The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-11-28
oLD-TIME "REMINISCENCES.
Number OF Taverns on the Road Between
Canton and MassIilOn.

| OhnJOn ana AAhbBllOns
| Driving to MassillOn the other day, |
noticed the Wirtz tavern stand was be-
| Ing demolished, to make room for a new
house. The sight of the old structure,
and the change about being wrought in
the locality, excited in my mind train
of thought that carried me back in
memory over fifty years; when there
were five taVerns between Canton and
MRssillOn. As this may seem incredible
to the young reader Of to-day, familiar
with the route, l will give brief his
tory Of each, and in the order of sue
cessiOn. The first was started by Nathan
McGrew in log house, located on the
south side of the road, about midway be-
tween Canton and Tuscarawas river.
The same is still standing, brown
weather r-bOarded house occupied by Mr..
Leonard Schneider. This was in 1916,
Immediately following the last war
with England. The lands west of the
| river were then open to settlement, and
the tide of travel and emigration was
bearing strong in that direction. Nc
Grew soon caught the western fever and
sold out to Henry Wirtz. He kept the
house several years, meanwhile built
the log structure on the hill beyond, the
same house now being taken down.
When finished, Wirts removed into it,
and Bill Phillips, of Canton, took the
vacated stand. Wirts was succeeded by
Bshney. The completion of the Ohio
canal and the growth of MassillOn gave
the tavern business new impetus along
the State road.
Austin Allen built a twO-story brick,
two miles west, and opened tavern
about 1881.
Sam Rhodes started tavern in two
story frame, now owned by the widow
Schneider. He sold out to York Miller,
better known as the Duke of York"
The FlOOm tavern started soon after,
and was run number of years, con-
tinued by the son, after the death of the
father.
This makes five taverns within a dis
tanee of four miles, all in operation at
the same time-from 1880 to l840. Sew
eral of them may have been kept like the
apOcryphal Wolf kept his tavern in the
west; but, they all had out a swinging
sign, indicating that they entertained
man and beast. They gave substantial
square meal for quarter. That usually
consisted of ham and eggs, fried pOta-
toes, coffee, Dread and butter, apple but
ter and some kind of pie. A lunch,
consisting Of cold meat, bread and but
ter and a bowl Of milk was furnished for
shilling. There was no display of
napkins nor three.tined forks. The
chief room in the house was the bar
room; next, the dining-rOOm, and then
the kitchen. The women of that day
didn't travel much from home. About
once a year, except in case of death,
they would visit relatives, who could be
reached within days journey; cOnse-
quently, taVerns had no use for sitting
room or parlOr. Upon the introduction
OF elliptic spring carriages, new im.
petus was given to pleasure riding and
young people then began to take rides
into the country, when the taVsrns in
creased their accommodations accord
ingly.5
The chief source of revenue of these
taVerns was the trade to MassillOn. Be-
fore the Ohio q Pennsylvania Railroad
was built, MassillOn was known as the
Wheat City," and had a monopoly of
the trade for forty and fifty miles east
and west, not only in the purchase of
produce, but in the sale of goods. Long
trains OF wheat wagons might be seen
any week day, passing along Tuscarawas
street, on their way to Massillon, and it
was no uncommon occurrence for fifty
to sixty to remain over night at Writes
tavern. Meals was all that was furnish
ed them. They usually carried their
own bedding and horse feed. The sale
of drinks amounted to considerable.
Canton was then dead town, and our
business men were compelled to stand
all kinds of slurs from our more pros
porous neighbors. They started
scheme to take from us the county seat,
and members were elected to the Legis-
lature, pledged to support the move
ment, but there wasn't money enough,
or it was not placed where it would do
the most good. LIS