1 10 3 http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/6aa011df3052b2aebf0d1b62323295a1.jpg c20f267525a990477b0c4dacbacce0ce Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 1] [corresponds to first page of THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME SUNBURY] The Origin of the name Sunbury -and its application to- The Village of Sunbury, Delaware Co., Ohio A compilation of information related thereto by Carleton S. and Dorothy D. Burrer, Sunbury, Ohio. Prepared, September 1975. From time to time, individuals interested in the history of Delaware County, Ohio, have inquired as to the derivation of the name 'Sunbury' and where it originated. One request for information came by letter addressed to our late Postmaster, Mr. Hoyt G. Whitney, from Mr. Rudolph F. Bluedorn, of Wolcott, Iowa. This was turned over to Mrs. Dorothy D. Burrer, Librarian, Community Library, Sunbury, for investigation and reply. The question was also posed by the late Rev. Harry F. Truxall as a part of research he was conducting, for inclusion in an historical sketch being prepared, concerning this area. Most recently, inquiry has been received from Kelsie B. Harder, of American Name Society, The State University College, Potsdam, N. Y. No doubt, this question has arisen in the minds of others interested in such matters. It may very well be that the origin and/or derivation of the name, and its relationship to our town of Sunbury, has already been positively established by others. Nothing other than the following interpretation is in evidence, however, to our knowledge. Credit is given, of course to William and Lawrence Myers, two brothers who came to Delaware County, Ohio, from the Forty Fort-Kingston area of the Wyoming Valley, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. They came as young men from their home on the Susquehanna River, purchased farm land here and platted it into a Town, giving it the name Sunbury, the effective date of record being November 9, 1816. Considerable, well documented information has been already presented in a very complete and intelli- gent manner, in verification thereof. Much painstaking and thorough research has been tabulated by competent historians and geneologists. Publications are readily available in local libraries and Historical Societies relating thereto. Not a great deal has been published, however, and therefore it is not generally realized, that the name 'Sunbury' had been established in Delaware County, Ohio, before William and Lawrence Myers came to the area. The original County Commissioners Journal reveals that, on February 10, 1808, Delaware County was set off from Franklin County, by act of The Ohio Legislature, and it was directed that on the first Monday, May 1808, there was to be an election held to elect Commissioners and other County Officers. The Act authorized Associate Justices, Moses Byxbe, Thomas Brown, and Josiah McKinney to divide the County into Townships. They divided it into three:- Berkshire, Radnor, and Liberty. Title A name given to the resource The Origin of the Name Sunbury (p. 1) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/208cbc40c4473cbfd6801fdd8aed6083.jpg b73149ad17bd9dd0a023eee64da00685 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 2] [corresponds to page 2 of THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME SUNBURY] The Commissioners Court then, on June 15, 1808, formed Marlborough Township and on June 16, 1808, the Delaware Township. The latter having been designated as location (temporary) of the County Seat. Also, on June 16, 1808, the Commissioners formed Sunbury Township, which encompassed, all the balance of the County not previously laid out. Sunbury Township, when originally formed, consisted of what is now Harlem, Trenton, and Porter Townships and the east one-half of Kingston, Berkshire, and Genoa. On the north, it included all the area east of Marlborough Twp. i.e., what is now Bennington, Harmony, Peru, and Lincoln Townships of Morrow County; having as the northernmost border, the Indian (Greenville) Treaty Line, east to its junction with the eastern line of Delaware County. Berkshire Township, prior to 1808, was a part of Sharon Township in Franklin County, Ohio, and its boundaries had changed from time to time. By the efforts of Major Brown, it was then organized to include parts of what is now, Brown, Kingston, Berlin, and Orange Townships, and the west half of Genoa and the present Berkshire Township. It was stated to have been named 'Berkshire' because Major Brown and Col. Byxbe had come from Berkshire County in Massachusetts. The boundaries of the original Township of Sunbury are set forth in the early record and can be easliy drawn upon a copy of the 1849 Delaware County map, by following the detailed description set forth in Commissioners Journal No. 1. The resulting lines reveal Sunbury Township to be the largest individual portion of the County as then partitioned. Note:-The Individuals named above as Associate Justices, vis., Col. Moses Byxbe, Major Thomas Brown, and Judge Josiah McKinney; to divide the County, are taken from the History of Delaware County (Baskin) page 210. Commissioners Journal No. 1, from 1808-1822 indicates the Board of Commissioners consisted of John Welch, Ezekial [underlined] Brown and Avery Power, with Nathaniel W. Little appointed Clerk. The names and requested boundaries of these various Townships were by petition presented by certain individuals, i.e., On June 15th 1808- "A petition was this day presented by Nathaniel Wyatt and others, praying for a new township by the 'Name & Stile' of Marl- borough, of the following boundaries," etc. Regarding the establishment of Sunbury Township, the following is stated:- "Resolved by the Board of Commissioners that all the tract or part of the country [letter 'r' underlined] (?) within the following boundaries be created into a distinct and separate Township by the Name & Style of Sunbury to wit; beginning at the North East corner of Section No. 2 of Township No. 5 & Range 17 of the United States Military Survey, thence south with said line to the South line of the County, thence North with Said County Line to the East Line of Said County, thence North with Said County Line to the Indian Boundary Line, thence Westerly with said Boundary Line to the East Boundary of Marlborough Township, thence South with Said Boundary line to the South East corner of said Township, thence East to the place of beginning. The same is therefore Erected into a separate and distinct Township". There is no indication as to by whom the name of the Township was suggested. Title A name given to the resource The Origin of the Name Sunbury (p. 2) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/1eb8a24a82412632a09094b73888bfb9.jpg cff8c9ef3306df57c1ec9d55263e8d40 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 3] [corresponds to page 3 of THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME SUNBURY] For proper orientation it is advisable to interject a bit of personal history of certain influential settlers who must have been concerned at the initial erection of these townships in the new County of Ohio. From the 'Shoemaker Book', which has been widely used by Historians doing research on early Delaware County settlers, it is a matter of record that a Carpenter Family, naming especially Benjamin and Gilbert Carpenter who were very prominent in the early history of the Forty Fort, Kingston and Wilkes Barre areas of Luzerne County, along the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, came to Delaware County in Ohio before the Townships were named. Benjamin had been active in politics and was a judge, and substantial property owner in Luzerne County as attested to by his likeness appearing, along with other Officials of note in the area, as part of the decorative and commemorative frieze work in the halls of the beautiful and stately Court House in Wilkes- Barre, the seat of the County. Gilbert Carpenter was a capable builder (he is reported to have built the Col. Nathan Dennison House, a famous early residence, still standing and in good condition, in Kingston, Pa.) He was also an early grist mill builder, and owner, in the area. Ezekial Brown (one of the Board of Commissioners named earlier) had also been a resident of Luzerne County and had come to Franklin Co. in Ohio before the setting off and naming of Delaware County. In July of 1806, Benjamin Carpenter purchased two tracts of land from Col. Byxbe, located in the area that was to become Sunbury Township Delaware County, Ohio, while still living in Pennsylvania. He and his brother Gilbert sold considerable of their property in the Wyoming Valley (Luzerne County) area in 1807, and moved with their families, soon after, to the new tracts purchased in Ohio. His deeds were validated by Ezekial Brown, Esq., who had already become an official in the newly opened territory. It is reported in the Shoemaker [Schumacher] Book that many families moved about that time from this Wyoming Valley to the Delaware County area; Addison Carver, several members of the family of Capt. Nathaniel Landon, John Rosenkranz and others are named. A Col. Ridgeway was named as an active promoter of this movement. The date under the likeness of Judge Benjamin Carpenter in the Court House of Luzerne County is 1750-15 and that period represents a time of great struggle and turmoil in the Wyoming Valley Region as to settlers claims under conflicting jurisdictions of Connecticut Grants, Indian Agreements, Proprietary Interests and Rights of the Colony of Pennsylvania. The Pennamite Wars were fought in that area during that period over the rights of the settlers to ownership of property. The Carpenters, the Browns, the Landons, and the Rosenkranzes, all being influential people were certainly vitally [underlined] interested in the difficult state of affairs. During that period, in 1768, Richard Penn (who with his brother John) Penn,^had been named Proprietors of the Province of Pennsylvania succeeding their father William Penn, founder,. By virtue of a Warrant dated 29 October 1768, ^they surveyed and established the 'Manour of Sunbury' on the North West side of the East Branch of the Susquehanna River, a twenty thousand acre tract in this Wyoming Valley, and there can be no doubt that the Carpenters and the other settlers in the valley were much concerned. Claim was made to the land 'for the use of the honorable the Proprietaries' of the Province of Pennsylvania. At the same time, John Penn laid out the Manor of Stoke on the opposite side of the river. Title A name given to the resource The Origin of the Name Sunbury (p. 3) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/ebe1c8cd44a4c1c5afd87d6a2b77977e.jpg 471429102e1ef6e588630d506866a51d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 4] [corresponds to page 4 of THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME SUNBURY] After the Pennamite wars and troubles with the Indians, the disputes over Land Titles continued until a Notice of Hearings on Connecticut claims was held, offering compensation to the Pennsylvania Claimants. This was by Act of Assembly, State of Pennsylvania, passed 4 April 1799. Benjamin Carpenter was appointed Justice of Peace and a Judge of Common Pleas Court, Luzerne County, May 27, 1787. Myers Tavern was located in the home of Philip Myers, close by the stockade and Fort, and near the Ferry across the river at Forty Fort. This home and Tavern was the place where his sons William and Lawrence were raised, and was the common meeting place where matters of the day were discussed and Official Meetings of a Political and Judicial nature were held. Carpenters Hall was not far away and the 'Old Meeting House' in Forty Fort Cemetery was just up the street. All of this area being within the boundaries of the Manor of Sunbury, there can be no doubt the name 'Sunbury' was often evident in conversations and dealings. In fact, Legal Title of the Manors of Sunbury and of Stoke were known to exist until 1813. From 1752 to 1772 the 'territory' of Luzerne was included in the Pennsylvania County of Northampton. In 1772, a new and separate county was formed, about 50 miles Southwestward along the Susquehanna, and was named Northumberland. Three months after the formation of this new County (1772), Governor Richard Penn and the Provincial Council ordered that, "the surveyor'general (John Lukens), with all convenient speed, repair to fort Augusta on the Susquehanna (near the confluence with its west branch), and with the assistance of Mr. William McClay lay out a town [underlined] for the County of Northlumberland, to be called by the name of Sunbury" [underlined]. This county seat town was to be located "at the most commodious place between the fort and the mouth of Shamokin Creek". (This was the site of the Indian Village called Shamokin). History of the area states that Richard Penn borrowed the name of Sunbury from the English Village of that name, situated on the Thames River, about fifteen miles southwest of the City of London. Since Richard Penn laid out his Manor of Sunbury and the Town of Sunbury within the short span of four years, it is reasonable to assume that both places were named after Sunbury-On-Thames. This is especially valid since The Manors of Sunbury and the Stoke were of similar size and near to each other. In England, Sunbury-On-Thames and Stoke Pages (where some of the Penn Family are buried) are also in the same general area. Then too, in his Will, Richard Penn stated that; "I am the holder of an interest in Batavia House in the Parish of Sunbury, in the County of Middlesex". Mr. George Freeman of the Sunbury and Shepperton Local History Society, and publisher of - A History of Sunbury-On-Thames, states that Batavia House was located therein and pointed out for us, its location on a map of the area. Letter from, and a personal visit with, Mr. Charles F. Snyder, Exec. Secy., The Northumberland County Historical Society, Sunbury, Pa., gave us the first information on this 'Manor of Sunbury' and he is of the opinion that, since no one, to his knowledge, had ever migrated to our part of Ohio, it is very doubtful that his town of Sunbury had any part at all in the early history of our area. We found him to be a very fine gentleman and very well informed in all historical matters regarding families and institutions in the State of Pennsylvania. He is also the author of various publications and a lifetime resident of his area. Title A name given to the resource The Origin of the Name Sunbury (p. 4) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/2852d122a907d48cdc5c17daeb725bbf.jpg c7d5530f50d96e9c9890fd4e5658c4a0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 5] [corresponds to page 5 of THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME SUNBURY] Until discovery of the existence of this 'Manor Sunbury' and its relationship to the area from whence many of our early settlers came, it had been assumed that, since those settlers came down the Wyoming Path (now Route 11) along the Susquehanna, or by raft or boat past the Town of Sunbury on the river itself, the name might have been picked up and carried from there. Investigation indicates no valid connection, however, between the town of Sunbury, pa., and either the Township or the Village of Sunbury, Ohio. Ascertaining the Derivation of the name SUNBURY. On a trip to England in 1968, two years after celebration of the Sesqi- Centennial of the founding of the Village of Sunbury, in travelling by bus along the road from Heathrow Airport into London, it was quite a surprise to see from the window of our coach, a large sign, which pointed the way to Sunbury, somewhere off to our right. A few days later we obtained a small car, located this 'Sunbury' on a map, and found that, in spite of the very heavy flooding along parts of the Thames and in the south of England, there should be no trouble in reaching that particular area. It is only a short distance from Hampton Court Palace, famous as a residence of King Henry VIII, and of Cardinal Woolsey. Our approach to the town being from the north-west and along the river, we by-passed the section called Sunbury Cross, which is on a main road from Windsor through Staines to Hampton Court. On seeing a Church Steeple in the area we made for it, knowing that, in England, most of the towns have a church or cathedral in the center. St. Mary's Church was found to be located near the river between Thames and Green Streets, and from one of our pictures of the front of the old Church, the following, most interesting information is provided. Parish of St. Mary the Virgin Sunbury on Thames 1000 Years of Service In 967, Archbishop Dunstan obtained the Manor of Sunbury, giving it to the Abbey of Westminster. The Parish is mentioned in the Domesday Survey. The Saxon building was replaced by the present one in 1752, it being enlarged in 1865. The Vicar will be pleased to show visitors the church and its records. Since it was raining at the time and the air was damp and cold, we drove around the area and took pictures of other buildings and the river front park (which was mostly under water), from our car window. We had found the Church to be locked, and due to the weather, made no attempt to locate the Vicar to gain entry to look at the records. The town and its buildings, some of which are very old, appeared well kept and the streets were good with much green area. We adjudged it to be about the size of Westerville, Ohio, and a very pleasant place. Two years later, on our next visit to England, we again drove to Sunbury-On-Thames but this time found the Church closed for repairs. We had brought along the name of an Antique Dealer, hoping that he might provide historical information or direct us to someone who could. Title A name given to the resource The Origin of the Name Sunbury (p. 5) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/6f4cdf15a7b7beafab5ea5c14951f4e3.jpg 3b1e061ef11959c4c559671c9abfc09a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 6] [corresponds to page 6 of THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME SUNBURY] When located, however, we found him to be most un-cooperative, and in fact, disrespectful -- which is unusual in England. Our desire to proceed further being somewhat cooled, and finding that we had run into a shop closing day in the Town, we drove around for a while, this time in beautiful weather. We re-visited the Park, finding it an attractive place with benches along the river, and a view across to a large Marine or Yacht Club on the other side where colorful boats of a large assortment were moored. Quite a number of ducks were on the river and on the shore, being fed bits of bread and other items, evidently brought for them by the local residents. Being pressed for time, we then continued on our way. On our third trip, this time in 1972, we allocated more time and made it a point to make some contact to obtain qualified information about the area. This time we came by the Main Road and entered by Sunbury Cross, which is really a part of Sunbury-On-Thames but located to the north, away from the river and near the railway station and Kempton Park Race Course. Here we found a new and modern, completely re-developed business area, complete with Shopping Mall and Apartment Buildings, a new Post Office, and most important to us, an attractive new Library. This new development, we found, was to accommodate the northern terminus and a major Interchange of the new M-3 Motorway which will extend south- west through historic Winchester, early capitol of England, to the great port city of Southampton, facilitating travel to Portsmouth and the resort areas in the south of the country. On making ourselves known to the Head Librarian, and stating our purpose in the area, we were welcomed and made to feel completely at home. She recalled a recent compilation by Michael J. S. Collings and published by him, entitled:- A History of the Church and Parish of Sunbury-On- Thames, and presented us with a copy. We had a very pleasant conversation with her and spent some time strolling about the new Mall. We enjoyed examining the unusual Town Clock on its pedestal which had been removed from its original position in the center of the former road crossing and been preserved by re-installation in the center of the Mall and Shopping Area. We again drove to St. Mary's Church and finding it locked we located the Vicar's Cottage but found no one at home. Inquiry was made from passersby but we were unable to learn where he might be or when he might be expected to return. It was disappointing to be unable to look into the Church, but having obtained the pamphlet and becoming acquainted with the Librarian and more of the area, we felt satisfied to continue on our trip, this time to the south west and Lands End, and over into Wales. In may of 1974, by again contacting the Librarian (the Library is maintained by the County of Middlesex) by mail, we were put in touch with Mr. George Freeman, 41 Green Street, Sunbury-On-Thames, Middlesex. He was Secretary of the Sunbury and Shepperton Local History Society, who sent his publication:- A History Of Sunbury-On-Thames together with a map of the area and recent Newsletters of the Sunbury-On-Thames Society. Here follows, then, excerpts from these two Publications, which provide the recognized English explanation of the origin of 'SUNBURY'. The Saxons were, in fact, the true founders of Sunbury. We know this through a remarkably informative Saxon Document known as, the Sunbury Charter. Title A name given to the resource The Origin of the Name Sunbury (p. 6) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/0476269f202b2c55770455fa81d6fed9.jpg a47fcae96533488ba9b7545574ad8763 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 7] [corresponds to page 7 of THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME SUNBURY] By this 'Sunbury Charter', King Edgar (959-980 AD) granted to his faithful kinsman Aelfheh 'in perpetuity', a certain parcel of land, vis., 10 cassati (hides) at the place commonly called 'aet Sunnanbyrig'. The boundaries of the grant are described by a number of landmarks, including the 'Cloven Barrow', which not only tell us the extent of early Saxon Sunbury, but also the origin of the place name. The Charter's description hinges on its reference to "Sunna's Burh" and "Sunna's Haw". These Saxon terms suggest that it was a Saxon theign or lord, called Sunna who founded the community and gave it his name, as he or a namesake, gave it to Sonning and Sunningdale. Sunna settled his followers around his own pallisaded residence, or "haw", on the raised ground between the present Church and the Flower Pot Inn. His "burh" has been interpreted as 'a fortified place', which would suggest that Sunbury was founded during the reign of King Alfred (871-899 AD), in line with the King's Defense Policy against the Danes. However, I believe the word "burh" to be a corruption of the word "beorg" or "hill" and refers to the distinctly higher ground around the Vicarage, which would have been even more prominent in those far off days. At any rate, whatever the truth, we can see how Sunna's Burh evolved, by the time of the Charter, to Sunnanbyrig, and within a hundred years to Suneberie; and, finally in the course of centuries, to Sunbury. (The above statements of opinion by the author, Michael J. S. Collins) Apart from Sunna, The Sunbury Charter suggests other early prominent inhabitants of Sunbury in its mention of Eadbrybt's burial mound, Dudde's byre and Ecclesbrook. The actual ownership of the Manor can be traced from the reign of King Eldred (945-955 AD) onwards. Here follows the text of the Sunbury Charter, a document preserved in the muniment room of Westminster Abbey (London). The Charter, written mainly in Latin, but with names and descriptions in Anglo- Saxon, records the grant of land at Sunnanbyrig by King Edgar to his kinsman, Aelfheh. A rough translation of the Charter is given below. I, Eadgar, King of Britain, have granted in perpetuity, a certain parcel of land at the place commonly called Sunnanbyrig, to my faithful kinsman Aelfheh, for his faithful service, so that as long as his life lasts, he may realize his desires and possess it with all its advantages, to wit; meadows, pastures, and woods, and at the end of his life leave it undiminished to whatever heirs he may desire. If anyone should desire to divert this our gift to another purpose than that which we have determined, let him be deprived of the fellow- ship of God's Holy Church and be forever punished with the eternal flames of the miserable pit, together with Judas, Christ's betrayer, and his accomplices unless he satisfactorily amend his transgression against our decree. This, then, is the Sunbury Charter of A.d. 962. The last sentence of the preamble reads:- "This Charter was written in the year of Our Lord's Incarnation 962 with the consent of the witnesses whose names are noted below". One of the signatures was St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury. Title A name given to the resource The Origin of the Name Sunbury (p. 7) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/40cde46b376cc6f3cd61f45ebcded597.jpg 8ad3e7ba29d84eadfb82f707c34c2f97 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 8] [corresponds to page 8 of THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME SUNBURY] The next recorded mention of Sunbury is in the Domesday Book, or Survey, which was a folio of 760 pages measuring 15 1/2 by 10 1/2, compiled by the Normans after their Conquest of England by Edward the Confessor (1043-1066 AD). The entry for Sunbury reads:- "The Abbot of Westminster holds the Manor of Sunberie which is 7 hides. The land is 6 caracates, 4 hides are in demense on which there is one plough. The Villeins have 4 ploughs, The Priest has 1/2 virgate. The 8 Villeins have a virgate between them. The meadow land is equal to 6 carucates and there is pasture for the cattle of the manor". Applying modern designations and values, the Survey can be translated thus:- "The Abbot of Westminster owns the manor of Sunbury which comprises about 840 acres. The ploughed land is about 600 acres. 480 acres are occupied by freeholders who have one plough between them and the tenants have four ploughs. Eight tenants have 32 acres each, and the other tenants 16 acres each. The Priest also has 16 acres. The meadow land is equal to about 600 acres and there is pasture for the cattle of the manor. (the text of Sunbury Charter and information from the Domesday Survey are taken from the booklet by Mr. George Freeman) The descriptions and other information in the two booklets can be read in the Community Library, Sunbury, Ohio. They provide much greater detail than can be included in this compilation. ***In Summary*** The history of Sunbury in England is described as going back to the Roman era, the Saxon Invasion and warring between the Saxons and the Danes. Then through the Norman Conquest and continuing to this day. The Manor of Sunbury, established as a Proprietors Holding, by the Penn Family, was in evidence from 1768 to about 1813 in the Wyoming Valley, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and encompassed the area whence came the earliest pioneer families to settle in Delaware County, Ohio. Richard Penn, Governor of Pennsylvania and his brother, John Penn, Lieutenant Governor came from Middlesex in England, which included the Parish (or Manor) of Sunbury. Richard Penn held interest in Batavia House in this Parish of Sunbury and identified himself with the areas Stanwell and Stoke, both located nearby. There can be no doubt that Judge Carpenter was acquainted with Moses Byxbe, Major Brown, and Ezekial Brown and possibly others who were responsible for naming the Township of Sunbury in Delaware County, Ohio in 1808. Judge Carpenter had purchased 2 tracts of land from Mr. Byxbe in 1806 while still residing in the 'Manor of Sunbury' area in Pennsylvania, and had the deeds thereto acknowledged by Ezekial Brown, Esquire, then a Justice of the Peace in Franklin County, Ohio. After moving to Ohio in 1807, Judge Carpenter resided in Sunbury Township, one half mile north of the area which was to become the town of Sunbury and to be laid out by William and Lawrence Myers in whose family home Judge Carpenter probably attended meetings back in the Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania. It is recorded that in Benjamin Carpenters will, made in Sunbury, Ezekial Brown was named as executor. In 1812, John S. Brown, son of Ezekial Brown (formerly of Luzerne Co. Pa.) married Sarah, daughter of Judge and Mary Ferrier Carpenter after the families had moved to Ohio and were residing in Sunbury Township. The Browns lived just north of the area, later to become Zoar (which in time became Galena). Title A name given to the resource The Origin of the Name Sunbury (p. 8) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/22f631d7822d94e307f093122ffb5313.jpg caced8347393192583cd4ae05f12102d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 9] [corresponds to page 9 of THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME SUNBURY] These families, or any other coming to Ohio before 1808,could have been responsible for carrying forward the name from the Manor of Sunbury to the Township of Sunbury when it was established in 1808. This Township of Sunbury, which had been set off June 16, 1808, was later diminished piece by piece in the formation of what is now; (Indian) Treaty Line in what is now Morrow County, in addition to; All of Harlem, Trenton, Porter, and the east half of Berkshire and Genoa Townships. The Delaware County History of 1880 by Baskin states that, by 1821 it had been whittled until all that remained was the east half of Berkshire Township and all of Trenton. Some time between 1821 and 1832 (the records of Commissioners proceedings ^were stated to have disappeared for the period 1822-1835) when Trenton Township was named; the western one-half-section was added to Berkshire to compensate it for two quarters loss in a prior transfer, one to Brown and one to Kingston. In contradiction to Baskin, however, it has been found that that portion of the early Commissioners Proceedings, i.e., Book Numbers two and three do exist, and positively establish the following:- From Book No. 2- Page 79, dated March 8, 1826; "Ordered by the Board, that all that part of Sunbury Township which lies in the 17th Range, U. S. Military lands, be and the same is, attached to and made a part of Berkshire Township." On page No. 33 of Book No. 3, dated December 6, 1832, we find the following- ing; "Gilbert VanDorn presented a petition of the majority of the electors of Sunbury Township, praying for the alteration of the name of Sunbury to Trenton". Said petition having been read and carefully examined. It was considered by the Board that the prayer of the Petitioners was reasonable and in every respect, comfortable with the law. It was ordered by said Board that the name of the Township of Sunbury be changed to that of Trenton Township, and that said Township be recorded and established as Trenton Township. This action of the Commissioners at that time, completely extinguished the name of Sunbury as a Township in Delaware County, Ohio. The Town of Sunbury as well as that of Zoar, both being laid out in 1816 were originally in the Township of Sunbury, that portion not being transferred to Berkshire Township until March 1826. Berkshire has always been in Berkshire Township. In a period of only 24 years this, once very large Township of Sunbury was eliminated by divisions, transfers, and change of name. Then Manor of Sunbury, and original Proprietor's holding in the Province (and later, State) of Pennsylvania was confiscated by the newly established State, along with other Manors held by the Penn Family, with agreed compensation granted in payment for same. This was stated to be the largest single holding of property ever to be acquired. Now, there has been a new Township of Sunbury established, 166 years after the one originally erected by the first Board of Commissioners in 1808. This new Township has boundaries concurrent with, and the same as, those of the Village of Sunbury, Delaware County, Ohio. The Board of Commissioners in 1974 on petition of the Village, voted approval and set off the new Township from that of Berkshire thus establishing the Village and Township [underlined] of Sunbury, Delaware County, Ohio. Title A name given to the resource The Origin of the Name Sunbury (p. 9) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/bd2172a418100863ca85fbce3f6490c4.jpg c973b9fcdcf20dc5cb7065fc46a5d27c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 10] [corresponds to page 10 of THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME SUNBURY] Information accumulated on other existing Sunburys is, as follows:- Sunbury, Gates County, N. Carolina (originally named Sunsbury) was settled on grants of land issued to William Hunter in 1695 and 1701. Mr. William T. Cross, historian and lifetime resident of Gates County states that William Hunter Sr., built his home, some three quarters of a mile from the present Village (pop.450). He lived there with his son William Jr., his son Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob. Jacob built a new house at a spot which is in the center of the present village. Tradition has it that, about 1770 a Sun Flower came up in his yard and that he named the place Sunsbury. Mr. Frank Nixon, retired Post- master, lifetime resident and descendent of early settlers, stated that when the new Post Office was built, the name was officially changed to Sunbury. Other early settlers in the area (which was set off from Virginia about 1717) were the Costens, all from Nasemond County, Virginia, some twenty miles distant. Isle of Wight County, Va. joins Nasemond County and this is separated from Jamestown by the James River. The Village of Sunbury, therefore, is not far from the earliest settlements of our Country. People came to the area of Sunbury and Gates County mostly from old Virginia and were all of English stock. At one time, prior to the Civil War, the little village contained two well known schools and it has always been known as a cultural center. Conversations with Mr. Cross, Mr. Nixon and with a Miss Costen, retired school teacher and a librarian, reveal that since their area was settled by English people, their Sunsbury could have been carried forward from Sunbury in England. No direct line of transfer has been established however, and they have no knowledge of any link by people coming from their area to ours. Another Sunsbury (sometimes spelled Sunbury) is Montgomery County, Ohio [underlined] and although it was a prior settlement, it has in recent years become secondary to its neighbor, Germantown. Both are in German Township and separated by Twin Creek. Sunsbury was platted by Jacob Beard and the area settled mostly by people of German ancestry. A visit with Mr. Carl Michael, decendant of Jacob Beard, member of Germantown Historical Society and on the Board of the Library, revealed that it has not been discovered how the original settlement was named. A Mr. Gunkel was the Proprietor who named Germantown when laid out. There can be no connection ascertained between their area and our [underlined] Sunbury in Delaware County. The Sunbury in Cedar County (near Davenport) in Iowa is said to have been named by a Civil Engineer who built a railroad through that area, just north of Interstate 80. Correspondence with Mr. Rudolph Bluedorn, retired Postal Route Carrier (for 44 years), in 1970 and in 1975 revealed also that it had been stated that their name had been carried forward from Sunbury, Pennsylvania. He states that Ambrose C. Fulton, brother of Robert Fulton, inventor of the steam boat, may have named the town. Mr. Fulton was an engineer who came to Davenport from Chester County, Pennsylvania. He made soundings for the pillars for the first bridge across the Mississippi River at Davenport, helped to promote the first railroad west of the river, built the first flour mill, the first packing house, the first hotel and many other establishments. He was a leader and promoter of public enterprises and active in inducing other settlers to come to Iowa. Title A name given to the resource The Origin of the Name Sunbury (p. 10) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/0408ac60af9f8502faab5451a931380c.jpg cc50a70a83add9ede4bbe8246fbf5565 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 11] [corresponds to page 11 of THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME SUNBURY] In 1901 the population of Sunbury, Iowa was 25, but had several places of business including a Bank, Post Office, Saloon, Dance Hall, Hotel & Livery Stable, Lumber Yard, and other allied enterprises common to rural areas at that time. It is a beautiful farming community and the people are mostly of German descent. Across the river, in Illinois the area is predominately Swedish. Today the population of their Sunbury is 90, the Bank closed during the depression (1929-1933). The building is there but the windows are broken out. One house is vacant and its windows are out, he states, being mostly a 'bedroom' town with 17 houses, 2 stores, and Post Office and a few businesses catering to a farming community. Our informant, Mr. Bluedorn's investigations have determined that his neighboring town of Walcott, Iowa was named by a William Wolcott who gave $500.00 to the community for a school if they would name the town in his honor. Their earliest settlers were from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Their postmaster came from Muskingham Co. and a Mr. George E. Peck, their Depot Agent and Telegrapher, was from Starke County. The Post Office on their early Stage Line was called Amity, after Amity, Ohio. Mr. Bluedorn has done considerable research concerning this area and the origin of the name Sunbury, and states that while he has been in touch with the Royal Museum and the Urban District Council Office in Sunbury-On-Thames, we have provided the most information he has received, to date, in his effort to clear up the Sunbury puzzle. Sunbury, Livingston County, Illinois is near Streator, South West of Chicago. Although no visit or contact has been made there, since other towns with English names are nearby, we assume the origin of their town name is the same as ours. Settlement of that area would have had to be later than here and could not have affected the route by which our Sunbury was named. Sunbury in Victoria County (?)Australia which is near, and north of, Melbourne is also surrounded by names of British origin and since its population has grown from 2385 in 1964 to 5099 as of the 1971 Census, it must be of recent origin. According to information we have from Sunbury in England, residents there are in contact, viz., requests for recent publications of the Sunbury-Sheparton History Society have been received from Sunbury, Australia. The only remaining Sunbury we have found listed world-wide is the County in New Brunswick, Canada. There also, this area is completely surrounded by other Counties with names: Victoria, Gloucester, Kent, Queens, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Kings, York, Albert, and Carleton. Only two are indicated to be French, so there can be no question as to the origin of the name, Sunbury County, in N.B. Canada. Title A name given to the resource The Origin of the Name Sunbury (p. 11) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Burrer Family Collection Description An account of the resource The Burrer Family Collection contains writings from Carleton Sperry Burrer, a prominent Sunbury business man and local historian who enjoyed traveling with his wife, Dorothy, to research the history of the name Sunbury. Mrs. Burrer was the first director of Community Library, having earned a degree in Library Science from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. The documents in this collection tell the story of Sunbury's history as well as the Burrer family's contributions to the development of Sunbury's business community. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Origin of the Name Sunbury Description An account of the resource This book presents Carleton and Dorothy Burrer's research findings of how the town of Sunbury in Berkshire Township, Ohio, received its name. The Burrer's trips to England and people encountered during their travels are described. Some information on the settlement of Sunbury is provided. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource September 1975 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Essay Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 31210725 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/ Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Berkshire Township--Sunbury--Ohio Sunbury--History--Land Settlement--Ohio Sunbury--History--Ohio Sunbury--Ohio--Name--Personal Trenton Township--History--Ohio Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Local Historian Carleton Burrer; Sunbury, Ohio Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Researcher: Mrs. Dorothy Burrer http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/e2f0c1ffafb8b125df8b5a6c347c62e6.jpg c4b8b9513c25ddb844b8af9bf01e0614 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 1] [corresponds to unnumbered page 1] THE SUNBURY AND GALENA COMMUNITIES And how they were in 1938 When Sunbury Lions Club originated FDR was in the White House in Washington, all of us were working our way out of the Great Depression precipitated by the 1929 Stock Market Crash. The REA was building lines to supply elec- tricity to farm properties too widely separated to be served economically by regular Power Companies. The WPA was installing Water and Sewer Systems in small towns and municipalities too small to afford them otherwise. World War II had not yet started--even in Europe. The Three C's Highway did not by-pass Sunbury & Galena, and The Hoover Dam and Reservoir, with the resulting dislocations, was not yet in consideration. I-71 and The Alum Creek Reservoir & Camp-Ground were far in the future. Sunbury & Galena did have a busy and well operated Railroad with two passenger trains daily, north & south, freight trains mixed in between schedules, a full time station and telegraph operator providing reliable service between Cleveland, Akron and Columbus. Sunbury boasted a storage and distribution system to provide an excellent supply of water to all homes and businesses. Partly because of this facility The Nestle Co. maintained their plant here and has been a most valuable source of employment in this area. Many fine families have come to this area and have worked for the development of this community since The Company acquired the old Sunbury Co-Operative Creamery Co. in 1919. The Big Walnut Consolidated School System had not yet been envis- aged. Sunbury, Galena, Center Village, Berlin, Kilbourne, Orange, Hyatts, (Bellpoint & Ostrander) Ashley and Radnor, ^ separately comprised the Delaware County Educational System and competition between them was fierce at all Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 1) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/583963a65d1dec5e294233e29dd655a6.jpg bbbaf7418910bcbfda69f1bb68655006 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 2] [corresponds to unnumbered page 2] sporting events. George Walker's field, which was to become The Sunbury Playground as an early project of the Sunbury Lions Club, was lying un-used in 1938, a rough undeveloped field with an open waterway extending diagonally across it. The field had been used in earlier years by Nelson Ramsey, and perhaps others, as a pas- ture for horses. ****Businesses Around The Square and In The Area in the Year 1938**** The ground floor of the K. of P. Building contained a small sandwich shop and soda fountain in the western one-third, a movie theater occupied the center portion and the Sunbury Savings & Loan had expanded its offices into the eastern one-third. At that time the SS&L still occupied the adjacent, stone front building. D. C. Hoover our first Lions Club President lived next door to the east and had a rear door from his kitchen and a walkway to a rear door in the SS&L building for convenient access between the two, he being the Secretary and Board Chairman of the institution for many years. Ralph R.(Kinky)Clark lived and operated his barber shop in the house adjacent to the Bank. The old stone Farmers Bank Building occupied part of the lot where the present BancOhio facility stands. All the stone for the original building was obtained from quarries along Big Walnut Creek, hauled to and piled on the north side of the Public Square where it was cut and dressed according to the blue-prints prepared for the purpose, then erected into a complete edifice. The Sunbury News and Whitney Ins. offices occupied a two story now frame building adjacent to what is now Whitney Ins. Agency ^ oper- ated by Lion Bob Morris. The present Ins. Ofc. was, in 1938 occupied by the original Sunbury Grille with a doorway opening into what had been for many years, Charlie Budd's Pool Room immediately to the east. The pool tables had been removed and Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 2) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/dbe166f8bbf34cbd2e23573b118f569e.jpg 43598390c67813add7d0bad60261dbb2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 3] [corresponds to unnumbered page 3] individual tables and chairs installed to facilitate the serving of meals. Our Lions Club had its first dinner meetings there in late 1938. In the next business room to the east, Garnet Edwards Hettinger operated a beauty shop. Root's Department Store, on the corner, was owned and operated by C. A.(Chan)Root. He and Mrs. Root lived in the 'penthouse' apartment on the second floor. Chan was a Charter Member of Lions Club and a real community booster. The north one-third of the old two-story Blakely-Williams build- ing at the north end of the east side of the Public Square was occupied by C. C. Welch (groceries) and Henry Beaver (meats) separately, under the name 'Red & White Store'. Henry and C. C. were both Charter Members and C. C. became our second President. The south two-thirds of the R-W Bldg. and the whole second floor was occupied by The Sunbury Electric Shop operated by C. S. Burrer and his Mother. This old building contained a 'rope-driven', hand powered, freight elevator which extended from the basement to the second floor. This building was destroyed by fire in 1956. The next building toward the south, now owned by Glenn Evans a Lions Club Past president, was occupied by The Little Shop with Louise Sheets as proprietor. The next building housed the U. S. ? Store (a grocery) which in 1940 became a 5 & 10 Cents store. In the same two story building with a center entrance-way and stair way to the second floor apartments was Anderson's Drug Store. R. P. or 'Doc' Anderson as most people knew him, was a very popular man in the community. He acquired considerable property in the area during his lifetime, was one of the organizers of the Sunbury Savings & Loan and one of its Directors until his death in 1940. He was a member of Sparrow Lodge of Masons and a Charter member of the Lions Club. One of the early Kroger Stores occupied the Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 3) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/2661a2b34f311367a9094071597aa23e.jpg 73b61071f1946bde04542c43a8684265 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 4] [corresponds to unnumbered page 4] next building further south, known as the Haller Building. Eddie Haller operated a bowling alley in the basement for a time. This Kroger store was managed by Carl Perry who was a Lions Club Char- ter member and became one of its Past Presidents. Notice of his early and untimely death is indicated elsewhere in this publica- tion. Harold Stone's Barber Shop adjoined the Haller building. 'Stoney', as he was affectionately called by everyone was Mayor of Sunbury for the longest, continuous period of years in its He history. ^ occupied that position when the streets of the Village were paved in 1911. V & M Williamson had a Chevrolet dealership in the next building with a cement block service garage located across the private alley to the rear. At the time they discontinued operations, theirs was reputed to be the oldest Chevrolet Agency in the central Ohio area. The two-story brick building with cast- iron support post in the entry way had been known for many years as the Strong's Hardware building, with living quarters overhead. In 1938 there was an alleyway between the Strong Hdwe and the old frame building which originally housed Charlie Granger's Pool Room and short-order restaurant. Jim and Mary Fravel operated the restaurant in the south part of the building and might have looked after the pool room in the north part. What was known as the Casteel Building, where the Sunbury News is now located (in 1988), the first story had a cut-stone wall with thick door ways at sidewalk level which supported a frame double, second floor for living quarters. F. Lamont Kempton, a Lion Charter Member operated a barber shop in the northernmost sidewalk level room. Larue and Marge Stith had a filling station and garage at the S, E. corner of this building, facing the intersection of Granville and S. Vernon Streets. It must be remembered that in 1926, all the business buildings with a few living quarters above, situated Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 4) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/84d326e805c7b26c95eaeb4cff605fd0.jpg 3392a5f7e30f13ef40b169466aaf4cbe Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 5] [corresponds to unnumbered page 5] between the Blakely-Williams frame structure on the north (which contained a three foot thick, stone firewall along its south side) and the old brick, Strong Hdwe to the south, all being of frame construction and very old, caught fire one night and burned to the ground. There was no way to save the structures since at that time all that was available was a man-power operated fire pumper and the only water available was from a cistern on the east side of the Public Square. The owners of the various properties so destroyed, banded together and hired a contractor to come on the scene and erect new brick structures according to each owners requirements. I understand, on good authority, that 'Rudy' Burrer, a respected banker in the Village was given the responsibility of co-ordinating the new construction project between the individual owners and the contractor, Mr. Ray Hopper of Delaware, Ohio. Believe it or not, there is no indication handed down to date of any serious problems, financially or other- wise, in this obviously loose-knit operation. In 1938 the Sunbury Post Office was located in the brick building at 75 E. Cherry Street across the alley from the rear of the Blakely-Williams building. Mr. Carroll Williamson was Postmaster. The first structure west of S. Vernon St on the south side of the square was a frame dwelling. The next was the residence of Otis (Pete) Baker and connected office and exchange of The Ohio Central Telephone Co. Mr. Baker, with his wife Lulu had come to Sunbury in 1904 to be maintenance man and local manager of the system. His younger son, Darwin Baker was a Lions Club Charter Member. The brick structure to the west and next to the alley, provided quarters for The Delaware County Mutual Ins. Co., founded in 1877, in the eastern one-half while the western half was occupied by Strosnider & Wilson Funeral Directors. A. D. Strosnider was Presi- Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 5) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/4c2824c0aeb13e831aa43aee70c5af5f.jpg c6f2c09c2de2878db7a0162f8a5ac5cb Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 6] [corresponds to unnumbered page 6] dent and a Director of The Farmers Bank, and Ronald F. 'Doc' Wilson was a Lions Club Charter Member, and a very active promoter and worker in the development of The Sunbury Playground. To the west of the alley was the Sunbury Motors Co. adjoining the Irwin Hdwe. & Furniture Co. Bldg. which extended to the next alley. This complex of buildings started with the Wheaton Brothers as a hardware and farm equipment store. Charles Wheaton had the first automobile in the community and from that experience there devel- oped an early auto agency. Bordering the alley, in 1938 was a two-story building made out of glazed tile, shaped similar to concrete blocks. On the ground floor Arthur Boston operated the 'Snipe-Town' grocery, no one has said where the name originated. Dr. Hodge Wilson (no relation to Ronald) had a dental office on the second floor. The last structure before Columbus St. was the old Joel Letts residence which had been con- verted into doctor's offices in the basement with medical clinic facilities above, by Dr. G. Y. Swickard, a Lions Club Charter Member. Tom Heston Sr. is reported to have been the operator of the Sohio Station on the corner of Granville and S. Columbus St. Hosea C. Hopkins used the Hopkins House as his residence and rented out individual rooms. He would also assist Strosnider & Wilson on Ambulance-runs and in conducting funerals. Otis K. Baker converted the Gelston's Bakery/Burrer's Store and Tavern building to operate as a Service Station and garage on the lot just north of the Hopkins House. The next two buildings north were used for residences, while the third house, (at one time the residence of Lawrence Myers, one of the founders of the town of Sunbury,) was the office and residence of Dr. W. B. Carpenter. The building at the corner of Columbus & Cherry streets was occu- pied by Wayne's (Feazel) Super Service. Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 6) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/25a88f19bcbee7222a2418bbfdbcfe07.jpg 337cca11917584f18d728bb2fc35b6ae Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 7] [corresponds to unnumbered page 7] **** Other businesses off the Square**** On N. Columbus, at North Street, Burrer Milling Co., in 1938, was producing and distributing livestock feeds, and only occasion- ally making White Loaf flour. The generation of electricity for the Village had ceased and the facilities sold to the Central Utilities Service Co. in 1926. Further north, on Rainbow Ave. Lloyd Brake and Lee Howard had established a garage and sold Studebaker automobiles. At the corner of High St. and the Croton Rd., Ralph H. Clark operated Clark's Furniture Store. At Rainbow Ave. & High St, Harry Lake operated a machine shop and garage. Charles & Wilma Ward had a store and specialized in Home Made Ice Cream in a two-story building called "The Point". South on S. Columbus St. V. M. Greene built a brick building and operated a Ford Auto Agency. Clark Tractor Sales sold farm equipment and machinery south of the Ford Agency. A little fur- ther south, across the street was Lee's Market. On E. Granville St. Emmet (Tobe) Feasel operated a Sohio Service station and next beyond was the Sunshine Feed Store. Across the street, and up a hill, was George Walker's Hay Barn and beyond that was the old Sunbury Manufacturing Co. building. John Williamson & Son sold farm machinery on Harrison St. where the Sunbury I. G. A. now stands. Also, at 52 Rainbow Ave., Owen Meredith had an International Tractor Agency, and at 102 Rainbow Ave., Ghent's Greenhouse was in operation. At 63 N. Vernon St., Charles Johnson operated a shoe repair shop, and at 157 South Vernon Street, Sunbury Lumber Co. was in business, with H. O. Reece, a Lions Club Charter Member, as Manager. Cloice E. Barton and Fairland Farms (H. P. & Russell Miller) were both in the wholesale and retail milk (dairy) business. The Town Hall was then, as now, a busy place with the Village Offices, the Jail, and the Fire Department on the first floor. Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 7) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/462be66f28af8d87ce652afeb3b83bfa.jpg 379bdacf91e91d5c8bc40390e3c7af29 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 8] [corresponds to unnumbered page 8] The Community Hall with its stage and drop curtain was used for local activities on the second floor, and Sparrow Lodge #400, F & A M owned and used the third floor. Just north of Galena on the 3Cs Highway, John W Shults operated a business selling electrical appliances and hardware as part of the Sunbury-Galena Community of merchants. It may be that some business or professional entity has been over- looked in this compilation of enterprises active in 1938 and if so this writer begs to apologize for any omission. It would have been impossible to assemble the information contained in this presentation in the length of time allotted without having at hand the Sesquicentennial book "Sunbury-Founded in 1816" which was prepared in 1966, and the microfilm record of "The Sunbury News" for the year of 1938, available at Community Library. Also conversations with many local Senior Citizens in the area during the past week, brought forth much valuable historical information which is contained here-in. Respectfully submitted by:- Carleton S. Burrer Amateur historian. Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 8) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/befb34ca32b4b7b390eb7b3c6823335f.jpg 3b00e17af339bf2648f32a416bdae511 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 9] [corresponds to unnumbered page 9] Short Illness Is Fatal to Sunbury Store Manager Funeral for Carl R. Perry, 38, was held in the Wilson chapel Sunday afternoon with the Rev. Hugh Ash of Xenia in charge of the service. Mr. Perry died shortly before mid- night Wednesday in Doctor's hospi- tal where he had been a patient since suffering a cerrebral hemmorr- hage while at work in the Sunbury Kroger store early Saturday morn- ing, Dec. 20. 1948 ['1948' handwritten] Carl became affiliated with the Kroger store during his high school days. On graduation from Sunbury high school in 1928 he was associated with Kroger stores in Mt. Vernon and Delaware for a short time and has managed the Sunbury branch the past eighteen years. Sunbury Council President He served on the village council one term, was president of that group at the time of his death and was re-elected last fall. Carl was a charter member of Sunbury Lions club and a past president. Carl is survived by his widow, Mrs. Barbara Perry; his mother, Mrs. Iva Perry of the home; five sisters, Mrs. Louise Day and Mrs. Marie McWhirt of Columbus, Mrs. Eva Gutridge of Chicago, Mrs. Dorothy Owen of Sunbury and Miss Gladys Perry of the home; four brothers, Paul and Walter of Co- lumbus, Lester and Robert of Sun- bury. Burial was made in Sunbury cemetery by the Wilson Funeral Home. Pallbearers, were Hap Howard of Columbus, Ted Bennett of Alexandria, Don Perfect, Tom Lang, Carlton Burrer and Hoyt Whitney. Members of Sunbury Lions Club were honorary pall- bearers. [photo captioned "Carl Perry"] The above photo of Carl was taken recently while he was at work in the Sunbury Kroger store. Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 9) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/20ad9c78bf963ce672e2d2c9e68999d7.jpg 8c6dd2a37ec04530d9b2ba343037ed97 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 10] [corresponds to unnumbered page 10] **** ITEMS FROM 'THE SUNBURY NEWS' 50 YEARS AGO**** The following excerpts relate to the origin of The Sunbury Lions Club and its reported activities during the calendar year 1938. Other items of special community interest of the period are also included in this presentation. Jan. 5 -The Mast-Head lists O. W. Whitney and Bill Whitney, Editors. -Village Officials--J. R. VanDivort, Mayor; Bertha Huddlestun Clerk; Frank Stelzer, Marshall ($75.00 per month). -Homer Lott, Chmn, Delaware County Commissioners -H. R. Fisher, Supt. at Sunbury; C. C. DeLong at Harlem; J. M. Ruffner at Galena; and G. M. Buell at Berlin schools. -Dr. J. H. Gerhardt died; Strosnider & Wilson funeral directors. -V. & M. Williamson, car dealers purchased first two Certificates of title issued by Delaware County under new car title law. -Business ads this issue--Blakely & Williams Store, C. C. Welch (groceries) Henry Beaver (meats); Clarks Furniture Store; Sunbury Savings & Loan; Bostons Snipe-Town Store; G. J. Burrer Co., Sunbury & Condit; Whitney Ins Agency-Phones 26 & 76; V&M Williamson Auto Sales; Kroger Stores; Roots Department Store; Lees Food Market; Garnets Beauty Shop; Sunshine Feed Store; Sunbury Lumber Co. Ph 17; Irwin Hdwe. Co; A.L. Strider Ins.; Sunbury Motors Co.; Lloyd Brake, Used Cars $25.00 to $150.00; Clark Furniture Store, Appliances-Grunow, Norge & Kelvinator; Clarence Clark to sell Hudson cars-S. Columbus St.; Brake-Howard Motor Sales, Dodge-Plymouth-3C Highway & Rainbow Ave; V. M. Green Ford Sales, S. Columbus St.; Andersons Drug Store; John Williamson & Son; Sunbury Electric Shop. -28th Annual Statement Sunbury Savings & Loan-D. C. Hoover, Secy., Howard Cring, Asst., J. W. Furry, Leland Fisher, E. B. Dustin, Directors -Dr. Noah Gorsuch chosen President of The Galena Bank. -A. D. Strosnider chosen President of The Farmers Bank, Sunbury. -Earl M. French, Auditor-Delaware county. -Burnie Day-Supt of Sunbury Water Plant since completed in 1925. -Movie, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, with Walter Huston & Una Merkel at K. of P. Hall Theater. Apr 6 -SUNBURY MERCHANTS TO ORGANIZE CLUB--Fifteen Sunbury merchants attended a meeting last week to formulate plans for a per- manent business organization in the Village. Every merchant and professional man in town is urged to attend a meeting in the Town Hall Council Room one week from tonight. H. P. Irwin, C. A. Root and Dr. Walter R. Williams were named to a committee to contact Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions Clubs and present their plans for organization. Representatives from these clubs have been here in an effort to organize in the Village. -Walter Lenhart, Ralph H. Clark and Henry Beaver were named to call on business houses to see what is desired in the way of free entertainment this summer. Both of these committees will report at the next meeting. Merchants plan to join a national organization or form a local club in the near future and urge every merchant to come to the council room next Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 10) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/6d33db35fdaeba3050c7fa0916dc05d9.jpg af9290a82cb5a077a148ef0c404d1037 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 11] [corresponds to unnumbered page 11] Wednesday night. Apr 13 -Notice to attend meeting at 8:00 PM-- Representatives from the Delaware Rotary Club will attend and explain the details of joining a Rotary Club. Apr 20 -25 merchants attended a meeting with seven members of Delaware Rotary Club and their Dist. Gov. Harold Covault of Youngs- town. Everyone voiced need of club here. Mar 16 -STORY ON PROPOSED SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM INSTALLATION**** WPA will pay for all labor and part of material. Village bonded indebtedness very low at this time. New streets were paid off several years ago. -AREA ELECTRIC COOKING SCHOOLS ANNOUNCED***At Galena, Ohio. Arranged by Columbus & Southern Ohio Electric Co., Merrill Peters in charge. Sponsored by Galena PTA. John W Shults, Galena Appliance Dealer furnishing appliances and prizes for the school. -O. W. Whitney announces candidacy for State Senator again after Democratic landslide wiped him out two years ago. He had previously served three consecutive terms. -High School Honor Roll--Seniors; Emma Longshore, Betty Morris, Clara Nuckles, Beatrice Paul, Emily Reynolds, Elain Sherfy, Frances Williamson.--Freshman Roll-Claribel Gallogly, Merna Hoover, Sherrill Link and Maxine Roof. Mar 23 -Irwin Hdwe. celebrates 10th Anniversary-- -Merchants are neglecting to collect Sales Tax as required by recent law. Mar 30 -Sales Tax Stamps now available to local merchants at The Farmers Bank. No longer required to make trips to Delaware or to Columbus to obtain them. Apr 27 -Sunbury merchants will meet in council Room tonight to complete plans for organizing a ROTARY Club. Members of Delaware club will attend to help Sunbury form their organization. Complete details will be discussed and all invited to join. D. C. Hoover, C. A. Root and Ronald Wilson are named for the membership committee. -Sunbury businesses to start regular summer hours.--Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings. May 04 -Larue Stith purchased the 3Cs Service Station in north end of Sunbury. Larue and his brother Henry own and operate a service station at the S. E. corner of the Sunbury Square. -Sanitary Sewers are to cost Sunbury $24,000.00 out of a total cost of $114,000.00 -Mrs. C. M. Wheaton died in Pasadena, California. She was a sister of Vachel Green of Ford Motor Sales. C. M. Wheaton died in Pasadena twelve years ago. -A Water Contract has been entered into with Nestle Milk Products Co. Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 11) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/7894e5910759cd6ef6a942a1447f126b.jpg c320a8809f5076ba46f872658380f15a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 12] [corresponds to unnumbered page 12] May 18 -Plans for a National Service Club were abandoned and an effort is being made to organize a Sunbury Merchants Club. Jun 08 -----A VILLAGE PLAYGROUND-----The FFA Assn. proposes constructing a Village Playground in or near Sunbury. *EDITORIAL---"LETS HAVE A VILLAGE PLAYGROUND HERE"--- June 22--Crowds are jamming parks for free movies. -Mayor Stone instructs Marshal Stelzer--'TO ENFORCE SPEED LAWS' Aug 05 -'NEW MERCHANT CLUB HEAD'--D.C.HOOVER, President. ****SUNBURY MERCHANTS FORM LIONS CLUB HERE**** Charter being held open for new members. Club open to all Business and Professional men in Sunbury. Other officers are: K.O.Burrer, H.O.Reese and Ronald Wilson, V. Presidents, K.E. Barhill, Secy.,Henry Beaver, Treas., C.S.Burrer, Lion Tamer, C.A.Root, Tail Twister, C.C.Welch, Dr. Walter H. Williams, H.D.Kempton and Bill Whitney, Directors. H.N.Walter Spec. Rep. of the national club directed the forming of this club. A Supper Meeting will be held at 6:45 at The Sunbury Grille. Plans are made for Charter Night Sept 28th. Members joining are: C.A.Root, Dr. G.Y.Swickard, D.C.Hoover, D.E.Simkins, K.E.Barnhill, Darwin Baker, Henry Beaver, C.C.Welch, K.O.Burrer, R.F.Wilson, Z. Monbarren, Carl Perry, H.O Reese, O.W.Whitney Jr., C.S. Burrer, H.R. Fisher, H.D.Kempton, O.W.Whitney, Dr. Walter R. Williams, P.W.Stith and Bill Whitney. Editorial***'THE NEW SUNBURY LIONS CLUB'*** Merchants and businessmen of Sunbury have taken a step forward by organizins a Lions Club. This Village has long needed a business-mens organization, and the forming of this club is bound to promote Sunbury interests better, and weld the business-men even closer together than they have ever been before. Success of this venture depends on its members and the interest they take in the club. We congratulate the men starting this organization and are looking forward to hearing the new Lions roar for many good things in this community. Sep 07--Sheriff raids nudist camp along Alum Creek northwest of here Sunday morning. Members were playing volley ball while officials spied on them. Adults were fined $200.00 each. --O.W.Whitney Jr. opens law office here. --Sunbury Fall Festival planned, H.D.Kempton, CHMN. Sep 21--Lions club Charter Night Banquet to be September 28th at Sunbury High School Auditorium, with Esther McCormick and her Home Ec. Girls providing the food. Wives are invited. C.C.Welch, Darwin Baker and Henry Beaver to arrange program. Oct 05--130 Attend Lions club Charter Night---Lions and wives from Mansfield, Fredericktown, Newark, Columbus, Bluffton, Tiffin, Ashland and Westerville. Forrest L. Steinman of Lions International presented the Charter to D.C.Hoover, club president. Lion O.W.Whitney as toastmaster, called on the many distinguished guests, among them, Judge Myers of The Ohio Supreme Court, Dr. Schrontz of Newark, Past Dist. Gov; Joe Ray, Pres., and Jim Engel, Secy. of the Columbus club; A.E. Bogen of Columbus; Past Dist. Gov. Ed Lape of Bluffton; State Secy.; C.W. Schwartz of Akron, Zone Dir; and Hal Walter, Int. Rep. of Akron. Members of the Fredericktown Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 12) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/a2b34110c2023ce9f65d94bcd2e8c403.jpg be65274ce525982bbd1165a464074145 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 13] [corresponds to unnumbered page 13] Club expressed their appreciation in having the opportunity to sponsor our club. The new club meets each 2nd and 4th Wed. evenings. Lions assenbled, gave a big hand to C.C.Welch, Henry Beaver and Darwin Baker for the fine evening. --Lions Club to participate in the Fall Festival, week-end of October 6th. Nov 16-Merchants Tuesday night show at High School to be in Techni- color. Nov 23-Dr. Hans Spiro opens office in George Strong house. Nov 30-F.C.Murphy speaks to Lions Club meeting in Sunbury Grille. Dec 07- New Street Lights being installed by Cols & Sou Elec Co. Councilman Lamont Kempton presented a plan proposed by the Lions Club to construct a public playground. K.E.Barnhill and C.C.Welch, club members, explained that the club wished to obtain land and construct the playground with the help and support of Village Council. Council voted unanimously to give its moral support to this movement. Action was also taken by Council to provide assistance to the Village Volun- teer Firemen and the Lions Club in staging the annual "Christ- mas for Every Family" drive in this community. -Lt. Col. H.H.VanKirk of near Condit will speak to members of Lions club Wed, Eve. Dec. 14 at their supper meeting in the Sunbury Grille. The Lions Club has assumed sponsorship of the Sunbury Boy Scout Troop. Dec 14- MONEY AND TOYS NEEDED FOR CHRISTMAS PARTY**"We need more money and more toys if we are to bring Christmas into every home in the community this year" is the plea of the Volunteer Fireman and the Lions club members who are directing the Community Christmas this year. Old toys, games, dolls and anything will be accepted for this drive. Bring the items to the east side door of the Town Hall as soon as possible. Money is needed to purchase food and clothing for the Christ- mas Baskets. Cash donations have been received from-Sunbury Village, Mrs. Louise Sedgwick, M/M Lamont Kempton, M/M C.A Root, M/M D.C Hoover and Dr. and Mrs Walter Williams. The boys would like to add your name to the list next week. Leave your dona- tions with Lamont Kempton. "You will not be solicited but your donations will be most appreciated", says Mr Kempton. Firemen and Lions are working every night at their shop in the Town Hall ------LIONS CLUB TO SPONSOR DANCE****Sunbury Lions Club is sponsoring a Christmas Dance in the Ford Building on Monday evening December 26th. Allan Hale and his band will play for the dancing from 9:00 to 12:30. The public is invited. Purchase tickets at Andersons Drug Store or from Lions Club members. One dollar per couple. Dec 21 -Crowd expected for Lions Club Dance---Advance ticket sales for the dance Monday night, Dec 26th,point to a crowd of nearly 100 couples to enjoy the evening in the Greene-Ford building on south Columbus Street. "Proceeds from this dance will help finance a Public Playground in Sunbury" according to Lions club members. Lions from several neighboring towns and cities have made reservations for the dance. -News item----Mr and Mrs Harold Kintner have moved to Mansfield where he is employed by The Ohio Oil Company. Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 13) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/d38c232d0ac047215e7d93bb9db05372.jpg 83e033a6fe1758f88df0ee54865db9c7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 14] [corresponds to unnumbered page 14] Dec 29 -More than 100 couples attended the Lions Club Dance in the Ford building Christmas night. The large hall was turned into a beautiful ball room with Christmas decorations galore -Sunbury Volunteer Firemen and Lions Club members wish to thank those listed for their contributions to the Christmas Fund. Mrs. Louise Sedgwick, M/M F.Lamont Kempton, M/M C.A. Root, M/M D.C.Hoover, Dr & Mrs W.H.Williams, Mrs Maud Horlocker, M/M Perle Stockwell, E.C.Teut, M/M Burt Armstrong, Mrs Ger- hardt, M/M C.C.Welch, M/M Glenn Hoover & Sons, Miss Leta Curtis, M/M J.R.VanDivort, M/M Glenn Farris, M/M Henry Beaver, FFA Boys, a friend, M/M Lee Colvin, Zhonta Camp Fire Girls, John Edminster, L.A.Compton, Burrer Milling Co.,Miss Dora Beattie, M/M Art Boston, and Miss Alice Johnson. The club thanks anyone donating toys and clothing and The Sunbury News for their help in making this Christmas for the Needy a success. ---Editorial***FOOD-TOYS-CLOTHING BRING CHRSTMAS JOY*** More than thirty bushel baskets and a truck load of toys were distributed in this community by Sunbury Fireman & Lions to make possible their aim of "Christmas In Every Home". Nearly everything in the way of toys, dolls, games, sleds, wagons and clothing were made-over by firemen who filled Santa's Pack and sent him over the community on Christmas Eve. Both Firemen and Lions directed this operation. Clifton Miller helped remodel toys and Mrs Howard Cring assisted in dressing dolls that meant Christmas to many little girls. The News Photographer failed in his attempt to bring you a picture of Santa's packs. The east room of the Town Hall was so filled with Christmas that he had to climb up on top of the 'Jail Cage' for a picture &'fumbled the shot'[underlined]. Baskets of fruit were taken to the sick. ---**Illness fatal to Sunbury Phone Man*** Otis L.(Pete) Baker,64,died at his home here early Sunday evening after an illness of more than a year. Mr Baker came here in 1904 as maintenance man for the telephone company and held that position until a year ago when he retired because of ill health. Pete had been able to be around town some since, but became critically ill Thursday. Sunbury business places closed for an hour Tuesday afternoon during the funeral in the Strosnider & Wilson Chapel. The Rev. W.E. Hayden of Radnor conducted the service. Burial was made in Sunbury Cemetery. Pall bearers were: H.W.Stone, R.P.Ander- son, Arthur Boston, Herbert Irwin, Merle Williamson and O.W. Whitney. Mr.Baker is survived by his wife Lulu, two sons, Owen of Coshocton and Darwin of the home. One sister, Mrs. Daisy Post of near Croton. ---News Item***M/M Alfred Fivaz of Washington,D.C.,Dr.& Mrs. W.(Bill)Fivaz and son of Fulton, N.Y.,M/M Ernest Fivaz of Chicago, Robert Fivaz of New York City, Helen and Annette Fivaz of Columbus are spending the holidays with their par- ents M/M E.Fivaz of Sunbury. (Note) Mr. E. Fivaz came to Sunbury about 1924 and brought the secret formula, by memory, for the manufacturing of Nestle Baby Food at the Nestle Milk Products Co. Plant here. He and his wife were French speaking Swiss. Their four youngest children attended Sunbury schools. Ernie and Bob were both active in High School sports. All the family were a fine addition to our community. The youngest daughter married Hal Roberts raised a fine family and they continue to reside in Sunbury. Mr.Roberts managed the Galena Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 14) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/4087f9f324db2a5b870ef24b9d96b337.jpg 1ca9dbf615d311e1217d35887a755e8e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 15] [corresponds to unnumbered page 15] for several years and became a Director in The Delaware County Bank before retirement. Annette is still active in support of 'Friends of Community Library' and has been responsible for the operation of its 'Thrift Shop' in the historic 'Hopkins House' prior to the commencement of its Restoration process. *Here follows a listing of businesses in Sunbury at the end of 1938* Roots Department Store O.K.Baker Service Station Garnets Beauty Shop Waynes(Feasel) Super Service Clover Farm Store The Sunbury Savings & Loan Blakely & Williams Market Delaware Co. Mutual Ins Co. (C.C.Welch & Henry Beaver) Sunbury Grille Andersons Drug Store Whitney Insurance Agency The Kroger Grocery Co. A.L.Strider Insurance V&M Williamson Auto Sales Strosnider & Wilson Lee Colvin's Grille Chas Johnson Shoe Shop Jim Fravel's Place Brake-Howard Auto Sales Stiths Service Station Sunbury Lumber Company Sunbury Motors Co. Charles Ward 'The Point' Boston's Grocery Dr. G.Y.Swickard Clinic Sunbury Electric Shop Sunshine Feed Store Irwin Hardware Co. E.Feasel Sohio Service The Farmers Bank C.E.Barton Dairy (Member FDIC) Marpes Beauty Shop Sunbury Post Office The Sunbury News (Carroll Williamson,P.M.) Clark's Furniture Store Fairland Farm Dairy Clark's Tractor Sales (H.P.& R.W.Miller) V.M.Greene Ford Sales Tom Heston Sohio Station Lee's Market Burrer Milling Co. The Hopkins House *News of interest from 1916[underlined] Issues reprinted in 1938[underlined] Sunbury News* -C.M.Wheaton is building an Auto Show Room next to his store- -C.M.Wheaton & Co report the automobile business in "On the BOOM". Last week they delivered a new Studebaker to the Overturf brothers, and Fords to G.L.Armstrong, Dr.Furniss, F.C.Murphy, H.C.Hopkins and to W.E.Loar. -O.W.Whitney has purchased Fred D.Baker's interest in The Sunbury News. Baker becomes Postmaster--Job vacated by Whitney. -D.C.Hoover of Miami, Florida visits his mother Mrs. Minnie Hoover. -Supt. Milton Utley is 'shining around town' in a new Dodge car. *The information used in this article was assembled from microfilm record of back issues of The Sunbury News on file at Community Library, Sunbury, Ohio by:- Carleton S. Burrer Charter Member & Past President The Sunbury Lions Club. Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated (p. 15) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Burrer Family Collection Description An account of the resource The Burrer Family Collection contains writings from Carleton Sperry Burrer, a prominent Sunbury business man and local historian who enjoyed traveling with his wife, Dorothy, to research the history of the name Sunbury. Mrs. Burrer was the first director of Community Library, having earned a degree in Library Science from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. The documents in this collection tell the story of Sunbury's history as well as the Burrer family's contributions to the development of Sunbury's business community. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Sunbury and Galena Communities and how they were in 1938 when Sunbury Lions Club Originated Description An account of the resource Carleton Burrer's history of the origin of the Sunbury Lion's Club and a description of what the communities of Galena and Sunbury were like at the time of the club's establishment in 1938. Mr. Burrer describes each of the businesses located on the Town Square in 1938, and includes excerpts from the 1938 edition of the Sunbury News. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1988 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Essay Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 31209951 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/ Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Clubs--Ohio--Sunbury--History Galena--Ohio--History Sunbury Lions Club--History Sunbury--Ohio--History Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Local Historian Carleton Burrer; Sunbury, Ohio http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/9a9b7b5b3bf653a2c8dd2a049a06f3ed.jpg 8b476772565488f5db29ac27f94cccc2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 1] [corresponds to unnumbered page 1] Compiled by Carlton Burrer June, 1983 [hand written on right] Early Delaware County -- Sunbury and Community Introduction As we pause to remember the 175th anniversary of the establishment of Delaware County as a separate political subdivision of the State of Ohio, consideration should be given as to the conditions which existed in 1804 and to the life style of the people and the hardships the people endured in those early days. First of all, as we travel about the towns and countryside, observation should be made as to the contour of the land and try to visualize how it must have been before the roads were laid out and improved. Consider how it was possible to cross the various streams of water, on foot or by horse and buggy before bridges were built and the roadways graded to make the approaches gradual and easy to maneuver. Notice that the Public Square and the bordering streets, Columbus, Cherry,Vernon and Granville occupy nearly all the naturally level land in the Village of Sunbury. As originally laid out by the Myers brothers in 1816, Morning, North, Evening and South streets formed the boundaries of the Village. Even these close-in streets, while the plat looked good on paper, [word crossed out] parts of the streets could not be used because of the irregularities in the land surface. It is to be noted that South St. was never [underlined] used. During the early years there was on open stream and valley extending from north of what is now Harrison St. east of its junction with Otis St. which ran in a southwesterly direction, past the north side of the Masonic Temple, under the Veterinary Clinic at N. Vernon St., past the north side of Dr. Livingstons house, under the intersection of Morning and N. Columbus Sts., through the front yard of Ronald Wilson, under the house adjacent thereto; on underneath the new Cemetery Entrance and West Cherry St., where it discharged into Prarie Run. When N. Vernon St. was first extended to Harrison St. a stone culvert had to be constructed to permit the water to flow under the new extention. As recently as 1939 an open stream and ravine went, north east to south west, through the center of the field where the Sunbury Playground was constructed. The waterway originated northeast of East Cherry St. continued SW under Granville St., through the low ground south of the Telephone Equipment building, under S. Vernon St., on under S. Columbus St near Frakes garage, through the Nestle Co. property where it emptied into Prarie Run. Considerable grading had to be done when the Railroad was built in 1873 and Letts Ave. did not connect with South Columbus St until the underpass was installed several years later. The Granville St underpass was not installed untill the late 1920s and all the traffic had to cross over [underlined] the railroad tracks for quite a number of years. The early expansion of the Village took place when there were nothing but dry dusty streets in the summer, and icy, rutted and muddy streets during the rest of each year. Certain areas in the Public Square were soft and swampy during parts of the year. Of course there were no telephones until the late 1800s -- communication along the railroad was by telegraph -- there was no electricity until about 1906. In the late 1800s a group of private citizens, among them John Longwell, Elias Kimball, Al Williams, Nelson Ramsey and Dr. Gerhardt had a large gas Title A name given to the resource Early Delaware County Sunbury and Community (p. 1) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/6b18c51a3b49d32808225b9cb1b85d2a.jpg 3255ff260c03cbea9c7fc3bb04787276 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 2] [corresponds to page 2] well drilled in Nelson Ramsey's pasture field (Sunbury Playground) found some gas and had lines laid to their homes and to the Blakely- Williams Department Store at Cherry and Vernon Sts. The supply only lasted a short time and the pocket filled with water. Small quantities would bubble up through the water and build up pressure enough in the large (8 or 9 inch) well pipe so that light could be had for skating parties held on the pond in the wintertime. By the 1920s even that small quantity failed. Another, smaller well was drilled just east of N. Columbus St. on the north side of North St. hoping to find gas to fuel the engines at the Mill. That venture was also un-successful. Internal combustion engines fueled by natural gas, kerosene or light oil have been available only since the early 1900s so that except for [word crossed out] large and ponderous steam equipment all work to get jobs done had to be by man-power, or by the use of horses, mules or oxen. Earth and gravel or stone had to be moved by hand-shovel or by horse drawn, man controlled, slip-scrapers. Any material moved more than a few feet had to be shoveled into horse or mule drawn, iron-tired wagons. Dump-wagons were developed so that the sides or bottom could be released and then would have to be chained or clamped back into place for each load. Considering all the physical labor involved it is easy to understand why it took so many years to get large projects completed, particularly the extensive grading needed to lay the large tile and move the earth from the high spots to cover the tile and fill the ravines. By 1911 the finish grading had been done and most of the streets paved. This writer can remember heavy paving bricks laid by hand on the old 3C highway between Sunbury and Galena and in areas within Sunbury. It involved teams of men,down on their knees laying two, three or even four courses of the brick from one side of the roadway to the other on a piece-work basis; back and forth all day, with few pauses between courses to rest. Just imagine anyone being willing, or able, to do such work today.---With all the power tools and equipment we now have is is difficult for us to imagine how hard it must have been to fell the trees, cut them, and finish them into suitable boards, planks timbers and lath, to erect the structures which were so well put together; all by hand, so many years ago. Even the foundation stones had to be/quarried, moved by wagon or sled to the site, then cut to the desired shapes and laid; all by hand hammers and chisels. Even the bricks which were used to build houses and chimneys were often formed, dried, and baked from native clay found at the building site. Iron nails to hold the planks and boards in place in those old, but solid, frame houses, were forged by hand, sometimes locally. When the Farmers Bank building was erected in Sunbury in 1872, all the stone was quarried along Big Walnut Creek. Large blocks were hauled and deposited on the north side of the Public Square. A crew of Italian stone cutters was brought in to cut and shape the stone into the various sizes, shapes an designs; even to the round columns, fluted pilasters and finials as called for in the architects plans. A decorative pedestal for the peak of the frontal design was even sculpted from a single, [word crossed out] large piece of stone and hoisted to the top of the finished structure. Just recently when trenches were dug to lay wires for new lights along the walks on the Square, a quantity of the spalls and stone chips from this project were thrown along the north walk up to the top of the ground ^ . Several of the these were picked up and compared with stone saved from the original building. They matched exactly. Trenching in other areas of the Square failed to expose any similar stone. Title A name given to the resource Early Delaware County Sunbury and Community (p. 2) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/74e522c42a4ac3f1bded76d019fb3bf5.jpg 5d0135106d066d53870c1ae64c40c8f0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 3] [corresponds to page 3] The Villages and country side have always been fortunate in having good palatable water. Big and Little Walnut Creeks and Prarie [Prairie] Run are fed with many springs, as were the streams which ran through the town of Sunbury. Private wells could usually be dug or drilled and clear, sweet water found near the surface. This good water is one of the elements responsible for the growth of the area from its earliest days. In recent years it must be acknowledged and credit given to the assistance The Nestle Company has presented; financially, as well as by providing use of its tools, personnel and equipment; when needed, in the development of the Sunbury water programs. Many will remember the very long dry spell experienced in 1953 when the water table dropped so far that the Water Plant wells gave out, springs dried up and all the little pools of water. above the dam in Big Walnut were channeled by men with hand shovels to permit as much to drain into the pumping station inlets as could possibly be coaxed into the system. Being about to give up with no rain in sight, it was noticed that water was flowing in Little Walnut [underlined] Creek from just above the Cheshire road on south. Local farm tank truck haulers were recruited, the new Fire Department Pumper and some small portable units were pressed into service and The Nestle Co, which was using raw milk at the time, diverted their large tankers, as they could be spared, and the water brigade began. A conveniently accessible pool in the creek was located and the crisis was at once averted until the rains came. Believe it or not, we pumped and hauled water from that one pool for several days and were unable to pump it dry. The story has been told that, at one time, one of the farms along Little Walnut Creek had an artesian well which flowed continuously the year around. From our experience there must have been several of them working at the time. Two other elements which helped in the growth of the community, were the many perches of good stone along Big Walnut Creek and the fine stands of trees of many varieties suitable for building purposes and for firewood. Another favorable feature in the development of Sunbury was that it was laid out at the intersection of two expanding trade routes and was sited far enough away from other large centers so that it became a convenient overnight stop-over point, back in the stage coach era. The surrounding land was mostly fertile for farming and for the grazing of livestock. With the influx of many industrious people:-tradesmen, farmers, dairymen, growers of livestock, builders and merchants, the future of the villages and community was assured. ***The Beginning, Development and Growth of the Mill & Light Plant*** There is one necessity common to all living creatures---everyone and every thing must eat [underlined] on a regular basis...The more primitive the environ- ment the more difficult it was, and the more time had to be spent, to find and prepare food for existence. Basic requirements have always been--food and shelter[underlined]. As new settlers began to arrive and virgin territory was opened, people began to band together to pool their efforts and assets, to secure easier and more comfortable living. With flowing streams at hand, those individuals mechanically inclined, set about harnessing the available water-power to perform the onerous tasks of sawing wood and grinding grain. Title A name given to the resource Early Delaware County Sunbury and Community (p. 3) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/41c6a2f91b673d6a52faf9a1e03e8f11.jpg c03a157c0746207d6b701268f138b6e8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 4] [corresponds to page 4] Mills began to be installed at locations where satisfactory flow could be obtained, by building dams to impound the water or where there was sufficient natural fall created by a bend in the stream, to divert part of the flow into a man-made new channel where the speed or pressure of the water could be made to turn a wheel and thus create plentiful and cheap power. Mills began to be constructed along Alum creek and Big and Little Walnut. One enterprising family in Galena, the Carpenters, secured land for a mill-race just north of the juncture of Big Walnut and Little Walnut Creeks. Since the flow and level of Big Walnut was higher than that of Little Walnut a wonderfully fast and reliable race was created for use. The Carpenters had built and operated mills in the Wyoming Valley area of Pennsylvania before coming here. Business must have prospered for the John Jacob Burrer family in the stone cutting profession and in the family tavern and store. He had brought his family from Germany on a sailing vessel to Sunbury via New York,with a stop-over to visit a brother who lived in Medina County Ohio and a short period in Delaware, where a son, John Edward was born. In 1857 he had purchased a log cabin in Sunbury, located on E. Cherry St. near the new Cemetery entrance. It is now designated as #44 and has been shingled on the outside so that the logs do not show. The house is still standing and is occupied. Court House records indicate that it was built in 1802 [underlined]---before Delaware County was formed or the Village of Sunbury laid out. The last three of John Jacobs children were born there in 1857, '59 & '63. The old cabin and family home on lot #19 was transferred out of the family name to A.D. Gammill in September 1901. also In August 1857 John Jacob ^ purchased a plot of land along Big Walnut creek from John Knox as a 'Stone Purchase' and later he became a partner with Henry Fleckner in the operation of a Stone Quarry. John J's. oldest daughter married Mr. Fleckner and they lived in what is now #10 N. Walnut St. which is on the Sunbury-Licking Township line at the end of East Cherry St. At that time it was far outside the corporation limits of Sunbury. The house and barn are still standing and the property forms the west bank of the Big Walnut Valley. About ten years after purchasing the log cabin as a home for his young family, he purchased lot #44 from Cornelius Wilcox. This was (and is) the first lot north of the Hopkins House on the west side of the Public Square in Sunbury. On it he built a stone building with a stone-walled and roofed cellar underneath for use as a tavern and store. It is understood that light lunch and other refreshments were available there for travellers and those attending the livestock sales being conducted periodically on the Public Square in the early days. No doubt the bidding became more spirited after refreshments. By 1871, John Jacob's eldest son was 23 years of age (he was 7 when they came from Germany) and the father and son, Gottlieb Jacob, purchased from Henry and Sarah Boyd the old 'Bailey' water-powered flour and 'grist' mill, which had been built in 1848, and was located down in the creek valley bottom-land behind Harry Fleckners barn. The flow in the creek had been diverted further upstream into a pond and there was a 'right-of-way' through John Knox land for a Title A name given to the resource Early Delaware County Sunbury and Community (p. 4) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/924fdf342716588cacf2efc80de913e4.jpg 264e4cb6dd5ea7ea6890c5fe77e044f2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 5] [corresponds to page 5] 'tail-race' to carry the run*off from the water wheel back into the creek further down stream. This Mill Property contained a little over 26 acres of land, in addition to the right-of-way, and $3500.00 was paid for it, the buildings and machinery. Mr. Boyd had previously purchased the 'Van Sickle' mill from his brother Jacob Boyd and had moved the machinery from it to the 'Bailey' mill. The 'Van Sickle' mill was the first in Trenton Tonship. It was built by John Van Sickle in 1835 and was situated one half mile north-east of Sunbury on Big Walnut. It had a 'brush' dam for water diversion and it was later replaced with one built out of planks. He sold it to E.M. Condit who operated it from 1855 to 1862 and then sold it to Jacob Boyd. Judge F.B. Sprague, who came from Delaware, later bought into the partnership with the Burrer father and son, he having had experience in in the milling business. Mr. Sprague had certified the mill purchase agreement as Justice of the Peace on June 16, 1871. With business rapidly increasing it soon became evident that the flow of water in the creek was not sufficient to operate the mill the year around to take care of the demand. It was determined that the mill and its machinery should be moved into the Village and steam power be pro- vided to run it. In 1875 foundations were laid for a new building and boiler-room to be built. The building was frame construction and the boiler-room was of stone to be fireproof. The building site was in the north-east corner of N. Columbus and North Streets. Mr. Samuel Shriver Gammill had moved his saw-mill from Kingston Township and it occupied the other one-half of the land between N. Columbus St. and N. Vernon St. on the north side of North St. Mr. Gammill also operated a Hoop factory in connection with the saw mill. Agreement had been reached with Mr. Gammill that he would supply the wood-slabs/and sawdust to burn in the new boilers, and he would construct the frame building for the mill. A|very tall and large, round chimney, or smoke stack had to be erected on a heavy stone base to assure that burning wood-embers would not spread over nearby structures. The son, Gottleib Jacob (known to everyone as 'Jakie') had become enamored of Mr. Gammill's daughter, Amy Ann, and they were getting married. Mr. Gammill therefore, also agreed to build a house for them to live in, on the south side of Morning St., on in-lot #4 across from the mill. All this was accomplished and the mill was moved from the creek into Sunbury. At that time the small stream and ravine still existed, down through the saw-mill property and alongside the new mill. A tile was laid and covered over with dirt and stone fill but for many years whenever there was a hard rain, water would exceed the capacity of the tile and flow into the mill basement and into the bucket-type elevator 'boots' and plug up the flow of grain in the mill. One can imagine the mess this [word crossed out] would make, especially if water remained in the basement for an hour or more. A large steam engine was purchased in Mt. Vernon and shipped by rail to Sunbury. The new railroad trestle over Big Walnut creek was then unuseable so the heavy engine had to be unloaded on the south side of the Croton Road where the stone quarry loading winches were located, moved down the hill on heavy wagons or sleds, forded across the creek just north of where the new bridge is now located, by horse, mule or oxen teams; and on in to the new mill engine room. Title A name given to the resource Early Delaware County Sunbury and Community (p. 5) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/f37c44f8d8b780447d6c3f2d5d7868fd.jpg 59b0fc733e373ae3b6cb294b9299db2f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 6] [corresponds to page 6] The father, John Jacob Burrer and his son Heinrich (Henry) both died in 1874 while the mill was still at the creek. Gottlieb Jacob (Jakie) now 26 years old was made Executer of John Jacob, leaving the mother, Barbara Catherine a widow at the age of 54, daughters Frederika and were Nannie, two additional sons John Edward and Frank aged 20 and 12 ^ at home and unmarried. The move into Sunbury was successful, however, and with a much more accessible location and reliable power at hand to drive the mill stones, there was plenty|for everyone to do. The community began to grow rapidly. The Farmers Bank had been organized in 1872, the railroad was completed; the Enterprise (first newspaper) started, the brick school house built, on the hill (corner of Harrison & N. Vernon Sts), all in 1973. In 1974 the Rome Grange #741 was organized. In 1875 a Protestant Episcopal church was organized in Galena. From 1875 through 1891 many new organizations and associations were formed in the comm- unity. In 1892 the Sunbury Co-Operative Creamery was formed and a building was constructed on the east side of S. Columbus St., near the rail- road and Depot. This meant that the farmers had a convenient cash market for their milk and cream, and butter could be locally produced and sold in quantity. Mr. Kimball Sedgwick was named secretary & manager. By 1886 machinery had become available to process wheat into white flour, by means of matched sets of steel rollers; and by the use of proper screens and sifters various parts of the wheat, oats, rye and barley could be separated out in the grinding process for livestock feed and other uses. This meant that to be competetive, a major expan- sion was necessary at the mill. The French mill-stones or 'buhrs' were retained for cracking corn and making meal but the mill structure had to be expanded. At the same time 6 large and tall bins were constructed for the storage of grain for both processing and reshipment. At that time the engine room was not expanded since the steam engine and boiler could handle the added load. Anyone familiar with roller mills and the manufacture of white flour will understand the amount of line shafting, belts, pulleys, clutches and spouting required in such an undertaking. The conversion was completed, however, and a new era began in the milling business in the Sunbury community. An exact accounting of the sequence of events which followed during the next 15-20 years is not recorded, but can be summed up as follows;- While associated with the father and the boys under the name of 'Sprague & Burrer' Mr. Sprague was a Justice of the Peace, but upon being appointed Probate Judge in the County, he soon gave up his interest in the milling business and the enterprise continued for a time as 'Burrer Brothers'. After white flour became available, the 'tavern' aspect of the store and tavern on the Public Square was dropped and ovens installed in the building to operate as a Bakery, thereby promoting the marketing of the new 'White Loaf Flour,'as the product was named. John Edward, having learned the milling business, became interested in the bakery. Frank continued on full time in the mill with his brother Jakie. Frank never married but Jakie and his wife Amy Ann started to raise a family of their own in the house across from the mill. Their first born child (March 7, 1886) was given the name of Sprague, after the early partner, and the middle name Gammill from his maternal grandfather. Then followed 4 more boys, all within a period of 8 years. Title A name given to the resource Early Delaware County Sunbury and Community (p. 6) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/5e7524fa528ac7ae59d0adc9ffce873b.jpg d3f2d57ef93e30bbe48c15ae8a2fa56c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 7] [corresponds to page 7] As this second generation grew and became able to work in the mill, John E. and Frank began to look for other locations to continue their profession. In 1893 John Edward married Margaret, the daughter of Remolus Hyatt who lived in a log cabin just north of Sunbury. (this cabin was torn down recently to make room for the erection of the DeVore Funeral Home at that location). Jakie and John purchased a mill in Centerburg and Uncle John and Margaret moved there to make 'Tip Top' flour. Uncle Frank secured a mill in Westerville, moved there and spent the rest of his life there. Soon thereafter the Sunbury operation name was changed to:- G.J. Burrer & Sons, a title which continued for many years. Sprague, the eldest boy was killed in an accident while playing in the mill when he was only 10 years of age. The Townley-Ports Scrap Book, available at the Community Library, describes this happening in detail, calling it 'A Horrible Accident', with a date of Aug. 6, 1886. Little Sprague had been reading a story-book at the time the third child was born on June 6, 1886. The hero in the book was Paul Parker which became the name of the new-born. In volume #111, page 73 Delaware Co. Recorders Office, is a Quit Claim Deed, signed by all living survivors of John Jacob Burrer, transferring the south 60 ft. of Lot #44 (the Store & Bakery) to J. W. Barker. It had been used by the family from 1867 to 1899. Uncle Parker Burrer remembered going there to Uncle John and Aunt Maggie's bakery as a small boy, and bringing home 6 large loaves of bread for a quarter. Their daughter, Esther the oldest of five children raised, passed away in Columbus June 6, 1983 at the age of 89 and laid to rest with her mother in Oak Grove Cemetery in Delaware where they had spent the last years of life. In volume #74, page 380 Gottlieb Jacob and his wife Amy Ann conveyed to Louisa Catherine (Mrs. Henry Fleckner), his aunt, the Boyd (Bailey) mill property on Dec. 1, 1879, the mill machinery having been moved into Sunbury in 1875. ********The Light Plant******** By 1906 Karl Ormond Burrer had graduated from Denison University and obtained his masters degree in Electrical Engineering, having spent his youth working around the mill with his father, uncles, and three brothers. He had been spending his summers,when not in school or teaching, at the mill. Jakie and the boys considered that in the evenings when it became too dark to operate the mill, there would still be 'a head of steam' in the boiler which could be profitably used to generate electricity. While at Denison, Karl had helped to 'wire' the new Science Hall and had therefore, become familiar with method of enclosing the wires and devices in rigid, iron condit, as was then recommended for use in areas involving explosive dust. Accordingly they proceeded to purchase a small generator (or 'Dynamo'), as they were then called, and connected it with a long drive belt to the steam engine in a fashion so that the dynamo could be operated with or without running the mill. At first, lights were installed only in the mill and Jakie's house across the street. The lights at night worked and the new system was a success but was operated only ^ until pressure went down in the boiler. Soon the people at the Methodist Church, across from the mill, on N. Columbus St. thought it would be nice to have the new lights and the 'boys' were glad to accomodate. From then on, others wanted the service and there was no\turning back.... Title A name given to the resource Early Delaware County Sunbury and Community (p. 7) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/330c847dcc9ec77ce0880575b3c340d9.jpg 3cab9205cbaa0b52e373ca1cb6b64ef7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 8] [corresponds to page 8] So much happened around the mill and light plant during the twenty years following generation of the first electricity that to try to describe the events and put them on paper 'boggles the mind'. The mill business continued to grow with more and more farmers raising grain as a cash crop. Livestock and fine horses were being raised and shipped out of the area. Cream stations were set up at strategic collection points thruout the community and payments were made in gold [underlined] picked up at the Bank. Butter was made at the creamery and shipped by railroad in tubs and in 1 pound packages. Ice had to be cut at the creek and stored in ice houses to keep the butter solid and sweet in shipment. Even hay[underlined] was purchased from the farmers and stored in a large barn along the railroad for shipment. Additional storage bins had to be erected by another addition to the mill and cleaning and automatic weighing installed so that the various types of grain could be used or held for shipment when market prices were most favorable. New buildings had to be built, one called the 'oyster shell house', the 'flour shed', the 'feed shed' the 'dynamo room', the 'shack' for electrical supplies and the 'barn', first to house the horses and wagons, with a hay mow overhead, and later to house the trucks as they came into use. During the harvest season the mill would be running all day to make flour and commercial feed products and continue on into late night and early morning to receive the farmer's crops, clean the grain and haul it, by wagon or truck, on down to the railroad to be loaded into waiting box cars on the siding. The box cars ll had to have a^ small openings sealed with heavy, reinforced paper so that small grains would not leak out during shipment. Some of the cars were in such bad shape when received that they could not be used and were ordered replacements ^ . They had to be loaded and moved out within a certain time or 'demurrage' would be charged by the railroad. The same would be true on incoming shipments of matrials such as oyster shells or winter wheat sometimes needed for flour making. Along with all the mill activity, work was progressing to string wires around over town and poles set, where needed, to distribute the new a 'electricity' as fast as the houses could be wired. It is ^ fact that only Mrs. Kimball, the banker's wife wanted the electricity ^ to run her water pump. She already had the finest gas fixtures available for lights. Blakely-Williams Store and other places of business had gas lights and some small heating stoves but most wanted the electricity too. A few families had washing machines operated by gasoline engines but|wanted them converted to electric motors. O.W.Whitney had a water pump with a long handle on it and a large pressure tank in the basement of his new house across the street from the mill, and it was one of the boy's jobs to pump up the pressure each day after school. John Longwell who lived in the big yellow house on Lot #1 (N.Vernon at Morning St.,) in Sunbury, had a large, open-top, lead, water tank in his attic. It was enclosed in a wooden box, with sawdust for insulation, to prevent freezing in winter time. He had a filtered, double cistern for water supply, and a hand pump in the basement with a gauge to tell when the attic tank was full. When it was electrified, a float operated switch had to be installed to make the system automatic and keep the tank from overflowing. All the early plumbing in that house was lead. According to most recent information [word crossed out] the tank is still there but no longer in use, of course. There may be others who had the same arrangement. Title A name given to the resource Early Delaware County Sunbury and Community (p. 8) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/2f598a1548272d38b5f20b06bde14730.jpg 2824030464071271a1badc76c371b9ee Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 9] [corresponds to page 9] It is very obvious that, with all the increased activity, help had to be recruited to take care of the demand. Some still living can remember when the mill had to be operated 'around-the-clock', especially when Herbert Hoover was director of Belgian Relief and small mills all/around the country were ensisted into making flour to be shipped overseas. A few years ago, someone who had lived in Sunbury when the mill was in its heyday, was at Palo Alto California visiting the Hoover 'Peace Tower'. They noticed some colorfully embroidered, linen, flour one sacks and were surprised to find ^ prominently displayed, bearing the State of Ohio Seal and the legend--Sunbury Mills, The Famous White Loaf Roller Flour, G. J. Burrer & Sons, Sunbury, Ohio. Request was made to have a commercial phographer make and send to Sunbury a color negative of the sack. The curator was kind enough to have this done and sent along a copy of the letter describing the situation in Belgium at the time of the relief effort, and how, in appreciation for the food sent, the Belgian women had chosen some of the must colorful of the thousands of sacks sent, embroidered the features thereon and sent them to Mr. Hoover as a memorial to the great national effort. Hazel M. Davidson came to work in the mill office in 1919 and continued there until 1945. She then moved with the office to the Sunbury Elevator after the corporation, G. J. Burrer Mill and Elevator Co. was formed. In 1949 she then moved to The Galena Brick Co., until retirement. She has helped this writer to make a listing of those who have worked at the mill and light plant from time to time. Miss Davidson had been preceeded by--Grace Domigan and Eleanor Huston, both of whom were teachers and came to the mill in spare time; Bill Fontanelle, Earl Snow, Robert Sherbourne, Harry Snow, Rev. Schneider, Jesse Doane Sr., Clarence Stockwell, Marion Park, Hoyt Whitney, Bill Whitney (Hazel told that Bill had trouble because of the excessive dust; Bill Fontanelle told him to try a big chew of tobacco and that would help. It did--(it made him sick and he never returned), Vada Edwards, Sterling Grove, Dale Bailey, Wright Wormell, Mr. Schoenlaub, Callie Piper (Hallie Day's father), Clarence Cross and Lester Cross. After WW I, before electric lines were extended out into the countryside, the family became central ohio distributor for the Lalley Light Co of Detroit Mich. Headquarters was in Sunbury with branch offices and display rooms on N. Sandusky St. in Delaware, and on the old High St., viaduct, north of the Union Station in Columbus. Lalley Light was in competition with Delco, both of them making 32 Volt, DC systems. Lines of 32 V appliances were available for use with them; Vacuum Sweepers, Fans, Washing Machines, Irons and toasters. The Light Plants were purchased in Car-load lots direct from the factory and many some were sold and installed, ^ as far away as Marysville and Urichsville. The houses and outbuildings had to be wired with very heavy wire because of the low voltage, and on laundry and ironing day, the plants had to be run continuously to supply enough current. Westinghouse came out with a 110 Volt system about the time lines were being built out into the country. That killed the farm light plant business. This to writer can recall going ^ the [three letters crossed out] Ohio State Fair for a week each year holding demonstration of Light Plants and helping in a tent, baking biscuits and bread, to extoll the quality of White Loaf Flour. Going therefore to the fair ^ had ceased to be an attraction. The power plant at the mill was expanded three times to keep up with addition of milling machinery and electrical generating capacity. Title A name given to the resource Early Delaware County Sunbury and Community (p. 9) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/28a7e7bf72bcc6cb835433a1e9fecb1c.jpg 3dab7cddc42a3bf0bcc33e4ade51e23a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 10] [corresponds to page 10] When Natural Gas was piped into Sunbury, a 2 cylinder, 25 HP and a 3 Cyl, 35 HP, vertical, stationary gas engines were installed, one on each end of a main line-shaft, in the enlarged engine room. An open-top concrete 'pool' was constructed to permit cooling water to be circulated with a spray system to cool the new engines. They were connected to the main drive-shaft in such a manner as to permit either or both of them to power a new generator separate from, or together with, the mill. This system then permitted electricity to be furnished to midnight, and on later^ , for 24 hour service. The late Joseph Landon told the story that when he was a boy living with his father and mother, (Mr. & Mrs. John Landon), he became very sick late at night. The local doctor was afraid to move him and called a specialist to come up on the night train from Columbus. The trouble was diagnosed as acute appendicitis and the appendix could burst at any time. The specialist said that if a good strong light could be obtained they would operate right there on the kitchen table. Mrs. Landon told her husband to call 'Jakie' to see if he would start-up the light plant. Jakie did, the operation was successful and the boy's life was saved. After a few more years an additional natural gas engine and belt driven generator had to be installed. It was a larger two cylinder unit, 60 HP, made by Westinghouse. Not long after that a 90 HP, semi-diesel, Anderson Oil engine was installed, together with a direct-connected generator and a large switchboard so that the outputs of all three generators could be combined when necessary. Each of these internal combustion engines had to be started by using compressed air to start them rotating, before the fuel supply was turned on. There was no[underlined] way to start them by hand. air Whenever a leak would develop in the large ^ storage tank, or in one of the lines leading to it, a separate small engine driven compressor had to be started and wait for sufficient pressure to be built up. This was the last major expansion and by this time a full-fledged system was in operation, with each customer on a separate meter, with monthly billings and 24 hr. service. A new Utility Company, The Suburban Power Co had been formed with headquarters in Utica, Ohio. Their purpose was to buy up small generating plants across the country, establish appliance stores and extend electrical service into the rural areas. An offer was made to the mill ownere which seemed satisfactory and in 1926 all the equipment and the electrical distribution system was turned over to them. The Columbus & Southern Ohio Elec. Co built a high tension line from Westerville to Centerburg and the Sunbury system was soon connected to it. The Westinghouse and the Anderson engines being no longer needed were dismantled and moved for service elsewhere. After World War I was out of the way, attention at the mill was given a to the development of ^ line of specialized feeds for poultry, cattle and hogs. A small laboratory was set up and formulas worked out for products under the name of Burco Feeds. Feed grinding and mixing equipment was installed and a new phase of the business was under way. Trucks were now becoming available and a chain-driven, solid tired 'Republic' was purchased, the horses and wagons disposed of and the space in the barn used for the trucks and for storage of commercial feed. With faster transportation available, flour could now be delivered to stores in Delaware, Ashley and Mt. Vernon. Soon thereafter a 2 1/2 ton Packard[underlined] truck was acquired. It was one of the first series without[underlined] chain-drive. The Columbus Body Works made an alweather cab for it, and even though it had hard rubber tires, it was a 'jewel' and everyone wanted to drive it. Title A name given to the resource Early Delaware County Sunbury and Community (p. 10) http://delawarecountymemory.org/files/original/c87c30c849f617e0eaca81a20dfa06e1.jpg 7df4d786f1f0dbb648ff4b344065bc88 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource [page 11] [corresponds to page 11] By 1927 a new pancake flour had been developed and was packaged in small quantities for sale in stores. These new products received favorable acceptance in the area. Business in the mill continued to be good until the world-wide depression struck in 1929. In the early 1930s a local farmers co-operative group was formed and they built the Condit and Sunbury grain elevators. After a short period it was determined that the community could be better served if the co-operative and the mill owners joined and formed a corporation. It was called the G. J. Burrer Mill & Elevator Co with Karl O. Burrer as its President and Manager. The elevator in Mt. Liberty was acquired. A new office was set up in the Sunbury Elevator and used as operating headquarters. The office at the mill was closed, and it was operated as a branch. This new arrangement proved to be satisfactory for a few years but as communications began to improve and national advertising by the large midwest producers took effect, the products/of Pillsbury, Ralston-Purina and others began to appear in the stores locally. Farmers no longer brought their 'grists' to the mill to be ground but sold their grain for cash and purchased flour and allied products in the stores. As this the large gas engines trend continued to grow ^ ran less and it became more economical to use individual electric motors to do occasional specialized jobs. Finally it was agreed that the mill had become a liability to the stock- holders and the land, buildings and machinery were sold into other hands for dismantling and disposal. With the corporation manager 1944 in having been injured in ^ an accident at the Sunbury elevator, it was agreed that, since he would be no longer able to continue actively in the business, the remaining assets were sold to the newly formed Delaware County Farm Bureau. Mr. Parker Burrer retained the old Centerburg mill for other use. It had not made 'Tip Top' flour for several years. Thus the era of the old mill and power plant is ended. Part of the land is now occupied by the Creme Corner and the balance by the True Value Hardware/Napa Auto Parts building. The lot which contained the Tavern- Store-Bakery passed through the hands of J. W. Barker, C. A. Root, R. J. Gelston & O. K. Baker and Richd Glesencamp,(as service station owners), to The Lawson Co at this writing. All the activity associated therewith is now past history. Addenda: Credit should be given to the fact that, under the section discussing early water-power mills along Big Walnut Creek, The Gaylord Mill was really the first[underlined]; but not[underlined] in Trenton Township. It was built by Nicholas Manville in 1810 on Big Walnut near its juncture with Rattlesnake Creek. It was then[underlined] in Sunbury[underlined] Township, as was the Village of Sunbury when it was laid out by the Myers brothers in 1816. Ownership of this mill passed to a Major Strong in 1817 and to Eleazor Gaylord. It was known for many years as the 'Gaylord' mill but,of course, never made white flour. In 1816 Mr. William Myers (brother of Lawrence Myers) operated a Tannery, just across the creek and to the north-west of this first mill. Title A name given to the resource Early Delaware County Sunbury and Community (p. 11) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Burrer Family Collection Description An account of the resource The Burrer Family Collection contains writings from Carleton Sperry Burrer, a prominent Sunbury business man and local historian who enjoyed traveling with his wife, Dorothy, to research the history of the name Sunbury. Mrs. Burrer was the first director of Community Library, having earned a degree in Library Science from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. The documents in this collection tell the story of Sunbury's history as well as the Burrer family's contributions to the development of Sunbury's business community. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Early Delaware County Sunbury and Community Description An account of the resource Carleton Burrer's brief history of early Delaware County and Sunbury was written upon the 175th anniversay of the establishment of Delaware County. The growth and development of the Village of Sunbury, and the evolution of the Burrer's flour mill and light plant are also discussed. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 1983 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 31209950 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/ Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Delaware County--Berkshire Township--Ohio Sunbury--Ohio--History Sunbury--Ohio--19th century--20th century Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Local Historian Carleton Burrer; Sunbury, Ohio Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Essay