Recently, I shared the memories of a Cardington resident, who grew up in Cardington in the 1870-1880’s, that were published in the May 24, 1934 issue of the Morrow County Sentinel.
His memories revealed interesting information about Cardington. This is the final portion of those recollections.
He said at that time (of his residency) there were no paved or even macadamized streets and as a result they were either several inches deep in mud or dust depending on the season.
“The only attempt made to improve their condition was to occasionally give them a coating of gravel from the Denman gravel pit a mile east of Cardington.”
He noted this gravel was a sandstone variety so it was soon reduced to mud or dust.
“In 1894 the town council decided to macadamize Marion Street from thesquare to the south corporation line. This street was selected not because it was any worse than others but its residents were loudest in their complaints and possibly because some of the members of council lived on it.”
Before the contract was let, Hartley Ensign, a Marion Street resident, happened to drive to Marion and for the first time saw a brick pavement. He came home very much enthused and proposed that the Marion Street residents petition the council to pave the street with brick and assess the additional cost on the abutting property.
A majority of the property owners signed the petition and the council granted it but only over the loud and vigorous protest of a fair sized minority. It any of these protestors are still living they are probably still lamenting the tax they had to pay for this improvement, as I remember, only slightly more than a dollar per front foot.
I might add that I do not remember that any of the members of that council were ever again elected to that office – I was one of them – but the street was paved with brick and today after forty years, is as good as when it was built.”
Taken from the Morrow County Independent 60 years ago, Oct. 25, 1956
The Canon Orville Watson Memorial Hall on the campus of Kenyon College, was one of nine new buildings dedicated during special ceremonies. Watson Hall, a $257,000 dormitory, with rooms for 41 unmarried students was named for a distinguished Ohio clergyman and long time member of the Kenyon College faculty. Watson was a Cardington native and a Cardington High School graduate.
Louis Waterer a Cardington High School senior, one of 11 CHS juniors and seniors taking the Ohio History, Ohio Government and Citizenship tests, placed in the upper two per cent in the entire state.
Window displays were featured in Cardngton business places as part of the village’s Halloween celebration. Old footwear was displayed at Blayney’s Shoe Store; Flowers at Campbell’s Jewelry; Winter bouquets at Sherman Furniture Store; old newspapers, the oldest being an 1833 New York Sun at Snyder’s Service Station; hobby collections ranging from Indian relics to dolls and paintings at Hardman Bakery; old and unusual Cardington photos at Stone’s Drug Store; sword and knife collections at Zeb Russell’s; model planes at Johnstones’ Insurance and model cars at Long’s Garage.
It was election time and Cardngton’s oldest resident, Anna Kehrwecker, 99, was pictured waiting in line to cast her ballot. She had voted in every election since woman’s suffrage was granted after World War I.
Combination of common pleas and probate courts of Morrow County, was approved by an overwhelming 2-1 majority in the recent election.
