The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-06-02

Visit to Milan.-On Thursday of last
week, having a little leisure on our hands, we
concluded to pay long intended visit to this
inland village which at one time bid fair to be
the leading city of our neighboring county Of
Erie, but which the ever varying changes of
Life, aided by the misconceived ideas of pro-
igress then in vogue, left stranded upon the
beach, while the waves of prosperity which
had laved at its feet, receded from its doors, to
vivify and enrich its more fortunate neigh
bors.
The town is situated upon elevated land,
and surrounded on three sides by valleys,
while stretching to the north the table land
extends forward the lake, in an almost un-
broken tract. To the west of the town lies
the valley of the Huron, down which the
waters of the river glide. The river is navi-
gable to within four miles OF the village, and
to avail themselves of its advantages the citi-
zens, in the early times, with commendable
spirit OF enterprise, built a canal from the
town TO the navigable part of the river, by
means Of which the lake vessels could be
drawn up the village harbor: at that point
stands now the relies of past greatness and
decayed business, in the shape of several
disused warehouses, which used to be busy
with the hum of business and the spirit of
active enterprise. This was in the days be-
fore railroads, and when the old stage coach
on its tedious route westward from Buffalo,
wound its ways down from the North Milan
hill to haul up at the stage Office OF the then
commercial emporium of Ere. Then the
town was rich with the spirit of thrift, and
building after building sprang up to evince
the spirit of its citizens.
But like the sirocco's blast, came the rail-
road fever. The active efforts to effect its 10
cation at a point south Of the then great wheat
mart proved successful, and from that mo
ment 'the tide which, if taken at the food,
leads on to fortune" was lost to the busy little
city. 1t still has much to be proud of, howev-
er, although It's business will not compare
with the past era. There stand its handsome
churches, yonder its proud seminary of learn
ing; here its well built and capacious business
blocks and here and there stand the beautiful |
IB6luGnCGo u Abo SAhAAOAAsJ ohA4OunAGu Will /
handsome grounds and beautifully orna-
mented with shrubbery. Added to this is a
society of which any community might feel
proud.
In company with DR.. Stuart and F. R.
Lockwood, Esq, we visited many points of |
interest, and in order to obtain better view
Of the locality, assembled to the belfry of the
Presbyterian Church, whence the lookout was
beautiful indeed. Milan seemed an immense
amphitheater, dotted with fine residences en-
powered in shade trees the whole nearly en-
circled by valleys beyond which lowered for
ests which lent additional beauty to the scene.
We enjoyed the delightful view, and wonder
ed that so well chosen a loc44ty had failed to
maintain its positor in the race for prosperity.
It may yet grow and prosper, for some of its
earnest citizens have engaged in the promo
ton of an object which, if accomplished, will
revive its business, by furnishing facilities of
shipment which viii allow its business men
to compete for the products of the soil, with
other points. We alIude to the project Of
building road to Norwalk, which every citi-
zen of the place should regard as personal
matter in which he had an interest, and which
would result in his personal aggrandisement.
Once possessed of the facilities this would
afford, besides the impetus it would give
trade, it would induce the building Of manu-
factories, increase the population, enhance the
value of real estate, and promote the general
prosperity of the community. We think they
Will build the road-that they mean no failure
shall occur; and as it is in the hands Of men
who understand what is needed, it viii be
pushed to completion.