New Lexington, Ohio history

By 1802, others began to take up land, among whom was Peter Overmyer.

Thornville became a town in 1811.

Rehoboth was laid out, in 1815, by Eli Gardner, who provided an ample public square, and, when the time came, what is now “The Deserted Village” was a formidable rival for the county seat.

December 26, 1817, is the date given which marks the official organization of Perry County.

In 1824, in order to execute the United States government’s Native American policies, Congress formed a new bureau within the War Department referred to as Bureau of Indian Affairs, which worked closely with the United States Army to enforce their policies.

In 1826 he bought the 500 acre farm on which part of south Zanesville is built today.

Although named in 1775 and settled in 1779, Lexington did not elect its first mayor until 1832, the year it was incorporated -- long after she began to decline in economic status among the western cities.

To calm these worries, in 1851 the United States government kept a conference with several local Indian tribes and established the Treaty of Fort Laramie.

D.W. Standeford (1866) won by two votes in what may have been the city’s closest mayoral election.

The Snider-F1autt Lumber company was founded in 1870 at Somerset as the S. and W. Snider company.

The town grew slowly, having only 1,357 inhabitants in 1880.

In 1887, Congress handed down the General Allotment Act, the most important element of the United States government’s assimilation platform, which was written to “civilize” American Indians by teaching them to become farmers.

The New Lexington library had its beginning in 1888, as a village library sponsored by the village council.

The following paid announcement appeared in the Courier on May 26, 1890:

As the town increased in population, the South Zanesville Methodist church prospered and the congregation planned a new house of worship a few members of this denomination started to hold meetings in a tent on Shawnee avenue in 1891.

The best description of the town at the age of two is found in the Goodspeed county history published in 1892.

“My first church was the one built in 1893 on Beechwood park hill.

He moved his family to Lexington in 1895 where he, his brothers, and father founded the Combs Lumber Co., a legacy of which is still in operation, although not in lumber.

John D. Peters and Adam Reed, after operating a pottery for a short time on Linden avenue where the Roseville pottery later stood, moved to South Zanesville in 1897.

“The first school building was built in 1902 and located on Maysville pike across from the Nazarene Church.

In 1903 the Courier announced that extension of the city street car track to South Town was under consideration.

14, 1904, that the South Zanesville school board asked for an injunction against the Southeastern to prevent construction of electric lines in front of the school.

South Zanesville people bought their groceries in 1905 from A.F. Dugan, E.W. Harvey, John Roberts and E.H. Shuey H-1.

When the interurban started to operate on regular schedule in 1906, property values rose, homes were built and everybody was happy.

7, 1908, that this “thriving suburb” was now connected in Zanesville by the interurban and that “the interests of the community are common with these of the city,” and advocated annexation.

At New Lexington, Perry County, on Monday, July 4, 1911,

In 1912, a city commission form of government was adopted.) Following his term as mayor, Skain managed the Phoenix Hotel for five years and was a commissioner of Eastern State Hospital for seven years.

“One evening while crossing the river on the temporary Sixth street bridge in 1913 (these cars had two steps and passengers were not supposed to stand on the steps.) Some men insisted on swinging out on the steps while the car was crowded.

In 1914, he was appointed a director of the Federal Reserve Bank in Cleveland, Oh., where he served for almost two decades.

About 1915 H.S. McClelland bought the plant and named it the Zane Pottery.

South Zanesville High school was established in 1916 in an addition built to the grade school on Main street.

In Jan., 1920, the town hall was destroyed by a fire believed to have started from an overheated stove.

The South Zanesville Boosters association made plans in 1923 to build the present hall for mayor and council.

The Southeastern interurban, which had contributed to South Zanesville’s growth for 18 years stopped running in 1924.

Sarah Nelson sold groceries in 1928.

In 1929 South Zanesville residents favored annexation to Zanesville.

In 1930 South Zanesville people had indicated that they were nine to one in favor of combining with Zanesville.

The present organization dates from the year 1937 when the water works was built and the first fire truck was purchased.

The first well was completed on April I, 1938.

The South Zanesville branch of the John Mclntire library was opened in April, 1939, with Mrs.

By 1940 Perry County also had branches in Corning, Junction City, and Shawnee.

In February 1942, the Somerset Friends of the Library was established.

Pauline Bennett was elected Board President in January 1944.

On August 29, 1947 the Library Board requested, in the form of a resolution, that the Village Council of New Lexington acting under Ohio General Code Section 7643-1a (now Ohio Revised Code 3375.20) allow the formation of a county library district.

The Finlaw Lumber company traced its origin to the purchase of the G.W. Ryther Finn at Pomeroy, Ohio, in 1951.

Talk of annexation to Zanesville was revived during the serious shortage in August, 1953.

A bond issue for that amount was passed by a 60 per cent majority in May, 1956.

In 1965, the first signs of library collaboration were documented, as Miss Thomas worked out an agreement with the Caldwell Public Library, the State Bookmobile, and the Martins Ferry Public Library, whereby Perry County District Library would exchange books with them.

In August 1969, Perry County District Library got its first photo copier at the New Lexington Library, and in October of that same year, talking book machines became available to the patrons of Perry County.

Barbara Mooney (appointed to the Board in 1972) stated, “The total budget for the library was around $60,000 before the levy passed, and after the levy the budget doubled.” In addition to stabilizing the financial situation of the library, Mr.

Summer bookmobile services continued until provisions were made through monies awarded by the County Commissioners from the Revenue Sharing funds to allow for extended bookmobile service in September 1974.

Rebecca Phillips Olson was hired as the County Librarian (a position that in later years would be known as Library Director). After resuming her duties on June 1, 1976, it was no longer necessary for the library to contract a supervising manager from the State Library Service Center in Caldwell.

In the midst of this activity, in 1977 the Somerset Branch was moved from its location on North Columbus Street to Public Square.

By the 1980’s it was very evident to the Board that in order to provide the highest quality library service to patrons, a new location with room to grow would be necessary for New Lexington, as well as some of the branch libraries.

In January of 1981 a building fund (separate from the general fund) was established by the Board of Trustees with a $1000 donation from the Mooney family.

In July 1982, Sheila Glowacki applied for a grant to purchase the first computers for the library.

The property was located near Carroll Street (Lincoln Park Drive). In January of 1983, Mark Denny, of Midwest Engineering, was hired project planning purposes, during this same meeting it was decided that a bond levy would be placed on the June ballot that year.

In March 1986, a land contract was signed for the Dane Gordon property in Junction City.

In September 1987 a deed had been prepared and the Board approved a motion to purchase the building.

In September 1988, the Board appointed Michael Wantz as the new Director of the Library.

Also, in February 1989, it was decided that the Crooksville Branch would move to a larger location, which was a property to be leased from Mr.

Renovations were finally completed on the Zinn property in Crooksville, and the Crooksville National Honor Society assisted in the move in March 1990.

A two-day open house event was held at the New Lexington library on September 14-15, 1991.

In May 1992, Pauline Bennett resigned from the Board of Trustees after more than 50 years of service to the library, 48 of which were served as President of the Board.

Thornville went on-line in 1994 and the rest of the branches followed as installations were completed.

By September 1995 the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) had been very busy laying groundwork to link all 250 libraries, public schools, and Ohio Link Universities together.

Years later (October 4, 1996), she was inducted into the Ohio Library Trustees Hall of Fame.

In October 1997, the Board decided to rent 103 Public Square in Somerset for a new location for the Somerset Branch, and by December the new location was open to the public.

In his absence, Melissa Marolt (hired in March 1998 as PR/Marketing Coordinator and later Youth Services Coordinator as well) was made interim director of the library.

A year later, July 1999, Phillip Markwood and Associates was chosen as the architect for this project, along with a major renovation project for Junction City Branch.

In July 2000, the Crooksville Branch moved directly across Main Street to its current location.

In March 2001, the library was awarded a Gates Grant for $113,256.00, which allowed the purchase of 29 new computers to be placed throughout the library system for use by patrons.

On April 17, 2002, the Board of Trustees decided to go into a 15-year lease agreement on the property currently occupied by the Somerset Branch with the understanding that the landlord, Bob Muetzel, would complete a major renovation to meet the needs of the library.

The open house was held in March 2003, with local author, Michael J. Rosen, and child book character, The Cat in the Hat, in attendance.

In October 2006, the Board of Trustees adopted a new mission statement, “Explore, Educate, Enjoy!”

On May 31, 2007, Mike Wantz retired his position as Director, with the understanding that he would return after two months as the Executive Director of the library.

Later, in 2009, Mike fully retired from the library system, and the Board named Marolt the new Director.

On May 25, 2012, Board President Barbara Mooney signed the final documents on a property in Somerset, located at 117 West Main Street.