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PIX #1 - Offices and General Stores, Haydenville Mining and Manufacturing Co.

PIX #2 - Nelsonville Sewer Pipe Co.

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: Today's article is the sixth and last part in a series of articles about the towns and villages along the CHV&T railroad. Next week's article may contain a few pictures from southern Ohio for which space has not been available, along with "Feedback." I am sure there are some old employ- ees of the railroad still living in this area. They may have interesting tales to tell. I hope they will call me.)

Leaving Columbus on the imaginary train trip we head south into a beautiful part of Ohio. The Remembrancer mentions Lancaster as "the first important city south of Columbus."

"From a geographical point of view, Lancaster ismost favorably situated in the very heart of a country rich in minerals, coal and pasture land; also large amounts of natural gas of a very dry quality with high illuminative power, without unpleasant odor."

Already back in the 1890's Lancaster had several carriage factories, two large manufacturers of agriculture implements, three flourmills, grain ele- vators, pottery, two cigar factories, tile and brick works, bottling plant, soap works, glass factory, creamery and brewery. In later years, shoe fac- tories located there.

Buckeye Lake, not far from Lancaster, was a popular recreation and fishing resort.

Lancaster also had the Boy's Industrial School of Ohio, the Fairfield County Fair Grounds and the Methodist Conference Camp Grounds.

Today that area of Ohio has newly developed state parks with lodging and camping facilities, fishing and hiking areas, and nature spots such as Old Man's Cave and Rock House.

LOGAN, OHIO ON PLATEAU

Logan is located on what The Remembranceer termed "a beautiful plateau two miles long and three quarters wide, inthe center of the great mining dis- tricts of the Hocking Valley. The town's importance comes from its rich mineral fields and fine agriculture surroundings...contributing to its trade, manufacturing and shipping advantages."

The town back then was at the junction of a spur of the CHV&T line which went into Athens, Straitsville and several other stops. At Logan was The Depot House where all trains on the Hocking valley, both north and south bound, made lunch and dinner stops. It also provided sleeping rooms.

Among Logan's manufacturers were the Logan Fire Clay Co. and the Logan Foun- dry and Machine Works.

The clay companymade paving brick, fire brick and ground fire clays. It also made vitrified artistic paving tile for sidewalks. They operated 12 kilns with a maximum daily capacity of 40,000 bricks.

The foundry made plows, coal cars, car wheels, boiler fronts, columns, and iron fronts for buildings, wrapping machines and printing presses.

HAYDENVILLE A 'COMPANY' TOWN

Haydenville, located on the spur of the CHV&T that ran to Athens, was not an incorporated village but was the property of Haydenville Mining & Manufactur- ing Co., which employed the adult population of 25 families, consisting of 700 people.

The company was the first to demonstrate the value of Hocking clay which became famous for almost every line of clay goods. They manufactured sewer pipe, chimney pipe, fittings, paving blocks, sidewalk tiles, terra cota brick, window sills, wall furring, column covering and wall and cornice fur- ring.

Being a "company" town they disallowed saloons and other degrading forms of busness and entertainment. There was a Methodist Episcopal church said to be a credit to large communities.

NELSONVILLE WAS MINING COUNTRY

The Remembrance tells about Nelsonville, 40 miles south of Columbus, "...in the midst of the largest bituminous coal fields in Ohio...the surrounding country being rich in coal, iron ore, limestone, and fine clays, in many cases to depths of 48 feet. Also white clay and oxide of iron enough to paint every building in the union...20 coal mines in active operation... cheap fuel and good water."

The Nelsonville Sewer Pipe Co. manufactured sewer pipe, paving block, flue linings, chimney tops and fire brick.

The Nelsonville Foundry & Machine Co. made hoisting engines, coal dumpers, elevator and conveying chain, ventilating fans, mining cars, revolving coal screens and car wheels.

ATHENS HOME OF OHIO UNIVERSITY

Athens is the county seat of Athens County and the home of Ohio University, the first institution of higher learning endowed by Congress. OU was also the first one established in the territory north of the Ohio River.

In addition to schools, churches and businesses, the town had two manufactur- ing plants.

The Athens Brick Co. made brick for building, paving and sewage purposes. It was capable of making 50,000 bricks per day.

The Crippen Wagon Co. made farm wagons.

GALLIPOLIS 2ND OLDEST OHIO CITY

Gallipolis was often referred to as "Detroit of the Ohio River." According to The Remembrancer, "It commands the admiration of all who ever visited it on account of its fine scery and the fertility of the surrounding country, and a beautiful park, covering six acres, bounded on one side by the princi- pal business street, and onthe other by the waters of the placid Ohio River, where looking up the valley, one can see the approach of its waters five miles distant."

There were also some manufacturing plants in Gallipolis.

Enos Hill & Co. made marine and stationery engines, all kinds of mill machin- ery and sheet iron.

The Fuller & Hutsinpiller Co. made furniture.

The Gallipolis Furniture Co. made oak bedroom suites.

The Anchor Mills, established in 1835, milled "The Amazon" brand flour. The mill could produce 80 barrels per day.

The State Epileptic Asylum was also located in Gallipolis.

MIDDLEPORT NICE OHIO RIVER TOWN

Located in Meigs County, Middleport is 215 miles above Cincinnati on the Ohio River. The Remembrancer described it as "one of the handsomest towns on the river, the surrounding area being rugged hill country with pleasant valleys."

The Middleport Flour Co. is the oldest in Ohio established in 1835.

The Middletown Granite Brick Co. produced paving, common brick and hallwood blocks with a daily capacity of 25,000 bricks.

The Riverdale Brick Co. made paving, building and sewer blocks with a daily capacity of 20,000 bricks.

The German Furniture Co. produced 50 chamber suites per day.

The Ohio Machine Co. made boiler makers, brick making machinery and general machinists.