870, when he established himself in the furniture business. He was elected treasurer of Bowerston at its incorporation.

There were two livery barns, two hotels--the Commercial Hotel and the Erie Hotel. The Commercial Hotel was where Mrs. Bake now lives on Main Street, and the Erie Hotel was where the American Legion Home now stands.

Bowerston had two doctors; Dr. Samuel McGavran and Dr. J. W. Gordon. Dr. McGavran began practice of medicine in Bowerston June 1, 1874. Dr. Truman was a dentist, and J.E. Mehaffey was a druggist.

Six passenger trains ran through Bowerston--four one way and two back in the evening. They carried carloads of express from Uhrichsville. Bowerston had the only Wheeling and Lake Erie Station in Harrison County. It stood there until 1959. The first railroad station was located at upper crossing that is on State Route 212. Bowerston was a railroad town the first half of the century.

Gas was brought into the town in 1902, electricity was brought into the town in the 1926, and the water department was established in 1938 or 1939.

The village of Bowerston sold bonds for the paving of Main, Garfield, and State streets in 1911.

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In the year 1904 a three-story town and township Hall was built on the corner of Main and Grant Streets where the library is now located. It was erected at a cost of $13,500. The building was 52 feet in height, 72 feet long, and ¢0 feet in breadth. The handsome metal ceilings were done by Mister Boor and Mister Hamill of Bowerston, The names James A. and Elizabeth McKean appear but don't say why. The contractor for the building was John Hanna of Cadiz. The foreman was Don Fierbaugh of Cadiz, the plasterer was Bill Cotter of Cadiz Junction. The workers-were, Charles Parker, Jim McMillan, and Harry Johnston, all from Bowerston. The workers were paid 20¢ per hour and worked ten hours per day. The township trustees were J. C, Brown, J. C. McGuire, and Joe McLands at the time of the construction of the Township Hall.

Until the building was condemned it was used for many purposes and functions. The first floor was used for the Bowerston village council meeting room, village voting place, and Boy Scout rooms. The basement was used by the Bowerston Public Library from 19¢7 until 1952 when the building was sold. The Library then moved to the old Borden Store building next door. The second floor was used for the trustees meeting room, township polling place, band room, and theater. Prior to 1920, the annual poultry shows were held here. Also shows by travelling groups, Lyceum groups, medicine shows, home talent plays, school plays, political meetings, and motion pictures were held. The third floor was used mainly for lodge meetings, card parties, etc.

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The lodges were: K of P, Rebecca's, Pythian Sisters, Macabees, Ladies of the Macabees, Sons of Veterans, and their auxiliary. The K & P Lodge met there last. The building was sold at auction in 1952. It was sold to a Mr. Stewart from Cadiz for 51,000. The building was torn down, and later the lot was sold to the Library Board of Trustees. The present library building was erected on the site in the years of 1959-60.

The Bower families were the founders of Bowerston. However, the next oldest family was the Boor's. William Henry Boor came to Bowerston in 1855. He set up business in a rented store with rented outfit (blacksmith). When he opened his shop, he had only two cents to his name. He also was the founder of the E.O.B Church known as the (Bowerston Trinity United Methodist) on main Street. The superintended the erection of the church building. The Boor family came from Germany. There were three generations of Boors who were undertakers. Lawrence Boor was the last of the Boors to own the Boor Funeral home. He is the son of D. W. Boor. Lawrence Boor sold the business to Kells Lindsey, the present owner of the Boor-Lindsey Funeral home, however, the Boor-Lindsey Funeral home went out of Business in 1983.

8

CHURCHES

By the year 1874, no church building worthy of a name had been established. However, Bowerston at one time had four churches: The Lutheran, the Evangelical United Brethren, The Methodist Episcopal, and The Presbyterian.

The New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church was the oldest established church and was first known as the Bower's Evangelical Lutheran Church and was built on donated land. In the year 1832, the church was formed near the present site of Bowerston. It is not definite just where, but most think it was up at the cemetery. In 1878 the church was built in the Bowerston Cemetery. Mrs. Heggy's grave is where the steps of the old church were.

Copies of, church histories follow.

9

JERUSALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH

In the year 1832 the church was formed near the present site of Bowerston. (It is not definite just where, but most think it was up at the cemetery).

In 1878 the church was built in Bowerston Cemetery. (Mrs. Heggy's grave is where the steps of the old church were.)

A frame church was erected in 1892 on Jarvis St. for $2600. It had 2 stoves, 2 lamps, and 4 large fancy (but not colored) windows. It was one large room with an entrance hall.

They did not have a parsonage. The minister lived in Sherrodsville. There was just the 2 churches on the charge.

A few charter members were Enos Emry, John Esterday, Swineharts, and Bowers.

The church was disbanded in 1929. The building was sold to William Albaugh (who was a member). He in turn sold it to Larry Kinsey. It was torn down in 1932-33, by Mr. Kinsey. He built his house on the lot, the same year.

A few of the members when it was disbanded was: Albaughs, Blanche Bower & Brothers, Homer Scott's family, Alice & Harry Fisher, Craigs, Maude Law & daughter, and Heggys.

Written by: Miss Dorothy Huff

10/5/59 *Correct name is
Edward Lorenzo Kinsey
"Lory"


10

EVANGELICAL UNITED BRETHERN CHURCH

The first Sunday School was organized in 1857. The first church building was United Brethern in Christ, erected on NE Main St, in 1860. (The L. Fitzpatrick home is there now.) The first building used was a Baptist Church moved from Hagerstown to Bowerston by Jacob Nortek, who in reality was the founder of the church at this place.

Charter members were: Barney & Matilda Bower, Dawson & Anna. Sams,, John & Charity Addleman, Wm. & Eva Timmerman, George & Miranda McKane, James Albaugh & Lavina Bower.

In 1878 the present building was started on present site. It was built by members through donated labor and self denial. It was a small church with 3 windows at end of the pulpit at north end of the church. It was heated by 2 stoves and 4 lamps.

In 1914 a 14 foot addition was built on the South end. Anew tower, vestibule, new memorial window, new basement & kitchen, new seats, and a new heating system was also added. The tower of the first building was 20 ft. higher than present one.

In 1916, a Sunday School room was built on the North end, folding doors were cut through, a new kitchen and another furnace were added. Value of the church building in 1920 was $4500.

The parsonage was located at Bowerston and was beside the church. Its value in 1920 was $1500. The church was remodeled in 1950 with new fixtures added. The church purchased a new parsonage on E. Main St. in 1955. The old one was sold and torn down. The basement of the church was remodeled again in 1957-58

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. Churches on the charge were Bowerston, Tunnel Hill, Gundy's Ridge, Mt. Bethel, and Perrysville.

Written by: Miss Dorothy Huff l0/5/59

NOTE: In the late 1960s, the church became known as the Trinity United Methodist Church and is known as that today. Mount Bethel United Methodist Church is on the charge, also.

12

BOWERSTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

This church was organized about 1874 by Rev. William McCarty. (He was at the Conotton Methodist Church). Charter members were as follows: Alexander Gamble and wife, Joseph Gable, James Messenger and wife, and a little later were added John Addleman and wife, E. M. Long and wife, George T. McKean and wife, James McKean and wife, Thomas A. Newell and wife, John Sams and wife, David Bower and wife, and a few others, whose names appeared on an early record which is now lost.

When first formed this church belonged to the Leesville Circuit, but in 1891 it was made the head of a new circuit called Bowerston with a pastor residing at Bowerston. Bowerston and Conotton were taken off from the Leesville circuit with Plum Run and Mt. Zion composed the Bowerston circuit. Rev. John D. Vail was pastor when the change was effected.

The first church building was a frame structure about 24 by 26 feet. It was on Main St, and worth about $600. (Jack Ford's home is located there now.) The present frame church is 40 by 70 feet and was erected in 1880, dedicated in 1881. The building was erected by E. W. Long, and the land was purchased from Robert and Susan Dunlap. The pulpit furniture was purchased from John Addleman Furniture located where the Shell Service Station Station is now.

In 1911 the Sunday School rooms Ladies Aid room and kitchen were built; this addition was 36 by 40 feet and the value of the church in 1920 was about $6,000.

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The day on which this church was dedicated proved to be a very rainy day and looked as though it would be hard work to raise sufficient money to clear the property of debt of $1,400 hanging over it. But the faithful ones were induced to "go still deeper" and raised the necessary amount to pay the debt and the church was dedicated. Everyone aided in the building operations; money, work, material, sawing and timbers all were freely donated inside and outside the membership. All of the $1,400 debt was raised the day of the dedication. Then they started to raise money for the bell. (Olive McCauley's father (Bob) gave the first donation (5.00) for the bell).

A parsonage house was built in 1909 at a cost of about $1,600. This was started by Rev. Boetticher. Before, the church rented whatever home in Bowerston was available and suitable for the minister and his family. The Ladies Aid purchased the lot for X150., while Rev. Boetticher was away. When Rev. Boetticher returned they presented him with the deed and said, "Preacher get to work". He did a lot of the work on the building of the parsonage and was the first minister to live in it.

Some notes of interest;
1926 Mount Zion Church was abandoned. 1929 the Plum Run Church was transferred to the Deersville Charge

In 1940 the Methodist Protestant and Methodist Episcopal Churches were combined and became known as the Methodist Church.

1943 Hanover was added to the Bowerston Charge.

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1946 Hanover was transferred from the Bowerston Charge and Leesville added.

1947 The interior of the church was completely redecorated and then rededicated.

1949 New pulpit furniture and altar service was given the church in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Martin Gundy by their daughters, Mrs. Ila Dick and Mrs. Veleda Barles.

1950 The new furniture was dedicated.

1951-56. The male members worked together to build a new basement under the church. It contains a large well-equipped kitchen. Through generous contributions, the basement was clear of debt and a new electric organ was purchased. Each were dedicated.

1958 The rest rooms in the basement were completed.

1959 Present charge is Bowerston, Leesville and Conotton.

Written by: Miss Dorothy Huff l0/5/59

15

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The first Presbyterian Church in this vicinity was in Hagerstown. (The large brick building beside Henry Czatt's home now.)

The Hagerstown and Bowerston group divided and the Bowerston group held meetings above Billie Price's hardware store. (Art Dunlap's house is there now.) They built themselves a new church on Main Street. Now the vacant lot between Zantene's and Elliott's. It was built by Dave Bower. The new church was dedicated in the summer of 1905. Any figures could not be found on the cost but it was quite a bit more than they had expected. The Presbytery required them to carry an insurance policy on it for $1,300, but this was just a required amount at that time.

It is believed Rev. Hastings was the first pastor. In time the Hagerstown building went down and needed so many repairs that they disbanded and joined the Bowerston group in Bowerston.

They never had a parsonage in Bowerston. It was located in Scio. Bowerston was on the Scio Charge.

A few of the charter members were Leote Bower, Prices, McCauleys, Leggetts, Doc MeHaffey and Crawfords.

The building had a main church room with a balcony for the choir and organ, located at the front of the church. They were facing the altar. Back of the sanctuary were 3 rooms. The Sunday School room, kitchens and another little room used for miscellaneous purposes. There was a small basement with a furnace.

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The church was destroyed by fire on Jan. 9, 1945. It is not known for sure the actual cause of the fire. Some think it started with the heating system. Others think it was started by tramps. There were gas stoves in the Sunday School room and it is known they would light the stoves at night and sleep in front of them. The month before the church burned the gas bill was $6.00 .and it had never been over the minimum before. The fire was reported at 1:00 am Monday . and the furnace was fired the last time at 11:00 am for Sunday services.

They then met for services in an empty store room, across from Penn's Store. (The Bowerston Public Library is located there now). In 1949-50 their disbanded with part of the members going to the Presbyterian Church in Uhrichsville and past uniting with E.U.B. Church in Bowerston.

Written by: Miss Dorothy Huff
10/5/59

17

SCHOOLS

The first school in the vicinity was one quarter mile south of the town (across from Carlisle's?). It was called Heller's School.

James MeGavran was the teacher, and there were ninety pupils.

In 1875 the first school was built in Bowerston on Jarvis Street where Glenn Hunt now lives. It was a two-story frame building with two rooms.

Dr. McGavran was the principal and was outstanding for his teaching of morals as well as the 3 R's.

Ross Masters was the teacher.

In 1892 a brick school building was built on the present site. It had four rooms. The bricks were made on the grounds as the building was built.

A. B. Wright was the first principal and organized the high school. He was outstanding for his religious influence on the pupils. A Mr. Finefrock was considered the best teacher. He was known to have whipped 22 pupils the first day of school. To be certified as a teacher, a person had only to be recommended by a board of three teachers of the county.

In the high school there were four grades: Preparatory, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior. Subjects taught ware; orthography, reading, geography, physical geography, grammar, arithmetic, physiology, penmanship, history, composition, rhetoric, algebra, civics, botany, and American Literature. The first graduating class was in 1893.

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In 1914 the four room building was torn down and the present one was constructed at a cost of $25,000.

Mac and Albert Bower helped lay the brick for the building.

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NEWSPAPERS

"The Bowerston Weekly Patriot" was published by Professor M. Tope from 1894-1903 as a newspaper for Bowerston. When this paper was no longer published, he started a magazine (6"x9") or booklet called the "Phrenologist Era" in 1905. M. Tope was a world renowned phrenologist. This was a monthly magazine issued about the 20th of each month. It sold for $1.00 per year in the United States and $1.25 per year in foreign countries. It found its way all over the United States as well as England, India, Mexico, and Japan.

In 1879 the "Bowerston Banner" was published by W.H. Host, a lawyer. An ad found in the Banner went as follows:

Physics to agriculture they'll supply and write prescriptions for a sickly crop with fever mixture when land's too dry Inflammatory action they will stop. But when rheumatism does the body rack Dr. Thomas' Electric oil will care it in a crack.

In 1890 the "Bowerston Leader" was published by F.O. and C. S. Bower.

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THE POST OFFICE

Some of the older people of the community say that the first Post Office to serve Bowerston and community was located in a residence on the top of Smylie Macauley Hill south of Bowerston. They claim this done so that the Post Office would be located on the stage coach route which traveled the ridge road. It is also said that the post office was moved into Bowerston when the railroad was built through the village. It was housed in the S. Price Sons Store, which was located beside where the Shell Station (now the Fire House) now stands. Stewart Price was the first Postmaster. At some later date the Post Office was moved into the D. R. Phillips Store. It was located where the R & P Market now stands. Helen Rippeth lives there on Main Street beside the present Post Office. In 1894, the Post Office was moved back into the Price Brothers Store and Z. D. Phillips was the postmaster. It was then moved to the building where the fire station (the old fire station) now stands. From there it was moved to a building beside the restaurant. Z. D. Price was postmaster axed he died in 1911 then his widow Olive O. Price was made postmistress. She held the position until 1916 when Charles D. Royer was appointed. He died in 1918 during the flu epidemic.

The post office was closed several days until E. E. Bower was made acting postmaster which he held for about week then resigned and Jim Brooks was appointed acting Postmaster. He held the position several months then resigned and Jim Brooks was appointed acting Postmaster.

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The post office was moved during Mr. Bower's term of office into part of the building known as Masters' Market. Mr. Bower held the position until 1936 when the present postmaster, S. R. McGuire was appointed. In 1939 or 1940 the post office was moved into the present location in the First National Bank building.

The first rural route was established from the Bowerston Post Office about 1908, and the first carrier was D. J. Schiltz, and was twenty?four miles in length. Horses and buggies were used at this time, and the rate of pay was $60 per month. In the later 1890's and until 1916, Bowerston Post Office made a pouch for the New Hagerstown Post Office, and one trip was made per day at fifty cents per trip. The New Hagerstown Post Office was discontinued in 1916 (not sure of this date) and rural route No. 2 was established to serve the territory. C. S. Tate was the temporary carrier and later Harry McBride was made the rural mail carrier. In 1934 routes numbers one and two were combined.

At one time pouches were made for Leesville and Sherrodsville, and the route was carried by Oscar Dick. For years mail was exchanged with eight Pennsylvania trains and four Wheeling and Lake Erie railroad trains per day. At the present time pouches are made for four trains per day; Dennison, Cadiz, and Steubenville. This mail is carried by truck. This article up to this time was written by Paul Price who was a clerk at the post office.

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Since that time a new post office building was built in 1961.

Robert B. Masters was appointed postmaster in 1973. He still holds that position in this year of 1983.

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THE BOWERSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Bowerston School. District Public Library was organized in 1935 through the intensive efforts of the Bowerston Women's Club. At the request of the Women's Club, the school board appointed the first library board which met in June, 1935 to organize. The members of the first library board were:
Mrs. E. L. Miller
Mrs. W. O. Penn
Mrs. Harry Logan
Mr. W. E. Masters
Mr. Brenton Reynolds
Mr. Ed Milliken
Mr. Barry Johnson

Members of the Women's Club solicited both money aid books from the residents and local organizations of Bowerston. The club members also took turns donating a day each week to work in the library. The library was opened to the public July 1, 1935.

Miss Jennie Monigold and Miss Bernice Holesworth worked alternate weeks on the days when only one club member was at the library. The club raised the money to pay these girls.

Mrs. W. O. Penn was elected president of the library board and served in that capacity for many years. She is still on the library board in this year of 1983. She has served constantly and well all these years.

The library in 1935 had a total of 1475 volumes.

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The financial report in September, 1935 read as follows:
Money donated $43.45
Money raised 34.20
$77.95 $77.95
Money spent $74.60
1.08
1.99
$77.67$77.67
Balance $   .26

Books donated 1475 volumes.

The organization of the library was under the leadership of Mrs. Penn. The General Committee for the library was as follows: Mrs. F. C. McKee, Chairman, Mrs. Ed Milliken, and Mrs. Ralph Bower. However, besides this committee the following members helped with the soliciting: Mrs. G. W. Merritt, Mrs. Frances Nolan,, Mrs. W. R. Penn, Mrs. Ed Milliken, and Miss Frances Quinn.

The Women's Club held card parties, bingo parties, penny suppers, etc. to raise money.

Miss Monigold served as librarian from September 1935 until February 1937, Upon her resignation, Miss Margaret Derby, a trained librarian, served both Carrollton and Bowerston libraries.

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BUSINESSES

Few towns the size of this (less than 500) can speak of so many kinds of business. On the east is the tile or clay products plant by the Bowerston Shale Co. (the Millikens, Demuths, and Kinsey), started in the fall of 1929, which runs part of the time day and night. It is a wonderful addition to the community. The Panhandle and W, & Z, E, railways run along on the north side of it.

Across the railroad tracks from it is the fishery, of N. H. Purdy, who stated the place as a muskrat farm, but found the fish industry better. There are nearly 20 acres, much of it being divided up into channels for different varieties of fish. Some of these are noted gold fish, and one kind that is being hatched is rare, but ammueh prized quality.

On the west is the large oil field, owned and operated by Frank Quinn and assistants. He has quite a number of producing wells of fine grade oil. Mr. Quinn and family came here from Pennsylvania some years ago. They live in town, and he has served as mayor for a period to the satisfaction of all our good citizens.

And then there is S. M. Elliott, the "gas man" and noted cook at "doings," who has his gas wells about 3 miles west, and supplies the village with natural gas for light, cooking, and heating. My! but the people would miss if the gas should play out.

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In the town is the Mining Safety Device plant, managed by Bower and Merritt. They make cages for shafts of mines to protect from danger and facilitate the work of hoisting mine cars to the surface. A large new build? ing has lately been built, but at present, while miners troubles are on, the plant is having a vacation.

Then we have a lumber yard and planing mill by Bower & Host. A coal mine and large tipple by John S. Warner and sons. A saw mill by Thomas Warner. The Gordon Oil & Gas Co. distributes supplies to 18 different filling stations and runs a large station in town. E. D. Bliss and Harry Bucey each have a garage. D. W. Boor is the popular funeral director. And E.L. Miller is the doctor. There are two general stores, Penn's and Bucey's. Mr. Repart carries on a feed store; and the writer runs the printing office for ERA and Tope School of Phrenology, Inc. Tire school and high school have six teachers. There are three churches: Presbyterian, with Rev. Sanders of Scio; and the M. E. and U. B. churches, with Rev. Morris and Rev. Ellis residents. C. A. Bower has been the efficient and satisfactory P. M. for many years. We have one of the finest baseball grounds and park, with a large stadium, assembly pavilion, cooking hall, and bandstand, in the state. W. S. Craig is mayor and W. & Z. E. Ry, station agent; D. D. Mull is the Panhandle railway station agent. W. H. Scott drills wells for water and mine prospecting and has a general reapir shop.

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Howard Hamill doesn't smoke a pipe, but he puts them up and does other tinner's work, besides being a good railroad man. John Cogan is the blacksmith.

More might be said, but this will suffice to show that we, as a collection of citizens, have some life, enterprise, and a right to a place on the map.

This was from an article in "The Phrenological Era."

To bring things up to date, several changes have been made.

Specht's Service Station changed hands when Bill Specht retired in 1981. It is now owned and operated by Bob McClain and is called Bob's Union 76.

The area also has two nursing homes, Sunnyslope and The Bowerston Health Care Center.

The W. B. Penn Company went out of business in May 1983. There is an antique shop in one of the Penn buildings known as R.H. Stuff n Such.

Masters' Market is still located in the same place.

The Fire Department has moved to its new location, where Galigher Trucking was located, on Main Street.

The restaurant is owned by George Watson who also has a carpenter shop.

The Bowerston Lumber is still owned and operated by Donald Host.

The town doctor is Terry E. Stocker.

The village park has a new community building with a modern kitchen, rest rooms, a large meeting room with tables and chairs to seat one hundred. It was erected after the old pavillion was torn down. The plate on the wall calls it the Bowerston Community Building--1976:

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Frank Masters, mayor; Joe Mehaffey, administrator; and George Copeland, council president.

The Bowerston Shale Company is still running to full capacity.

The town can also boast of a new Waste Water Treatment Plant and a new housing development for Senior Citizens. There are thirty apartments in the housing units. The buildings were completed in 1982. The Waste Water Treatment Plant was also completed in 1982.

The Nolan Company (Formerly the Mining Safety Device Company) has expanded and has added a complete new factory and a new office building. The office was completed in August and the plant in September of 1982.

The town council and Mayor Frank Masters have worked very hard over the recent years to obtain these improvements to the community. They are a great addition to the town. The town corporation was extended to include the Senior Citizen Housing called Penn Crest and the new buildings of the Nolan Company.

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07/03/2006 11:56 AM