Wilhelm: Fremont's benefits touted in 1887 news article
Last week’s column was based on an 1887 Board of Trade Edition, published by the Fremont Daily News. It told the story of the birth and infancy of the company that became Henkel-Clauss, a world-famous cutlery firm based in Fremont.
The publication also shed some interesting light on Fremont as a young city.
The trade edition touted a list of what “Fremont Has.” That included a boom, natural gas, electric light, three parks, broad avenues, 10 churches, free library, three banks, three railroads, an ex-president, a telephone exchange, fine hotels, progressive people, a board of trade, yachting and fishing, elegant pleasure resorts, fine public schools and (Don’t miss this one) 18 secret societies.
It also listed 78 factories, the Light Guard Band, 12,000 population, miles of paved streets, 30 natural gas wells, immense water works, 300 business houses, imposing public buildings and the “finest German Catholic church in Ohio.” (I can only wonder if someone was a parishioner because there were other fine churches at the time.)
Predicted town would add a railroad, 500 new homes by 1888
From that point, the publication predicted what the city would have in 1888: free delivery, another opera house, a street car line, another water reservoir, a new railroad, more paved streets, 500 new houses, a new courthouse, an increase of 5,000 in population, a number of new business blocks, a marvelous real estate boom and more new factories than many larger cities.
I have no way to judge exactly how well the publication’s predictions did, but I would guess that those forecasts were more optimistic than reality. I will point out, however, that while there was no new courthouse in 1888, construction on the new jail and sheriff’s residence, which now houses the commissioners’ offices, started in 1890.
Oddly, while the publication listed “three” parks, it provided details on four under the heading “The City’s Pleasure Parks.”
“Towns like individuals, during the period of early growth, should prepare for the contingences of full maturity. Villages, surrounded by or rather scattered over spacious commons, do not need places of outdoor resort and amusement. But far different is it with a city whose inhabitants are compelled to spend the day in close rooms or dusty shops. It is highly important that for such, attractive resorts should be provided where an occasional hour can be spent in health-giving exercise and the indulgence of aesthetic appetite.”
The publication points to Fort Stephenson Park as “the most finely situated and most interesting of Fremont’s four parks.
Naturally elevated, it included not only the library, but also the city hall and heavy stone stairways leading to circling walks.
City Park, now known as Veterans Memorial Park across from the courthouse, “was set apart by Platt Brush out of Brush’s addition to Lower Sandusky.” It included the waterworks’ standpipe at the time and was once known as Standpipe Park. The park also included a band stand. Platt Brush was among the early settlers of the community and also donated the land where the courthouse now stands.
Also listed were Diamond Park (Now Triangle Park) and Birchard Park, both on land donated by Sardis Birchard.
Roy Wilhelm started a 40-year career at The News-Messenger in 1965 as a reporter. Now retired, he writes a column for both The News-Messenger and News Herald.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Wilhelm: Old news article touted Fremont's benefits in 1887
