The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-09

All round the Square there stood al
most a continuous row of one-story
frames, which constituted the business
honses, and the stocks of goods CORES
ponded with the buildings. The Peter
Dittne house, now in possession Of Mar
tin Scott, is among the ancient brick
relics. Diitoc kept the post Office, with
his dry goods store, in the corner room
for many years. On the corner on the
opposite side was one story frame, and
next house west Of it was weather
boarded two-story log hou-e. 1t was
used for a hotel, and the first landlord
can recollect of doing business there was
Benjamin Eaton lie had two sons
children then-named Ben" and Joe" j"
The latter is dead. and the former is
mail agent at Crest'ine, Ohio but l.
growing old and decrepid.
A series of small buildings were stand
ing on both sides of this street west of
this hotel to the Brechbill alley-the
only respectable house being "old Billy
Boards p" and more recently occupied as
a residence by Dixon Brown.
The old frame still standing on the
alley, on the north eide Of the street, has
n historical record. In the corner room
next the alley, james Pattersna had a
dry goods store; and in the second story,
leading mp from a fight of stairs from
the alley. Patterson printed, in 1s26-2s,
the "Perry Record" paper which took
the place of the "Western World and
Political Ticker" On the casing of the
front door, If it has not been removed,
may be found a hIdeous axe mark,
which was cut by an axe which John B.
| Orton threw at Bob Henderson, the pub
Usher of the Record" " in quarrel that
resulted from the famous mills and
Orton war" that had been in progress in
the village for several years prior
There are a good many of the old
buildings still standing in the town in
which more thrilling transactions took
place than the philosophy" of your
present innocent generation is capable
Of dreaming.
The "old Brechbill hotel is an an
cient building, and has been successively
run by more landlords than care To
undertake TO enumerate. John Mains,
Jacob Brechbill, after he quit teaminR
on the road, and Abraham HamisfAr,
successively run it. Henry Clay, Thos
H. Benton, and other celebrities, have
dined in this house On the lot next OF
this there was a frame house occupied
by Everett Richm0n and Caleb Atwater
the antiquarian of Ohio, lived either
there or on the lot adjoining. On the
opposite side of the street where the
"Dan Kelley" brick stands, but back
from the street a rod ar two, there was a
famous drinking house." run by old
John Opp. As we go a lot further west
on the left hand side, next to the alley
there is an ancient two-story brick. now
owned by Joseph Walker. This was
erected by Jacob Brunner, but was left
in an unfinished condition for many
years. The next lot west, across the al.
ley, was where Jacob Noles had his
blacksmith shop and residence. The
residence part is an old building, but the
eastern part is a newer structure which
took the place of the old wooden
shop. On the opposite side was the ITO
. | haaan onI G1-ar Eoafnrx,p of Gonro.
Drummer, who carried on this branch o.
business there for many years.
"Pig Foot" is somewhat of histori
cal square. 1t has been the theater o
many an early adventure, and was +
great drinking resort from about 1925 to
1881, or thereabouts. Samuel Allwint
(the name is quite appropriate if the
"old Rye" be added, kept a hotel in :
two-story log building, weatherboarded
on the northeast recess of this square
and diagonally on the opposite side o
the square, in the old frame known by
the boys as the "old Penitentiary," no
tel was kept by a man named Green
These hotels were nothing else thar
whisky shops, and of the very viles
kind. About 1903 the play of Long
Bullets" was a very common amusemen
among that class who had nothing els'
to do The players would start in at thu
Market Square, and throw the balls oil
out. sometimes, as far az the Thornvill'
road, and then throw them back to Ih,
Square again. Then they would top of
with a drink all round at Allwine's no
tel The Footmans took especial deligh
IN this game. From this Square west
ward there were a few struggling one
story buildings, few of which still re
main in a dilapidaied condition, if 70
nothing else than to show the humbl,
origin Of the village. SENEx.