The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-05-23

Ravenna possessed some advanta-
gss superior TO many other towns of
that early day, in the fact of being To-
Gated in the heart of one of the best
portions of the State, and upon what
was then one of the great thorough
fares or mail routes from Washington
to Detroit; and in after years, the
railroad facilities became all that could
be desired, giving us communication
with the north, south, east and west !;
and there can be no doubt but this
fact greatly stimulated trade. Better
than all, however,, was the fact that
Portage county contained within it.
self sustaining force. Its soil was of
the richest possible character. il was
populated by a hardy and industri-
ous race of men-and women who had
their completeness to acquire, and
whose daily labor was labor of love.
Every tree that was felled was a step
towards prosperity-every acre in
cultivation was gurdeon of success,
and go these noble men and women
toiied on, creating for the generation
of to-day an inheritance time cannot
dim. As the town increased in num-
bers and wealth, and as the resources
ofthe couDtrybecame more developed
a change was noticeable in the fesiden-
ces, places OF business and houses OF
worship. The primitive log cabins
gave place to more slightly structures,
and the spirit of Improvement was
made manifest. Considerable atten-
tion was paid to beautifying streets
and door-yards. and at the same time
there was constant. steady growth.
The building of the Cleveland and
Pittsburgh Railroad marked an i'm
portaht era in the history of the town
and of Portage county. 1t was q
source of universal congratulation to
the citizens. An inlet and outlet was
provided. 1t placed the city upon the
great plane of equality with other
towns; it opened up new and hitherto
markets; it increas-
ed the value of every acre of land in
the county, and was in every respect a
nation that had been long and
devoutly wished. The completion of
the G. g P. Railrord was subsequent
ly followed by the building of the
Atlantic and Great Western. This
road added materially to the wealth
and Importance of the town and coun-
ty. 1t gave competing freights to the
board, and assured the continuance of
prosperity to the town, This, then,
in rude outline, has been the history
of Ravenna. We have not aimed nor
have we time or space to give even
frag ments of minuti@,-we must ig-
more anecdote and incident, those par
ticulars which go to make up the warp
and woof of history. Nor are the
columns OF a newspaper the suitable
place for their preservation. Our
sphere of action as Journalist is vastly
different from that of the historian.
Ravenna of to-day.
But what is Ravenna to-day Pare
we asked We answer, beautiful
and pleasant city of about three thou
sand inhabitants-a place whose ap-
pearance has nothing of the specula-
tive or ephemeral-a substantial. we'll
built town. The city is laid out with
the points of the compass, the streets
crossing each other at right angles;
they are of fair width, for the most
part graded and graveled, and provi-
ded with subsfantial paVements. The
railways pass, the one north and
the other just west of the center of
the town. From the cars but a very
imperfect idea of the place can be
formed. The principal business is
Main street, which runs
east and west is the principal business
and here upon either
side for three blocks are substantial
two and three story brick buildings
whose appearance will compare ia
Yorably with those of any town of
like size in the State. The Court
House fronts upon main street, and is
nearly in the heart of the city. It, as
we have before said, was erected a
best edifices in the State. To-day it
looks little old in style, but is doubt
less good for another score of years.
Ravenna may pride itself, and with
justice, too, upon its general appear
ance. A stroll throughout town dis
closes the fact, that there are very
few reminders of the olden time in
the way of dilapidated buildings.
Scores of residences are really elegant
and nearly all are attractive. The
streets, stores, churches anu dwellings
are all neat and present an appear
ance that is quite metropolitan. The
congregational church of near
ly seventy years ago must have plant
ed good seed, for as its fruit we see
to-day five church buildings, and
most of them of a superior character.
We can only name them however =
Congregationalist, frame; Methodist,
brick; Episcopal, frame; Christian,
frame; Catholic, Brick. The modest
district school of two thirds of a CEN
tury ago, has grown with the passing
years-its score of scholars has in
creased to hundreds, and we find to-
day an elegant and substantial school
building, provided with all the mod
ern conveniences, and affording adj
vantages for an education that in those
early days would have been confined
to the wealthy alone. In place of the
barbarous roads and by paths of few
years ago we are accomplishing a sys-
tenn graded and graveIed highways,
that will result in great good to the
city. In brief, we present to wn atr
tractive in itself, and from its sur
a place equal to any town
in the State tor business advantages.
Old Residents.
We have little to remind US of the
past. The buildings of that early day
are gradually yielding to the gnaw-
ing tooth OF time. Of the original
settlers of the town we believe none
are living and there are only few
who came a little later left, among
whom are DIR. Swift and Mr.. Wheeler,
to whom we are largely indebted for
information concerning the early his
tory of the town, and to whom we res
turn our thanks. Change is written
upon everything. Soon nothing but
the memory of those early settlers
will be left. But they will have with
themselves the consciousness that they
have not lived in vain. Their efforts
and their actions coupled with the ef-
forts of scores of this and an earlier
generations have made Ravenna what
it is, nor have they any reason to feel
at the achievements of 8 life
time of labor as it stands to-day a
bright jewel in the diadem of the
state.
business Interests,
The manufacturing interests of any
are. or should be of first